How to analyze imagery in poetry

As you already know, poets are known for using all sorts of literary devices, including symbolism, rhyme, meter, and
metaphors. They also use plenty of imagery.

Poets often use imagery to set the entire mood of the poem. They create a feeling they wish to express and hope the
reader feels it as well.

Let’s take a look at “Root Cellar” by Theodore Roethke and examine how the poet uses imagery:

Nothing would sleep in that cellar, dank as a ditch,

Bulbs broke out of boxes hunting for chinks in the dark,

Shoots dangled and drooped,

Lolling obscenely from mildewed crates,

Hung down long yellow evil necks, like tropical snakes.

And what a congress of stinks!—

Roots ripe as old bait,

Pulpy stems, rank, silo-rich,

Leaf-mold, manure, lime, piled against slippery planks.

Nothing would give up life:

Even the dirt kept breathing a small breath

It’s pretty easy to see the imagery in this poem, but what is there to say other than Roethke paints a picture of a root
cellar?

Start with the obvious: what you see when you read the poem. Roethke creates a scene of a dark, dank, musty old root
cellar. It smells bad and is full of weeds.

Most of the poem is dark, maybe even a bit depressing. But the final lines offer a sense of hope as the speaker states
that, even in this environment, “Nothing would give up life.”

Even dirt is alive and breathing. (This, of course, might be compared to the human condition. People often struggle in
deep, dark spaces, but they continue on, fighting for life and happiness.)

Next, let’s move on to literary terms that poems often use to help exemplify imagery.

In addition to imagery, “Root Cellar” contains:

 Alliteration (use of the same beginning sounds in words). Example: “Bulbs broke out of boxes” and “dangled and
drooped.” Alliteration creates a sense of rhythm to the poem and an image of the bulbs.

 Simile (a comparison to seemingly dissimilar objects). Example: The shoots had “long yellow evil necks, like
tropical snakes.” This comparison not only helps readers visualize the the length and color of the weeds but also
creates an image of life. The weeds are moving, growing, and slithering like snakes.

 Connotation (assigning meaning to a word beyond a literal dictionary definition). Example: “Roots ripe as old
bait.” Readers will likely assign a negative connotation to this phrase since they imagine the smell. This phrase
also adds sense of smell to the already-present visual imagery.
One final takeaway when analyzing imagery in poetry: carefully examine every word. Poets aren’t wordy. They choose
wisely and make every word count, so you better believe that, if a word is in a poem, it’s there for a reason.

After you’ve examined each word under the microscope, you can start to put your analysis into place to draft a poetry
paper.

How to analyze imagery in prose

Analyzing imagery in prose, such as a short story or novel, is similar to analyzing imagery in poetry, but you’re working
with complete sentences, paragraphs, and images built into a larger scope of a story.

Often, the writers of stories and novels aren’t using imagery as the sole focus of their work, but they’re generally trying
to make a point. The imagery is there for a reason.

Authors often use imagery to set the scene and help readers put themselves in the characters’ shoes.

To illustrate, here’s an excerpt from The House on Mango Street  by Sandra Cisneros:

But the house on Mango Street is not the way they told it all. It’s small and red with tight steps in front and windows so
small you’d think they were holding their breath. Bricks are crumbling in places, and the front door is so swollen you
have to push hard to get in. There is no front yard, only four little elms the city planted by the curb. Out back is a small
garage for the car we don’t own yet and a small yard that looks smaller between the two buildings on either side. There
are stairs in our house, but they’re ordinary hallway stairs, and the house has only one washroom. Everybody has to
share a bedroom—Mama and Papa, Carlos and Kiki, me and Nenny.

Here, Cisneros creates a vivid image of the house that the child narrator will soon move into. The author uses
personification to bring the windows to life (as they’re “holding their breath”), but the other literary devices often seen
in poetry are absent in this example.

Instead, the author focuses on specific word choices to create the image. You can see the small, red, crumbling house.
You can visualize a house crammed between other houses with only a tiny yard and young trees.

The author also includes tactile imagery as you can imagine yourself struggling to open a door that is “so swollen you
have to push hard to get in.”

It’s obvious that the author includes imagery to describe the scene. But as you write your essay, it’s important to ask
yourself why  the author includes these specific images. What purpose  do they serve within the larger context of the
story?

In this case, the author includes this powerful imagery so that readers can sense the disappointment and shame the
child feels as she looks at her new home.

“They” (presumably her parents) had told her about a new house they were moving to, but it’s apparent that they
described the house differently. The child doesn’t see the house as anything she wants to live in.

She simply sees a run-down, tired old house that isn’t at all what she imagined.

The purpose is to allow readers to stand in the character’s shoes. The imagery creates a mood of sadness and
disappointment. It helps readers connect with the character, learn more about the character as an individual, and learn
more about the character’s role in the story.

