A slurry of light

Question

Above Zinkoff a slurry of light barely leaks from the forty-watt bulb, mocking the sun and stars he loves.

Hi,

Does a slurry of light in the above mean dim light like slurry?

Besides, what does the bolded part insinuate? Thanks.

Mr Wordy · Accepted Answer

"slurry of light" is not a common or expected word combination. I imagine it to mean a dreary wash of light.

The bolded part is poetic and fanciful. I assume you understand "the sun and stars (that) he loves". If you also understand the meaning of "mock" (see e.g. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mock ) and put the two together then I think your picture of what it means is as good as anyone's.

Angliholic · Answer

Mr Wordy"slurry of light" is not a common or expected word combination. I imagine it to mean a dreary wash of light.

The bolded part is poetic and fanciful. I assume you understand "the sun and stars (that) he loves". If you also understand the meaning of "mock" (see e.g. ) and put the two together then I think your picture of what it means is as good as anyone's.

Thanks, Mr Wordy.

I find "a dreary wash of light" in your reply very fresh and intriguing, but I'm not certain if I get it right. Could you throw more light?

Besides, how could a slurry of light mock the bright everlasting sun and stars? What does this suggest?

Mr Wordy · Answer

For the meaning of "dreary", see http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dreary

For the meaning of "wash", see sense 5a at http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wash[2 ](This forum is not handling the URL correctly. You will need to type the closing square bracket.)

The mocking of the sun and stars suggests whatever your imagination comes up with after appending "sun and stars" to the meaning of "mock". To me, it suggests that the light is a poor imitation of the sun and stars, and that this has some special resonance with Zinkoff, provoking feelings of perhaps disquiet or melancholy. Other people will probably have different impressions.

Edit: Of course, my impression might be altered by what I already knew of Zinkoff and the situation he is in, had I read the book up to this point.

Mr Wordy · Answer

Mr WordyI imagine it to mean a dreary wash of light.

I see from your other thread that the text continues with references to puddles of light, so, per khoff's reply there, it seems likely that "leaks" means (figuratively, of course), drips like a liquid. So, "stream" might be better than "wash".

A slurry of light

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