Learning English

Tell us about this picture

In the interview, Finn and Shan used a lot of adjectives and adverbs to talk about different aspects of the Alice in Wonderland pictures:

1) Style

A "fun, cartoonish style with bold outlines".

2) Colours

A "garish, green top hat", "purplish-indigo and turquoise" .

3) Atmosphere

A "lively" and "chaotic" image.

4) Characters

The characters were "sleepy", "dressed flamboyantly", "alarmed", "mischievous" and "droopy".

To do

Now it's your turn to describe an image. The one below is from Episode 8 of our drama Jamaica Inn. There are two characters: Mary on the left, and someone called Mrs Bassat on the right.

In fewer than 100 words, can you describe it?

If you like, you can talk about the four aspects of style, colour, atmosphere and character. Try to use lots of adjectives and adverbs.

Thank you for emailing your comments to us. We enjoyed reading them. This task is now closed.

Here are some of the comments that we received:

ነቲ ጽሑፍ ብምንባብ ነቲ ስራሕ ዕመምዎ

Daniela, Italy

In a peaceful place in a house that it similar to a library two women are worried about something that happened.

The character on the left, sat on an ancient green armchair, wearing a long dress of indefinite colour - maybe light green or dirty white - looks very scared with her hands opened close to her skinny cheeks and her lips half opened in a suffering cry.

The woman on the right, standing in her light violet long dress, directs her glance to her in a worried expression. Maybe something was happened and both they are scared.

Erika, Brazil

Mary looks terrified, she is sitting in the chair with an Alarmed expression like something really bad happened, Mrs Basssat is right by her side but standing up looking droopy about Mary's reaction.

Both are them are surrounded by a very sad atmosphere, a library colorless, Mary is wearing a very old green dress, similarly is Mrs Bassat wearing a dress, however is a purple one and looks very old fashioned.

The scene is very intrigued.

Manoel, Brazil

Sitting in a green chair, Mary is shocked about the news she have heard. Her aunt wearing a purplish dress, is looking at her but she doesn't know what to do. Mary thinks she must run away. But Mrs Bassat is a elderly woman and Mary is worried that her aunt does not have another place to go.

Trinh Viet Linh, Vietnam

That is a realistic style painting with characters in a room and they are in different emotion. The main colours of the picture are dark, grey and cold that make the picture a little bit dreary.

The characters are two women, one is standing, Mrs. Bassat, and the other is Mary who is sitting on a chair. Mary looks frightened. Her full-opened eyes and hanging up hands look like a person who is unwillingly witnessing a frightening scene. By contrast, Mrs. Bassat looks emotionless.

The largest colour pieces of the picture are the walls, the floor and two book shelves, and the characters. The walls are dark ivory, the floor and the book shelves  are dark grey and the books are mainly dark brown and dark green. The characters are also painted palely.

In conclusion, the painting describes an alarming scene by using dark and cold colors and pale emotion of the main character, Mary.

Anderson

It is an uneasy scene. Mary and Mrs Bassat are in a room that appears to be a study painted with simple brown colour. Mary is wearing a turquoise night gown, sitting in an armchair and looks horrified, she might just have received some terrible news that came to her as a severe blow. Her hands are trying to cup her stricken face to calm herself down. Mrs Bassat is standing beside her, she is wearing a purplish dress and a slightly paler apron over the dress at the front, apparently she is deeply concerned about how Mary's reaction to the news.

Khalid, Yemen

The picture refer to a dramatic scene, and it shows an emergency situation in a serious atmosphere.

Through the picture I can see two characters who are Mary and Mrs Bassat they might be relatives, because when I look at the room which they are in, I see poor features, so they can not afford a home-maid.

As I mentioned, the atmosphere is shocking, that appears on  Mary's face and her hands are up near to her face also, but when I look at Mrs Bassat's face I do not see shocking features, by contrast, I see sadness features, so I think she is who told Mary bad news.

The family - if I consider them as a family - lived in the past time from now, considering the type of the clothes which they are wearing, they are old-fashion. They are poor people, so their room painted with simple brown colour which differs from light to dark and white colour,also there are some cracks below the window beside the door.

Despite all of this, they concern about knowledge that why they have a lot of books.

Maria, Brazil​

This is an indoor scene, showing two women who seem to be having a serious conversation.

We can observe two book shelves and an open door on the back, the artist uses dark colors on scene, that makes us believe that something unpleasant is happening. 

The younger woman in white has a scared expression, her hands reach her face. The other woman in a lavender dress seems worried. Both wear long sleeves representing that it might be cold in there.

Vasyl, Ukraine

There are two characters in the dark purplish and turquoise and brown-coloured room. Mary, the young lady uncomfortably sitting on a chair, seems really scared. The woman staying nearby looks at Mary suspiciously. Both of them are dressed simply and modestly. Their attires look quite domestic. An atmosphere depicted on the image is rather taut.

