This powerpoint is aimed to fulfill the assignment of I-Learning for Literature

1. Diction and Imagery
in Edgar Allan Poe’s
“A Dream”
ANISSA DYAH PERTIWI
13020114120026

2. 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, cotextual, and hypertextual by close
reading method. The writer found that this poem is dominated
by three imageries, which are visual imagery, kinesthethic
imagery, 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

3. 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.
Methodology
• To analyze the using of imagery in the poem.
• To analyze the using of diction in the poem.
Research Object
• The objects of research are sorted into a material and formal object.
Material object in this study is “A Dream”.

4. Biography of Edgar Allan Poe
• 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. 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.
• 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). 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.

5. 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?
A Dream
-Edgar Allan Poe-

6. Denotation
Denotation is the dictionary meaning or meanings of
the word (Sound and Sense, 38).
Examples:
• In visions of the dark night (Stanza 1 line 1)
• I have dreamed of joy departed (Stanza 1 line 2)
• Hath left me broken-hearted (Stanza 1 line 4)
• Ah! What is not a dream by day (Stanza 2 line 1)
• To him whose eyes are cast (Stanza 2 line 2)

7. Connotation
Connotations are what it suggest beyond what it is
expresses: its overtones of meaning (Sound and Sense, 38).
Examples:
• But a waking dream of life and light (Stanza 1 line 3)
• That holy dream-that holy dream (Stanza 3 line 1)
• While all the world chiding (Stanza 3 line 2)
• On things around him with a ray (Stanza 2 line 3)
• That holy dream-that holy dream (Stanza 3 line 1)

8. 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).

9. Imagery in “A Dream”
Example of visual imagery
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.

10. Imagery in “A Dream”
Example of organic imagery
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

11. Imagery in “A Dream”
Example of kinesthetic imagery
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.

12. 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.

13. 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.
• m.poemhunter.com/poem/flower-gathering/