If you have a good sense of imagery but are looking for more help putting your ideas into essay format, check out these
posts:

 How to Write a Literary Analysis That Works

 Writing About Literature: 9 Things You Need to Know

One final piece of advice: don’t start writing without a little bit of planning. Spend time taking notes about imagery as
you read. Jot down examples and what you think they mean. Once you’ve read the literature and taken notes, outline
your ideas.

…………………..

imagery in this passage is vivid, you can almost feel the ground shaking under the force of his stomp and hear the crash
of his scrap-iron handicaps as they hit the floor. The author definitely uses amplification in this passage. He could have
just said “Harrison broke of his head harness” but instead he uses phrases like “thrust his thumbs under the bar of the
padlock” and “the bar snapped like celery” to make the reader get the point that Harrison is not struggling with his task.
Harrison is a major protagonist in this story, if not the only one, because he is the one who rises up against the
antagonist power of the Handicapper General, Diana Moon Glampers, and tries to set some people free of the
handicaps, to show them what it is like to live without restraints. Harrison is trying to show everyone that they have a
serious potential if they were to get rid of their own handicaps. The author alludes Harrison’s physical qualities to that of
Thor, the god of thunder, in Norse mythology. All in all I thoroughly enjoyed this reading and wish it did not end as it did.

…………….

Essay Writing Blog

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How to Write a Literary Analysis That Works

December 9, 2015

What is a literary analysis, and what is it good for?

Please don’t reply, “Absolutely nothing, say it again y’all!”

You might think that a literary analysis isn’t good for anything, but it actually helps sharpen your writing skills and
your critical thinking abilities.

If you can write a stunning literary analysis, you have a pretty good chance of doing well in your literature course, too, so
that’s definitely a bonus!

This all sounds great, right, but what do you do if you’re not quite sure how to even start? If you’re in need of a little
help, you’ve come to the right place. I’m here to explain how to write a literary analysis that works.

What Is a Literary Analysis?

A literary analysis is quite simply an analysis of a piece of literature. Makes sense, right?

Your goal is to carefully examine a piece of literature. To do this, you need to break it into smaller pieces. This will help
you understand the writing as a whole.

As you read, pay close attention to what characters say and do. Even a small action or comment can be significant. For
example, consider how the simple phrase, “Out, damned spot; out, I say” reveals Lady Macbeth’s guilt and descent into
madness.

Also pay attention to (and actively look for) the literary terms you’ve learned about in class.  You know, terms like plot,
character, foreshadowing, symbolism, and theme.

Remember: even though plot can be an important component of a literary analysis, a literary analysis is not a plot
summary.

Let me say that again for emphasis: A literary analysis is not  a plot summary.

Don’t write a paper that explains every single plot point of the story. While it may be appropriate to include a brief
summary of the literature, the summary shouldn’t be the focus of your essay.

Remember, you’re analyzing a key element of the literature. You’re not telling your friend what happens in the story.

Here’s a mini literary analysis example to help explain what I mean.

Let’s look at Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery”.

Need inspiration? Check out these example essays on “The Lottery.”

Here’s a plot summary. It tells you what happens in the story. This is not  a literary analysis.

In “The Lottery,” villagers gather to draw the name of the person who will win the lottery. Here’s the kicker though, the
person doesn’t win a million dollars, as might be the case with a modern story of this title. Instead, the person who wins
the lottery is stoned to death by the rest of the villagers to ensure a good harvest. This isn’t a lottery that anyone would
want to win.
Here’s the start to a good literary analysis. This example chooses a small element of the story (the black box) and
explains its importance (what the box symbolizes).

While a simple box may not seem to matter, when you look at it in the larger context of the story, you’ll see that the
shabby black box, which holds the slips of paper with each villager’s name, is actually an important symbol.

Notice that the box is black. Black symbolizes death. The box is old and worn out, yet the villagers won’t replace it. This
symbolizes the tradition of the lottery. It, too, is old and dated, yet villagers cling to the tradition.

See the difference? A summary simply retells the plot, while an analysis explains and analyzes an important element of
the story.

Read: How to Write a Good Essay: Stop Summarizing, Start Commentating

Ready to move on to a more detailed, step-by-step explanation?  Great!  Let’s get to work!

How to Write a Literary Analysis That Works

1. Read the literature carefully

I know this is a basic step, but my point here is that you should actually read  the material. Don’t rely on Spark Notes or
Shmoop. These sites can be helpful in understanding material, but they’re no substitute for actually reading the original
text (even if you do  have to read all 500 pages of The Lord of the Rings).

2. Review literary terms, and take notes as you read

It can be hard to remember every detail of a story or find a specific quote in a 500 page novel. Save yourself time and
the frustration of pouring through each page again by writing down your thoughts, asking questions, and highlighting
important information.

Remember when I mentioned literary terms? Here’s where you’ll take notes about those, too.

If the book is titled  The Lord of the Rings and you notice that the ring plays an important role in the novel, chances are
that ring is a symbol of something.  Take notes about the ring as you read (noting page numbers!), so you’ll be able to
use the ideas to support your analysis.
Read: 10 Note Taking Strategies to Write a Better Essay

3. Understand your assignment

In some cases, writing a literary analysis means you’re writing your own original analysis and won’t need any additional
sources to support your claims.

