The difference between imagery and symbolism

Symbolism is a current of Literature, just like when poets of the end of the 18-th and the beginning of the 19-th centuries used symbols to describe their feelings and impressions. E. A. Poe and others of that time. Imagery is everywhere in Literature, not only in one certain period - a number of images created not only with symbols, but also with simple characteristics. Smth like that

Here's one of the poems I'm analysing:

Poor Women in a Church by Seamus Heaney

The small wax candles melt to light,

Flicker in marble, reflect bright

Asterisks on brass candlesticks:

At the Virgin’s altar on the right

Blue flames are jerking on wicks.

Old dough-faced wome

Thanks for your input T.I.

I think "jerking" would be considered not imagery, but a symbol. Flames can't jerk, so this word contains another meaning, not usual. And if so, it is a symbol, though the poet's works may not belong to symbolism.

Of meaning, I think (though I'm not sure) "still them" is the same as "make them calm, quiet, without a move". And if so, it is that strange atmosphere in holy places which brin

Hello Henrietta

I would say that "imagery" = the literal sensory elements in a piece of writing; whereas "symbolism" = the meanings those images have beyond their literal elements.

So "the sun" as an image is simply the literal sun in the sky, and "the moon" is merely the moon. But the sun is also a symbol of vigour, masculinity, etc., and the moon is a symbol of fickleness, femi

Oh I see. Thanks very much Mr P.

Back again...

Dough-faced: yes, I think it is the way their faces look in the candlelight. It might though refer to the shadowy look of faces in dim light, rather than smoothness: the emphasized creases around the mouth and nose might give a slightly "lumpy" look, like dough. (There may also be a subterranean reference here to the "bread" in communion bread and wine.)

Beeswax bro

I would say that the "imagery" consisted of:

Wax candles, brass candlesticks, the Virgin’s altar, blue flames, women with black shawls, golden shrines, altar lace, marble columns, faces, shadows.

Then we have:

1. Poor Women: pun on "poor"?

2. bright/Asterisks: metaphor.

3. dough-faced: an elliptical simile: "faces like dough".

I really couldn't thank you enough for this! You've pointed out so many things that I couldn't have picked up on by myself (I'm very new to crit)....

MrPedanticDo you think he ran out of steam in the 3rd stanza? It seems a bit perfunctory...

I really can't tell to be honest. I'm not too keen on this poem really...

My pleasure! (I expect other people will find other things too.)

Maybe Seamus will stop by one day, and admit that, well, yes, he did have to finish it in a hurry, there was a cab at the door, he'd a plane to catch, arts programmes to appear on, etc. –

In fact, he may be looking at us now.

<straightens tie>

MrP