Module 4

IMAGERY
Imagery is a literary device used in poetry, novels, and other writing that uses vivid description that appeals to a
readers’ senses to create an image or idea in their head. Through language, imagery does not only paint a picture, but
aims to portray the sensational and emotional experience within text. Imagery can improve a reader’s experience of the
text by immersing them more deeply by appealing to their senses. Imagery in writing can aim at a reader’s sense of taste,
smell, touch, hearing, or sight through vivid descriptions. Imagery can be created using other literary devices like similes,
metaphors, or onomatopoeia.

What is Imagery used for?

 Establishing a world or setting.
 Creating empathy for a character’s experience.
 It engages the senses to deepen the reader’s comprehension.

Types of IMAGERY
1) VISUAL IMAGERY. Visual Imagery is a form of literary imagery which uses different visual and descriptive
elements that appeal to the readers' sense of sight. It includes different shapes, colors, and patterns. The creative
use of visual imagery makes the readers see and imagine the setting, the scenarios such as the size of the castle,
the vastness of the field, greeneries, the beautiful sunset, the muddy roads, etc. Authors use figurative language
such as simile to provide a direct comparison, metaphors to describe images, personification to see actions or
construct mental images.
Examples:
 The deep yellow hues of the sunset drowned in and mixed with the blues of the sea.
 The dimples dug deeper in the baby’s cheeks and the lone milky tooth shone in his mouth.
 The night was black as ever, but bright stars lit up in varied constellations and painted the sky with
a sprinkling touch.

2) AUDITORY IMAGERY. Using auditory imagery, the readers hear the sounds that the author wants to
convey. The use of music, the silence or harsh noise, the pleasant sounds are used for the literary piece to appeal
the readers’ senses. The author may use onomatopoeia to mimic the sounds of nature. They also use alliteration,
assonance, and other sounds devices to create a pleasant auditory experience while reading in John Keats' "To
Autumn,” he personified autumn as a musician singing with background sound from the surroundings and
wildlife which creates a perceptible sound.
Examples:
 The café was alive with the clinking of cups, the soft hum of conversations, and the occasional burst of
laughter from the corner table.
 A rude noise broke on these fine rippling and whisperings, at once so far away and so clear: a positive
tramp, tramp, a metallic clatter, which effaced the soft wave-wanderings
 A sound, like a snarl of trumpets and the clash of swords, was heard. The riders charged with a great
shout, and the sunlight glinted on their spears.

3) GUSTATORY IMAGERY. Gustatory Imagery is poetic imagery that seeks the readers to savor the taste such
as the sourness, the saltiness, the sweetness, the spiciness of the described images. Gustatory imagery appeals to
the sense of taste of the readers. The gustatory imagery allows the readers to recall their experiences while
reading and use their sense of memory to live to the experiences.
Examples:
 Ronnie took an orange slice, but to his surprise, it left a bitter lemon taste in his mouth.
 Sweet and slight salty caramel melted in my mouth.
 The rich and creamy homemade sorbet is a treat during summer-time.

4) TACTILE IMAGERY. Tactile imagery describes what the readers touch or feel when reading. Tactile imagery
appeals to the sense of touch of the readers. These include temperature such as “the bitter cold” or “the shifting
heat.” It also involves the use of texture, such as “the rough surface” or “the soft hand.” The authors also allow
the readers to experience physical sensation.
Examples:
 As she wiped the sweat from her brow, she realized her skin was just as cold and sticky.
 I had no choice but to pet his cotton soft fur. I ruffled his floppy ears as he slapped his mink-soft paw
into my hand.
 The little puppy accosted me as he slobbered my face with his wet and eager tongue.

5) OLFACTORY IMAGERY. Olfactory imagery is the use of poetic imagery to allow the readers to smell. It
includes the use of fragrances such as the smell of a blooming flower, or the orders of a rotting corpse, or the stink
of a wet dog. Olfactory imagery appeals to the readers’ sense of smell.
Examples:
 The air was thick with the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee, filling the café with a comforting
warmth.
 As she entered the old library, the musty scent of aged paper and ink wrapped around her like a
forgotten story.
 The pungent stench of rotting fish drifted from the docks, making her wrinkle her nose in disgust.

EL-CrW Creative Writing

Module 4
6) KINESTHETIC IMAGERY. Kinesthetic Imagery is the use of imagery to allow the reader to feel the sense of
motion. It includes the sensation caused by the sudden jolt of a stopping a vehicle or the use of sudden
movements. Kinesthetic imagery is the cognitive creation of a sense of movement that makes the readers feel the
physical motion when reading. The following expression contain kinesthetic imagery: "the beating of heart",
"running of his hand through her hair, the swaying to the tunes of the melody", "the trailing of fingers on the
pages of the book" and others.
Examples:
 He gripped the icy rock with trembling fingers, feeling the rough texture scrape against his skin as he
climbed.
 She rummaged through the trash, tossing pieces of garbage out of the bin until she finally found the
letter that her father accidentally threw away.
 He enjoyed watching the palm trees swaying in the wind as rain drizzled from the sky.

7) ORGANIC IMAGERY. Organic imagery is the poetic use of words or expressions that make the reader feel and
experience different emotions. Using organic imagery, authors can communicate internal sensations to the
readers. These include the sense of hunger and thirst, love and hate or fear, the despair, the hopelessness or pain.
Organic imagery uses language to make the readers relate to the physical experience written in the text.
Examples:
 Her voice broke while talking.
 Her eyes lit up the moment she saw him, and she ran into his arms.
 I kissed his for the last time, pressed his hand, and we parted forever.

EL-CrW Creative Writing