imagery essays

Definition of Imagery

Love, whether newly born or aroused from a deathlike slumber, must always create sunshine, filling the heart so full of radiance, that it overflows upon the outward world.

Common Examples of Imagery in Everyday Speech

Types of poetic imagery, famous examples of imagery in shakespearean works, writing imagery, difference between literal imagery and figurative imagery, tips to analyze imagery, use of imagery in sentences, examples of imagery in literature.

Though imagery is often associated with poetry, it is an effective literary device in all forms of writing. Writers utilize imagery as a means of communicating their thoughts and perceptions on a deeper and more memorable level with readers. Imagery helps a reader formulate a visual picture and sensory impression of what the writer is describing as well as the emotions attached to the description. In addition, imagery is a means of showcasing a writer’s mastery of artistic and figurative language, which also enhances the meaning and enjoyment of a literary work for a reader.

Example 1:  Goblin Market (Christina Rossetti)

Early in the morning When the first cock crow’d his warning, Neat like bees, as sweet and busy, Laura rose with Lizzie: Fetch’d in honey, milk’d the cows, Air’d and set to rights the house, Kneaded cakes of whitest wheat, Cakes for dainty mouths to eat, Next churn’d butter, whipp’d up cream, Fed their poultry, sat and sew’d; Talk’d as modest maidens should: Lizzie with an open heart, Laura in an absent dream, One content, one sick in part; One warbling for the mere bright day’s delight, One longing for the night.

Example 2:  The Yellow Wallpaper  (Charlotte Perkins Gilman)

The color is repellant, almost revolting; a smouldering unclean yellow, strangely faded by the slow-turning sunlight. It is a dull yet lurid orange in some places, a sickly sulphur tint in others. No wonder the children hated it! I should hate it myself if I had to live in this room long.

Example 3:  The Red Wheelbarrow  (William Carlos Williams)

so much depends upon a red wheel barrow glazed with rain water beside the white chickens

Synonyms of Imagery

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What is imagery? Take a moment to conceptualize something in your mind: an object, a sound, a scent. Transcribe whatever you think about into language, transmitting to the reader the precise experience you had in your brain. This is imagery in literature​​—a powerful literary device that communicates our everyday sensory experiences.

Literature abounds with imagery examples, as authors have used this device to connect with their readers at a personal level. A precise image can form the basis of a powerful metaphor or symbol, so writers make their work resonate using imagery in poetry and prose.

Why do authors use imagery? In this article, we examine the 5 types of imagery in literature—visual, tactile, olfactory, gustatory, and auditory. We’ll also take a look at some imagery examples and writing exercises. But first, let’s properly examine what is imagery in literature.

• Why Do Authors Use Imagery?

Imagery in Poetry

• Visual Imagery (Sight)
• Auditory Imagery (Sound)
• Tactile Imagery (Touch)
• Olfactory Imagery (Smell)
• Gustatory Imagery (Taste)

Kinesthetic Imagery and Organic Imagery

Imagery writing exercises, imagery definition: what is imagery.

Imagery refers to language that stimulates the reader’s senses. By evoking those senses through touch, taste, sound, smell, and sight, the writer imparts a deeper understanding of the human experience, connecting with the reader through a shared sensory experience.

Imagery definition: language that stimulates the reader’s senses.

For the most part, imagery in literature focuses on concrete senses—things you can physically experience. However, internal experiences and emotions also count, and later in this article, we dive into how to properly write organic imagery.

Of course, good imagery examples are not merely descriptive. I could tell you that “the wallpaper is yellow,” and yes, that counts as visual imagery, but it’s hardly describing the experience of that wallpaper . Is the wallpaper bright and cheerful? Does it lift your mood, or darken it?

Here’s a much more interesting description of that yellow wallpaper, from Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “ The Yellow Wallpaper ”:

“The color is repellant , almost revolting ; a smouldering unclean yellow , strangely faded by the slow-turning sunlight .

It is a dull yet lurid orange in some places, a sickly sulphur tint in others . No wonder the children hated it! I should hate it myself if I had to live in this room long.”

Take note of how the visual imagery (bolded) shows you the wallpaper’s various colors and stains. When paired with the narrator’s tone (italicized), we form an image of bleak, depressing paper, far from the cheerful yellowness you might expect.

The best imagery examples will also form other literary devices . You’ll find that many images end up being metaphors, similes, and symbols, and many more images also rely on devices like juxtaposition. The interplay of these devices further strengthens the worldbuilding power of both the image and the author.

Why do Authors Use Imagery?

Authors use imagery to do what Charlotte Perkins Gilman does in “The Yellow Paper”: to create rich, livable experiences using only the senses.

Think of imagery as a doorway into the world of the text. It allows the reader to see, smell, hear, taste, and feel everything that happens in the story.

Moreover, this device highlights the most important sensory descriptions. Consider where you are right now, as you’re reading this article. There are many different sensory experiences vying for your attention, but your brain filters those senses out because they’re not important. You might be ignoring the sounds of your neighbors and passing street cars, or the taste of a meal you just had, or the feeling of your chair pressing into your body.

Imagery in literature performs the same function: it highlights the most important sensory information that the reader needs to step inside the story. Great imagery examples set the stage for great storytelling , goading the reader into the world of the work.

For a more in-depth answer on “why do authors use imagery?”, check out our article on Show, Don’t Tell Writing .

What is imagery in poetry? Is it any different than in prose?

While this device is the same for both poetry and prose, you might notice that imagery in poetry is more economic—it relies on fewer words. Take the following excerpt from Louise Glück’s poem October :

“Daybreak. The low hills shine

ochre and fire, even the fields shine.

I know what I see; sun that could be

the August sun, returning

everything that was taken away —”

The images in this excerpt are stunning, particularly “the low hills shine ochre and fire.” The reader can imagine a roiling green landscape tinged like a flame in the early sunrise, contributing to the speaker’s sense of hope that one often feels at the start of a new day.

In poetry, as in prose, images are often juxtaposed next to feelings, creating a sensory and emotive experience. The language that each form uses to create those experiences is similar, but the poetic form encourages an economy of language, making imagery in poetry more concise .

5 Types of Imagery in Literature

Corresponding with the 5 senses, there are 5 types of imagery at a writer’s disposal. (Actually, there’s 7—but we’ll handle those last two separately.)

Every writer should have all 5 types of imagery in their toolkit. To create a rich, believable experience for the reader, appealing to each of the reader’s senses helps transport them into the world of the story. No, you shouldn’t focus on all 5 senses at the same time—in real life, nobody can pay attention to all of their senses at once. But, you should be able to use all 5 types of imagery when your writing calls for it.

What is imagery in literature? These excerpts will show you. Let’s look at each type and some more imagery examples.

1. Visual Imagery Definition

Visual imagery is description that stimulates the eyes. Specifically, your mind’s eye: when you can visualize the colors, shapes, forms, and aesthetics of something that’s described to you, the writer is employing visual imagery.

When you can visualize the colors, shapes, forms, and aesthetics of something that’s described to you, the writer is employing visual imagery.

This is the most common form of imagery in literature, as the writer relies on visual description to create a setting, describe characters, and show action. Without visual imagery, it is much harder to employ the other types of imagery (though writers have certainly done this in the event that a character is blind or blinded).

Visual Imagery Examples

In each example, the visual imagery examples have been bolded.

“ A field of cotton —

as if the moon 

had flowered .”

—Matsuo Bashō, from Basho: The Complete Haiku , translated by Jane Reichhold.

“While talking to my mother I neaten things. Spines of books by the phone.

in a china dish. Fragments of eraser that dot the desk . She speaks

of death. I begin tilting all the paperclips in the other direction .”

—Anne Carson, from “ Lines ” in Decreation.

2. Auditory Imagery Definition

Auditory imagery is description that stimulates the ears. When you can hear the sounds of nature, machinery, or someone’s voice, it’s because of the description employed in the author’s auditory imagery.

When you can hear sounds like nature, machinery, or someone’s voice, it’s because of the description employed in the author’s auditory imagery.

Do note that, while you might be able to hear dialogue in your head, dialogue alone doesn’t count as auditory imagery. The sounds need to be described using adjectives, adverbs, and especially comparisons to other images.

Additionally, the literary device “ onomatopoeia ” does not count as auditory imagery. Onomatopoeias are wonderful devices that improve the sonic quality of your writing, but as devices, they are words that transliterate sounds into syllables; they don’t describe sounds in interesting or metaphorical ways.

Auditory Imagery Examples

In each example, the auditory imagery examples have been bolded.

“Few believe we’re in the middle of the end

because ruin can happen as slowly as plaque

blocking arteries, and only later feels as true

as your hand resting on my hip, both of us

quiet as roses waiting for the bees to arrive. ”

—Julie Danho, excerpt from “I Want to Eat Bugs With You Underground” in Bennington Review .

“Our ears are stoppered

in the bee-hum . And Charlie,

laughing wonderfully ,

beard stained purple

by the word juice ,

goes to get a bigger pot.”

—Robert Hass, excerpt from “ Picking Blackberries with a Friend Who Has Been Reading Jacques Lacan ” originally published in Praise.

3. Tactile Imagery Definition

Tactile imagery is description that stimulates your sense of touch. Sensations like itching, stickiness, and the warmth of sunlight all count as tactile imagery, which appeals to the way your skin might feel in that moment.

Sensations like itching, stickiness, and the warmth of sunlight all count as tactile imagery, which appeals to the way your skin might feel in that moment.

Tactile experiences only refer to external sensations, primarily on the skin. When a writer describes internal sensations, they’re using organic imagery, which we’ll define later in this article.

Tactile Imagery Examples

In each example, the tactile imagery examples have been bolded.

—Rainer Maria Rilke, excerpt from Journal of My Other Self.

“Are All the Break-Ups in Your Poems Real?

If by real you mean as real as a shark tooth stuck

in your heel , the wetness of a finished lollipop stick ,

the surprise of a thumbtack in your purse —

then Yes, every last page is true, every nuance,

bit, and bite .”

—Aimee Nezhukumatathil, excerpt from “Are All the Break-Ups in Your Poems Real?” in Poetry Foundation .

4. Olfactory Imagery Definition

Olfactory imagery is description that stimulates the nose. By describing the peculiarities of a scent—its richness, pungence, weight, distinctness, or physical effect—the author transports the reader through the use of olfactory imagery.

By describing the peculiarities of a scent—its richness, pungence, weight, distinctness, or physical effect—the author transports the reader through the use of olfactory imagery.

Olfactory looks like a strange word, but it comes from the Latin for “to smell,” and we have an olfactory bulb in our brains which processes smells. Fun fact: the olfactory bulb is situated just in front of the hippocampus, which processes memory. As a result, smells often stimulate stronger memories than the other senses, so you can use olfactory imagery to arouse both smell and memory.

Olfactory Imagery Examples

In each example, the olfactory imagery examples have been bolded.

—Patricia Hampl, excerpt from The Florist’s Daughter.

“Why is it that the poets tell

So little of the sense of smell?

These are the odors I love well:

The smell of coffee freshly ground;

Or rich plum pudding, holly crowned;

Or onions fried and deeply browned. ”

—Christopher Morley, excerpt from “ Smells ”.

5. Gustatory Imagery Definition

Gustatory imagery is description that stimulates the tongue. If you’ve ever done a wine or coffee tasting, you know exactly how complex a flavor can be. Gustatory imagery captures a flavor’s richness, acidity, earthiness, sweetness, bitterness, harshness, etc.

Gustatory imagery captures a flavor’s richness, acidity, earthiness, sweetness, bitterness, harshness, etc.

This is perhaps the rarest of the 5 types of imagery, as authors don’t seem to dwell on tastes too much, but gustatory imagery can absolutely throw the reader into different cultures, cuisines, and histories.

Gustatory Imagery Examples

In each example, the gustatory imagery examples have been bolded.

—E.M. Forster, excerpt from A Room With a View.

“I have eaten

that were in

you were probably

for breakfast

they were delicious

and so cold .”

—William Carlos Williams, “ This Is Just To Say ”.

Writers have another 2 types of imagery at their disposal: kinesthetic imagery and organic imagery. We include these as separate types of imagery because they describe senses that are more abstract than the other 5.

Kinesthetic Imagery Definition

Kinesthetic imagery, also called kinesthesia, refers to descriptions of motion. The sensations one feels when on the move, like running against the wind or swimming through brisk waters, are examples of kinesthetic imagery.

The sensations one feels when on the move, like running against the wind or swimming through brisk waters, are examples of kinesthetic imagery.

Kinesthesia might seem similar to tactile imagery, but the difference is that kinesthesia always describes movement. So, a bee sting is tactile, but a bee whizzing past your arm is kinesthetic; the coldness of a wall is tactile, but the feeling of a cold wall moving against you is kinesthetic.

Kinesthetic Imagery Examples

—Charles Dickens, excerpt from A Tale of Two Cities.

—Brit Bennett, excerpt from The Mothers .

Organic Imagery Definition

Organic imagery refers to descriptions of internal sensation. When the writer uses concrete description to show an internal landscape of feelings, pains, emotions, and desires, they’re using organic imagery. And what is imagery, if not visceral or deeply felt?

When the writer uses concrete description to show an internal landscape of feelings, pains, emotions, and desires, they’re using organic imagery.

Organic imagery can be physical, like stomach pain or a headache, but it can also be emotional: the feeling of your heart dropping into your gut, or the burn of jealousy in your temples.

Organic Imagery Examples

—S. K. Osborn, excerpt from There’s A Lot of Good Reasons to Go Out West .

“So was I once myself a swinger of birches.

And so I dream of going back to be.

It’s when I’m weary of considerations,

And life is too much like a pathless wood. ”

—Robert Frost, excerpt from “ Birches ”.

The importance of descriptive, concrete imagery to creative writing cannot be understated. To master this literary device, try your hand at the following 5 writing exercises.

1. Show, Don’t Tell

“Show, don’t tell” writing is writing that uses concrete details to transmit an experience to the reader, rather than asserting the experience itself. If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, you can learn about it (and find many more imagery examples) at this article .

Here’s an example of showing instead of telling:

• Telling: Mom stomped into the doorway, furious.
• Showing: The only thing chillier than the breeze from outside was mother herself, her bootsteps making the floorboards shake, her brow furrowed so tightly I worried her face might fall off.

In this exercise, rewrite the following phrases into complete “show, don’t tell” statements. The below sentences are “telling” sentences where the writer is chewing the reader’s food—asserting an experience without relying on the senses.

“Telling” statements:

• The girl felt warm.
• The full moon was bright.
• Her heart dropped.
• His dinner wafted through the kitchen.
• The cat chased birds.
• The wind swept the trees.
• Her bike wouldn’t budge.
• The berries tasted fresh.
• Their socks got wet.
• The music echoed down the hall.

The development of precise images is essential to great poetry, storytelling, and “show, don’t tell” writing. While poetry writing can linger in description, story writing is best kept to action. This checklist from Writer’s Digest does a great job of explaining how to make this device action-focused.

2. Look At This Photograph

Find an interesting photograph. It can be a physical photo, it can sit somewhere in your camera roll, it can be a classical painting, or you can simply look for something unique on a site like Unsplash .

