Imagery is described as a descriptive comparison of two things that don't have a literal relationship, such as events, situations, or objects. With the help of deep comparisons made possible by imagery, which is figurative language, an audience is able to connect ideas, thoughts, actions, and many other things to their bodily senses. Using imagery allows the author to perfectly convey his or her ideas to the public or readers. It is a literary technique that enables readers to create, depict, and visualize a more complete image of the poem. The five human senses—taste, touch, sight, scent, and hearing—are also utilized. Additionally, it makes use of human feelings, motions, and sensations like hunger. This assignment discusses "Tears, Idle Tears" by Alfred Lord Tennyson by analyzing the application of imagery and figurative language in the poem and how the literary devices contribute to the communication of the meaning of the poem.
Imagery and Figurative in Tears, Idle Tears
The persona laments of the source of tears that come from the heart but drains out through the eye. The sad past days of the persona are enlivened when he watches out through windows. He describes the sight of the past as
Fresh as the first beam glittering on a sail (6)
Past history is equated to the vibrancy of morning glitter. The freshness means vividness and clarity with which sailors view initial beams of light, especially in the morning. It is freshness full of hopes and expectations. The persona's memory of the past creates a nostalgic and valuable remembrance of the past relations who died.
Sad as the last which reddens over one (8)
The past memory troubles the persona, and he equates memory of the past with the ability to control over a person. Severally of his imagery are employed in revealing how sad past days become uncontrollably powerful to subdue a person's current time.
Ah, sad and strange as in dark summer dawns (11)
Dear as remembered kisses after death (16)
And sweet as those by hopeless fancy feigned (17)
The past's worthiness is equated to remembered kisses from the dead lover. In literal terms, kisses from the dead loved ones are valuable and unique. They are predominantly irreplaceable and greatly vital to people who remember them. Towards the end, the author connects past days to death in life. The past can never come again, but keep haunting, exciting and troubling the minds of the living. The author heavily employs figurative language and imagery to express his deep desires for the past days. The author also equated the uniqueness of the past days to sweetness and kisses.
Conclusion
In summary employment of imagery in poems improves levels of visualizations, enhance mental images for readers and create model vital understanding for the reader. A poem without imagery appears dull and is weak in communicating its message. Alfred Lord Tennyson employed an elaborate use of imagery in "Tears, Idle Tears". He mainly employs critical descriptive and comparative approaches that trigger critical sensory and visual perceptions. The imagery contributed in revealing the sadness in past memories. He displays such memories that cause free flow of the tears down the eyes. Reading of the poem makes the reader wish to have a view of the persona's past times and creates the definition people's history which cannot be re-lived. Such histories only rest in people's mind which is impossible to share with other's unless through the use of imagery.
Work cited
Mays, Kelly J. The Norton Introduction to Literature. , 2017. Print.
