Imagery/Figurative Language

Figurative language gives a deeper meaning to the words on the page and can help convey the message of the author in a simpler and more related way. Figurative language can take a complex idea and make it easier to understand because of how a metaphor relates it to the real world. For example, in To the Virgins he compares a woman virginity to a rose bud and then a flower to time. The flowers arrival and passing shows the suddenness of time and how as soon as it is there it will be gone. He compares life to a race in order to exemplify his point of taking advantage of the time you have and waiting for nothing. This language makes the poem smoother and helps us understand his point in real world situations. Therefore, figurative language does its purpose by improving the flow and meaning of the poem.