Some assignments will require you to complete research and use outside expert analysis to support your ideas.

These are two different assignments, so before you begin, make sure you’re writing the right type of paper!

4. Introduction and Thesis Statement

Reach out and grab your readers! Not literally, of course. But an introduction should  grab readers’ attention and make
them want to keep reading.

If you’re writing a literary analysis without the help of sources, try opening with a question that you’ll answer in your
paper.

Here’s an example: The symbols of light and dark are prominent throughout literature, but what unique role do these
seemingly common symbols play in The Lord of the Rings?

If you’re using outside research, try opening with an interesting or shocking quote from a source.

Here’s what an opening line of a literary analysis of The Lord of the Rings might look like if you’re using sources.

J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings  was published in 1954-1955 and “…has been hailed by many literary critics as a
classic work of literature, one of the best—or the best—of the twentieth century” (McPartland 1).

After you introduce your topic in the introductory paragraph(s), you’ll wrap up the introduction with a clear and specific
thesis statement.
The thesis statement functions like a mini road map of your paper and tells your readers the subject and focus of your
paper. (To learn more about thesis statements, read How to Write a Thesis Statement in 5 Simple Steps .)

Check out these thesis statement examples you might use for a literary analysis of The Lord of the Rings.

Sample Thesis Statement #1: The key symbol in The Lord of the Rings is the ring itself, as it symbolizes power.

Sample Thesis Statement #2: Upon close reading, a number of themes emerge from The Lord of the Rings; however,
one of the primary themes is good versus evil.

These sample thesis statements provide readers with a specific focus, with the first example clearly focusing on
symbolism and the second clearly focusing on theme.

Once you have written an appropriate thesis statement, you have a direction for your paper and are ready to begin the
actual analysis.

5. Analyze Literary Devices

Now’s the time to take a look at your notes again and review the observations you made about literary devices, such as
theme, symbol, and character.

Break down the literature by examining each of these literary elements to see what role they play.

It’s a lot like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. You need to examine each piece individually to see how it forms the larger
picture.

Let’s look at an example.

Here’s a working thesis statement:  The key symbol in The Lord of the Rings is the ring itself, as it symbolizes power.

In this paper, you’ll focus on symbolism.Your literary analysis needs to create an argument and explain to
readers how  the ring symbolizes power. To do this, you’ll of course need specific examples from the novel.

Because the ring is a changing symbol throughout the story, you can provide a number of examples. For instance, the
ring is a symbol of evil power. The ring also symbolizes a desire for power.

Here’s another working thesis statement: Upon close reading, a number of themes emerge from The Lord of the Rings;
however, one of the primary themes is good versus evil.

In this paper, your focus is theme. Your literary analysis, will provide readers with examples to help explain the
importance of the theme good vs. evil in the novel.

Throughout The Lord of the Rings, characters are in a constant battle of good and evil. The ring was created by evil and
continually tempts even the most good and honest characters. Your analysis will include specific examples of characters
being tempted, their struggles with good and evil, and their ultimate end of succumbing to the darkness of evil.

6. Conclusion

Every good essay ends with a good conclusion.

Wrap up your literary analysis by summing up your main ideas and restating your thesis (using different wording than
your original thesis statement, of course).

If you’re writing about the symbolism of the ring in The Lord of the Rings your conclusion will restate the importance of
the ring as a symbol of power and how that symbol is carried throughout the entire novel.

Include a few key points of your analysis, such as how the ring symbolizes evil power as well as a desire for power.

Your final lines will bring the essay to closure. As a concluding strategy, you might connect your opening and closing lines
of your essay.

For instance, in the example above, I quoted a source that mentions the quality of the novel and its importance in
literary history.  Your concluding lines might restate this idea to emphasize the point.

Check out these example essays on The Lord of the Rings!

Final Thoughts on How to Write a Literary Analysis

Learning how to write a literary analysis takes practice–and revision. Don’t expect to quickly read a story and whip up
your paper during Mad Men commercial breaks.

Writing a literary analysis takes practice–and revision. You can’t do it during Mad Men commercial breaks.

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Budget your time wisely. Allow time for yourself to read (and possibly reread) the literature. Take notes as you read. And
make sure to organize and draft your ideas carefully.

If you want to learn even more about literary analysis before you start your paper, read 8 Components of a Smart
Literary Analysis.

If you’re having trouble deciding which literary device to focus on, I recommend taking a look at this detailed list of
literary devices, which includes definitions and plenty of examples.

Ready to have someone else review your analysis? Kibin editors are always ready to help!

Psst... 98% of Kibin users report better grades! Get inspiration from over 500,000 example essays.

About the Author

Susan M. Inez is a professor of English and writing goddess based out of the Northeast. In addition to a BA in English
Education, an MA in Composition, and an MS in Education, Susan has 20 years of experience teaching courses on
composition, writing in the professions, literature, and more. She also served as co-director of a campus writing center
for 2 years.

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