LESSON 2

Imagery in Poetry

LEARNING OUTCOMES
Familiarize the different kinds of images or
imagery in literature.
Identify the images used in poetry to
communicate experience.
Discuss the connotative meanings of the imagery
used or created in the poem.

BEFORE READING

Dinner in Penang
A Poem by Jose Y. Dalisay, Jr.

ABOUT THE POEM

The speaker in the poem

recounts how he used to patronize a
food stall for its tasteful and satisfying
dishes. Though he later found out t hat
the dishes being served were dirty and
unhygienic, he still justified the food’s
dirt by its taste.

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MAKE CONNECTIONS

Do you enjoy eating street foods? What do you think are the most popular
street foods in the Philippines? Are there any of those that bring back ‘special’
memories for you? What are they?

Yes, I adore eating street foods, particularly when I am with my family or friends.
If you ask me, I believe that fishball, kwek-kwek, kikiam, isaw, turon, and other
turo-turo, as we call them in the Philippines, are the most popular street foods.
It’s not simply about the taste of those foods that brings back sentimental
memories for me; it’s the sense of dining with my family or friends while
debating which street food to buy at the food stall. It’s not also about the cost of
purchasing those food items, but rather the memories created along with my
family or friends, such as how a turon is prepared. Packed with delectable
components such as memories created and the things we used to say at that
time, and wrapped in turon wrapper to represent how we forget ourselves and
our duties whether in school or work, smiling and smirking.

ANALYZE LITERATURE: Imagery

Imagery is language that makes a picture in

your mind. In poetry, it is a vivid and vibrant form of
description that appeals to readers’ imagination and
senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell). These
are otherwise known as sense of the mind. These
sensory details in imagery bring works to life.

The following are the different types of

imagery in poetry.

Visual imagery: In this form of poetic imagery, the poet appeals to the reader’s
sense of sight by describing something the speaker or narrator of the poem sees.
It may include colors, brightness, shapes, sizes, and patterns.
E.g. “Mama, the gown I wore that night is fading
In the closet, unwashed black velvet exuding
Beauty irretrievably gone. It’s a backless
Sleeveless tube with big slits on the side,
Silver sequins on the padded bosoms, and white
Gloves for the spectacular beauty that I am.”—Ronald Baytan, “Queen”

Olfactory imagery: In this form of poetic imagery, the poet appeals to the
reader’s sense of smell by describing something the speaker of the poem inhales.
It may include pleasant fragrances or off-putting odors.
E.g. “Because behind the scent of women
That put leis ’round your neck,

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 The stinking smell of estuaries
Suffocate the people of Tondo.”—Romulo P. Baquiran, Jr.,
“My Country Is No Paradise, Mr. Jacobson”

Auditory imagery: This form of poetic imagery appeals to the reader’s sense of
hearing or sound. It may include music and other pleasant sounds, harsh noises,
or silence. In addition to describing a sound, the poet might also use a sound
device like onomatopoeia, or words that imitate sounds, so reading the poem
aloud recreates the auditory experience.
E.g. “Her coos and cry
Are now all echoes
Being reviewed in my skull…”—Mae Monteclaro Roca, “Amira”

Gustatory imagery: In this form of poetic imagery, the poet appeals to the
reader’s sense of taste by describing something the speaker or narrator of the
poem tastes. It may include sweetness, sourness, saltiness, savoriness, or
spiciness.
E.g. “Kay tamis ng oras sa sariling bayan,
Kaibigan lahat ang abot ng araw…”—Jose Rizal,
“Ang Awit ni Maria Clara”

Tactile imagery: In this form of poetic imagery, the poet appeals to the reader’s
sense of touch by describing something the speaker of the poem feels on their
body. It may include the feel of temperatures, textures, and other physical
sensations.
E.g. “Candles melt
the hard darkness
inside the church.”—Danton Remoto, “Candles”

