Can I delete emails without opening them?

The only way I have found on the apple email client to delete an email is to right-click the subject line, then click delete.....problem is that when done this way, the actual email (not attachments) is opening in the body frame as you delete the message. Isn't there a way to simply delete the mail without letting the body open in the main frame? Like somehow highlight the emails you do not want to expose yourself to, then hit a delete button for all of them?

TIA