He hooks an arm around his son's neck and is at once caught in a fierce embrace. He smooths the dark head wedged against his shoulder, brushes the hair aside at the back of his neck to touch bare skin.
Is this a metaphor or imagery?
"The ground is wet, and smells of smoke; it feels soft and spongy to his touch."
On the second, it is imagery.
On the first, it is imagery.
I am wondering how you are defining imagary. The use of Metaphors is one way to create imagary. A metaphor uses a comparison of two unlike things to create an image. There are other ways to create an image. So asking is the a metaphor or imagery would cause a great difficulty when one used metaphoric imagary. It is similar to the question, "Is this a Ford or an automobile?"
Based on the description provided, it seems like a person is hugging their son tightly, with their arm around the son's neck. They are comforting their son by gently caressing his head and touching the bare skin on the back of his neck.
This scene depicts a physical expression of affection and comfort between a parent and child. Physical touch can be a powerful tool for fostering emotional connections and conveying support. This gesture can help create a sense of security, love, and intimacy between the two individuals involved.
It is important to note that the context and intention behind physical interactions can vary greatly depending on the relationship and cultural norms. In this particular instance, it seems to be a loving and protective embrace between a parent and child.