A Dream by Edgar Allan Poe

Diction and Imagery in Edgar Allan Poe's "A Dream" from Anissadifi

Diction and Imagery in Edgar Allan Poe's A Dream

Abstract

In this presentation the author tried to analyze “A Dream” by Edgar Allan Poe. The purpose of this writing is to analyze the intrinsic elements in Edgar Allan Poe’s "A Dream". Theories that used are textual, contextual, and hypertextual by close reading method. The writer found that this poem is dominated by three imageries, which are visual imagery, kinesthethic imagery, and organic imagery. This poem also contains connotation and denotation. In conclusion, “A Dream” by Edgar Allan Poe contains imagery and diction.

Keywords: imagery, diction, edgar allan poe, a dream

1.      Introduction

“A Dream” by Edgar Allan Poe is a poem about dream. This poem tells about the differences between a dream and a real life. The word “dream” here may refers to something which the author wanted to get and feel, or something in the past remaining joy.

2.      Methodology

a.       To analyze the using of imagery in the poem.

b.      To analyze the using of diction in the poem.

3.      Research Object

The objects of research are sorted into a material and formal object. Material object in this study is "A Dream" by Edgar Allan Poe.

4.      Biography and Poetry

This section will discuss the biography of Edgar Allan Poe and the Poetric Paraphrase

4.1.            Biography of Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Poe was born on 19 January 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of actors Elizabeth Arnold Hopkins (1787-1811) and David Poe (1784-1810). He had a brother named William Henry (1807-1831) and sister Rosalie (1811-1874). After the death of his parents Edgar was taken in by Frances (d.1829) and John Allan (d.1834), a wealthy merchant in Richmond, Virginia.

Young Edgar traveled with the Allans to England in 1815 and attended school in Chelsea. In 1820 he was back in Richmond where he attended the University of Virginia and studied Latin and poetry and also loved to swim and act. While in school he became estranged from his foster father after accumulating gambling debts. Unable to pay them or support himself, Poe left school and enlisted in the United States Army where he served for two years. He had been writing poetry for some time and in 1827 “Dreams”—Oh! That my young life were a lasting dream!—first appeared in the Baltimore North American, the same year his first book Tamerlane and Other Poems was published, at his own expense.

Taken from:

“Edgar Allan Poe”. Downloaded: November 05, 2015.
Available:

http://www.online-literature.com/poe/

4.2.            Poetic Paraphrase

A Dream

by Edgar Allan Poe

In visions of the dark night

I have dreamed of joy departed—

But a waking dream of life and light

Hath left me broken-hearted.

Ah! What is not a dream by day

To him whose eyes are cast

On things around him with a ray

Turned back upon the past?

That holy dream—that holy dream,

While all the world were chiding,

Hath cheered me as a lovely beam

A lonely spirit guiding.

What though that light, thro' storm and night,

So trembled from afar—

What could there be more purely bright

In Truth's day-star?

5.      Discussion

Discussion of the elements here is focussed on the aspect of intrinsic elements.

5.1.            Diction

Diction is the use of words in oral or written discourse. The qualifies of proper diction as illustrated by the work of standard authors are 1) the act selection of the word for the particular meaning to conveyed, 2) the use of legitimate words accepted as good usage, and 3) the use of words which are clear-cut and specific. (A Handbook to Literature)

There are two kinds of dictions :

1.      Denotation

Denotation is the dictionary meaning or meanings of the word. (Sound and Sense, 38)

2.      Connotation

Connotations are what it suggest beyond what it is expresses: its overtones of meaning. (Sound and Sense, 38)

Here are the diction we found in “A Dream”

Stanza 1 line 1

In visions of the dark night

Line 1 there are words “dark night”. They have denotation meaning as the part of the day when no light from the sun can be seen and most people and animals sleep. Meanwhile, by using connotation means, the words represent the sorrow which the narrator felt.

Stanza 1 line 2

I have dreamed of joy departed

In this line, there are words “joy departed”. They have denotation meaning. It shows that the joy comes to the writer and makes the writer full of happiness.

Stanza 1 line 3

But a waking dream of life and light

There are words “a waking dream of life and light”. They have connotation meaning that one day, the narrator realized that what made him happy was only a dream; it was not true, and it was not a reality.

Stanza 1 line 4

Hath left me broken-hearted

The words“broken hearted” have denotation meaning. He felt broken heart in the past and he thought that someone left him so he felt alone.

Stanza 2 line 1

Ah! What is not a dream by day

This line has denotation meaning. He thought that it was not a real but he wish that a dream by day will be come true.

Stanza 2 line 2

To him whose eyes are cast

This sentence has denotation meaning. “To him whose eyes are cast” mention that his eyes look quickly at something.

Stanza 2 line 3

On things around him with a ray

In this line, there are words “with a ray”. The word “a ray” have connotation meaning that shows a hope, it is connected to the line before, that Poe look everything around him with a hope that everything will be fine.

Stanza 2 line 4

Turned back upon the past?

That sentence in the line 4 has denotation meaning. “Turned back upon the past” clearly explain that Poe want to back to the past because, perhaps, the author felt comfortable.

