preview

How Does The Author Use Imagery In Herman Melville's Writing

Good Essays

Maggie Asman
Mrs. Sparks
AP Literature- Period 2
11 December 2014
The Works of Herman Melville
Embodying the qualities of an author during his lifetime, Herman Melville utilizes imagery in his works in a quest to prove that nature is sublime and untamable. He was alive during the 1800’s and experienced the romantic era as a small child. His ideas were heavily influenced by the ideas of the Romantics and the way they valued nature. Herman Melville was a very adventurous man and starting when he was only twenty years old took his first sea voyage from New York City to Liverpool. This voyage was the main influence in the publishing of his first novel, Redburn: His First Voyage. Subsequently, he began to write more novels, short stories, and poems about his experiences …show more content…

Not only did he use the adventure and nature aspects of his journeys in his works, but he also included his personal knowledge about becoming independent and his growing individuality. This concept of individuality was very popular in the Romantic Era and was clearly a large influence in Melville’s writing. He effectively used imagery to keep his stories interesting and understandable. He brilliantly used this imagery to describe the fabulous phenomenon of nature and the individuality of many characters. Some of Melville’s numerous short stories include “Bartleby the Scrivener”, “The Piazza”, “Benito Cereno,” The Lightning-Rod Man,” “The Encantadas,” and “The Bell Tower.” All of these stories utilize extraordinary language infused with colorful imagery in

Get Access