Submitted by Mundane-Cost4076 t3_xz3ucd in books
There’s so many people online saying how they don’t understand what things like this mean. Like “i just imagine him growling like a dog.” I don’t get it. Never as a reader have i been confused by this? It’s a speech tag or it’s figurative.
“He growled:” he said angrily, in a gravely voice.
“He barked:” he snapped, yelled.
“She hissed:” she spit it out, said harshly.
“Her eyes darkened:” her pupils dilated, she glowered, generally meaning her expression darkened.
“His jaw clenched:” this one is just literal, have people never seen this?
Obviously they don’t actually hiss or growl or bark. Just like the speech tag “snap” doesn’t mean they…actually snap? I understand some of them are overused but i don’t understand the hate and confusion.