Clearly the vast majority of works of literature contain
lots of examples of imagery, which is a term used to describe the way that authors paint
pictures of what they are trying to describe with words. In particular, imagery helps to
try and make us "see" the picture by incorporating as many of the five senses as
possible: taste, sight, touch, smell and hearing. One example of this comes in Book I of
this epic classic, when Satan addresses his despondent troops who have been unsuccessful
in their attempt to overturn Heaven and depose God. Note how his soldiers respond to his
exhortations:
He spake: and to confirm his words, out
flew
Millions of flaming swords, drawn from the
thighs
Of mighty Cherubim; the sudden
blaze
Far round illumined Hell: highly they
raged
Against the Highest, and fierce with grasped
arms
Clashed on their sounding shields the din of
war,
Hurling defiance against the vault of
Heav'n.
Note how we have
strong visual images in this quote of the flaming swords being drawn, with the heat of
the flames indicated as well. Likewise we have our sense of hearing used as the cherubim
"rage" against God and clash their arms against their shields. Such strong images are to
be found again and again in this epic poem and help us to imagine the scene before our
eyes.
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