Final answer:
In literature, low relief (bas relief) functions similarly to its role in visual arts, wherein it adds depth and nuance to convey the setting's mood. It allows readers to feel the atmosphere vividly, much like in Poe's detailed and symbolic settings. Authors use descriptive details as tools to create a textured narrative, paralleling the way carvers add depth in bas-relief sculpture.
Step-by-step explanation:
In literature, the function of low relief (bas relief) is similar to its role in the visual arts, where it helps to create a textured, three-dimensional surface to convey depth and nuance. The term bas-relief refers to a technique in which the sculpted elements are slightly raised above the background but do not stand out as much as they would in a high relief or a full round sculpture. By adding layers of complexity to the aesthetic experience, low relief can be used metaphorically in literature to establish the setting's mood.
For example, a literary work might describe a setting with such vivid detal that it feels almost sculptured, allowing the reader to perceive the atmosphere in a more tangible manner. This technique can be particularly effective in stories where the setting itself is symbolic or reflective of the characters' internal states. It paints a picture in the reader's mind, much like a bas-relief sculpture presents a story through images carved in low relief. When authors craft their narratives with this level of detail, the readers can almost feel the setting around them, which in turn helps to evoke the intended mood.
An excellent literary example is Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher," where the detailed, dark, and oppressive setting not only sets the mood but also parallels the psychological state of the characters. Similarly, in describing the setting, authors use words as carvers use tools, scraping away the unnecessary elements to leave behind only what's important to understand the mood and theme of the story.