Imagery is an important-perhaps the most important-device used to communicate meaning in poetry. Where other forms of literature can sometimes be over a thousand pages long, poetry is usually much shorter. The poet must get his or her point across in only a few pages, and one of the best ways to condense a long story (or message) is to use imagery. The possible uses for symbolism and imagery in poetry are endless, and a talented poet can use a single image to make many different statements. An example of this kind of versatility can be seen by comparing two poems that use similar images. Aphra Behn's "The Disappointment" and Walther Von Der Vogelwiede's "Dancing Girl" both use the image of a girl, in very different ways, to deliver similar messages.
             Much of the time, figurative imagery is used by the poet to speak some underlying meaning, as in symbolism. However, it is much easier for the reader to understand this type of imagery if the context of the poem is clear. This can be accomplished through the use of another type of imagery called descriptive imagery. Descriptive imagery is not necessarily symbolic, but is used by the poet to describe physical sensation, the state of mind of the poet, season and time of day, and the atmosphere and mood of the setting. Furthermore, the poet often uses descriptive imagery to underscore other important elements in a poem. The selection of detail and the vividness imparted to images help create tone, meaning, and characterization (Griffith 90). Both "Dancing Girl" and "The Disappointment" use descriptive imagery in this way.
             In the first stanza of "Dancing Girl," the poet gives the girl a garland of flowers to wear. Vogelweide goes on to describe the girl as pretty, and reinforces this by saying that she is worthy of the "lovely flowers" as well as "priceless stones." He describes her shining eyes and gracious movements. The poet also conveys a sense of innocence and purity ...