Now, describe that photograph using the different types of imagery— except for visual imagery. Try to convey the experience of the photograph without showing the reader what it actually looks like. The challenge of describing something visual without relying on visual images will help you sharpen your descriptive writing.

Here’s an example, using this landscape painting by John Wootton:

• Auditory: The men whistled over the crash of waves reaching the shore, and the horse whinnied along with the work.
• Tactile: Water lapped along the men’s ankles, as cold as a snake’s glistening eyes.
• Olfactory: The salty air perforated each man’s nostrils, punctuating the air with a briny sharpness.
• Gustatory: Salt water waves occasionally crashed into the men’s lips, acrid and mouth-puckering. While they worked they thought about home, the warm taste of dinner satiating a hard day’s work.
• Kinesthetic: The barely moving air graced each man’s legs like a cat brushing past, and all was still.
• Organic: The sun crept below the horizon, and in the dark the forest seemed like it might come to life, like it was harboring a dark and heady tomorrow .

When you have an example for each non-visual image, try to combine them into a singular effective description of the photograph.

Do all of these imagery examples make sense? Do they even come close to describing the painting? Absolutely not. But just the attempt at describing a landscape painting through taste or touch helps juice your creativity, and you might stumble upon some really beautiful writing in the process.

If you enjoyed this exercise, you might be interested in the Ekphrastic Poetry Challenge at Rattle .

3. Think Abstractly

Great imagery relies on the use of great concrete words, particularly nouns and verbs (though some adjectives, too). The opposite of a concrete word is an abstract word: a word which describes an idea, not an image.

Examples of abstract words are “satisfaction,” “mercantilism,” “love,” “envy,” “disgust,” and “bureaucracy.” None of those words have concrete images: they might have symbols (like “heart” for “love”), but no single image defines any of those words.

For this exercise, generate a list of abstract words. If you’re struggling to come up with good words, you can use a list of abstractions like this one . Once you’ve settled on a good list, select a word that particularly excites you.

Use this abstract word as the title of a poem or story. Now, write that poem or story, using concrete description to show the reader exactly how that abstraction feels and looks. Do not use the abstract word, or any synonyms or antonyms, in your writing—try to avoid abstractions altogether.

At the end of your exercise, you might end with a poem like “Love’s Philosophy” by Percy Bysshe Shelley .

4. Synesthesia

Synesthesia is a literary device in which the writer uses more than one sense to describe something. For example, we often use the phrase “cool colors” for blues and greens, and “warm colors” for reds and oranges. “Cool” and “warm” are tactile, and since a color itself cannot be warm or cold, we’re able to represent the color through synesthesia.

Synesthesia is also a rare psychological condition, in which a person involuntarily experiences something in multiple senses. For example, someone with synesthesia might say that the number 12 is reddish-orange, or that the sound of a guitar tastes like rain.

For this exercise, describe the following items using synesthesia. Describe sounds using colors or tastes, describe smells using memories or movements. Get creative! You don’t need to have synesthesia to write synesthesia, just try to break free from the conventional use of the different types of imagery in literature.

Describe the following using synesthesia:

• The sound of your best friend’s voice. (What color, shape, smell, taste, or feeling does it have?)
• The disaster girl meme .
• The taste of vanilla ice cream.
• The letter J.
• A freezing shower.
• The smell of the rain.
• The feeling of sandpaper against skin.

For example, I might write that the letter J is the color of a forest at dusk, blue-green and pregnant with night.

Does that make sense to anyone else but me? Probably not! But that’s the point: be creative, be weird, be synesthetic.

5. Use Only Metaphors and Similes

For this exercise, you are free to describe whatever you would like. Describe an inanimate object, a food you enjoy, your pet, your archnemesis, the wind, the sea, the sun, or really anything you want to write about.

Whatever you choose, you must only describe that object using metaphors and similes . For a primer on these two literary devices, check out our article Simile Vs Metaphor Vs Analogy .

Do not use adjectives or adverbs, and only use nouns in comparison with your object.

Try to generate a list of metaphors and similes. For example, if your object is a rubber ball, you can say it “moves like a sparrow,” “bounces like children on trampolines,” and “waits to be noticed, a planet in hiding.”

Try to write for 15-20 minutes, and if you’ve generated a long enough list, you might even consider organizing your metaphors and similes into a poem or flash story. As with our other exercises, use compelling imagery, and show us something new about your object!

What is Imagery in Literature? Master the Device at Writers.com

Why do authors use imagery? To transport their readers to new and believable worlds. To learn more about imagery and practice it in your writing, take a look at the upcoming courses at Writers.com .

Sean Glatch

Sean, this is an extremely useful article. Thanks for sharing it. Loved the examples.

My pleasure, Lynne!

Lovely explanation of five senses

I agree!! Thank you so much for this wonderful new tool.

[…] Imagery Definition: 5+ Types of Imagery in Literature […]

I must print this one out.

Great tool. Thanks for sharing

very good website, really made my understanding wayyyyy better

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Literary Devices

Last updated on: Jun 4, 2023

Imagery in Writing: Examples of Imagery as a Literary Device

By: Barbara P.

14 min read

Reviewed By: Betty P.

Published on: May 27, 2023

Have you ever read a book that made you feel like you were right there, immersed in the story? 

That's the magic of imagery in writing!

It's the art of using vivid descriptions to create a sensory experience for the reader. 

Through carefully crafted imagery, writers can transport you to places you've never been and evoke emotions you've never felt. 

In this blog, we'll unlock the secrets of imagery, exploring how it brings stories to life and leaves an indelible imprint on our imagination. 

So, grab a cup of tea, settle in, and prepare to embark on a journey through the captivating world of imagery in writing.

On this Page

Imagery Definition

Imagery is a literary device that appeals to the senses, creating vivid mental pictures and sensory experiences in the reader's mind.

It involves the use of descriptive language to evoke imagery, allowing readers to visualize scenes , characters , objects , and emotions .

In writing, imagery brings words to life by engaging the senses of sight , hearing , touch , taste , and smell . 

Purpose of Using Imagery in Writing

Imagery is a writer's secret weapon. It is a tool that serves a multitude of purposes, enriching the reading experience and leaving an indelible mark on readers' hearts and minds. 

Here, we explore the captivating reasons why writers harness the power of imagery:

• Igniting the Imagination

Imagery sparks the reader's imagination, transporting them to new worlds and immersing them in the story. It breathes life into characters, settings, and events, allowing readers to see, hear, taste, touch, and smell the fictional realm.

• Evoking Emotions

Imagery has the power to evoke a wide range of emotions, from joy and wonder to fear and heartache. It taps into the reader's senses, creating an emotional connection that lingers long after the book is closed.

• Enhancing Engagement

By employing imagery, writers captivate readers' attention, keeping them invested and turning pages eagerly. Vivid descriptions and sensory details heighten the reader's curiosity, making the story come alive.

• Creating Memorable Experiences

Imagery transforms writing into an unforgettable experience. When readers can vividly picture the scenes and sensations described, they become active participants in the story, forging lasting memories that resonate with them for years to come.

• Conveying Themes and Messages

Through imagery, writers can subtly communicate deeper meanings and themes. Symbols, metaphors, and descriptive language allow for layers of interpretation, adding depth and nuance to the narrative.

• Painting a Visual Tapestry

In a world bombarded by visual media, imagery in writing enables writers to create their own visual tapestry, rivaling the power of film or photography. With words as their brushstrokes, writer's craft vibrant scenes that stimulate the reader's imagination in unique and personal ways.

Types of Imagery in Writing

Imagery in writing encompasses a variety of techniques that engage the reader's senses and create vivid mental pictures. 

By exploring different types of imagery, writers can bring their stories to life and evoke powerful emotions. 

Here are some common types of imagery used in writing:

Visual Imagery

Visual imagery appeals to the sense of sight, painting vivid pictures in the reader's mind. 

It involves using descriptive language to depict scenes, objects, or people in intricate detail.

Auditory Imagery

Auditory imagery engages the sense of hearing, using words to evoke specific sounds and rhythms. 

It captures the essence of sounds in the story, enhancing the reader's sensory experience. 

Olfactory Imagery

Olfactory imagery appeals to the sense of smell, evoking specific scents and aromas. 

It adds depth and realism to the narrative by bringing in the power of fragrance and triggering memories and emotions associated with different smells.

Gustatory Imagery

Gustatory imagery pertains to the sense of taste, describing flavors and textures in a way that engages the reader's palate.

It brings a sensory richness to the narrative, allowing readers to savor the culinary experiences within the story.

Tactile Imagery

Tactile imagery appeals to the sense of touch, conveying sensations and textures through words. 

It allows readers to feel the physical aspects of the story, enhancing their connection to the narrative.

Difference between Literal Imagery and Figurative Imagery

Literal Imagery and Figurative Imagery are two distinct forms of imagery that writers employ to convey meaning and evoke sensory experiences. 

Here's a breakdown of the key differences between them:

In short , literal imagery is straightforward, realistic, and focuses on accurate descriptions.

Figurative imagery uses imaginative language, comparisons, and symbolism to evoke emotions and convey abstract concepts.

Examples of Imagery

Imagery in writing breathes life into words, painting vibrant scenes and evoking powerful emotions.

It allows readers to step into the story and experience it with their senses. Here are some examples of imagery in literature that showcase the transformative power of descriptive language:

Examples of Imagery in Literature

Imagery is a powerful literary tool that has been utilized by renowned authors throughout history. It brings depth, beauty, and evocative detail to their works, leaving an indelible impression on readers. Here are a few notable examples of imagery in literature:

• Example from "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee:

"The Radley place jutted into a sharp curve beyond our house. Walking south, one faced its porch; the sidewalk turned and ran beside the lot. The house was low , was once white with a deep front porch and green shutters , but had long been... the remains of a once white porch."

In this passage, Harper Lee uses visual imagery to paint a vivid picture of the Radley house, describing its physical appearance and the gradual decay it has undergone over time.

• Example from "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald:

"In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars ."

Fitzgerald employs visual imagery to create a dreamlike atmosphere, where the opulent parties at Gatsby's mansion are compared to a garden and the guests are likened to fluttering moths, enhancing the sense of beauty and transience.

• Example from "The Old Man and the Sea" by Ernest Hemingway:

"The old man was thin and gaunt with deep wrinkles in the back of his neck... Everything about him was old except his eyes , and they were the same color as the sea and were cheerful and undefeated."

Hemingway uses visual imagery to describe the old man, emphasizing his weathered appearance and the resilience reflected in his eyes, which are compared to the sea.

Examples of Imagery in Poetry

Poetry is a genre that thrives on imagery, using vivid language to create powerful and evocative mental images. 

Poets often harness the beauty and intensity of imagery to convey emotions, express complex ideas, and transport readers to imaginative realms. Here are a few examples of imagery in poetry:

• Example from "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost:

" Two roads diverged in a yellow wood , And sorry I could not travel both..."

In this famous poem, Frost uses visual imagery to describe a crossroads in a yellow wood, allowing readers to visualize the choice the speaker faces and the vibrant setting.

• Example from "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" by William Wordsworth:

"I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o'er vales and hills ..."

Wordsworth employs visual imagery to compare himself to a cloud, painting a picture of solitude and freedom as he roams over valleys and hills.

• Example from William Shakespeare's Sonnet 18:

"Shall I compare thee to a summer's day ? Thou art more lovely and more temperate : Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May , And summer's lease hath all too short a date ..."

Shakespeare used vivid imagery to describe the beauty of the person he addresses. He compares the person to a summer's day, highlighting their loveliness and temperance. The imagery of " rough winds " shaking the delicate buds of May and the fleeting nature of summer's lease evokes a sense of fragility and the transient nature of beauty.

Examples of Imagery in Pop Culture

Imagery is not limited to literature and poetry; it is also a prevalent element in various forms of pop culture, including music, films, and visual arts. Pop culture utilizes imagery to create impactful and memorable experiences for audiences. Here are a few examples of imagery in pop culture:

• Example from "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen (Song):

"Is this the real life ? Is this just fantasy ? Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality ..."

Queen's iconic song "Bohemian Rhapsody" begins with imagery that blurs the lines between reality and fantasy, immersing listeners in a vivid and surreal narrative.

• Example from "Inception" (Film)

The film "Inception," directed by Christopher Nolan, incorporates stunning visual imagery to depict dreams within dreams . It manipulates gravity-defying scenes, shifting landscapes, and breathtaking visuals to transport viewers into a world where reality and imagination intertwine.

• Example from "Starry Night" by Vincent van Gogh (Visual Art)

Vincent van Gogh's famous painting, "Starry Night," is a striking example of visual imagery. The swirling brushstrokes and vibrant colors create a mesmerizing scene of a starry night sky, evoking a sense of awe and wonder in the viewer.

Related Terms

When exploring the concept of imagery in writing, it is helpful to understand related terms that are closely connected and often used interchangeably. 

These terms provide additional insight into different aspects of descriptive language and sensory experiences. 

Here are a few related terms that are directly associated with imagery:

A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two unrelated things, highlighting the similarities between them. It creates imagery by suggesting that one thing is another.

For example:  "Her eyes were sparkling diamonds."

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two things using "like" or "as." It creates imagery by drawing explicit comparisons.

For Example:  "His laughter was like music to her ears."

Personification

Personification is a figure of speech that attributes human characteristics or actions to inanimate objects or abstract concepts. It creates imagery by giving life and personality to non-human entities.

For Example:  "The wind whispered secrets through the trees."

Hyperbole is a figure of speech that involves exaggeration for emphasis or dramatic effect. It creates vivid imagery by stretching the truth.

For Example:  "I've told you a million times."

Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia is a figure of speech in which words imitate or mimic sounds associated with the objects or actions they describe. It creates auditory imagery by using words that sound like what they represent.

For Example:  "The sizzle of bacon in the frying pan."

Symbolism is the use of objects, characters, or actions to represent abstract ideas or concepts. It creates imagery by employing tangible elements to convey deeper meanings.

For example: A dove symbolizing peace or a red rose symbolizing love.

Alliteration

Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words in close proximity. It creates imagery by adding rhythm, emphasis, and musicality to the writing.

For Example:  "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers."

Tips for Using Imagery in Writing

Imagery is a powerful tool that can elevate your writing and engage readers on a deeper level. 

By incorporating vivid and sensory-rich imagery, you can bring your words to life and create a more immersive reading experience.

Here are some tips to effectively use imagery in your writing:

Engage the Senses

Consider all five senses—sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch—when crafting your imagery. Describe not only what can be seen but also what can be heard, smelled, tasted, and felt. This will create a multi-dimensional experience for your readers, enabling them to connect with your writing on a sensory level.

Be Specific and Descriptive

Use precise and evocative language to paint a clear picture in the reader's mind. Instead of simply saying "The flower was beautiful," describe its vibrant colors, delicate petals, and intoxicating fragrance. Specific details will make your imagery more vivid and engaging.

Show, Don't Tell

Instead of telling readers what to imagine, show them through descriptive imagery. Instead of saying "It was a cold winter day," paint a picture with phrases like "The frost-coated branches glistened in the pale morning light, while the icy wind bit at our cheeks." This allows readers to visualize the scene and experience it for themselves.

Use Metaphors and Similes

Metaphors and similes add depth and complexity to your imagery by comparing two unrelated things. They can create striking and memorable images in the reader's mind. For example, "Her laughter was a bubbling brook" or "The city skyline stretched like a jagged crown against the horizon."