Stanza 3 line 1

That holy dream-that holy dream

In this line, there are words “holy dream”. They have connotation meaning as a special dream that made Poe felt happy.

Stanza 3 line 2

While all the world chiding

In this line, there are words “the world chiding”. Those words have connotation meaning which the world refers to people around the world. So, Poe means that people around him are chiding his dream.

Stanza 3 line 3

Hath cheered me as a lovely beam

Line 3 there are words “a lovely beam”. That words connected with word “that holy dream” in the line before, it refers to the dream that made Poe felt warm and comfort.

Stanza 3 line 4

A lonely spirit guiding

This line contains denotation meaning. The words “a lonely spirit” refers to the dream which is come quietly like a spirit, and that dream guide Poe to somewhere.

Stanza 4 line 1

What though that light, thro' storm and night

As for the word “storm”, it has denotation meaning as an extreme weather condition with very strong wind, heavy rain and often thunder and lightning. The word “night” means the part of every 24-hour period when it is dark because there is very little light from the sun. However, with regard to connotation meaning, the words “storm and night” indicate sadness and sorrow. The narrator wondered if in reality the happiness comes after the sadness.

Stanza 4 line 2

So trembled from afar—

In this line, word “trembled” has denotation meaning as to shake slightly, usually because people are cold, frightened, or very emotional. As far as the connotation meaning is concerned, “trembled” shows that in a real life, there is sorrow. This feeling can be felt anytime and anywhere because the reality is full of both happiness and sadness.

Stanza 4 line 3

What could there be more purely bright

This line contains denotation meaning. The meaning of word “bright” is a shining of something. From this line, the readers can know that finally, the narrator realized that the reality is brighter than the dream.

Stanza 4 line 4

In Truth's day-star

With regard to denotation meaning, the words “Truth’s day-star” mean the bright of the truth. It represents the reality which is needed to be faced by the narrator because he realized that the dream would not come true.

5.2.            Imagery

Imagery may be defined as the representation through language of sense experience. Poetry indirectly appeals to our senses through imagery. Imagery is more incidental to a poem than metaphors, symbols and theme and they are often confused. Nevertheless, an image should conjure up something more than the mere mentioning of the object or situation. A mistake often made is to take every image as though it were a symbol or metaphor. (Sound and Sense, 38)

Here are the imagery we found in “A Dream”

Stanza 1 line 1

In visions of the dark night.

The words ‘dark night’ here represent visual imagery. Poe brings the reader to the vision of night which the color of the sky is dark. Although the moon and stars appear in the night’s sky, the night is still no brighter than the day’s sky.

 Stanza 4 line 3

What could there be more purely bright.

This line uses visual imagery because the reader can visualize the ‘bright’ which can be seen by the reader’s eyes. The words ‘purely bright’ show that there is sufficient light in the narrator’s life.

 Stanza 1 line 4

Hath left me broken-hearted

This line uses organic imagery. From the words ‘broken-hearted’, Poe makes the reader feel such internal sensation or at least can imagine the feeling of someone who is broken-hearted.

Stanza 3 line 3

Hath cheered me as a lovely beam

This line is organic imagery, according to the word ‘cheered’. Cheered is a kind of human’s feeling. Poe wanted to show the reader about something that can make someone feels happy

Stanza 3 line 1

A lonely spirit guiding

This line uses organic imagery because the word ‘lonely’ is also an internal sensation in human’s life. Lonely comes from the circumstance that someone is alone by herself/himself.

Stanza 2 line 4

Turned back upon the past?

This line uses kinesthetic imagery because ‘turned back’ is a movement. The human body is moved when someone turned back to see something left behind.

Stanza 4 line 2

So trembled from afar

This line is kinesthetic imagery since trembled means to shake slightly, usually because people are cold, frightened, or very emotional.

6.      Conclusion

A Dream by Edgar Allan Poe is a poem about dream. A Dream tells about the differences between a dream and a real life. In this poem, the narrator felt that the dream which he had could make him happy. He felt safe in his dream world that full of fantasies. The word “dream” here may refers to something which he wanted to get and feel, or something in the past remaining joy. That is why, when the dream disappeared, the narrator said that he was broken-hearted. He realized that it was only a dream and he had to face the reality.

As for literary element, Edgar Allan Poe uses imagery and diction, including connotation and denotation to explain more of his intention in describes his dream. He uses a holy dream to represent his special dream that makes Edgar Allan Poe fells happy. That connotation explains how much he enjoys his dream. Poe also uses imagery in his poem so that the reader can feely imagine the situation he wrote in the poem. Poe uses three kinds of imagery; they are visual, kinesthetic and organic.

References

Perrine, Laurence. 1969. Sound and Sense: An Introduction to Poetry. Atlanta: Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc.

Holt, Henry and Company. 1949. Complete Poems of Robert Frost. New York.

Harvey, Sir Paul. 1967. The Oxford Companion to English Literature. Oxford: The Clarendon Press.

Waggoner, Hyatt H. 1968. American Poets, From The Puritants to The Present. Canada: A Delta Book.

http://www.online-literature.com/poe/2159/

http://www.online-literature.com/poe/