John Lennon Imagine Analysis

John Lennon’s Imagine integrates a mellifluous melody with simple lyrics, to create a historically influential song to express his simple, yet beautiful message to the world. A very simple song, with very simple lyrics, but with such a deep meaning. This song was released during a time of violence and is known worldwide for its harmonic theme and anthem for peace. This song is still being used for well-known events such as the 2018 Winter Olympics due to its ability to reassure peace and create unity in an audience. Lennon’s song consistently stresses peace by asking his audience to imagine a world without social, economic, and political issues. The rhetorical appeals used in this song successfully demonstrates peace and Lennon’s message to

As a member of The Beatles and a peace activist, he was easily able to land eighth among the “100 Greatest Britons”. The “100 Greatest Britons” was a televised poll centered in the United Kingdom, which determined the most successful British people in history. In Verse 1 Lennon sings, “Imagine there’s no heaven it’s easy if you try No hell below us Above us, only sky”. Here Lennon is asking his audience to imagine a world in which there is no religion, eliminating a popular social norm seen today. Some of the audience may have been outraged when hearing the first few lines, but as the song continues we see that the elimination of such norms would result in a peaceful society. Lennon then continues and says, “Imagine there’s no countries It isn’t hard to do Nothing to kill or die for And no religion, too”. These lines acknowledge the Vietnam War, as people were dying for the sake of our country. Here Lennon establishes logos by using simple logic where if something didn’t exist then the result of that would disappear as well. Also, he establishes pathos and evokes emotion within his audience due to the comforting instruments played in the background along with Lennon’s soothing voice. This sets a very personal tone in which the audience becomes emotional and is able to connect with Lennon and understand his