Consider the Mood and Tone

Adjust your imagery to match the mood and tone of your writing. If you're describing a serene and peaceful scene, use gentle and soothing imagery. For a suspenseful or dark atmosphere, employ imagery that is eerie or foreboding. Aligning your imagery with the desired mood will enhance the overall effect of your writing.

Balance Imagination and Clarity

While vivid imagery is crucial, be mindful of striking a balance between imaginative language and clarity. Ensure that your descriptions are clear enough for readers to understand without becoming overwhelming or confusing. Aim for a balance that captures the essence of the scene without sacrificing comprehension.

H2- The Final Word: Embracing the Power of Imagery in Writing

In conclusion, imagery is the secret ingredient that can transform your writing from ordinary to extraordinary. 

By skillfully incorporating vivid descriptions and sensory details, you can transport readers to captivating worlds, evoke emotions, and leave a lasting impact. 

Remember to balance imagination with clarity, allowing your readers to immerse themselves in your writing without getting lost in a sea of abstract imagery.

So, whether you're crafting a novel, a poem, an essay, or any other form of writing, let imagery be your ally.

If you need assistance with your writing journey, visit 5StarEssays.com.   Our expert writers are ready to help you with your “ write my essay ” requests and take your work to new heights. 

Take the next step in your writing endeavors now, and hire our writing service today!

Dr. Barbara is a highly experienced writer and author who holds a Ph.D. degree in public health from an Ivy League school. She has worked in the medical field for many years, conducting extensive research on various health topics. Her writing has been featured in several top-tier publications.

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• Literary Terms
• Definition & Examples
• When & How to use Imagery

I. What is Imagery?

Imagery is language used by poets, novelists and other writers to create images in the mind of the reader. Imagery includes figurative and metaphorical language to improve the reader’s experience through their senses.

II. Examples of Imagery

Imagery using  visuals:

The night was black as ever, but bright stars lit up the sky in beautiful and varied constellations which were sprinkled across the astronomical landscape.

In this example, the experience of the night sky is described in depth with color (black as ever, bright), shape (varied constellations), and pattern (sprinkled).

Imagery using sounds:

Silence was broken by the peal of piano keys as Shannon began practicing her concerto .

Here, auditory imagery breaks silence with the beautiful sound of piano keys.

Imagery using scent:

She smelled the scent of sweet hibiscus wafting through the air, its tropical smell a reminder that she was on vacation in a beautiful place.

The scent of hibiscus helps describe a scene which is relaxing, warm, and welcoming.

Imagery using taste:

The candy melted in her mouth and swirls of bittersweet chocolate and slightly sweet but salty caramel blended together on her tongue.

Thanks to an in-depth description of the candy’s various flavors, the reader can almost experience the deliciousness directly.

Imagery using touch:

After the long run, he collapsed in the grass with tired and burning muscles. The grass tickled his skin and sweat cooled on his brow.

In this example, imagery is used to describe the feeling of strained muscles, grass’s tickle, and sweat cooling on skin.

III. Types of Imagery

Here are the five most common types of imagery used in creative writing:

a. Visual Imagery

Visual imagery describes what we see: comic book images, paintings, or images directly experienced through the narrator’s eyes. Visual imagery may include:

• Color, such as: burnt red, bright orange, dull yellow, verdant green, and Robin’s egg blue.
• Shapes, such as: square, circular, tubular, rectangular, and conical.
• Size, such as: miniscule, tiny, small, medium-sized, large, and gigantic.
• Pattern, such as: polka-dotted, striped, zig-zagged, jagged, and straight.

b. Auditory Imagery

Auditory imagery describes what we hear, from music to noise to pure silence. Auditory imagery may include:

• Enjoyable sounds, such as: beautiful music, birdsong, and the voices of a chorus.
• Noises, such as: the bang of a gun, the sound of a broom moving across the floor, and the sound of broken glass shattering on the hard floor.
• The lack of noise, describing a peaceful calm or eerie silence.

c. Olfactory Imagery

Olfactory imagery describes what we smell. Olfactory imagery may include:

• Fragrances, such as perfumes, enticing food and drink, and blooming flowers.
• Odors, such as rotting trash, body odors, or a stinky wet dog.

d. Gustatory Imagery

Gustatory imagery describes what we taste. Gustatory imagery can include:

• Sweetness, such as candies, cookies, and desserts.
• Sourness, bitterness, and tartness, such as lemons and limes.
• Saltiness, such as pretzels, French fries, and pepperonis.
• Spiciness, such as salsas and curries.
• Savoriness, such as a steak dinner or thick soup.

e. Tactile Imagery

Lastly, tactile imagery describes what we feel or touch. Tactile imagery includes:

• Temperature, such as bitter cold, humidity, mildness, and stifling heat.
• Texture, such as rough, ragged, seamless, and smooth.
• Touch, such as hand-holding, one’s in the grass, or the feeling of starched fabric on one’s skin.
• Movement, such as burning muscles from exertion, swimming in cold water, or kicking a soccer ball.

IV. The Importance of Using Imagery

Because we experience life through our senses, a strong composition should appeal to them through the use of imagery. Descriptive imagery launches the reader into the experience of a warm spring day, scorching hot summer, crisp fall, or harsh winter. It allows readers to directly sympathize with characters and narrators as they imagine having the same sense experiences. Imagery commonly helps build compelling poetry, convincing narratives , vivid plays, well-designed film sets, and descriptive songs.

V. Imagery in Literature

Imagery is found throughout literature in poems, plays, stories, novels, and other creative compositions. Here are a few examples of imagery in literature:

Excerpt describing a fish :

his brown skin hung in strips like ancient wallpaper, and its pattern of darker brown was like wallpaper: shapes like full-blown roses stained and lost through age .

This excerpt from Elizabeth Bishop’s poem “The Fish” is brimming with visual imagery. It beautifies and complicates the image of a fish that has just been caught. You can imagine the fish with tattered, dark brown skin “like ancient wallpaper” covered in barnacles, lime deposits, and sea lice. In just a few lines, Bishop mentions many colors including brown, rose, white, and green.

Another example :

A taste for the miniature was one aspect of an orderly spirit. Another was a passion for secrets: in a prized varnished cabinet, a secret drawer was opened by pushing against the grain of a cleverly turned dovetail joint , and here she kept a diary locked by a clasp , and a notebook written in a code of her own invention. … An old tin petty cash box was hidden under a removable floorboard beneath her bed.

In this excerpt from Ian McEwan’s novel Atonement , we can almost feel the cabinet and its varnished texture or the joint that is specifically in a dovetail shape. We can also imagine the clasp detailing on the diary and the tin cash box that’s hidden under a floorboard. Various items are described in-depth, so much so that the reader can easily visualize them.

VI. Imagery in Pop Culture

Imagery can be found throughout pop culture in descriptive songs, colorful plays, and in exciting movie and television scenes.

Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox:

Wes Anderson is known for his colorful, imaginative, and vivid movie making. The imagery in this film is filled with detail, action, and excitement.

Louis Armstrong’s “ What a Wonderful World. ”

Armstrong’s classic song is an example of simple yet beautiful imagery in song. For instance, the colors are emphasized in the green trees, red blooming roses, blue skies, and white clouds from the bright day to the dark night.

VII. Related Terms

(Terms: metaphor,  onomatopoeia and personification)

Metaphor is often used as a type of imagery. Specifically, metaphor is the direct comparison of two distinct things. Here are a few examples of metaphor as imagery:

• Her smiling face is the sun .
• His temper was a hurricane whipping through the school, scaring and amazing his classmates .
• We were penguins standing in our black and white coats in the bitter cold .
• Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia is also a common tool used for imagery. Onomatopoeia is a form of auditory imagery in which the word used sounds like the thing it describes. Here are a few examples of onomatopoeia as imagery:

• The fire crackled and popped .
• She rudely slurped and gulped down her soup .
• The pigs happily oinked when the farmer gave them their slop to eat .
• Personification

Personification is another tool used for imagery. Personification provides animals and objects with human-like characteristics. Here are a few examples of personification as imagery:

• The wind whistled and hissed through the stormy night .
• The tired tree’s branches moaned in the gusts of wind.
• The ocean waves slapped the shore and whispered in a fizz as they withdrew again.

List of Terms

• Alliteration
• Amplification
• Anachronism
• Anthropomorphism
• Antonomasia
• APA Citation
• Aposiopesis
• Autobiography
• Bildungsroman
• Characterization
• Circumlocution
• Cliffhanger
• Comic Relief
• Connotation
• Deus ex machina
• Deuteragonist
• Doppelganger
• Double Entendre
• Dramatic irony
• Equivocation
• Extended Metaphor
• Figures of Speech
• Flash-forward
• Foreshadowing
• Intertextuality
• Juxtaposition
• Literary Device
• Malapropism
• Parallelism
• Pathetic Fallacy
• Point of View
• Polysyndeton
• Protagonist
• Red Herring
• Rhetorical Device
• Rhetorical Question
• Science Fiction
• Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
• Synesthesia
• Turning Point
• Understatement
• Urban Legend
• Verisimilitude
• Essay Guide
• Cite This Website

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Sensory Imagery in Creative Writing: Types, Examples, and Writing Tips

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Sep 29, 2021 • 6 min read

Sensory imagery is a literary device writers employ to engage a reader’s mind on multiple levels. Sensory imagery explores the five human senses: sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, using imagery in college essays: tips and importance.

As I start drafting my essays for college applications, how crucial is it to include imagery, and does anyone have strategies for incorporating it effectively without overdoing it?

Imagery can be a powerful tool in your essays, creating an immersive experience for the reader and showcasing your writing abilities. It's important to use it to bring your story to life, painting a vivid picture of experiences, settings, emotions, or actions. However, the key is balance. You want to enhance your narrative without detracting from your message or making the prose feel forced.

One strategy is to choose moments where detailed descriptions will add value, perhaps when setting the scene or emphasizing a pivotal moment in your story. It's often more impactful to illustrate one memorable instance in detail than to use flowery language throughout.

For example, instead of describing a general passion for nature, you could describe the intricate patterns of frost on leaves during an early morning hike. This paints a picture while telling something meaningful about your appreciation for detail and beauty. Keep it natural, and let your own voice shine through. Best of luck with your applications!

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Imagery Definition

What is imagery? Here’s a quick and simple definition:

Imagery, in any sort of writing, refers to descriptive language that engages the human senses. For instance, the following lines from Robert Frost's poem "After Apple-Picking" contain imagery that engages the senses of touch, movement, and hearing: "I feel the ladder sway as the boughs bend. / And I keep hearing from the cellar bin / The rumbling sound / Of load on load of apples coming in."

Some additional key details about imagery:

• Though imagery contains the word "image," it does not only refer to descriptive language that appeals to the sense of sight. Imagery includes language that appeals to all of the human senses, including sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell.
• While imagery can and often does benefit from the use of figurative language such as metaphors and similes, imagery can also be written without using any figurative language at all.

Imagery Pronunciation

Here's how to pronounce imagery: im -ij-ree

Types of Imagery

There are five main types of imagery, each related to one of the human senses:

• Visual imagery (sight)
• Auditory imagery (hearing)
• Olfactory imagery (smell)
• Gustatory imagery (taste)
• Tactile imagery (touch)

Some people may also argue that imagery can be kinesthetic (related to movement) or organic (related to sensations within the body). Writers may focus descriptions in a particular passage on primarily one type of imagery, or multiple types of imagery.

Imagery and Figurative Language

Many people (and websites) confuse the relationship between imagery and figurative language. Usually this confusion involves one of two things:

• Describing imagery as a type of figurative language.
• Describing imagery as the use of figurative language to create descriptions that engage the physical senses.

Both are wrong.

A Quick Definition of Figurative Language

Figurative language is language that creates a meaning that is different from the literal interpretation of the words. For instance, the phrase "you are my sunshine" is figurative language (a metaphor , to be precise). It's not literally saying that you are a beam of light from the sun, but rather is creating an association between "you" and "sunshine" to say that you make the speaker feel warm and happy and also give the speaker life in the same way sunshine does.

Imagery can be Literal or Figurative

Imagery is neither a type of figurative language nor does it solely involve the use of figurative language to create descriptions for one simple reason: imagery can be totally literal. Take the lines from Robert Frost's "After-Apple Picking:"

I feel the ladder sway as the boughs bend. And I keep hearing from the cellar bin The rumbling sound Of load on load of apples coming in.

These lines contain powerful imagery: you can feel the swaying ladder, see the bending boughs, and hear the rumbling of the apples going into the cellar bin. But it is also completely literal: every word means exactly what it typically means. So this imagery involves no figurative language at all.

Now, that doesn't mean imagery can't use figurative language. It can! You could write, for instance, "The apples rumbled into the cellar bin like a stampede of buffalo," using a simile to create a non-literal comparison that emphasizes just how loudly those apples were rumbling. To sum up, then: imagery can involve the use of figurative language, but it doesn't have to.

Imagery Examples

Imagery is found in all sorts of writing, from fiction to non-fiction to poetry to drama to essays.

Example of Imagery in Romeo and Juliet

In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet , Romeo describes his first sight of Juliet with rich visual imagery:

O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! Her beauty hangs upon the cheek of night, Like a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear

This imagery does involve the use of figurative language, as Romeo describes Juliet's beauty in the nighttime by using a simile that compares her to a jewel shining against dark skin.

Example of Imagery in "Birches"

In the early lines of his poem "Birches," Robert Frost describes the birches that give his poem it's title. The language he uses in the description involves imagery of sight, movement, and sound.

When I see birches bend to left and right Across the lines of straighter darker trees, I like to think some boy's been swinging them. But swinging doesn't bend them down to stay As ice-storms do. Often you must have seen them Loaded with ice a sunny winter morning After a rain. They click upon themselves As the breeze rises, and turn many-colored As the stir cracks and crazes their enamel.

Example of Imagery in The Road

The novelist Cormac McCarthy is known, among other things, for his powerful imagery. In this passage from his novel The Road , note how he uses imagery to describe the fire on the distant ridge, the feel of the air, and even the feeling inside that the man experiences.

A forest fire was making its way along the tinderbox ridges above them, flaring and shimmering against the overcast like the northern lights. Cold as it was he stood there a long time. The color of it moved something in him long forgotten.

Example of Imagery in Moby-Dick

The passage ago appears at the very end of Herman Melville's Moby-Dick and describes the ocean in the moments after a destroyed ship has sunk into it. Notice how Melville combines visual, auditory, and kinesthetic imagery ("small fowls flew"; "white surf beat"), and how the imagery allows you to almost feel the vortex created by the sinking ship and then the silence left behind when it closes.

Now small fowls flew screaming over the yet yawning gulf; a sullen white surf beat against its steep sides; then all collapsed, and the great shroud of the sea rolled on as it rolled five thousand years ago.

Example of Imagery in Song of Solomon

In this passage from Song of Solomon , Toni Morrison uses visual imagery to capture the color and motion of the table cloth as it settles over the table. She also uses figurative language ("like a lighthouse keeper...") to describe the way that Ruth in the passage looks at the water stain on the table. The figurative language doesn't just describe the color or sound or smell of the scene, it captures the obsessive way that Ruth glances at the water stain, and the way that seeing it gives her a sense of ease. Here the figurative language deepens the imagery of the scene.