Kinesthetic imagery: In this form of poetic imagery, the poet appeals to the
reader’s sense of motion. It may include the sensation of speeding along in a
vehicle, a slow sauntering, or a sudden jolt when stopping, and it may apply to
the movement of the poem’s speaker/narrator or objects around them.
E.g. “Palay siyang matino (He’s a behaved palay)
Nang humangi’y yumuko, (Who bowed when the wind blew)
Ngunit muling tumayo, (But stood up again)
Nagkabunga ng ginto.” (And bore gold)—Ildefonso Santos, “Palay”

Organic imagery: In this form of poetic imagery, the poet communicates

internal sensations such as fatigue, hunger, and thirst as well as internal
emotions such as fear, love, and despair.
E.g. “Perhaps she was just bored.
Bored with the man

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 Of the missing rib
Who was beginning to repeat
Himself, having run out of names
For the rest of the world.”—Fatima Lim, “The Forbidden Tree”
USE READING SKILLS: Analyze text’s lexical features

As you read the poem, determine the type of imagery created by the
words or ideas that are listed in the chart below. Then tell the possible meanings
of these imagery/images. A sample has been done for you.

Imagery-Connotation Chart

Word Type of Imagery Possible

Meaning/Connotation

1. two-ringgit dish visual cheap, affordable food

sweet year to a growing

2. hawker’s prawn visual
stew of spiritual symbolism

3. fragrant broth olfactory sweet or delicate

4. succulence tactile full of juice or juicy

5. joyfulness with the if poured in sauce, it

tactile
garlic sauce. becomes better

6. city’s slime tactile unhealthy or unsafe

7. waterborne diseases organic harmful

surprised, confused or
8. reason grapples tactile
questioned

9. sordid possibilities visual dirty

happy stomach or full

10. stomach’s heart tactile
stomach

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DURING READING

Dinner in Penang

A Poem by Jose Y. Dalisay, Jr.

1
For the second time in as many days Analyze Literature

2
I come to her, and have the same Supply the missing word:
The imagery in the lines “For
3
Two-ringgit dish of hawker’s prawn the second time in as many
days/I come to her and have
4
Steamed in fragrant broth, and its succulence the same…dish” implies that
5 the speaker in the poem
Completes in joyfulness with the garlic sauce.
___visiting (verb) a
particular food stall.

6
The next morning, Elangovan says to me:
Use Reading Skills
7
“Those prawns were fatted on the city’s slime—
8 Analyze text’s lexical
Look here, it’s in the papers,
features
9
Waterborne diseases on the rise!” Use the Imagery-
Connotation chart to
10
And while my reason grapples identify the imagery created
by the underlined words
11
With the sordid possibilities, and to give their possible
12 meanings.
My stomach’s heart has no regrets,
13
Having loved, without the need of asking,
14
Having departed more complete, in trusting. Culture Note

Street food culture is thriving in the Philippines, and Filipinos, like other Southeast
Asians, are creative and experimental in their methods of preparing and serving their
street food. Describe your favorite street food in terms of preparation and
presentation.
I don’t know if it is called a “street food”, but takoyaki is my favorite among the
others. Takoyaki is a fried spherical dish that are composed with batter, small chunks
of soft octopus, and some ingredients like chopped cabbage and meat flaws along
with their special sauces.

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 AFTER READING

Name: Adrian Phillip B. Subaldo Subject: Lit 111a

Yr/Cr/Sec: 1BSVetTech-A Date: 09/28/21

READING CHECK

Grasp the poem’s full implications and suggestions to answer the following
questions.

1. Who is the speaker in the poem?

The speaker in the poem is no other than the author itself, Jose Y. Dalisay, Jr.

2. How did the speaker find the “dish” based on the positive images/imagery
created by the words “fragrant”, “succulence”, and “joyfulness” in the first
stanza?

The speaker finds the “dish” based on the positive images/imagery created by
the words “fragrant”, “succulence”, and “joyfulness” in the first stanza by telling to
his/her readers that the dish itself smells good, extra-ordinary delicious, rich in
desirable qualities such as being full of juiciness and it’s perfect to his pallet.

3. How would you describe the “dish” based on the negative imagery created by
the words/lines fatted on the city’s slime, waterborne diseases, and sordid
possibilities?

