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IMAGERY IN POETRY

Perrine’s Poetry Chapter Four

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Imagery

  • It is defined as the representation through language of some experience.
  • Poetry will appeal to us through our senses.

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The Types of Imagery (the main ones)

  • Visual Imagery: Sight. Allows readers to “see” what the poem is about.
  • Auditory Imagery: Sound. Allows readers to hear what is happening.
  • Olfactory imagery: Smell. Helps the reader smell.
  • Gustatory imagery: Taste: Allows reader to taste.
  • Tactile imagery: Allows reader to feel what is being discussed.
  • There is also organic imagery (bodily feelings) and kinesthetic imagery (movement of muscles, body).

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  • Organic imagery: internal sensations such as hunger, nausea, fatigue, and thirst. It can also be longing, regret, desire.

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  • Kinesthetic imagery (or Kinesthesia): movement or tension in the muscles or joints. Examples: swept around, plunged and jolted, sweeping waves, stretching their muscles, over strained and oozed.

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We are going to add one:

  • Pastoral Imagery: The pastoral is a idealized imitation of rural life, usually the life of an imaginary Golden Age, in which the loves of shepherds and shepherdesses play a prominent part; its ends are sometimes sentimental and romantic, but sometimes satirical or political.
  • Therefore, the pastoral imagery is used to enhance the feeling that an ideal has been lost. However, pastoral imagery is also used as a means to criticize in a safe and subtle manner.

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What Senses are Appealed to Here?

  • Meeting at Night
  • By Robert Browning
  • I �
  • The grey sea and the long black land; �
  • And the yellow half-moon large and low; �
  • And the startled little waves that leap �
  • In fiery ringlets from their sleep, �
  • As I gain the cove with pushing prow, �
  • And quench its speed i' the slushy sand. �
  • �
  • II �
  • Then a mile of warm sea-scented beach; �
  • Three fields to cross till a farm appears; �
  • A tap at the pane, the quick sharp scratch �
  • And blue spurt of a lighted match, �
  • And a voice less loud, thro' its joys and fears, �
  • Than the two hearts beating each to each!

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