As she unfolded the white linen and let it billow over the fine mahogany table, she would look once more at the large water mark. She never set the table or passed through the dining room without looking at it. Like a lighthouse keeper drawn to his window to gaze once again at the sea, or a prisoner automatically searching out the sun as he steps into the yard for his hour of exercise, Ruth looked for the water mark several times during the day.

Example of Imagery in Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

The main character of Patrick Suskind's novel Perfume: The Story of a Murderer has a supernaturally powerful sense of smell. In this passage, which describes the smells of an 18th century city, the narrator captures the nature of 18th century cities—their grittiness and griminess—through the smell of their refuse, and how in such a world perfume might be not just a luxury but a necessity. Further, he makes readers aware of a world of smell of which they normally are only slightly aware, and how a super-sensitive sense of smell could both be powerful but also be overwhelmingly unpleasant. And finally, through smell the narrator is able to describe just how gross humans can be, how they are in some ways just another kind of animal, and how their bodies are always failing or dying. Through descriptions of smell, in other words, the novel also describes an overlooked aspect of the human condition.

In the period of which we speak, there reigned in the cities a stench barely conceivable to us modern men and women. The streets stank of manure, the courtyards of urine, the stairwells stank of moldering wood and rat droppings, the kitchens of spoiled cabbage and mutton fat; the unaired parlors stank of stale dust, the bedrooms of greasy sheets, damp featherbeds, and the pungently sweet aroma of chamber pots. The stench of sulfur rose from the chimneys, the stench of caustic lyes from the tanneries, and from the slaughterhouses came the stench of congealed blood. People stank of sweat and unwashed clothes; from their mouths came the stench of rotting teeth, from their bellies that of onions, and from their bodies, if they were no longer very young, came the stench of rancid cheese and sour milk and tumorous disease.

Why Do Writers Use Imagery?

Imagery is essential to nearly every form of writing, and writers use imagery for a wide variety of reasons:

• It engages readers: Imagery allows readers to see and feel what's going on in a story. It fully engages the reader's imagination, and brings them into the story.
• It's interesting: Writing without imagery would be dry and dull, while writing with imagery can be vibrant and gripping.
• It can set the scene and communicate character: The description of how a person or place looks, moves, sounds, smells, does as much to tell you about that person or place as any explanation can. Imagery is not just "window dressing," it is the necessary sensory detail that allows a reader to understand the world and people being described, from their fundamental traits to their mood.
• It can be symbolic: Imagery can both describe the world and establish symbolic meanings that deepen the impact of the text. Such symbolism can range from the weather (rain occurring in moments of sadness) to symbolism that is even deeper or more complex, such as the way that Moby-Dick layers multiple meanings through his descriptions of the whiteness of the whale.

Other Helpful Imagery Resources

• Wikipedia entry on imagery : A concise, no nonsense entry on imagery.
• Imagery in Robert Frost's poetry : A page that picks out different kinds of imagery in poems by Robert Frost.
• Imagery in John Keats's poetry : A page that identifies imagery in poems by John Keats.

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What is Imagery in Literature? Definition and Examples

by Fija Callaghan

Fija Callaghan is an author, poet, and writing workshop leader. She has been recognized by a number of awards, including being shortlisting for the H. G. Wells Short Story Prize. She is the author of the short story collection Frail Little Embers , and her writing can be read in places like Seaside Gothic , Gingerbread House , and Howl: New Irish Writing . She is also a developmental editor with Fictive Pursuits. You can read more about her at fijacallaghan.com .

What pulls readers into a story? Is it strong, relatable characters? Fantastic settings? Or is it a deep, universal theme that hits your readers on a visceral level?

These literary devices are all super important for creating a work that people love to read, but often what really draws in readers is imagery ; the vivid way in which we show them the world of our story. Imagery is what brings your story from the distant somewhere else into the here and now .

We’ll look at how to use vivid descriptions and figurative language to engage your reader’s senses, along with some examples of imagery that show you how to create a sensory experience in the reader’s mind.

What is imagery in creative writing?

Imagery is a literary device that uses descriptive language to create mental images for the reader. This can be used to give context to the events of your story, to immerse your reader in an unfamiliar setting, to communicate mood and tone for a particular scene, or to create an emotional response in your reader.

You can create imagery that activates all of the reader’s senses, not just the visual sense. Sound, smell, taste, touch, and movement all help to create vibrant scenes that make them feel as if they were there.

When your reader begins to feel like they’re a part of the world of your story, that’s when they start to invest in the characters , events, and big-picture themes that you’re working to communicate through your writing.

How is imagery different from symbolism?

Imagery and symbolism are two literary devices that sound kind of similar because they both use images to communicate with readers. But they’re not quite the same. The biggest difference is that imagery engages readers on a sensory, emotional level, and symbolism engages the reader on a more intellectual level.

Descriptive imagery uses all of our senses to create a vivid picture of a person, place, object, or moment for the reader. For example, consider this use of imagery to describe a box:

The box full of letters is made of metal that’s painted bright red, heavier than it looks and cold to the touch. The metal is smooth except for one place near the lock, which is rough with scratches where someone once tried to pry it open. There’s a handle on top that squeaks when you try to lift it because of the rust that’s starting to form where the handle joins the lid.

Can you see the box clearly in your mind? That’s imagery at work.

Compare that to symbolism, which is when a writer attributes an underlying meaning to a person, place, or object. This brings depth to your story and helps communicate underlying themes and ideas.

If you’re using symbolism, you might say that the letter box is a symbol of a couple’s growing resentment to each other—the vivid color makes it impossible to ignore, it weighs them down more than they’d like to admit, and their relationship is beginning to corrode because of it.

Using imagery and symbolism together like that is very effectively for create strong, emotional connections for your readers.

Literal vs. figurative imagery

When we talk about imagery, we’re really talking about two distinct devices: literal imagery and figurative imagery. Let’s look a little closer at each one.

Literal imagery

This type of imagery uses descriptive language to show something exactly the way it is, using ideas that we can see, hear, and touch. When we described the box above as red, cold, heavy, smooth, and squeaking, we were using literal imagery—straightforward, unadorned words to create a realistic idea in the reader’s head.

This technique can be very powerful because it uses language that we already have a clear reference for. This makes the scene more real and tangible for the reader.

Figurative imagery

Figurative or poetic imagery uses descriptive literary devices like similes, metaphors, and hyperbole to create a vivid picture for the reader. Rather than telling them exactly what they’re seeing in the world of your story, this type of imagery allows them to create their own image out of your words. Using poetic imagery, we could describe the box as “red as a gaping wound,” or “heavy as an elephant,” or say that holding it is like “reaching into icy water.”

This kind of language can create a strong emotional response in the reader.

Many authors favor one type of imagery over the other—what type of imagery you most resonate with is an important part of your writer’s voice . Finding a comfortable balance of both literal and figurative imagery in your writing is ultimately one of the things that makes a great writer.

Types of imagery to use in your story

Effective imagery uses all of the senses to create a detailed world for your story. Most of us rely mainly on our eyes to take in information, but as a writer, you have a whole range of physical sensations to explore. Every one of them can be used to bring your reader deeper and deeper into your story world.

1. Visual imagery

Visual imagery encompasses everything that we can see. Colors, shapes, sizes, proportions, angles, edges, textures, and contrast are all different things you can communicate through the readers’ senses.

Saying that a man stood half-in and half-out of shadow, his wool collar turned up against his face and his hair tipped golden by the lamplight, is an example of using different aspects of visual imagery to create a clear scene.

2. Auditory imagery

Auditory imagery is everything that we hear. After our eyes, our ears tell us the most about our environment. Your characters might hear the sounds of other voices, nearby traffic, music coming from a neighbor’s apartment, water dripping through pipes, the knocking of an air conditioner, branches rustling, distant machinery, a keyboard clattering, or the soft rustle of the turning pages of a book.

Using auditory imagery can reveal surprising things about your story and convey new information to your characters, as well as immersing your readers deeper into the scene.

3. Gustatory imagery

Gustatory imagery is the imagery of taste. What and how we taste is one of the most important ways in which we define culture, and often one of the first things people become aware of when immersing themselves in cultures outside of their own.

You can use sensory details to describe the way food tastes, of course, but also the way the air tastes in a new environment, the way blood tastes if you accidentally bite your tongue, the flavour of plastic and ink as you chew the end of your pen in thought.

You can also use gustatory imagery in a metaphorical way, as well as in a literal one; for example, the way a new love affair might taste sweet but an argument might taste bitter and acidic.

4. Olfactory imagery

Olfactory imagery is the imagery of scent. More than any other sense, our sense of smell is deeply linked to the way we form and perceive memory. In your story, using olfactory imagery is an easy way to link different times and places.

Olfactory memories can be pleasant, or they can be less so; your characters memories might be triggered by the smell of lavender like they had their childhood garden, by the smell of hot concrete in the sun as they remember the events of a particularly hot day, by the smell of burning toast that brings them back to a traumatic event, or by the fragrance that a loved one used to wear, even if your character hasn’t thought about them in decades.

5. Tactile imagery

Tactile imagery encompasses our sense of physical contact. For many people, touch is the sense we subconsciously trust the most; it’s easy to doubt the things you see and hear, but if it can be tangibly felt by your bare skin, it becomes real in an unequivocal way.

Things like a baby’s skin, a man’s unshaven face, the rough fabric of a tweed coat, slimy cough medicine, a warm teacup, or the cold surface of a window are all ways to use this type of imagery to create an emotional impact. How do different textures bring back memories and elicit feelings?

6. Kinesthetic imagery

Kinesthetic imagery is related to tactile imagery, but it specifically refers to the feeling of movement. These can be things like hair blowing across your face in the wind, a rope slipping slowly from your grasp, the discomfort of shifting an aching muscle, the feeling of bread dough being kneaded in your hands, or the feeling of shoes beginning to drag across the sidewalk after a very long walk.

This type of imagery reflects one state changing to another, and is often used in moments where something is being created, broken, found, or lost.

7. Composite imagery

Composite imagery is a device that uses contradictory senses to create an image or feeling. These are always figurative , rather than literal . For example, you could say, “kissing her tasted like sunlight,” mixing gustatory imagery with tactile and visual imagery; or, “his voice sounded like splintered wood,” mixing auditory imagery with tactile imagery.

Using poetic imagery in this way uses metaphors to create surprising connections and shows your reader what’s happening in a fresh way.

Evocative examples of imagery in literature

1. stardust , by neil gaiman.

Something stung his left hand. He slapped at it, expecting to see an insect. He looked down to see a pale yellow leaf. It fell to the ground with a rustle. On the back of his hand, a veining of red, wet blood welled up. The wood whispered about them.

This moment opens with tactile sensations in the feeling of being stung and then the slapping of skin on skin. Then Gaiman shows us, through visual images, the conflict between what the character expected to see and what he really saw. The verbs “rustle” and “whispered” add a powerful auditory experience to this vibrant scene.

2. The Strawberry Thief , by Joanne Harris

The dry reek of cigarettes has become the scent of burning leaves; the sweet and simple bonfire scent of autumn nights by the fireside. The chocolate is cooler now: the silky consistency has returned. I return the pan to the burner. Tiny petals of steam lift from the glossy surface.

This author uses olfactory imagery to marvelous effect as she shows the subtle change from one moment to another. Then the moment moves uses sight to explore the contrasting textures of the chocolate and the steam, taking us effectively from the negative “reek of cigarettes” to the more pleasant-sounding “tiny petals of steam.”

3. The Little Sister , by Raymond Chandler

I smelled Los Angeles before I got to it. It smelled stale and old like a living room that had been closed too long. But the colored lights fooled you. The lights were wonderful. There ought to be a monument to the man who invented neon lights.

This is another example of a literary work that effectively uses imagery in juxtaposition, showing the city’s worst and best qualities side by side. He uses olfactory imagery to express the negative in a poetic and imaginative way, and then lays down the positive aspect through visually focusing on the brightness of the lights around him.

4. An Irish Country Girl , by Patrick Taylor

She smiled, but her smile soon fled when she heard a very different noise. It was wind howling through bare-branched trees. The walls of the kitchen became blurred, the range and stove vanished, there were no cooking smells, only a chill in her nostrils. Maureen saw flakes, whirling and flying, and small sheep huddled against a gale.

Here Taylor uses auditory imagery to take the character and the reader from a lighthearted moment into a much darker one. He uses olfactory imagery very powerfully by describing an lack of smells, rather than ones that are present, and visual imagery to pick out just a few poignant details that make the scene come to life.

5. The Wild Swans , by Jackie Morris

The lower floors were warm from the kitchen fires and rich with the scent of baking and roasting, bright with the bustle of busy working. The higher floors danced with the light that flooded in through the casement windows.

Morris blends different examples of imagery to create pictures of a single moment full of light and life. She uses tactile imagery in showing us that the rooms are warm, olfactory imagery in the foods that are being prepared, kinesthetic imagery in the bustle of workers and the dancing light, and visual imagery in describing the fires and the way light falls through the windows. In this example, several types of imagery are effortlessly entwined at once.

Exercise: increasing your sensory awareness

Here’s a fun, easy exercise to help you develop your writer’s muscles and create stronger imagery for your story.

Go sit somewhere away from home like a park, shopping mall, or café. Bring a notebook with you so you can record your observations. Get settled and make six headings in your notebook, one for each of the imagery types we looked at above. What you’re going to do is try to focus on your environment using only one sense at a time.

Begin with any sense you feel like, except visual—because human beings are so reliant on their visual sense, it’s best to leave that one for the very end and challenge yourself to experience the world through your other five senses first.

Close your eyes and use the sense you picked to pay attention to the world around you.

What do you hear? Are there people talking close by, fountains bubbling, harsh noises of espresso machines grinding, dogs barking, wind rustling the treetops, old pipes whispering behind walls?

What do you smell? Grass being cut, aromatics in soil released by the rain, hairspray straggling in the air, somebody’s greasy takeout?

What do you feel? The weight of your scarf around your neck, smooth wood from a park bench under your hands, a gentle breeze blowing stray hair across your forehead, vibrations under your feet from someone running nearby?

Go through every sense and after each one, open your eyes and record al the concrete details you remember.

You’ll be amazed at how much information there is around us all the time that our bodies are taking in without even realizing it. Every single one of these experiences can be used in your writing. Little details like these ones will make your stories more real and present for the reader as they immerse themselves in your world.

Imagery gives life and color to your writing

Imagery is around us all the time in the things we see, hear, smell, taste, and feel. Using this sensual language in your writing is a great way to communicate new information with the reader, create a shift in tone from one moment to another, add depth to a particular scene, and bring new life to your story.

Once you begin experimenting with different types of imagery in your writing, you’ll find yourself looking at the world of your story—and the world around you—in a whole new way.

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Literary Devices

Literary devices, terms, and elements, definition of imagery, common examples of imagery, significance of imagery in literature, examples of imagery in literature, example #1: taste.

