can silhouette move?

[alpacinou]

Hello,

I'm writing a short story for practicing. I want to describe a situation when a man is looking at a woman's room which is lit by candlelight. Can I use "silhouette" in this situation?

Does this work?

He could see her silhouette against the candlelight, swaying/flitting on the wall.

I know shadow is easier to use. But I want to see how silhouette would work in that situation.

 

[emsr2d2]

It works if you swap two of the ideas round, and change the descriptive verb and the preposition.

He could see her silhouette against the wall, flickering in the candlelight.

I don't like either "swaying" or "flitting". If something sways, it moves rhythmically back and forth. That's not the effect that candlelight has on shadows. Moths and butterflies flit. It's a rapid, unpredictable movement.

Nothing is flickering (or anything else) against the candlelight. The girl/woman must be between the candle and the wall for the effect to happen.

 

[alpacinou]

He could see her silhouette against the wall, flickering in the candlelight.

That's a great sentence. So basically, "silhouette" means shadow in that sentence, right? Can it be replaced by shadow?

And what is the meaning of "flicker" in your sentence? Is it this definition from dictionary?

2 : to appear or pass briefly or quickly

Because definition 1 says "shine".

 

[emsr2d2]

Technically, I admit, it's the light from the candle that's flickering (definition 1 here), but that effect is transferred to her silhouette. You could use "shadow" as well, although I picture a shadow as being somewhat less well-defined than a silhouette. Having said that, unless it's a really bright candle, it's more likely to be a shadow on the wall than a perfect silhouette.

 

[alpacinou]

Technically, I admit, it's the light from the candle that's flickering (definition 1 here), but that effect is transferred to her silhouette. You could use "shadow" as well, although I picture a shadow as being somewhat less well-defined than a silhouette. Having said that, unless it's a really bright candle, it's more likely to be a shadow on the wall than a perfect silhouette.

Okay. Great. I have two more questions:

1. What is a "verb" that can be used to describe the movement of her shadow on the wall?

2. How can I fit "body" and also "curtain" into your sentence? Does this work?

Through the curtain, he could see her slender body's silhouette against the wall, flickering in the candlelight.

 

[emsr2d2]

Okay. Great. I have two more questions:

1. What is a "verb" that can be used to describe the movement of her shadow on the wall?

2. How can I fit "body" and also "curtain" into your sentence? Does this work?

Through the curtain, he could see her slender body's silhouette against the wall, flickering in the candlelight.

1. If I could have thought of a better one, I'd have used it.
2. "Through the curtain" is OK. "body" is redundant there. "her slender silhouette" would say the same thing. It's clearly the silhouette of her body.

 

[alpacinou]

Can we use "drift" as verb to describe the movement of shadow? "Her shadow drifted on the wall".

 

[GoesStation]

Can we use "drift" as verb to describe the movement of shadow? "Her shadow drifted on the wall".

It could drift along the wall.

 

[alpacinou]

What do you think about this?

Through the curtain, he could see her slender silhouette drifting along the wall, in the candlelit room.

 

[emsr2d2]

No, that's really weird! It sounds as if she's stationary but her silhouette is on the move. Spooky!!

 

[alpacinou]

No, that's really weird! It sounds as if she's stationary but her silhouette is on the move. Spooky!!

So, how can I use "drift along"?

 

[GoesStation]

So, how can I use "drift along"?

Try this: