I go back to my room where the carpet is red and cut into pictures of bricks. I hop on the bricks and play with my dolls—stuffed unicorns and bears and rabbits, all with the same tea-stained mouths.
The author uses sensory details that appeal to the eye to paint a picture of what is going on. These details create meaning because the reader can get a better picture of the scene. This will help the reader better understand the characters.
A policeman picks up one of the smooth vinyl shards and rubs his thumb across the grooves.
The sensory details like "smooth vinyl shards" and "rubs his thumb across the groves" appeal to the eye. As the author is describing the policeman's actions, the reader can imagine the scene and better understand what is going on. The author is creating meaning by creating a detailed scene for the reader to imagine. This engages the reader more and creates a more human-like experience.
the window is shattered and he’s long gone. The floor is littered with broken records.
The author uses sensory details to display imagery. These details specifically appeal to the eye. Describing the room with details like the shattered window and the records on the floor allow the reader to create a picture in their head of what the room looks like. This creates meaning because the reader gets a better picture of the scene. He/she can better understand the character as a whole.
—and I study his music like an apprentice.
Imagery can be shown by sensory details and using figurative language is one way to appeal to the readers. This line is a simile. The simile lets the readers know how well and how hard the narrator is studying. The author creates meaning by comparing two things to allow the readers to get a better understanding of the character.
I lie on my back, hands laced behind my head and eyes closed
Imagery is one of the literary techniques that help the author create meaning. This description allows the reader to imagine the position the narrator is in. The word "laced" is a vivid word used by the narrator to create a more human experience for the readers.