On rainy afternoons, embroidering with a group of friends on the begonia porch, she would lose the thread of the conversation and a tear of nostalgia would salt her palate when she saw the strips of damp earth and the piles of mud that the earthworms had pushed up in the garden. Those secret tastes, defeated in the past by oranges and rhubarb, broke out into an irrepressible urge when she began to weep. She went back to eating earth. The first time she did it almost out of curiosity, sure that the bad taste would be the best cure for the temptation. And, in fact, she could not bear the earth in her mouth. But she persevered, overcome by the growing anxiety, and little by little she was getting back her ancestral appetite, the taste of primary minerals, the unbridled satisfaction of what was the original food.

( One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez)

Example #2: Sound

My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year. He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake. The only other sound’s the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake.

(“Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost)

Example #3: Sight

Outside, even through the shut window-pane, the world looked cold. Down in the street little eddies of wind were whirling dust and torn paper into spirals, and though the sun was shining and the sky a harsh blue, there seemed to be no colour in anything, except the posters that were plastered everywhere. The black mustachioed face gazed down from every commanding corner. There was one on the house-front immediately opposite. BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU, the caption said, while the dark eyes looked deep into Winston’s own. Down at street level another poster, torn at one corner, flapped fitfully in the wind, alternately covering and uncovering the single word INGSOC. In the far distance a helicopter skimmed down between the roofs, hovered for an instant like a bluebottle, and darted away again with a curving flight.

( 1984 by George Orwell)

Example #4: Smell

In the period of which we speak, there reigned in the cities a stench barely conceivable to us modern men and women. The streets stank of manure, the courtyards of urine, the stairwells stank of moldering wood and rat droppings, the kitchens of spoiled cabbage and mutton fat; the unaired parlors stank of stale dust, the bedrooms of greasy sheets, damp featherbeds, and the pungently sweet aroma of chamber pots. The stench of sulfur rose from the chimneys, the stench of caustic lyes from the tanneries, and from the slaughterhouses came the stench of congealed blood. People stank of sweat and unwashed clothes; from their mouths came the stench of rotting teeth, from their bellies that of onions, and from their bodies, if they were no longer very young, came the stench of rancid cheese and sour milk and tumorous disease.

( Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Suskind)

Patrick Suskind’s novel Perfume: The Story of a Murderer focuses on a character who has a very acute sense of smell. The novel, therefore, has numerous examples of imagery using descriptions of smell. This excerpt comes from the beginning of the novel where Suskind sets up the general palate of smells in eighteenth-century Paris. Using these smells as a backdrop, the reader is better able to understand the importance of the main character’s skill as a perfumer. The reader is forced to imagine the range of smells in this novel’s era and setting that no longer assault us on a daily basis.

Test Your Knowledge of Imagery

1. Choose the best imagery definition:

It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. Winston Smith, his chin nuzzled into his breast in an effort to escape the vile wind, slipped quickly through the glass doors of Victory Mansions, though not quickly enough to prevent a swirl of gritty dust from entering along with him. The hallway smelt of boiled cabbage and old rag mats.

A. Since the opening line is in April, this passage sets up expectations for Winston Smith to better his situation throughout the spring. B. The contradictory details of Winston’s building being named Victory Mansions and it smelling of boiled cabbage and old rag mats creates a feeling of unease in the reader. C. The fact that most of these details are unpleasant—the vile wind, the gritty dust, and old rag mats—makes the reader understand that Winston is a pessimistic man. [spoiler title=”Answer to Question #2″] Answer: B is the best answer. While it could turn out that Winston is pessimistic, as in answer C , the objective details of the imagery in this passage don’t lead to that conclusion.[/spoiler]

3. Which of the following lines from Robert Frost’s “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” contains imagery?

A. The woods are lovely, dark and deep B. But I have promises to keep C. And miles to go before I sleep [spoiler title=”Answer to Question #3″] Answer: A is the only line with imagery.[/spoiler]

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Literary Techniques: Imagery

In this post, we explain the different types of imagery, how to analyse it in your texts, and how to write about it in your essays.

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Year 11 english, vce english units 3 & 4.

Welcome to our glossary of literary techniques: imagery post. This post expands on the definitions found in our Literary Techniques Part 1: Techniques for Analysing a Written Text post.

Here are some common questions asked about imagery:

What is imagery?

• Are there different types of imagery?
• How do I analyse imagery in a text?
• How do I explain what imagery does in a text?

In this post, we will discuss the literary technique of  IMAGERY.  Read on while we show you some examples, discuss its effect in these examples, and explain how you should discuss it in your responses.

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Table of Contents

1. What is imagery? 2. Different types of Imagery 3. How does imagery work? 4. How to analyse imagery – step-by-step 5. Imagery examples

Literary techniques: Imagery

Imagery is one of the most common and most effective techniques used in texts. It describes things for a reader so they can get an accurate sense of what the composer is trying to represent.

Imagery is language that evokes one of the five senses, and you must always refer to the specific kind. In other words, never use simply ‘imagery,’ but always

• ‘ Olfactory imagery ,
• ‘ Tactile imagery ’
• ‘ Visual imagery ’
• ‘ Auditory imagery ’
• ‘ Gustatory imagery .’

Clearly, there are different types of imagery. Let’s see what they are and how they work!

Different types of imagery?

As we mentioned above, there are several different varieties of imagery:

• Olfactory imagery  – Olfactory refers to that which we can smell. Thus, olfactory imagery refers to descriptions of smells and odours. For example, “The mechanic stank of petrol.”
• Tactile imagery  – Tactile refers to the sense of touching things. Tactile imagery describes how things feel to the touch. For example, “The toad was slimy in her hands.”
• Visual imagery  – Visual imagery describes how things appear. When people think of imagery, they usually think of visual imagery. For example, “The boy had rosy cheeks.”
• Auditory imagery  – Auditory refers to how things sound. Auditory imagery conveys how things sound to an audience. For example, “Tom Waits is famed for his coarse gravelly voice.”
• Gustatory imagery  – Gustatory refers to how things taste. When composers use gustatory imagery, they describe how things taste. For example, “Suzy tasted the acrid flavour of high octane fuel as her pit crew filled the tank.”

It is important that you be specific when you discuss different types of imagery in your essays, so your markers get a clear picture of how you are using it to support your ideas.

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How does imagery work?

Imagery is an effective technique because it is readily recognised as describing something from a sentient point of view. As humans, we experience the world through our senses. This is why we can relate quickly to the thing being described because it reflects how we engage with the world – we look, see, touch, smell, taste, and hear.

Composers know this, and they use it as a means of conveying complex ideas and experiences to their audiences.

Think about that for a moment.

We can easily share our experiences with one another because our sensory experiences give us a common language to use to refer to things.

An example of olfactory imagery

Let’s look at an example:

Most people recognise petrichor , the smell of rain, even if they don’t know the word for it. It is a distinct smell, so when a composer wants to share a character’s experience of the weather with readers, they will draw on this shared experience.

The composer could write “Josephine paused outside her front door as the sky growled in the distance. The perfume of rain and hot tarmac serenaded her. She enjoyed it for a moment, before dashing back inside to grab her umbrella.”

This example uses two types of imagery, auditory, in the distant sound of thunder, and olfactory, the smell of petrichor and hot road surface.

This use of olfactory imagery is recognisable to readers used to Australian summer thunderstorms. Using imagery in this way is a quick and very effective way to represent these experiences to an audience. This example will appeal to audiences better than “Josephine went outside and smelled petrichor. She dashed inside to get her umbrella.”

Notice, too, how the composer doesn’t need to use complex amounts of adjectives and adverbs to describe things. Imagery is an effective way of “showing” rather than “telling” because it compels readers to draw on their own experiences.

How to analyse imagery – A step-by-step guide

It is possible to be systematic when analysing imagery. Let’s see what this process looks like:

• Read the passage to see if there is something recognisable to the senses
• Figure out which sense is being used
• Ask yourself, “what sense does this example use?”
• Ask yourself what this imagery is representing?
• Write about what this imagery does, and how it supports your argument using a T.E.E.L structure.

Now we have an idea of what this process looks like, let’s examine it in detail.

Step 1: Read the passage to see if it represents sensate experiences

Imagery conveys sensory experiences. When we analyse a passage to for it, we need to look for depictions of sensory experience. As you read, ask yourself is a sensory experience being represented here?

Let’s consider a passage from Act Scene 2 of Shakespeare’s The Tempest :

Caliban :all the infections that the sun sucks up From bogs, fens, flats, on Prosper fall and make him By inch-meal a disease! His spirits hear me And yet I needs must curse. But they’ll nor pinch, Fright me with urchin–shows, pitch me i’ the mire, Nor lead me, like a firebrand, in the dark Out of my way, unless he bid ’em; but For every trifle are they set upon me; Sometime like apes that mow and chatter at me And after bite me, then like hedgehogs which Lie tumbling in my barefoot way and mount Their pricks at my footfall; sometime am I All wound with adders who with cloven tongues Do hiss me into madness.

If we read through this passage we can see that Caliban is describing the torments that the tyrannical magician Prospero is inflicting on him. He is describing sensory experiences. This is imagery.

Now, we need to figure out what kinds it is and what it is doing.

Step 2: Identify the examples and types of imagery used

To identify imagery, we need to figure out what senses the examples are using to convey meaning.

In this example, Caliban describes how things look, how they sound, and he describes how things feel. So, let’s see what these examples are doing:

• Sound: “sometime like apes that mow and chatter at me” “sometime am I / All wound with adders who with cloven tongues / Do hiss me into madness” – this is auditory imagery .
• Sight: “But they’ll…Fright me with urchin–shows” – this is visual imagery .
• Touch: “then like hedgehogs which / Lie tumbling in my barefoot way and mount / Their pricks at my footfall” – this is tactile imagery .

Now we’ve broken the sensory imagery down into groups of senses, we need to figure out what Shakespeare is representing with these images.

Step 3: Understand what the Imagery is representing

Now we’ve found the imagery, we have to understand what it is doing.

In this extract, Caliban is complaining about how Prospero, a magician, torments him. Caliban describes the different creatures and spirits that the crotchety and cruel tyrant uses to keep Caliban in line.

Caliban describes how Prospero would torment him:

• By scaring him with visual imagery – “But they’ll…Fright me with urchin–shows”
• By terrifying him with auditory imagery – “sometime like apes that mow and chatter at me” “sometime am I / All wound with adders who with cloven tongues / Do hiss me into madness”
• By physically torturing him with tactle imagery – “then like hedgehogs which / Lie tumbling in my barefoot way and mount / Their pricks at my footfall”

Now we need to describe how this is conveying this to the reader in a such a powerful manner.

Step 4: Describe how the imagery is representing meaning in the text

We have ascertained that Caliban is complaining about his treatment at the hands of Prospero. Caliban uses visual, auditory, and tactile imagery to describe this.

So how do we discuss this in our essay?

We use a T.E.E.L structure.

T.E.E.L stands for:

• Technique : The technique used in the example
• Example : The example
• Effect : Your explanation of the effect of this technique and how it develops meaning
• Link : An explanation of how this example supports your argument.

You can find a more detailed explanation of using T.E.E.L in our post on paragraph structure  (this post is part of our series on Essay Writing and shows you the methods Matrix English students learn to write Band 6 essays in the Matrix Holiday and Term courses). Let’s use this T.E.E.L structure to write about this example of imagery.

• The techniques  being used are visual imagery ,  auditory imagery , and  tactile imagery .
• “But they’ll…Fright me with urchin–shows”
• “sometime like apes that mow and chatter at me” “sometime am I / All wound with adders who with cloven tongues / Do hiss me into madness”
• “then like hedgehogs which / Lie tumbling in my barefoot way and mount / Their pricks at my footfall”
• The effect  of this technique is that Caliban represents how Prospero tortures him unless he does the magician’s bidding.
• The link to our argument about discovery is that Caliban’s representation of his struggles, changes the audience’s view of Prospero as a benevolent ruler, to one who is cruel. Caliban gives insight into the nature or colonial rule.

Let’s put this together into a complete piece of analysis about these examples of imagery:

Now we have an understanding of how to analyse imagery, let’s look at a few more examples.

Examples of imagery

Now we have looked at what imagery is, how it works, and how to analyse it in your texts, let’s have a look at some examples. For each of these examples we have explained what the technique is, how it works, and then provided a sample response.

Some students notice that ‘visual imagery’ is something of a tautology (that is, it seems to say the same thing twice), and they omit the adjective ‘visual’ when referring to this category. Do not do this! Always be specific when discussing imagery!

The opening of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s ‘Kubla Khan’ is filled with overwhelming visual imagery:

In Xanadu did Kubla Khan A stately pleasure-dome decree: Where Alph, the sacred river, ran Through caverns measureless to man Down to a sunless sea.

Effect: The accumulation of intense visual imagery sustains, for the reader, the sense of the sublime, which was so important in Romantic verse.

Imagery occurs in Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell . Let’s have a look at an extract from Part One, Chapter 1:

[Winston] took down from the shelf a bottle of colourless liquid with a plain white label marked VICTORY GIN. It gave off a sickly, oily smell, as of Chinese rice-spirit. Winston poured out nearly a teacupful, nerved himself for a shock, and gulped it down like a dose of medicine.

Instantly his face turned scarlet and the water ran out of his eyes. The stuff was like nitric acid, and moreover, in swallowing it one had the sensation of being hit on the back of the head with a rubber club. The next moment, however, the burning in his belly died down and the world began to look more cheerful.

In this example, Orwell has used various types of imagery. Let’s see what they are, and how you should describe the technique and effect and how it develops meaning.

Visual Imagery describes the liquid: “[Winston] took down from the shelf a bottle of colourless liquid with a plain white label marked VICTORY GIN.”

Effect:  The gin is presented as an innocuous and bland liquid.

Olfactory Imagery describes the smell of the liquid: “It gave off a sickly, oily smell, as of Chinese rice-spirit. Winston poured out nearly a teacupful, nerved himself for a shock, and gulped it down like a dose of medicine.

Effect:  The gin is described as having an unpleasant smell. The audience perceives it as unappetising, but Winston drinks it anyway. This characterises Winston and the setting.

How to discuss imagery in an essay:

Written by Matrix English Team

© Matrix Education and www.matrix.edu.au, 2023. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Matrix Education and www.matrix.edu.au with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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What Is Imagery? A Complete Guide

General Education

A literary device is a technique a writer uses to convey ideas and messages to their readers. That means that as readers, we need to understand and use literary devices to fully understand a work’s major themes!

Today, we’re going to take a closer look at how to use imagery to analyze a text. We’ll start by giving you the imagery definition before talking about why it’s an important tool for analyzing a text. Then we’ll walk you through some imagery examples in poetry and fiction and show you exactly how to analyze the imagery in each.

By the end of this article, you’ll be able to talk about imagery in literature like a pro, so let’s get started.

What Is Imagery? Definition and Explanation

Have you ever read a book that makes you feel like you’re seeing, feeling, smelling, or tasting the same thing as the character you’re reading about? (We had that experience the first time Harry Potter tries butterbeer in Hogsmeade .) If you have, you can thank imagery for that experience!

Imagery is the act of using language to create images in the reader’s mind . Writers use descriptive words and phrases to help the reader feel like they’re...well, wherever the writer wants them to be! Basically, the writer is trying to create a “mental image” for the reader through the words they choose. Here’s how one of the greatest horror writers of all time, Stephen King , describes imagery :

Imagery does not occur on the writer’s page; it occurs in the reader’s mind. To describe everything is to supply a photograph in words; to indicate the points which seem the most vivid and important to you, the writer, is to allow the reader to flesh out your sketch into a portrait.

