Imagery and Literary Devices as Textual Signs

Poetry is the "form of imaginative literary expression that makes its effect by the sound and imagery of its language" (Microsoft Bookshelf). Poetry, especially narrative poetry, relies on literary devices to give the reader plot and character development, setting and atmosphere. In his poem "Jenny", Dante Gabriel Rossetti uses poetic language to analyze, and express the speaker’s love for, the different aspects of Jenny’s character. Rossetti explores Jenny’s character through the speaker’s absorption for her. Throughout the poem, the speaker analyzes Jenny’s life, beauty and attitude, illustrating the different aspects of her character to the reader.
Rossetti uses alliteration throughout his poem to create the readers’ image of Jenny’s personality: "lazy laughing languid Jenny" (1) reveals Jenny’s carefree and youthful ways. This is a contrast with the image shown after Jenny falls asleep with her "head upon [his] knee" (19): "For sometimes, were the truth confessed’d / you’re thankful for a little rest / glad from the crush to rest within" (67-69). This illustrates the wear Jenny’s lifestyle has on her, making her seem older and more burdened than was previously expressed.
It is evident that Jenny’s physical beauty was accepted as fact, both by the speaker’s frank words: "fair Jenny" (8); "handsome Jenny" (89); "Fresh Flower" (12), and by her notorious reputation. The attitude Jenny’s peers have towards her is illustrated by the speaker’s expression of their envy: Jenny hears "envy’s voice at virtue’s pitch" (71).
The speaker’s captivation with Jenny is clearly shown in his comparison of her to his academia-obsessed life. We see that the speaker feels trapped and controlled by his education, and yet values it, in the second stanza:
"…mine so full of books,
Whose serried ranks hold fast, forsooth,
So many captive hours of youth,
The hours they thieve from day and night" (22-25).
When he compares Jenny to a book, the reader is shown how deep his fascination with her goes: "
"Why, Jenny, as I watch you there,
For all your wealth of loosened hair,
Your silk ungirdled and unlac’d
And warm sweets open to the waist,
All golden in the lamplight’s gleam,
You know not what a book you seem" (45-51).
The idea that he would watch her sleep shows such interest, almost an obsession, with her; however, when compared with what seems a negative obsession with his education, the reader is shown the lack of control the speaker has over his infatuation with Jenny.
Throughout his poem "Jenny", Rossetti uses imagery and literary devices to illustrate the character of "Jenny". Although, throughout the poem, small details of setting, atmosphere, and the character development of the speaker are revealed, the poem revolves around Jenny, her beauty, life, and attitude.

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"Jenny" (1848/58/69). Rossetti, Dante Gabriel
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