Final answer:
The figurative language in 'His Mother's Portrait' uses metaphors, similes, and descriptive imagery to create depth and enhance storytelling, contrasting human softness against life's hard edges or representing tenderness and protection through gestures and characters.
Step-by-step explanation:
The figurative language portrayed in His Mother's Portrait, and similar artworks, often involves the use of metaphors, similes, and descriptive imagery to enhance the storytelling and provide depth to the representation. For example, by setting the curve of the mother's body against the rigid rectangular background, an artist may metaphorically contrast the softness of human nature against the hard edges of life or society. Similarly, in the story, when figures like the Child touches his Mother's chin, this gesture may symbolically represent tenderness and a deep familial connection, while the angels with unsheathed swords could be interpreted as protectors or the vigilant aspect of love.
In literature, descriptive imagery helps create an immersive experience, as when detailing the 'luminous eyes' of an elderly woman, which can invoke a sense of wisdom or past experiences shining through her gaze. This is complemented by the 'complex vantage point' which might signify a multifaceted perspective towards the characters within the story.
The analysis of figurative language extends to examining the 'contrapuntal' nature of some narratives, as mentioned by critic Hugh Kenner, where different perspectives, such as sensory cataloging and the development of a child's conscience, are woven together to enrich the narrative texture. Whether it's through the strokes emphasizing eyes and eyebrows in a painting or the experiences of recognition and categorization in a growing child, these artistic tools serve to deepen the connection between the subject and the audience.