In other words: you can think of imagery as painting with words in order to fuel the reader’s imagination!

An easy way to spot imagery in a text is to pay attention to words, phrases, and sentences that connect with your five senses (sight, smell, taste, touch, and sound). That’s because writers know that in order to capture a reader’s attention, they need to engage with them mentally, physically, and emotionally.

Since imagery is designed to connect a reader to a text, it’s one of the most powerful tools a writer has to communicate their themes and messages.

The 2 Types of Imagery

Any time a writer engages a reader’s senses, they’re using imagery...which means imagery is a really broad literary device. In general, however , imagery fits into two big categories: literal and figurative.

Literal Imagery: Examples and Explanation

With literal imagery, a writer is literally describing things to the reader. (Pretty straightforward, huh?)

Writers often use literal imagery to describe the setting, characters, and situation for a reader. Literal imagery helps the reader picture where characters are, understand what characters are doing, and even foreshadow what might happen next. (For example, if the character is in a dark, dirty alley, they’re probably in a more dangerous situation than if the character is skipping through a field of daisies.)

Let’s take a look at an example of literal imagery from Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park so you can see what we mean. In this scene, Dr. Alan Grant, Lex Murphy, and Tim Murphy are trying to hide from a tyrannosaurus rex:

The tyrannosaur was still looking downstream, its back turned to them. They hurried along the path to the waterfall, and had almost moved behind the sheet of falling water when Grant saw the tyrannosaur turn. Then they were completely behind the waterfall, and Grant was unable to see out through the silver sheet.

Now that you’ve read this passage, close your eyes and picture the scene. You’re probably picturing a giant waterfall, a hungry tyrannosaurus rex, and a lot of danger, right? That’s because the literal imagery in this passage paints a very specific, literal picture that helps you imagine what’s happening in this moment!

Magic, right? Not quite. Imagery works because the writer uses descriptive words and phrases to help paint a picture. Let’s take a look at the first few lines again and pick out some of the descriptive language that helps shape the scene:  

They were closer to the waterfall now, the roar much louder. The rocks became slippery, the path muddy. There was a constant hanging mist. It was like moving through a cloud.

These lines are almost exclusively description, and Crichton uses phrases like “rocks became slippery” and “constant hanging mist” to help you imagine exactly what’s happening. A good way to pick out literal imagery is to look for nouns, then see how they’re described. For example, the noun “waterfall” is described as having a “roar” that gets “louder” the closer the characters get!

From an analysis perspective, these literal images all work together to help build the mood , or tone , of the scene. In this case, the imagery of the scene contributes to its tense and suspenseful tone. The environment is treacherous--not only are the rocks slick, but the characters have trouble seeing through the mist and water. One false move, and they’ll be a tasty snack for a hungry dinosaur!

  Use this picture as inspiration for finding connotation! (This will all make sense in a second.)

Figurative Imagery: Examples and Explanation  

Unlike literal imagery, figurative imagery uses on the non-literal--or metaphorical--meaning of words to paint a picture for the reader. Almost all words have two meanings: their denotation and connotation. The denotation of a word is its literal, dictionary definition. Figurative imagery, on the other hand, relies on the connotation —or implied meaning—of words and phrases to help shape a text’s themes and ideas.

To see how figurative imagery works, let’s look at the first line of Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 130,” where the speaker is describing his lady love:  

My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun;

Okay. Let’s zero in on the word “sun” here. According to Merriam-Webster, the literal definition of the word “sun” is “the luminous celestial body around which the earth and other planets revolve, from which they receive heat and light, which is composed mainly of hydrogen and helium.” But the speaker doesn’t literally mean that his mistress’ eyes aren’t like a ball of gas!

So what does he mean? To figure this out, let’s look at the figurative imagery here. Take a minute and think of some of the implied or metaphorical meanings of the word “sun.” The word might make you think of warmth and happiness. It also might make you think of other images like burning, blazing, or fiery brightness.

With this figurative imagery in mind, this line is better read as “my mistress’s eyes aren’t bright, warm, or happy.” Not only does figurative imagery help this line make more sense, it also clues readers into the message of the poem: that you can recognize someone’s faults and still love them and find them beautiful.

One more quick note: because you’re a savvy reader , you’ve probably realized that this line from Shakespeare is also a metaphor , which is a comparison between two seemingly unrelated objects (in this case, “eyes” and “sun”). Writers often use other literary devices like metaphor, simile, and personification to help create vivid imagery for the reader. So don’t be surprised if you see imagery overlapping with other literary techniques!

Can an Example of Imagery be Both Literal and Figurative at the Same Time?

Absolutely! In fact, it’s quite common to see writers use literal and figurative imagery simultaneously. Take the first stanza of William Wordsworth’s poem, “Daffodils” :

That floats on high o’er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

This stanza combines literal and figurative imagery. Literally, the images in this stanza help us see the speaker wandering around alone until he stumbles upon a patch of daffodils that are growing by a lake. This imagery is important to understanding Wordsworth’s poetry, which often explores the relationship between nature and man.  

The figurative imagery helps us learn a little more about the speaker, who’s an outsider. We can infer this because of the imagery he gives us; he imagines himself as a cloud floating over everything, able to see what’s going on but unable to participate. The daffodils, on the other hand, represent society. The imagery here is happy (the daffodils are “golden” and “dancing”), which is how the speaker views society as someone on the outside looking in.

 Imagery in Poetry: “Hope is the thing with feathers” by Emily Dickinson

Now that you know more about imagery, let’s look at a poem that uses imagery to portray its major themes:

That perches in the soul - And sings the tune without the words - And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard - And sore must be the storm - That could abash the little Bird That kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land - And on the strangest Sea - Yet - never - in Extremity, It asked a crumb - of me.

Imagery can make something abstract, like an emotion or theory, seem more concrete and tangible to the reader. By using imagery, writers can evoke the feeling they want to talk about in their readers...and by making their readers feel, writers can also help readers connect to the messages in their work.

In this example, Emily Dickinson takes the abstract idea of “hope” and compares it to a bird. Dickinson paints images of hope doing all the same things a bird does: it “perches,” “sings,” and keeps “so many warm” with its feathers. And despite all these gifts, hope never “asked a crumb” of anything in return. By using imagery to take an abstract idea (hope) and make it concrete (a bird), Dickinson helps readers understand the nature of hope. For Dickinson, hope is something that costs little to have and yet offers us comfort in all of life’s toughest situations.

Imagery in Fiction: Dracula by Bram Stoker

Imagery can be an equally powerful tool for fiction writers, too. In Dracula, Bram Stoker uses imagery to drive home the horror of the novel. Let’s take a look at one particularly stand-out scene, where Arthur Holmwood has to kill his former fiancee, Lucy Westenra, who has been turned into a vampire:

Remember how we talked about how imagery can set a tone or mood? That’s certainly the case here. Lucy is visually described not as a woman but as a “thing,” and the “blood-curdling screech” she lets out is a great example of how auditory imagery--or the sound of a scene--can contribute to its overall effect. (In this case, it amps up the horror of a once-delicate Englishwoman being transformed into a bloodthirsty beast.) It's the imagery associated with Lucy that shows readers how vicious and animalistic she’s become, which is no surprise: she’s joined Dracula’s army of the undead.

Now, take a look at the imagery surrounding Arthur, Lucy’s former fiancee, and see how it compares to Lucy’s description. Even as he’s killing Lucy, Arthur is described as “a figure of Thor”--meaning he’s strong, heroic, and good with a hammer. Stoker specifically says Arthur is “untrembling” in his task; despite its grisly nature, his steadiness showcases his commitment to protecting his country from the vampire threat...even when it means driving a stake in his lover’s heart. Additionally, his face has the “shine” of duty, which is a nod to the glowing, angelic halos of angels. Arthur’s bravery and light stands in contrast to Lucy’s dark, demonic nature, and Stoker specifically uses imagery to show readers how good can triumph over evil.

3 Questions to Ask When Analyzing Imagery

These examples have shown you how to find and analyze imagery, but you’ll have to do this all by yourself when you take the AP Literature exam. But don’t worry--now that you’re an expert, finding and analyzing imagery will be a breeze! But just in case you get stuck, here are three questions you can ask yourself to help you better analyze imagery in literature and poetry.

Question 1: What Did I Imagine While I Was Reading?  

The hardest part about analyzing imagery is finding it in the first place. Like we mentioned earlier, a good way to do this is to look for nouns and search for words that describe them. Then you can start asking yourself if those descriptions are figurative imagery (i.e., do those words have any implied or metaphorical meaning).

But when you’re crunched for time, you can go back to the tried-and-true method of using your imagination. Which parts of the text made you picture something in your mind? Since imagery is designed to spark your imagination, there’s a great chance that section contains some sort of imagery!

Question 2: What Does the Imagery Reveal About the Situation?

This question helps you get to the meat-and-potatoes of your analysis really quickly. Once you find a piece of imagery, ask yourself what it’s showing you . It could be describing an important setting, plot point, or character. Make sure you’re asking yourself if there’s figurative imagery at work, too.

If you’re struggling here, you can always go back to the “mental picture” we talked about with the first question. What do you see in that image? There’s a good chance that whatever you’re imagining matters in some way. Once you have that image in your mind, you can start to ask yourself why that particular image is important.

Here’s what we mean: think about the Jurassic Park example we talked about earlier. The imagery there tells us some literal things about what’s happening in the scene, but it also adds to the danger and suspense of the main characters’ predicament. The same can be said for the excerpt from “Daffodils,” only instead of revealing a plot point, the imagery gives readers important insight into the narrator of the poem.

Question 3: How Does the Imagery Affect the Mood of the Text?

Once you find a good piece of imagery, ask yourself how it makes you feel. Is it hopeful? Scary? Depressed? Angry? The feelings associated with the imagery in a work can often reveal the theme of a text.

Take Emily Dickinson’s poem. What feelings are associated with the imagery surrounding “hope”? Well, birds are tame and delicate, and the bird Dickinson describes sings sweetly through life’s fierce storms. Hope is clearly a reassuring, gentle, uplifting thing. By asking yourself why Dickinson thinks hope is good, you can start to figure out some of the messages of the poem!

What's Next?

Test out your new-found imagery chops by analyzing a poem on your own! We think that Dylan Thomas’ “Do not go gentle into that good night” is a great place to start. Y ou can find the full text of the poem, as well as additional analysis, here .

There’s more to literary analysis than just knowing your way around imagery! Make sure you’re familiar with the most important literary devices, like personification, before you head into your AP test.

There are two parts to the AP Literature test: the multiple choice section and the essay section. Some students worry about the written portion of the test so much that they forget to study for the multiple choice questions! Don’t let this be your situation. Make sure you’re preparing for the whole test by reading through this guide to mastering the AP Literature exam’s multiple choice portion, too .

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

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Understanding Imagery: A Comprehensive Guide

What is imagery, types of imagery, how to use imagery in literature, imagery in poetry, imagery in prose, examples of imagery, imagery and the five senses, why imagery matters in writing.

If you've ever found yourself transported to another time or place while reading a book, you've experienced the power of imagery. It's the secret sauce that makes words come alive and paints vivid pictures in our minds. But what is the definition of imagery, and how does it work? Let's dive in and explore.

Imagery refers to the use of descriptive language to create visual representations of actions, objects, or ideas in our mind. It goes beyond mere words to conjure up sensory experiences that make us see, hear, taste, touch, or smell what the writer is describing. In short, it's like a virtual reality experience, but with words!

So, when we talk about the definition of imagery, we're referring to:

• Visually descriptive language: This is where a writer describes a scene, person, or object in detail, helping you to paint a mental picture. For example, "The sun set over the ocean, painting the sky with hues of orange and red."
• Figurative language: This is when a writer uses similes, metaphors, personification, and other literary devices to create vivid images. For example, "Her eyes sparkled like diamonds."
• Visual symbolism: Here, a writer uses an image or symbol to represent a bigger idea or concept. For example, a bird flying free could symbolize liberation or freedom.

Imagery is a powerful tool in writing and can transform a simple narrative into an immersive sensory experience. So, the next time you read a book or poem, pay close attention. You might be surprised at how much imagery you find!

Imagery can be as diverse as the world around us, and writers often use different types of imagery to create a richer experience for readers. Here are the main types:

• Visual Imagery: This is the most common type of imagery, and it's all about creating a picture in your mind. For instance, "The ancient oak tree towered above the meadow, its gnarled branches reaching out like twisted hands."
• Auditory Imagery: This type of imagery uses words to simulate sounds. For example, "The leaves rustled in the breeze, whispering secrets to anyone who'd listen."
• Olfactory Imagery: Ever smelt something so vividly while reading? That's olfactory imagery at work! An example might be, "The aroma of freshly baked bread wafted from the kitchen, instantly transporting me back to my grandmother's house."
• Gustatory Imagery: This imagery type deals with taste. For instance, "The tangy burst of the lemon tart awakened my taste buds, its sweet-sour flavor dancing on my tongue."
• Tactile Imagery: This involves the sense of touch. An example would be, "The cold metal of the doorknob bit into my palm, its icy grip sending shivers down my spine."
• Kinesthetic Imagery: This type of imagery deals with movement and action. For example, "His heart raced as he sprinted towards the finish line, every muscle straining with effort."
• Organic Imagery: This refers to personal experiences of the body's internal sensations, like hunger, thirst, fatigue, or fear. For instance, "A knot of anxiety twisted in her stomach, making her feel sick with worry."

By using different types of imagery, writers can create a multi-sensory experience that makes their work more engaging and immersive. Isn't that fascinating?

Now that we've got our definition of imagery down, how do we go about using it in literature? Here are some practical steps to help you incorporate imagery into your writing.

• Set the Scene: Start by painting a picture of the surroundings. Use imagery to describe the setting and the atmosphere. What does the place look like? What sounds are present? How does it smell? Remember to engage the reader's senses.
• Describe the Characters: Imagery isn't just for settings! You can use it to describe your characters as well. What are they wearing? How do they move? What expressions are on their faces?
• Show, Don't Tell: Imagery is all about showing your readers what's happening, rather than telling them. Instead of saying "She was scared," you could write, "Her heart pounded like a drum, her hands shaking as if they had a life of their own."
• Use Metaphors and Similes: These literary devices are great for creating powerful imagery. A simile could be something like "Her eyes were as cold as ice," while a metaphor might be something like "He was a rock, unmoving and sturdy."
• Be Specific: The more specific your descriptions, the better. Instead of saying "The tree was tall," you could say, "The ancient oak towered over the rest of the forest, like a silent guardian watching over its realm."

Imagery is a powerful tool in literature, and with practice, you can use it to bring your stories to life. So why not give it a try? Remember: the goal is to make your readers feel like they're right there with the characters, experiencing the story first-hand.

Let's turn our attention to poetry, a literary form where the definition of imagery truly shines. Poetry often relies on vivid and evocative language to create a deep, emotional connection with the reader. And imagery? Well, it's the golden ticket to make this happen.

When a poet uses imagery, they are not just telling you about a sunset, they make you feel the warm, orange glow on your skin, see the brilliant streaks of red and purple across the sky, and smell the faint fragrance of the evening air. That's the magic of imagery in poetry - it brings words to life.

