Final answer:
Laurie Anderson's 'Chains' uses vivid imagery and sensory details, such as the description of a 'towering wall of whirling, seething, roaring flame' and the chilling 'thud-dead' sounds, to convey the terror and urgency of a fire and its impact on human life and wealth.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Laurie Anderson’s “Chains”, the terror and urgency of the fire and its aftermath are conveyed through vivid imagery and sensory details. By describing the fire as “a towering wall of whirling, seething, roaring flame,” Anderson creates a powerful visual that evokes the scale and intensity of the disaster. The urgency is further heightened by the chronological timestamps, like “1.45 a.m.” which indicate the progression of the fire, and by showcasing the personal impact on individual lives, such as the juxtaposition of human life being lost and wealth being swept away, and the chilling description of the “thud-dead” sounds of bodies impacting the sidewalk. Anderson’s choice of language and narrative structure work in tandem to immerse the reader in the terrifying reality of the event, making it a compelling and haunting account.
Learn more about Imagery in 'Chains' here: