Literary notes about showing (AI summary)
In literature, the term “showing” functions as a dynamic device to reveal information, convey emotion, and impart subtle character details. Authors employ it in both literal and figurative senses—from characters physically displaying an object or emotion (as when a face is revealed in a tape’s edge in [1] or a character’s nervous smile appears in [2]) to abstract demonstrations of internal states and social nuances (for example, revealing delicately reserved surprise in [3] or a deliberate act of discretion in [4]). Moreover, “showing” is also used in technical or illustrative contexts, clearly demonstrating mechanisms or physical characteristics, as seen in [5] and [6]. This versatile usage allows writers to not only describe actions but also to imply unspoken moods and themes, adding layers of meaning that invite readers to interpret what lies beyond the mere text.
- On one bony cheek was a square of tape, showing blue at the edge.
— from Second Variety by Philip K. Dick - He still laughed in his curious, animal fashion, suddenly wrinkling up his wide nose, and showing his sharp teeth.
— from The Rainbow by D. H. Lawrence - “Stavrogin?” said Kirillov, beginning to get up from the floor with the ball in his hand, and showing no surprise at the unexpected visit.
— from The possessed : by Fyodor Dostoyevsky - She arose, and stepped up to her daughter's side as soon as she could do so without showing exceptional eagerness.
— from The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy - End view of arrow, showing notch and arrangement of three feathers.
— from Boy Scouts Handbook by Boy Scouts of America - —Diagrammatic section of the ear, showing the various parts.
— from How it Works by Archibald Williams
