How Do You Analyze Imagery In Poetry?
Poetry thrives on imagery. Whether the poet is describing a setting, an object, or a person, imagery brings the poem alive and allows it to linger in the reader’s imagination. Imagery can also highlight the poem’s theme. A carefully chosen image, when analyzed, can unpack the poet’s intent. In order to determine how and why a particular image is used, it is important to read the poem closely and to analyze the various ways the image is used to create a consistent theme. Read the poem. Take notes on the imagery that is used in the poem. Pay close attention to how the imagery is used and under what context it is being used. Determine whether the imagery is consistent throughout the poem. For instance, does the poem use a lot of nature images? Does it use cityscape imagery? Or does the poem use contradictory images, such as the juxtaposition of industrial images with natural ones? Analyze how the imagery is used in the poem and the effect it has overall. For instance, what effect does the
