Literary notes about hue (AI summary)
The word "hue" in literature serves both as a descriptor of literal color and as a vehicle for symbolic meaning. Authors employ it to convey vivid physical details—as when Burns contrasts flaxen ringlets with darker eyebrows ([1]) or when a building’s exterior is rendered in a bluish hue against white frames ([2])—while also using it to mirror internal moods and states. For example, a character’s features may shift from a livid to a grimy hue to reflect inner turmoil ([3]), or the “native hue of resolution” symbolizes steadfast determination ([4]). This dual use enriches the text by linking tangible sensory experiences with abstract human emotions, as seen in descriptions ranging from the golden glow of dawn restoring health ([5]) to the dark, ominous ambiance cast over a scene ([6]). In this way, "hue" becomes a versatile literary motif that colors both the external world and the inner life of characters.
- Sae flaxen were her ringlets, Her eyebrows of a darker hue,
— from Poems and Songs of Robert Burns by Robert Burns - The whole exterior of the building was painted of a bluish hue, with the exception of the window and door frames, which were white.
— from Toronto of Old by Henry Scadding - Défago turned abruptly; the livid hue of his face had turned to a dirty grey.
— from The Wendigo by Algernon Blackwood - [79] "And thus the native hue of resolution Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought."
— from Essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson by Ralph Waldo Emerson - The sun rose up red and glowing from the water, and its beams brought back the hue of health to the prince's cheeks; but his eyes remained closed.
— from Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen by H. C. Andersen - The moon shining through the open blinds made the lamp appear to burn paler, and cast a sepulchral hue over the whole scene.
— from The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas and Auguste Maquet
