Literary notes about patriarch (AI summary)
While most literary uses of “patriarch” denote a figure of authority, on rare occasions the term’s associations with age and gravitas lend it a subtle chromatic metaphor. In such instances authors suggest that the visual impression of a venerable, timeworn leader carries a distinct “hue”–an aura of weathered gray or hoary dignity reminiscent of ancient, storied traditions. For example, the depiction of an old patriarch with a “gray nose” in [1] and the “hoary” description in [2] evoke not only the character’s maturity but also an almost color-like quality that symbolizes endurance, wisdom, and the passage of time. This inventive blending of physical description and metaphor imbues the patriarchal imagery with a tonal depth that readers can “see” as well as understand.
- When the gray nose of the cautious old patriarch finally came in sight, the young Sioux called a greeting.
— from White Otter by Elmer Russell Gregor - The hoary patriarch, wrinkled as an almond shell, bows painfully upon his staff.
— from The Poems of Emma Lazarus, Volume 2 Jewish poems: Translations by Emma Lazarus
