I. Tropisms and tropes -- I.1. The question of tropisms -- I.2. Trope as metaphor -- II. Figures -- II.1. The fold -- II.2. The serpentine line -- II.3. The sublime -- II.4. Francis Ponge -- II.5. Nathalie Sarraute -- III. Image-scheme and diagram -- III.1. Mark Johnson -- III.2. Dynamics -- III.3. Diagrams -- III.4. Blobs and splines -- IV. Exercises -- IV.1. Crystalline and labyrinthine -- IV.2. Below and above -- IV.3. Inside and outside -- IV.4. The spiral -- IV.5. The Moebius strip