The Effect of Imagery on the Comprehension and Aesthetic Appreciation of Chinese Ancient Poetry

Ancient Chinese poetry, as an integral part of literature and art, is rich in artistic value and ideological content. According to dual coding theory and existing research, imagery is important for appreciating poetry and comprehension. This study explored the impact of imagery on the comprehension and aesthetic appreciation of ancient Chinese poetry (five-character quatrains). We examined the role of vivid imagery, enhanced by additional materials like pictures or texts, in improving poetry reading experiences. The findings suggest that imagery is crucial for both understanding and appreciating poetry, with additional visual or textual information boosting comprehension and aesthetic appreciation, especially for poems inherently with less vivid imagery. The research underscores imagery's universal importance in literary appreciation and provides insights for educational approaches in poetry, aiming to deepen readers' cultural and historical understanding through enhanced imagery perception.