IMAGERY

What is IMAGERY?
• It relates to your FIVE SENSES
• It is the author’s way of making
the story seem more REAL
• When appropriate, imagery makes
it appear as though you are in the
story, experiencing what the
characters are experiencing
 Imagery
Definition:

O Imagery refers to the “mental pictures” that readers

experience when reading literature.

O Imagery appeals directly to one or more of the five

senses.

O An author achieves imagery through the use of words.

There are five (5) types of imagery:

1. Visual – what you see

2. Auditory – what you hear

3. Kinesthetic – what you feel

4. Olfactory – what you smell

5. Gustatory – what you taste

Relating SENSES to IMAGERY
• Sense of Sight: Visual Imagery
• Sense of Hearing: Auditory Imagery
• Sense of Taste: Gustatory Imagery
• Sense of Smell: Olfactory Imagery
• Sense of Touch: Tactile Imagery
 EXAMPLES
• Sense of Smell: • Olfactory Imagery:
It smells good. It smells of oranges
and fresh bread.
• Sense of Sight:
• Visual Imagery: She
She looks good. looks as though she
could be on the
cover of a fashion
magazine, with her
soft features and
striking beauty.
• Sense of Touch: • Tactile Imagery: It
It is rough. is rough like
• Sense of Hearing: coarse sandpaper.
It is loud. • Auditory Imagery:
It sounds like a
• Sense of Taste: It
rock concert.
tastes bad. • Gustatory
Imagery: It tastes
bitter and strong.
 What image do you see in your mind
when you read the following sentence?

O A field of bright yellow flowers lay beautifully

in front of me.
Is this image close to the one you
saw in your mind?
 What image do you see in your mind
when you read the following sentence?

O The big, juicy burger with its melted cheese

and red tomatoes made my mouth water and
my stomach grumble.
Is this image close to the one
you saw in your mind?
 Imagery
Definition:

O Imagery refers to the “mental pictures” that readers

experience when reading literature.

O Imagery appeals directly to one or more of the five

senses.

O An author achieves imagery through the use of words.

 Examples
1. Visual – The golden rays of the setting sun reflected upon
the clear waters of the lake.

2. Auditory – The trees rustled as the wind whistled gently

through the leaves.

3. Kinesthetic – My toes went numb and a shiver ran through

my body as I stepped into the cold river.

4. Olfactory – The stench of rotting garbage overpowered my

nostrils when I opened the bin.

5. Gustatory – Her mouth watered and her tongue burned as

she bit into the sour, peppery mango chow.
Write a paragraph inspired
by the following image. It
must appeal to each sense;
therefore, it must contain
at least one use of imagery
for each sense