• Convey Emotions: Poets often use imagery to convey complex emotions. For instance, the image of a "rose with thorns" can symbolize the bitter-sweet nature of love.
• Illustrate Abstract Ideas: Abstract ideas can be hard to grasp. But with the use of imagery, poets can make these ideas tangible. Consider the concept of 'time' - it can be pictured as a "relentless river" or "sands in an hourglass".
• Enhance the Rhythm: Imagery can add rhythm and flow to a poem. The right image can make the words dance in a reader's mind, enhancing the overall aesthetic experience of the poem.
• Symbolism: In poetry, imagery often carries symbolic meanings. A "dove" might represent peace, or a "raven" might symbolize death or doom.

Remember, when it comes to poetry, the power of imagery lies in its ability to evoke emotions and create a vivid, sensory experience for the reader. So, next time you read or write a poem, pay attention to the imagery - it's the heart and soul of poetry.

Now, let's shift gears and talk about prose. You might think that the definition of imagery is only relevant to the realm of poetry, but that's not the case. Imagery plays a significant role in prose as well, including novels, short stories, and even non-fiction.

Imagery in prose isn't just about painting a pretty picture. It's about immersing readers into the world of the story, making them feel as though they're walking alongside the characters, experiencing the same sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures.

Let's break down a few ways authors use imagery in prose:

• Setting the Scene: Authors often use imagery to describe the setting, helping readers visualize the story's environment. For example, an author might describe a bustling city street with honking cars, towering skyscrapers, and the aroma of street food wafting through the air.
• Characterization: Imagery can be used to reveal character traits too. A character who "always has a book in hand" paints a very different picture than one who "spends his days tinkering with old car engines".
• Creating Mood and Atmosphere: Through imagery, authors can create a specific mood or atmosphere. For instance, a "dark, stormy night" can set an ominous tone, while a "bright, sunny meadow" might suggest a more cheerful mood.
• Driving the Plot: Sometimes, imagery can be critical to moving the plot forward. A "forgotten letter under the bed" or a "key hidden in a dusty book" can trigger a new chain of events in the story.

So, the next time you pick up a novel or a short story, keep an eye out for how the author uses imagery. It's the secret ingredient that brings the story to life and makes the prose sing.

Now that we understand the definition of imagery, let's look at some examples. This will give you a clearer picture—pun intended—of how authors use this literary tool to bring their writing to life.

• Visual Imagery: "The sky was painted with a blend of reds and oranges, and the sun slowly sank, casting long, dramatic shadows."
• Auditory Imagery: "The leaves rustled in the wind, and the distant hoot of an owl echoed through the silent forest."
• Olfactory Imagery: "The air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming jasmine, intertwined with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee."
• Gustatory Imagery: "The first bite of the apple was crisp and tart, sending a burst of juicy sweetness across the palate."
• Tactile Imagery: "The woolen blanket was soft and warm against her skin, providing comfort against the icy chill."
• Kinesthetic Imagery: "Her heart pounded in her chest, her breath quickened, and her legs felt like jelly as she ran."
• Organic Imagery: "His stomach churned with nervous anticipation as he waited for his turn to speak."

These examples should give you a sense of the different ways authors use imagery to evoke sensory experiences and emotions in their readers. Remember, the purpose of imagery isn't just to describe—it's to make readers feel as though they are part of the story, experiencing it firsthand.

Imagery plays a key role in engaging our five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. But why is that so important? Well, it's simple: when we read, we don't just want to understand the story—we want to experience it.

Imagine you're reading a book about a chef who's preparing a meal. The author could simply write, "The chef cooked a steak." Sure, you understand what's happening, but it's not very exciting, is it?

Now, imagine the author wrote: "The chef's knife sliced through the tender steak with ease. The sizzle of the meat on the hot cast-iron skillet filled the room, accompanied by the mouthwatering aroma of garlic and rosemary. As he tasted the dish, the rich flavors of the perfectly seasoned steak exploded on his tongue."

Quite a difference, right? The second description uses imagery to engage all five senses, placing you right there in the kitchen with the chef. That's the power of imagery.

So, as you explore the definition of imagery further, remember that it's not just about painting a picture—it's about creating an experience. A good writer doesn't just tell us what's happening—they make us feel it, taste it, smell it, hear it, and see it. And that's what makes a story truly come alive.

Now that we've gotten a taste of what imagery can do, you might be asking, "Why does it matter so much in writing?"

Well, remember the chef and the steak from our earlier discussion? Without imagery, that scene would be bland and uninteresting. With imagery, it became a sensory feast that made your mouth water. The same principle applies to all forms of writing, whether it's a novel, a poem, a blog post, or even a news article.

Imagery acts like a spice in the dish that is your writing. It adds flavor, depth, and richness, turning a basic meal into a gourmet experience. It draws readers in, making them feel connected to the story and invested in what happens next. In other words, it transforms words on a page into a living, breathing world.

So, the next time you sit down to write something, remember the definition of imagery, and ask yourself: How can I make my reader see, hear, taste, smell, and touch my story? How can I make them feel like they're living it, not just reading it?

Because at the end of the day, that's what great writing is all about: creating experiences, not just telling stories. And that's why imagery matters so much in writing.

If you're looking to further develop your understanding of imagery and want to apply it to creating immersive and captivating worlds, check out the workshop ' Visual Development for Fantasy World-Building ' by Kit Buss. This workshop will help you enhance your visual storytelling skills and guide you in creating stunning, fantastical environments that leave a lasting impression on your audience.

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What is Imagery? || Definition & Examples

"what is imagery" a guide for english essays.

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What is Imagery? Transcript (English and Spanish Subtitles Available, Click HERE for Spanish Transcript.)

By Raymond Malewitz , Oregon State University Associate Professor of American Literature

24 April 2019

As human beings, we understand the world through our senses—what we see, what we hear, what we smell, what we taste, and what we touch.  To represent this process in their literary works, storytellers and poets use vivid language designed to appeal to these senses.  This language is called imagery.   Let me give you one example.

In Kate Chopin’s short story “The Story of an Hour,” a woman named Mrs. Mallard is told that her husband has just been killed in a railroad accident.  After retreating to her room to grieve, she looks out her window.  Chopin writes:

"She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with new spring life.  The delicious breath of rain was in the air.  In the street below a peddler was crying his wares.  The notes of a distant song which someone was singing reached her faintly, and countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves."

imagery_kate_chopin_the_story_of_an_hour.jpg

In this passage, Chopin’s imagery appeals to a variety of senses: the sight of quivering trees, the smell of rain, the sound of twittering sparrows, and so on.

As this passage suggests, imagery often does more than simply present sensory impressions of the world: it also conveys tone , or the attitude of a character or narrator towards a given subject.  By concentrating on what Mrs. Mallard experiences at this moment-- quivering trees, singing birds, and smells of rain –Chopin’s narrator allows readers to understand the complex way in which Mrs. Mallard views her husband’s death—as both a tragic event and a rebirth of sorts in which the spring imagery conveys the freedom she imagines beyond the confines of her marriage. 

Instead of telling us these thoughts through exposition or explanation, Chopin’s narrator shows us the worldview of her character and encourages us to interpret what this imagery means.  This difference is crucial for students interested using the term “imagery” in their literary essays.  Rather than writing that imagery is good or bad, vivid or dull, students should instead try to connect imagery to the thoughts of a character, narrator, or speaker. 

Want to cite this?

MLA Citation: Malewitz, Raymond. "What is Imagery?" Oregon State Guide to English Literary Terms, 24 Apr. 2019, Oregon State University, https://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/wlf/what-imagery-definition-examples. Accessed [insert date].

Further Resources for Teachers

H.D.'s short poem "Oread" and Leslie Marmon Silko's short story "The Man to Send Rain Clouds" offer students two different good opportunities to practice linking imagery to the worldview of certain speaker. 

Writing Prompt #1: In H.D.'s poem, a forest nymph sees the waves of the sea as "pointed pines," which is a very strange metaphor. How does this imagery provide insight into ways that that creature experiences the world?

Writing Prompt #2: In Silko's story (which was published under the name Leslie Chapman), the fourth section drops into what might be called a "close" third-person aligned with the priest's perspective on the ritual he is performs. But instead of providing his actual thoughts, Silko chooses to present how he sees the world through detailed imagery.  What does this imagery convey about his thoughts on the ritual and why might Silko has chosen this oblique or indirect style to convey it?

Interested in more video lessons? View the full series:

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What is Imagery? Literary Definition of Imagery With Examples

Home » The Writer’s Dictionary » What is Imagery? Literary Definition of Imagery With Examples

Imagery definition: Imagery is language that appeals to one or more of the five senses.

What is Imagery? Imagery Literary Definition

What does imagery mean? Imagery is descriptive language used to appeal to a reader’s senses: touch, taste, smell, sound, and sight. By adding these details, it makes our writing more interesting.

Here is an example of how adding imagery enhances your writing.

• Original sentence: She drank water on a hot day.
• Added imagery: The cool, refreshing water quenched her thirst as the scorching sun radiated on her.

Types of Imagery

Literary Imagery Examples

• The crimson apple glistened in her hand.
• The roaring thunder frightened the little boy.
• The athlete’s sweaty gym clothes left a musty odor in the laundry room.
• The warm, salty broth soothed her sore throat as she ate the soup.
• Prickly cactus posed as an obstacle to the men as hiked.

The Importance and Function of imagery

Let’s take a look at how a description can clarify the meaning.

• The image in the reader’s mind could change depending on if the author describes this as a crimson apple or a mold-infested apple .

Examples of Imagery in Literature

Imagery is very important when writing fiction because the authors are required to use their words in order for the reader to imagine their stories.

Here are some examples of imagery being used in literature:

To Kill a Mockingbird , Harper Lee:

Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it. In rainy weather the streets turned to red slop; grass grew on the sidewalks, the courthouse sagged in the square. Somehow, it was hotter then; a black dog suffered on a summer’s day; bony mules hitched to Hoover carts flicked flies in the sweltering shade of the live oaks on the square. Men’s stiff collars wilted by nine in the morning. Ladies bathed before noon, after their three-o’ clock naps, and by nightfall were like stiff teacakes with frostings of sweat and sweet talcum. (6)

In this example, Lee uses various forms of imagery, including visual and tactile.

Fahrenheit 451 , Ray Bradbury:

It was a pleasure to burn. It was a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed . With the brass nozzle in his fists, with this great python spitting its venomous kerosene upon the world, the blood pounded in his head, and his hands were the hands of some amazing conductor playing all the symphonies of blazing and burning to bring down the tatter and charcoal ruins of history. With his symbolic helmet numbered 451 on his stolid head, and his eyes all orange flame with the thought of what came next, he flicked the igniter and the house jumped up in a gorging fire that burned the evening sky red and yellow and black. (3)

In this example, Bradbury utilizes tactile imagery.

Both of these renowned authors employed imagery in order to effectively describe the settings in which their stories take place.

Summary: Imagery Definition Literature

Imagery English Definition: To re-cap, imagery is descriptive language that appeals to one or more of our senses.

Imagery allows the writer to use words to paint an image for readers as they enter the worlds created through words on a page.

What is Imagery ?

Imagery is language that stimulates a reader’s senses, i.e., touch, taste, feel, sound, and sight.

How to pronounce Imagery ?

When do writers use imagery .

Writer’s use imagery when they want the reader to focus on the concrete or physical. By using vivid descriptions to create images, the writer appeals to the reader’s senses, creating a strong, often emotional, connection between the reader and the text.

How to use Imagery

•  Appeal to the senses.
• Be very specific in your descriptions.
• Be weird if you need to. Things are not as simple to describe as they once were. Don’t be afraid to use the weird to create the best sensory description.

The 7 Types of Imagery

• Visual – Appeals to sense of sight
• Auditory – Appeals reader’s sense of sound
• Tactile – Allows the reader to imagine how the object being described feels, i.e. texture, temperature, density, etc.
• Gustatory – The reader imagines s/he/they can actually taste what is being described
• Olfactory – Appeals to the reader’s sense of smell, i.e., sweet, sour, rotten, etc.
• Kinesthetic – More abstract than the 5 traditional senses, this type of imagery describes motion and allows the reader to visualize how something moves. I.e., sways, rocks, runs, strolls, briskly or slowly, etc.

Example:  A Tale of Two Cities , Charles Dickens “At last, swooping at a street corner by a fountain, one of its wheels came to a sickening little jolt , and there was a loud city from a number of voices, and the horses reared and plunged. ”

• Organic – Even more abstract than kinesthetic imagery , organic imagery occurs when a writer uses concrete language to refer to a person’s internal feelings, i.e., emotions: jealousy, rage, sadness, etc. However, it may also be physical, such as feelings of pain, hunger, thirst, fatigue, sickness, etc.

Example: “Birches,” Robert Frost “So was I once myself a swinger of birches. And so I dream of going back to be. It’s when I’m weary of considerations, And life is too much like a pathless wood. ”

Imagery in Literature 📚

• In The Death Path , Stephen M. Irwin makes heavy-handed use of olfactory imagery to thoroughly describe the odor.

“But a smell shivered him awake. It was a scent as old as the world. It was a hundred aromas of a thousand places. It was the tang of pine needles. It was the musk of sex. It was the muscular rot of mushrooms. It was the spice of oak. Meaty and redolent of soil and bark and herb. It was bats and husks and burrows and moss. It was solid and alive – so alive! And it was close.”

•  In the following example from Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird , the author uses both visual and tactile imagery .

Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it. In rainy weather the streets turned to red slop; grass grew on the sidewalks, the courthouse sagged in the square. Somehow, it was hotter then; a black dog suffered on a summer’s day; bony mules hitched to Hoover carts flicked flies in the sweltering shade of the live oaks on the square. Men’s stiff collars wilted by nine in the morning. Ladies bathed before noon, after their three-o’ clock naps, and by nightfall were like stiff teacakes with frostings of sweat and sweet talcum.

• In the below passage from Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 , Bradbury relies heavily on tactile imagery to bring the passage to life for the reader .

It was a pleasure to burn. It was a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed . With the brass nozzle in his fists, with this great python spitting its venomous kerosene upon the world, the blood pounded in his head, and his hands were the hands of some amazing conductor playing all the symphonies of blazing and burning to bring down the tatter and charcoal ruins of history. With his symbolic helmet numbered 451 on his stolid head, and his eyes all orange flame with the thought of what came next, he flicked the igniter and the house jumped up in a gorging fire that burned the evening sky red and yellow and black.

Imagery in Children Books 🧸

• In C.S. Lewis’, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe , the author makes ample use of gustatory imagery to project the sweetness of the Turkish Delight onto the reader .

“The Queen let another drop fall from her bottle onto the snow , and instantly there appeared a round box, tied with green silk ribbon, which, when opened, turned out to contain several pounds of the best Turkish Delight. Each piece was sweet and light to the very centre and Edmund had never tasted anything more delicious. He was quite warm now, and very comfortable.”

• In E.B. White’s, Charlotte’s Web , the author uses visual imagery to describe how small and tiny they spiders were as they hatched:

A tiny spider crawled from the sac. It was no bigger than a grain of sand, no bigger than the head of a pin. Its body was grey with a black stripe underneath. Its legs were grey and tan.”