Airin, Japan

This picture is drawn in a gloomy style. The lines are solid and the colours are all dull. 

Two women are in a room. One sits in an arm chair covering her face with her hands as if she is shocked by something really frightening. The other woman stands besides her, looking down the floor with a serious face. She may be searching a way to solve a critical problem. Both of them are in plain dresses without any flamboyant things.

There are a lot of books in shelves along the wall. None of them look attractive because their covers are all either dark green or dark purple. The books probably have not read by anyone for long.

We can sense serious, creepy, horrifying atmosphere in the room.

Tiziano, Verona, Italy

The picture is neither funny nor sunny. In fact through the window you can see a cloudy weather that gives you a bit of sadness.

The colours aren't lively, they're dark and gloomy. The floor and the library are brown. The designer hasn't used bright colors. Consequently the atmosphere becomes melancholy and unhappy.

Maria sits on a green chair that doesn't reflect much light, she seems upset and worried. Maria wears a light-green dress, typically used at the beginning of the 20th century. Instead the woman next to Maria wears a purple dress, she seems to be alarmed and powerless.

Juan Carlos, Colombia

That scene describes the point of view of the writer about how is one of rooms the Jamaica inn. The cartoon are not funny and its characters are quite sad. The atmosphere in that room is very lugubrious and the brown and purplish colors are correct to express the sadness and despair that Mary live that place.

The room where are they is similar to a library and the window behind of Mary allows us to imagine a fog day in this town. 

Alessandra

This picture tells us of a very sad and worried atmosphere. The drawing shows us an elegant room, maybe the library of a distinguished house, but the darkness all around and the expression of the two women portrayed in it make us feel how dramatic the moment must be! Sat on the chair Mary, in her pale green dress, looks terrified, frightened as someone who has just seen a ghost. Beside her, the older woman, Mrs. Bassat, in her light violet dress seems to be very worried about something... What has happened?

Pavel, Russia

This picture made in gloomy style. Despite of different colors, not dark at all, there are light yellow part of wall, bright colored dressed on the two women, in general the picture transmit negative associations. It particularly because the young girl, who sits in a chair, and looks really scary and frightened about something. And women opposite her not looks equally scary, but more thoughtful and moodily. That even makes the whole atmosphere more strange and mysterious.

Manuel Angel, Spain

It's an ordered room full it up with completly ordered bookshelves for decoration purposes and two main characters from the story we are dealing. First one Mary, poorly dressed like a servant; and Mrs. Basset, her aunt, flamboyantly dressed wearing an indigo dress. The main colour is brown trying to create the misterious tone of the scene.

Zosia, Poland

The picture is gloomy, colours like brown and dark-purple heightened a bleakness. A girl on the left, Mary, is sitting in an armchair. She has dark hair and is wearing a light-coloured dress. She looks frightened and worried. A woman on the right in bright-purple dress is Mrs Bassat. She is older than Mary. She is thoughtful, serious and sad. It seems like Mary has to make an important decision.

Ewa, Poland

The scene of Jamaica Inn is in the sharp, meaty drawing style. Only one colour - violet - is determined. It could be that the person who wear it is the most important one. The rest of colours are dun and dirty. Atmosphere of Mary's point of view seems frightening, heavy and uncertain. On the other hand Mrs Basset seems to be just a little concerned. She is deep in thought and looking for solutions. There is a kind of gloom in this picture...

Yamelith

The atmosphere of the room is dark and heavy as well as the weather that we can see through the window – a dull cloudy sky. The sorrowful of the scene kills any feeling of happiness.
Mary looks completely shocked and scared as if Mrs Bassat had told her some terrible news or secrets. Mary's appearance is even worse because she is in a pale filthy white dress and it shows the poverty and hard time that Mary is dealing with.
Mrs Bassat face expression is quite stoical but her wrinkly skin tells us about her worries and unhappy life.

Clarice, Italy

In the image, I see a gothic style.
Mrs Bassat has a lilac dress and Mary a grey dress. The wall is a clear yellow, but the floor and the bookcase are very dark.
The atmosphere is very gloomy, the room is dark the light comes only from the room that is behind.
Mary is worried and troubled. Mrs Bassat seems to think how to resolve the problem she seems absorbed.

NGUYỄN VĂN ĐẠT, Vietnam

There are two characters in this picture. Mary on the left, she’s using her hands to cover her face. She looks really shock. Her hair is not very neat, it’s wet. She’s wearing a white-ruffled dress. She’s been in a river or a stream and experienced a chaotic scene, I guess. Totally, She must be frightened of something.

About Mrs. Bassat, She’s in a violet dress. Her hair is very neat and her mouth is hanging down. It makes me think of rich and mischievous woman. She’s concentrating what happened shown on Mary’s face.

Everything is in a library.

