Thursday, May 22, 2014

How does imagery deepen the meaning and emotional charge of poetry?

Imagery, though often linked to visual image, in poetry refers to words and phrases that connect with any of the five senses. This includes sight, the visual, but also hearing, smell, taste and touch. For example, a poet writes "I see a flower" and the connection to the reader is shallow. No image comes to mind. However, if the poet writes "A firework of pink and orange atop a green spire sent fragrant waves as...

Imagery, though often linked to visual image, in poetry refers to words and phrases that connect with any of the five senses. This includes sight, the visual, but also hearing, smell, taste and touch. For example, a poet writes "I see a flower" and the connection to the reader is shallow. No image comes to mind. However, if the poet writes "A firework of pink and orange atop a green spire sent fragrant waves as sweet as honey bursting into the wind" then the reader connects on an emotional level because of the connection to his five senses. In addition, the author creates meaning with the greater detail this language brings. Authors use many types of figurative language to create imagery in addition to simply using words that appeal to the five senses. Simile, metaphor, hyperbole and personification are some of the types of figurative language an author may use.

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