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What is Imagery?

Imagery is “mental images” that writers create using words and phrases that appeal to our senses.

Types of Imagery

Imagery appeals to our senses. There are 5 main types of imagery that we are going to look at (corresponding to our 5 senses.)

Visual Imagery

Visual Imagery appeals to our sense of sight. Writers that use visual imagery craft their words to appeal to our sense of sight, so that we can almost visualize what they’re talking about.

Examples of Visual Imagery

Here are some examples of visual imagery:

“The short, green grass…”

“The bright sun was shining in the sky, without a cloud in sight.”

Auditory Imagery

Auditory Imagery appeals to our sense of hearing. Writers that use auditory imagery craft their words to appeal to our sense of hearing, so that we can almost hear what they’re talking about.

Examples of Auditory Imagery

Here are some examples of auditory imagery:

“The woman’s sharp, loud scream…”

“The birds were chirping sweetly in the trees.”

Olfactory Imagery

Olfactory Imagery appeals to our sense of smell. Writers that use olfactory imagery craft their words to appeal to our sense of smell, so that we can almost smell what they’re talking about.

Examples of Olfactory Imagery

Here are some examples of olfactory imagery:

“The sweet, lemony scent…”

“The smell of the salty ocean air…”

Gustatory Imagery

Gustatory Imagery appeals to our sense of taste. Writers that use gustatory imagery craft their words to appeal to our sense of taste, so that we can almost taste what they’re talking about.

Examples of Gustatory Imagery

Here are some examples of gustatory imagery:

“The sweet apple pie…”

“The spicy, hot salsa...”

Tactile Imagery

Tactile Imagery appeals to our sense of touch. Writers that use tactile imagery craft their words to appeal to our sense of touch, so that we can almost feel what they’re talking about.

Examples of Tactile Imagery

Here are some examples of tactile imagery:

“The soft, plush pillow…”

“The rough fabric…”

Practice

Which type of imagery is it? Read the following passages and figure out which type of imagery is being used…

Practice

Which type of imagery is it? Read the following passages and figure out which type of imagery is being used…

“the tart apple”

Gustatory (Taste) Imagery

Practice

Which type of imagery is it? Read the following passages and figure out which type of imagery is being used…

“the rolling green hills stretched across the countryside”

Visual (Sight) Imagery

Practice

Which type of imagery is it? Read the following passages and figure out which type of imagery is being used…

“the unpleasant, disgusting stench from the garbage nearly brought me to my knees”

Olfactory (Smell) Imagery

Practice

Which type of imagery is it? Read the following passages and figure out which type of imagery is being used…

“the rough, scaly skin on the snake”

Tactile (Touch) Imagery

Practice

Which type of imagery is it? Read the following passages and figure out which type of imagery is being used…

“the loud sounds of the construction site”

Auditory (Sound) Imagery

Practice

Which type of imagery is it? Read the following passages and figure out which type of imagery is being used…

“The snow-capped peaks of the tall mountains”

Visual (Sight) Imagery

PracticeWhat imagery could you use to describe an experience in this scene? (Don’t just think of visual imagery, either!)

PracticeWhat about this scene?

Congratulations!

You now know what imagery is and the 5 types of imagery that appeal to our 5 senses!