Georges Noel

The room is in darkness. Mary is sitting in a green chair and seems really frightened. She ups her two hands as to shield her face or to shut her ears against an unpleasant noise or a scream or a loudly cry. Mrs Bassat, upright, looks at far and appears severe but strong, the left arm, hung up, hand closed, as to fight or perhaps to protect herself. She is wearing a purple dress. Her yellow hairs are like to increase their possible grey colour. This choice increases her old face. By the back door, appears the light old painting of the other room.

Anazilda

The whole scene is a little creepy.  The atmosphere is oppressive and scary.  Mary seems to be alarmed, she looks at something out of the scene as she was afraid of what she sees.

Mrs. Bassat is wearying a purple  dress, what makes her contrast with the rest of the cartoon, mainly green, yellow and brown. She seems to be an unpleasant woman, ruthless and cold-hearted.

The room is a little dark, with heavy shelves, but bright sunlight comes from the window in the other room, behind the door.

Micol, Torino

The scene is dramatic: it's drawn by cartoonish style but it isn't cheerful, the colours are dark,the books on the bookshelves are brown and dark-green, there are shadows on the walls.

A young woman is setting, she's crouched and her eyes are scared. She's wearing a white dress,she's looking at something which has scared her. Near the girl there is an old woman, she's wearing a long, purple dress and she has an apron over the dress, her hair is grey. She's looking at the youmg woman but she can't help her.

Manuel, Panamá

In a dark and sepia illuminated room, that look antique and sad, somethiing like a kind of library room, there are two persons, a sadly face old woman dressing a purple clothes and a apron, and a girl sitting in a old green chair,  with a sacared and worry attitud, maby alarmed for something.  The illustration was made with acrylic painting or made with adobe Photoshop software.

Rita, Spain

The drawing is quite realistic, showing a decoration and clothes which match perfectly the XIXth style.

The colours used by the artist are fade, cold and with a lack of happiness.

The atmosphere is uncomfortable , with a point of fear. Makes one feel concerned about both women, especially Mary.

Mary shows a terrible face, She is pale and looks really scared.

Mrs. Bassat seems to be upset and worried about Mary but her pose shows she is determined to help her and find a definiitive solution for Mary´s suffering.

The furniture, the books and the room tidines lead me to think that they are not in Jamaica Inn, they might very likely be at Mrs. Bassat´s.

Thomas

In this scene two women are staying in a paneled room of an old mansion. On the left Mary is sitting on a green cushioned chair her face lined with stress and her eyes looking creepy. Right next to her Mrs Basset ist standing in a ruffled purplish-indigo colored apron looking rather droopy.

Ammår

this is bad atmosphere at all , Mary is scared and set in old chair and spot on her ante , Mrs Basssat in right of picture she still stand up and looks tired , there is old books library . 

the weather out side this room looks cloudy and rainy 

Pawan

It's a melancholic scene, with Mary looking appalled and Mrs.Bassat deeply concerned, they portray an alarming event. Marry, with those ruffled dress, greenish in color, look dreadful. She must have heard some horrid news from Mrs. Bassat who doesn't seem as horrified as she is. Mrs. Bassat's gloomy face, with blonde hair, also indicates some sinister happening. Furthermore, the old-fashioned furniture, rugged clothes, rather dark room adds dreariness to the scene.  

José, France

This picture shows two persons in a room which gives some sad feelings, owing to the fact that colours are not very flamboyant. On the left, Mary seems quite frightened, and on the right Mrs Bassad has a vacant look and appears very confused. The clothes they are wearing are pleated and suggest that they have been enduring tough circumstances. So the atmoshpere is very tense, oppressive as if something went or will go amiss.

Ília

Mary appears very frightened sat down on a chair with her hands raised in front of her paled face and Mrs Bassat stands up with a worried expression as something bad had happened. The women are in a library full of books in a heavy atmosphere even colours
without blow expresses sadness. Both are wearing ruffled garments which underlines the scenario of mistery.
The room and the way characters are dressed take us to a country style on XIX century.

Mohammad Al Afifi, Palestine

In an upset scene Mary is  emotionally chocked setting on an old chair, Mrs. Bassat is standing near Mary and looking at her sadly, Both of them are wearing old fashioned clothes with pale colors. The room is surrounded with green, purple and brown books, It looks like a small library, Room's door is open into corridor with glass window.

The atmosphere is really full of fear and anxiety.

Swam, Myanmar

 This picture is a classic, dull and a vividly coloured image at a library.Mary is wearing  sand-like clothes while Mrs Bassat is wearing a pale purplish dress. It seems like a distressing situation as Mary seems tearful. She probably wants to tell Mrs Bassat about her terrible experiences she had on the ship. Mary looks tearful while Mrs Bassat seems a bit tense.

Overall, this is an interesting image.

End of Session 4

That's the end of this session. We hope you've enjoyed the discussions about art, and also learned lots more useful adjectives and adverbs. Next try Unit 9, and learn about the third conditional.