Strategies for Studying Illustrations (continued)

Here, the reader recognizes how Tan juxtaposes the familiar and the unfamiliar.

juxtaposition: placing contrasting items and/or ideas beside each other to emphasize their differences

We recognize a harbour,¹ but we see it through the eyes of the immigrants on the ship in the bottom left corner.² The weary travellers are more defined, and their surroundings are hazy.³ We see an urban community, recognizable by the silhouettes of skyscrapers in the background.⁴

As we consider the contrast between the focused and unfocused details in this visual, we sense the apprehension they must feel, facing the unknown as they arrive in this foreign country.