• In Holes , Louis Sachar uses a combination of tactile and organic imagery to describe how uncomfortable Stanley Yelnats is on the bus:

“He was on a long bus ride to nowhere. The bus wasn’t air-conditioned, and the hot, heavy air was almost as stifling as the handcuffs.”

Imagery in Songs 🎧

• “River,” Eminem and Ed Sheeran –

“Always the bridesmaid, never ‘The bride, hey!’

What can I say? If life was a highway

And deceit was an enclave, I’d be swerving in five lanes

Speeds at a high rate, like I’m slidin’ on ice, maybe

That’s why I may have came at you sideways”

• “Cardigan,” Taylor Swift – 

Vintage tee, brand new phone

High heels on cobblestones

When you are young, they assume you know nothing

• “Come Together,” The Beatles – 

Here come old flattop, he come grooving up slowly

He got joo-joo eyeball, he one holy roller

He got hair down to his knee

Got to be a joker he just do what he please

Imagery in Poetry ✍🏽

• “October,” Louise Glück –

“Daybreak. The low hills shine

ochre and fire, even the fields shine.

I know what I see; sun that could be

the August sun, returning

everything that was taken away —”

• “Daddy,” Sylvis Plath –

“Not God but a swastika

So black no sky could squeak through.

Every woman adores a Fascist,

The boot in the face, the brute

Brute heart of a brute like you.”

• “Rain on a Grave,” Thomas Hardy – 

“Soon will be growing

Green blades from her mound,

And daisies be showing

Like stars on the ground,

Till she form part of them –

Ay – the sweet heart of them,

Loved beyond measure

With a child’s pleasure

All her life’s round.”

Imagery in Movies and Other Visual Media 🎥

When applying imagery to film, movies, and TV, there is some conflict surrounding what this means. One could argue that imagery depicted through this medium is the responsibility of the writer. To that effect, that is the stance taken in the following explanation of imagery in the media. By their very nature, movies, film, and TV are visual and auditory sense experiences. To create these experiences, it is the responsibility of the writer to effectively describe how to create the desired visual and auditory experience to the actor or actress through the script. The best example of what this means applies to fight scenes. In the script, the writer must appeal to the actor or actress’ kinesthetic and auditory senses. By writing words such as, “pow,” “slap,” “thud,” “slam,” or “slap,” s/he/they know what types of movement or action are needed to visually and auditorily create the scene. For more information, please refer to this explanatory video from The Writer’s Desk:

Related to Imagery 👥

Personification – The attribution of human or human-like characteristics to a non-human thing such as an animal or object. Personification is often used in descriptive text to create a more vivid image in the reader’s mind. Simile – The comparison of two unrelated things using the words “like” or “as.” Writers often use similes to help them create a more vivid image in the mind of the reader .

What is imagery in literature?

Imagery is a literary device that uses descriptive language to appeal to the reader’s senses, helping to create vivid pictures in the mind. It can involve any of the five senses (sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell) and is used to enhance the emotional, physical, or thematic impact of a narrative or poem .

How does imagery enhance a text?

Imagery enhances a text by making descriptions more vivid and engaging, allowing readers to fully immerse themselves in the world of the narrative or poem . It evokes emotional responses and can convey complex ideas, themes, or emotions through sensory details, making the reading experience more dynamic and memorable.

Can imagery be found in both poetry and prose?

Yes, imagery can be found in both poetry and prose . In poetry , it is often used to convey emotions and create a particular mood or atmosphere . In prose , imagery can bring settings, characters, and actions to life, helping readers to visualize the scenes described and connect more deeply with the story .

Why do writers use imagery?

Writers use imagery to paint vivid pictures in the minds of their readers, to evoke sensory experiences, and to emotionally engage them. It is a powerful tool for creating atmosphere , highlighting themes, and expressing the unspoken nuances of the characters’ experiences, thoughts, and emotions.

How can I identify imagery in a text?

To identify imagery in a text, look for detailed descriptions that appeal to one or more of the five senses. These descriptions will often use figurative language , such as similes and metaphors, to compare and evoke vivid pictures or sensations related to the subjects being described.

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What is Imagery — Definition & Examples in Literature & Poetry

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D escribing sensory experiences through the medium of writing and text can be difficult. By enlisting the use of imagery, writers are able to vividly describe experiences, actions, characters, and places through written language. What is imagery exactly. How is imagery in poetry and literature used? In this article, we’ll take a look at the imagery definition, seven different types of imagery and how each can be used to further immerse a reader into the work of a writer. 

Imagery definition

First, let’s define imagery.

Although there are several types of imagery, they all generally serve a similar function. To better understand the function of imagery in poetry and literature and how it can be achieved through various other literary devices, let’s take a look at the imagery definition. 

IMAGERY DEFINITION

What is 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
• Immersing a character into a situation

There are seven different types of imagery that writer’s use. All are in one way or another dependent on the reader’s senses. Let’s take a look at the types of imagery that are most commonly used in literature. 

What is imagery in poetry

1. visual imagery.

Visual imagery is most likely what people think of when they hear the term imagery. It uses qualities of how something looks visually to best create an image in the reader’s head. These visual qualities can be shapes, color, light, shadow, or even patterns. 

It is one of the most common types of imagery as it allows readers to better describe the world and characters of a novel or poem. Visual imagery is often used in screenplays when first introducing characters. Take a look at how Quentin Tarantino uses this type of imagery to introduce characters and places in the Pulp Fiction screenplay .

Pulp Fiction screenplay  •  Imagery examples

Visual imagery is often achieved through the use of other literary devices like metaphors and similes . To say a woman looks like Helen of Troy is both imagery, a simile, and an allusion. 

It can be frequently found in screenplays when a character is first introduced. 

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What’s imagery used for?

2. auditory imagery.

Our next type of imagery is auditory imagery. This type of imagery appeals to a reader’s sense of hearing. Creating an auditory experience through text can be difficult. But it can also be necessary for a story or plot. For example, the sound of war can be necessary to immerse the reader into a war novel. This may be used to describe gunfire, explosions, screams, and helicopters. 

Let’s take a look at William Shakespeare’s Macbeth , auditory imagery is used for a physical action that affects the actions of the characters. 

Macbeth - Imagery examples

Auditory imagery.

“Here’s a knocking indeed! If a man were porter of

hell-gate, he should have old turning the key. Knock

Knock, knock, knock, knock! Who’s there, i’ the name of

Belzebub? Here’s a farmer that hanged himself on th’

expectation of plenty. Come in time! Have napkins

enow about you; here you’ll sweat for’t. Knock

Knock, knock! Who’s there, in th’ other devil’s name?”

As you can see from this example, writers will also enlist the use of onomatopoeia to create the actual sound of an action or effect through text. This can make reading a story more experiential. 

What does imagery mean?

3. gustatory imagery.

Gustatory imagery is a type of imagery that aims at a reader’s sense of taste. This would most commonly be used to describe food as a character eats it. A great example of this can be found in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. As the Queen creates Turkish Delight for Edmund, C.S. Lewis uses gustatory imagery to describe its taste.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - Imagery examples

Gustatory imagery.

“The Queen let another drop fall from her bottle on to the snow, and instantly there appeared a round box, tied with green silk ribbon, which, when opened, turned out to contain several pounds of the best Turkish Delight. Each piece was sweet and light to the very centre and Edmund had never tasted anything more delicious. He was quite warm now, and very comfortable.”

Describing food as sweet, salty, or even spicy can immerse a reader further into a character’s simple action of eating. Gustatory imagery can be incredibly effective when describing unpleasant tastes as well. 

4. Olfactory Imagery

Olfactory imagery is used when writers’ want to appeal to a reader’s sense of smell. Olfactory imagery is a great way to better describe both what a character is experiencing as well as the world of the novel, poem, or other writing. 

The smell of fresh rain, smoke from a fire, or gasoline can be described through olfactory imagery. A great example of this can be found in the novel The Dead Path by Stephen M. Irwin. Note the comparisons Irwin used to create the olfactory imagery and paint a picture of the smell. 

The Death Path - What is imagery in literature?

Olfactory imagery.

“But a smell shivered him awake.

It was a scent as old as the world. It was a hundred aromas of a thousand places. It was the tang of pine needles. It was the musk of sex. It was the muscular rot of mushrooms. It was the spice of oak. Meaty and redolent of soil and bark and herb. It was bats and husks and burrows and moss. It was solid and alive - so alive! And it was close.”

Olfactory imagery can also be used in a screenplay as a plot point and to suggest to actor’s what they are smelling and how they are reacting.

5. Tactile Imagery

To create the sensory experience of touch through text, writers utilize tactile imagery. This type of imagery can be used to describe how something feels such as texture, temperature, wetness, dryness, etc. 

In Albert Camus’ novel The Stranger , Camus uses this type of imagery to describe the heat of the sun pressing down on a man at the beach. 

The Stranger - What is imagery in literature?

Tactile imagery.

“Seeing the rows of cypress trees leading up to the hills next to the sky, and the houses standing out here and there against that red and green earth, I was able to understand Maman better. Evenings in that part of the country must have been a kind of sad relief. But today, with the sun bearing down, making the whole landscape shimmer with heat, it was inhuman and oppressive.”

As you can see from this example, this can be tremendously effective when characters are undergoing some type of turmoil. Tactile imagery appeals to a reader’s sense of touch and allows them to better empathize with a character. 

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Kinesthetic imagery definition

6. kinesthetic imagery.

Kinesthetic imagery is used to describe the sensory experience of motion. Speed, slowness, falling, or even fighting can be written with kinesthetic imagery. 

In the world of screenwriting, kinesthetic imagery is perhaps most important in the genre of action films. How else can you write an epic fight scene other than by using kinesthetic imagery to paint the picture? 

In our breakdown of one of the many epic fight scenes in John Wick , we take a look at how kinesthetic imagery can tell the story of action on the page. Using words like “slam” and “snap” create the imagery of the fight scene. 

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Kinesthetic imagery is also great when writing about topics like sports, driving, and other intense action. 

Organic imagery meaning

7. organic imagery.

Last, but not least on our list is organic imagery. Organic imagery appeals to the most primitive sensations in the human experience such as hunger, fatigue, fear and even emotion. 

It can be quite difficult to describe the emotions of a sorrowful character or desperate character. But organic imagery aims to do just that. When done effectively, organic imagery can be the best tool to move a reader to tears of either joy or sadness. 

Explore more literary devices

Imagery is just one of many literary devices and types of figurative language , including metaphor , juxtaposition , and symbolism . If you're a writer and want to develop your craft fully, do yourself a favor and continue this exploration. The next article on literary devices is a gateway to many of these tools that help add substance and style to any type of written work.

Up Next: Literary Devices Index →

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What Is Imagery (In Language)?

Writing Imagery to Invoke the Five Senses

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Imagery is vivid descriptive language that appeals to one or more of the senses (sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste).

Occasionally the term imagery is also used to refer to figurative language , in particular metaphors and similes . According to Gerard A. Hauser, we use imagery in speech and writing "not only to beautify but also to create relationships that give new meaning " ( Introduction to Rhetorical Theory , 2002).

From the Latin, "image"

Why Do We Use Imagery?

"There are a lot of reasons why we use imagery in our writing. Sometimes the right image creates a mood we want. Sometimes an image can suggest connections between two things. Sometimes an image can make a transition smoother. We use images to show intention. ( Her words were fired in a deadly monotone and she gunned down the three of us with her smile. ) We use imagery to exaggerate. ( His arrival in that old Ford always sounded like a six-car pileup on the Harbor Freeway. ) Sometimes we don't know why we're using imagery; it just feels right. But the two main reasons we use imagery are:

• To save time and words.
• To reach the reader's senses."

(Gary Provost, Beyond Style: Mastering the Finer Points of Writing . Writer's Digest Books, 1988)

Examples of Different Types of Imagery

• Visual (Sight) Imagery "In our kitchen, he would bolt his orange juice (squeezed on one of those ribbed glass sombreros and then poured off through a strainer) and grab a bite of toast (the toaster a simple tin box, a kind of little hut with slit and slanted sides, that rested over a gas burner and browned one side of the bread, in stripes, at a time), and then he would dash, so hurriedly that his necktie flew back over his shoulder, down through our yard, past the grapevines hung with buzzing Japanese-beetle traps, to the yellow brick building, with its tall smokestack and wide playing fields, where he taught." (John Updike, "My Father on the Verge of Disgrace" in Licks of Love: Short Stories and a Sequel , 2000)
• Auditory (Sound) Imagery "The only thing that was wrong now, really, was the sound of the place, an unfamiliar nervous sound of the outboard motors. This was the note that jarred, the one thing that would sometimes break the illusion and set the years moving. In those other summertimes all motors were inboard; and when they were at a little distance, the noise they made was a sedative, an ingredient of summer sleep. They were one-cylinder and two-cylinder engines, and some were make-and-break and some were jump-spark, but they all made a sleepy sound across the lake. The one-lungers throbbed and fluttered, and the twin-cylinder ones purred and purred, and that was a quiet sound, too. But now the campers all had outboards. In the daytime, in the hot mornings, these motors made a petulant, irritable sound; at night, in the still evening when the afterglow lit the water, they whined about one's ears like mosquitoes." (E.B. White, "Once More to the Lake," 1941)
• Tactile (Touch) Imagery "When the others went swimming my son said he was going in, too. He pulled his dripping trunks from the line where they had hung all through the shower and wrung them out. Languidly, and with no thought of going in, I watched him, his hard little body, skinny and bare, saw him wince slightly as he pulled up around his vitals the small, soggy, icy garment. As he buckled the swollen belt, suddenly my groin felt the chill of death. (E.B. White, "Once More to the Lake," 1941)
• Olfactory (Smell) Imagery "I lay still and took another minute to smell: I smelled the warm, sweet, all-pervasive smell of silage, as well as the sour dirty laundry spilling over the basket in the hall. I could pick out the acrid smell of Claire’s drenched diaper, her sweaty feet, and her hair crusted with sand. The heat compounded the smells, doubled the fragrance. Howard always smelled and through the house his scent seemed always to be warm. His was a musky smell, as if the source of a muddy river, the Nile or the Mississippi, began right in his armpits. I had grown used to thinking of his smell as the fresh man smell of hard work. Too long without washing and I tenderly beat his knotty arms with my fists. That morning there was alfalfa on his pillow and cow manure embedded in his tennis shoes and the cuffs of his coveralls that lay by the bed. Those were sweet reminders of him. He had gone out as one shaft of searing light came through the window. He had put on clean clothes to milk the cows." (Jane Hamilton, A Map of the World . Random House, 1994)

Observations

• "The artist's life nourishes itself on the particular, the concrete. . . . Start with the mat-green fungus in the pine woods yesterday: words about it, describing it, and a poem will come. . . . Write about the cow, Mrs. Spaulding's heavy eyelids, the smell of vanilla flavouring in a brown bottle. That's where the magic mountains begin." (Sylvia Plath, The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath , edited by Karen Kukil. Anchor, 2000)
• "Follow your image as far as you can no matter how useless you think it is. Push Yourself. Always ask, 'What else can I do with this image?' . . . Words are illustrations of thoughts. You must think this way." (Nikki Giovanni, quoted by Bill Strickland in On Being a Writer , 1992)

Pronunciation

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