If I would describe the “dish” based on the negative imagery created by the
words/lines fatted on the city’s slime, waterborne diseases, and sordid possibilities,
I would say that the cuisine is unhealthy, has germs on it due to being drenched
in water and may also contain ingredients that may harm one’s health, and it is
dirty.

4. What do you think was the initial reaction of the speaker when he found out
in the news that the “prawns” served to him were “fatted on the city’s slime”?

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I think, the initial reaction of the speaker when he found out in the news that the
“prawns” served to him were “fatted on the city’s slime” was that he, himself
recognizes and aware about the situation because of the fact that it is evident
enough to notice that it is unhealthy and at the same time dirty. He also have
second thoughts about the dish.

5. What was he thinking when he said “…my reason grapples with the sordid
possibilities”?

When he said, “…my reason grapples with the sordid possibilities” , I believe he was
thinking that he might feel sick or the audacity to not say anything at all, since he
knows, even in his stomach, that he has no regrets.

6. Did the speaker have regrets despite knowing the truth? How did he accept
the news/truth? Cite words or lines to support your answer.

The speaker has no regrets despite knowing the truth and by that he accepted it
whole-heartedly because he knows that he is satisfied based on the words/lines
“My stomach’s heart has no regrets, having loved, without the need of asking,
having departed more complete, in trusting”.

7. As we look into its deeper meaning, what social issue or reality is shown in
the poem?

The social issue or reality that is being shown in the poem is that it’s prominent
to find joy in everything you see, hear, and learn as long as you know to yourself
that you won’t regret it, that you deserve it and feel that it’s worth it. You don’t
need to justify yourself in order for others to understand and loved you, being
true to yourself is simply just and enough.

8. What values are emphasized/deemphasized in the poem?

The values that are emphasized in the poem is to be contented with the things
that brings you joy and happiness, rather than knowing or listening to the
opinions of others, and one of the undervalued qualities is the health and well-
being of an individual; we must look after our health and eat healthy and well-
balance food especially with the situation we have right now.

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THINK AND REFLECT

When is it more important to be happy than it is to be right? Explain your

answer.

Everything has a right timing, and going back to the question, when is it more
important to be happy than it is to be right. Well, if you asked me, I believe that
there is no time to be happy or to be right depending upon the situation you’re
handling with. Being right doesn’t always imply happiness, but if we’re
contented, it doesn’t matter who’s right or wrong. When you’re confident and
focused, being right isn’t as important. The only thing that matters is whether
that experience will lead me to a conclusion that I believed will contribute to my
pleasure or not.

USE READING SKILLS: Analyze lexical features

Identify, Label, and Explain. Underline the words/ lines that create sensory
imagery in the song lyrics. Determine the types of imagery that are created by
these words. Then tell their possible meanings.

Huwag Kang Matakot Types of Imagery Possible Meanings

by Eraserheads
Huwag kang matakot
'Di mo ba alam nandito
lang ako sa iyong tabi kinesthetic I’m always gonna be
'Di kita pababayaan there in times of
kailan man at Kung ikaw uncertainties
ay mahulog sa bangin ay
sasaluhin kita
Wag kang matakot na
matulog mag-isa
Kasama mo naman ako organic Don’t be afraid to show
'Wag kang matakot na what you felt inside
umibig at lumuha
Kasama mo naman ako
Huwag kang matakot
Huwag kang matakot
Dahil ang buhay mo'y
walang katapusan tactile Our future is in our
Makapangyarihan ang hand
pag-ibig na
Hawak mo sa 'yong
kamay
Ikaw ang diyos at hari ng
iyong mundo
Matakot sila sa'yo

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'Wag kang matakot na
matulog mag-isa
Kasama mo naman ako tactile You’re not alone
'Wag kang matakot na
umibig at lumuha
Kasama mo naman ako

'Wag kang matakot na

magmukhang tanga
Kasama mo naman ako organic Don’t be afraid for
'Wag kang matakot sa being stupid or fool
hindi mo pa makita
Kasama mo naman ako
Huwag kang matakot
Huwag kang matakot
'Di mo ba alam nandito
lang ako sa iyong tabi kinesthetic One call away
'Di kita pababayaan
kailan man

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