Throughout literary history, especially poetry, imagery is proclaimed as one of the most powerful aspects of good poems. Just as images flow in the bloodstream of the best fiction, there needs to be an image at the heart of a poem: a distinct object, an explicit place, or an unambiguous character.
Actually, readers best identify with images; young children have never seen a live Grinch, yet they can imitate a Grinch to a t! Dr. Seuss knew exactly why he wrote in the poetic style he wrote. This is not surprising since images are created from the foundation of the human senses. Being an element of poetry is only one level of understanding how imagery impacts literature.
There is a particular literary period, in fact, that strictly focuses on the imagist style of poetry. This period is often referred to as the Imagist Movement. It is most prominent from 1909 to 1918. Actually, the name referred to group of American poets who shared revolutionary poetry and beliefs not only about literature but about one's written expression of life.
According to Holman, "Imagism was a spirit of revolt against conventionalities rather than a goal set up as in itself a permanently lasting objective." There is a paradox, however. A majority of the Imagist principles are founded upon the ancient styles of Chinese and Japanese poetry.
These Imagist poets maintain that poetry employ certain major characteristics. First, the language of the poems are to be from common speech, but the words be exact, not nearly exact. Second, avoid clichés. Third, create new rhythms as the expression of new moods. Fourth, allow absolute freedom in the choice of subject. Fifth, present an image that is concrete. Sixth, to strive for concentration, which is the essence of poetry. Finally, seventh, to suggest rather than to offer complete statements.
My last article analyzed some poetry by William Carlos Williams who is an imagist poet. There are several Imagists along with him, but the poet who is one of the earliest Imagists is Ezra Pound (1885-1972). He is most known for his work entitled Cantos. He presents his perception of Imagist poetry:
"In the spring or early summer of 1912, 'H.D.', Richard Aldington and myself decided that we were agreed upon the three principles following: 1. Direct treatment of the 'thing' whether subjective or objective.
2. To use absolutely no word that does not contribute to the presentation.
3. As regarding rhythm: to compose in the sequence of the musical phrase, not in sequence of a metronome."
Actually, readers best identify with images; young children have never seen a live Grinch, yet they can imitate a Grinch to a t! Dr. Seuss knew exactly why he wrote in the poetic style he wrote. This is not surprising since images are created from the foundation of the human senses. Being an element of poetry is only one level of understanding how imagery impacts literature.
There is a particular literary period, in fact, that strictly focuses on the imagist style of poetry. This period is often referred to as the Imagist Movement. It is most prominent from 1909 to 1918. Actually, the name referred to group of American poets who shared revolutionary poetry and beliefs not only about literature but about one's written expression of life.
According to Holman, "Imagism was a spirit of revolt against conventionalities rather than a goal set up as in itself a permanently lasting objective." There is a paradox, however. A majority of the Imagist principles are founded upon the ancient styles of Chinese and Japanese poetry.
These Imagist poets maintain that poetry employ certain major characteristics. First, the language of the poems are to be from common speech, but the words be exact, not nearly exact. Second, avoid clichés. Third, create new rhythms as the expression of new moods. Fourth, allow absolute freedom in the choice of subject. Fifth, present an image that is concrete. Sixth, to strive for concentration, which is the essence of poetry. Finally, seventh, to suggest rather than to offer complete statements.
My last article analyzed some poetry by William Carlos Williams who is an imagist poet. There are several Imagists along with him, but the poet who is one of the earliest Imagists is Ezra Pound (1885-1972). He is most known for his work entitled Cantos. He presents his perception of Imagist poetry:
"In the spring or early summer of 1912, 'H.D.', Richard Aldington and myself decided that we were agreed upon the three principles following: 1. Direct treatment of the 'thing' whether subjective or objective.
2. To use absolutely no word that does not contribute to the presentation.
3. As regarding rhythm: to compose in the sequence of the musical phrase, not in sequence of a metronome."
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