"In the Skin of a Lion" is a documentary on the voyage from childhood to adulthood of Patrick Lewis. Michael Ondaatje describes this voyage with recollections of sensory memories. These recollections permit the reader to relate to Patrick, as these memories are both simple and realistic. Patrick's memories are often conjured up through touch, smell or color. The readers can not help but to imagine their own rendition with some of the imagery used in the book. This essay examines the use of moths and their colors within the imagery in the book "In the Skin of Lion"

The imagery of the moths is described using colors, textures and motions. Ondaatje uses colors such as "moth green", yellow, rust, browns, pink, and describes textures such as "rabbit fur", "papyrus textured", and "furred". Perhaps the most visual aspect of the moth imagery is that of the motion of the insects, which is used both as a description and a comparison. Moths appearing on the screen one night are described as those that "have seen this one lighted room and traveled towards it. A summer night's inquiry." (9). In the Garden of the Blind, Patrick observes the blind woman's rema

The imagery in the book "In the Skin of a Lion" gives the reader a dimension to the character. A human nature by allowing the reader to relive past memories of their own. The specific use of the moths and the colors shows the reader how Patrick is continuing to use his frame of reference he developed as child in his adult life. Describing his adult experiences in terms of his childhood. The effect of this to the reader is to deliver a clear picture of what Patrick is living. This allows us to relate to Patrick's journey making a reading of the book not just an understanding of the words, but a connection with his thoughts and a wonder of own journey.

There is an instance of parallel imagery or imagery within imagery. The moths are attracted to the light of the kitchen and Patrick is attracted to the school atlas. They both have the same inquisitive nature. We're not told of the attraction to the atlas other than the allure of the exotic place names. Later, Patrick is attracted to the skaters on "his" pond. These attractions are all similar to the moths being attracted across the summer fields. Patrick is drawn to the lights, and then once he discovers that the lights are actually people, the attraction turns to one of a social nature.

ining eye "darting", "moving with delight", "and alighting", all easily visualized. Later in the story, Carvaggio watches a woman in the boathouse. "In this light, and with all the small panes of glass around here, she was inside a diamond, mothlike on the edge of burning kerosene, caught

Some common words found in the essay are:
Skin Lion, Blind Patrick, Michael Ondaatje, Little Seeds, skin lion, imagery book, book skin lion, imagery moths, imagery book skin, imagery imagery, book skin, patrick attracted, moths colors, described using, attracted light, moths attracted,
Approximate Word count = 1034
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)