BLOG #6: IMAGERY/FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

The visually descriptive and figurative language of a literary work often enhance the read, and even more so inject the reader with a sense of familiarity.  First of all, imagery is very essential in a poem and often has the ability to attach a reader to the theme by strong and vivid imagery.  For example, in "Slam Dunk", Komunyakaa employs the use of very vivi imagery that literally paints an image in the mind of the reader, especially for athletes and basketball players.  "Nothing but a hot swish of strings like silk"paints a vivid image that any basketball player, or fan can relate to.  As a player, the feeling of a swish is relieving and soothing, almost like that feeling of having an ice cold drink on a hot summers day.  Next, figurative language in literary works also has the ability to enhance the readers understandability of what the poet or author is trying to convey.  In the poem "Traveling Through the Dark", Stafford uses personification to intensify his poem.  The personification adds to the mood of the poem, and also enhances the readers ability to comprehend the emotion "The car aimed ahead its lowered parking lights; under the hood purred the ready engine".  This personification turns the car into the killer, almost like a predator.  The use of imagery and figurative language enhance the read or any literary work by creating a certain feeling in the reader that he or she can often relate to.