Summary Of Northern Lights By Margaret Laurence

Laurence uses simile to illustrate the dynamic brilliance of the Northern Lights. When she describes wintertime in her hometown, Laurence writes, “[...] the Northern Lights flaring across the sky like the scrawled signature of God.” (Laurence 24). The use of “flaring” indicates brief and bright motion, since it is often used to describe fireworks and flares. A firework is a striking image of moving colour against a night sky, and creates a similar spectacle to that of the Northern Lights, especially since both are seen after dark. They share the same characteristic of brilliant colour enhanced by the time of day which they are both viewed. Furthermore, Laurence’s use of “flaring across” implies that the Northern Lights are travelling from one side of the sky to the other in the fashion of a flare shot into the air.
The phrase “scrawled signature” adds to the concept of movement since it is attached to making a pen flow across a page. When Laurence compares the Northern Lights to “God”, she creates the idea that the Northern Lights are radiant and larger than humankind. Since these characteristics apply to the universal concept of God, an association of God such as His “scrawled signature” shares those characteristics. The quality of being radiant and ethereal emphasizes the absolute brilliance of the Northern Lights. The motion of the “signature” coupled with brilliance of God creates vivid images that constantly pulls the eye. Therefore, when Laurence uses words like “flaring” and “God”, she describes the Northern Lights as dynamic and brilliant, and an aspect of wonder in her