The use of imagery varies among different poets with each author using imagery to their own benefit. Poetry is a form of literature which uses the power of words and language in the form of using rhythm and rhyme, as well as textual devices such as alliteration, assonance, metaphor and simile to express a message; thus, use of imagery simplifies the understanding of the poem by the reader.
Use of imagery in poems helps the reader to clearly envision the scenes and participate in the meaning of the poem (Creely, 2019). This is because the author of the poem is able to create a vivid picture or influence a physical sensation which enables the reader to easily relate the intended meaning of the poem (Creely, 2019). Some poets use images to represent their feelings or ideas to illustrate different meanings with words, while others use images that evoke strong reactions from readers as they draw on their own personal experiences to interpret their symbols. In order for any work that includes imagery to be successful in assisting a reader’s understanding, it is important for the writer or poet to create an image that prompts the desired response from their audience. By doing so, the poet is able to affect the reader’s feelings and emotions; thus, enhancing the reader’s understanding of the message. Use of imagery in poems also enables incorporation of the reader’s senses which include seeing, touching, smelling, tasting, and hearing (Creely, 2019). This is achieved by use of images which are familiar to specific interpretations; thus, the reader is able to compare the discussion of the poem to real life actions or items. There are five types of imagery, and each one is related to every human sense. They include visual imagery, auditory imagery, olfactory imagery, gustatory imagery, and tactile imagery; the imagery types affect human senses of seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and touching (Creely, 2019). Gustatory imagery is used by many writers especially those who use food in order to evoke feelings of hunger or satisfaction in their audience; while auditory imagery is mostly used by poets who describe sounds to convey feelings such as hearing thunder or birds chirping in order to elicit feelings such as anger or happiness from readers. The reader’s attention is also captivated by use of imagery in poems as it somehow gives life to the message; thus, making it effective enough to affect the reader’s emotions and feelings. As a result, the intended message of the author is successfully conveyed to the reader.
In conclusion, imagery is a feature commonly used throughout most verses in everyday language; therefore, it plays a very important role in poems. As a result, poetry has been regarded by many authors as equivalent to painting or drawing which also uses images to portray scenes and express various feelings from readers (Ramadhanti & Yanda, 2018). Besides, poetry is usually separated into genres, and imagery may determine the style of writing used by an author. For example, a poet who utilizes vivid description such as similes and metaphors when describing images or objects is considered to have a poetic license. By doing so, the poet is able to show a strong affinity for imagery and demonstrate their understanding of how to write in a style that causes strong response from their audience (Ramadhanti & Yanda, 2018)..
References
Creely, E. (2019). ‘Poetry is dying’: Creating a (re) new (ed) pedagogical vision for teaching poetry. Australian Journal of Language and Literacy, 42(2), 116-127. https://search.informit.org/doi/abs/10.3316/aeipt.223597Ramadhanti, D., & Yanda, D. P. (2018). Understanding poetry through the use of cooperative learning model. Jurnal Cakrawala Pendidikan, 37(3). https://journal.uny.ac.id/index.php/cp/article/view/20675
