Literary Devices: Imagery

Imagery plays a very important role in any piece of literature. It is the literary device that allows the reader to realistically experience what is currently going on in the story, poem, or play. There are different forms of imagery, and they all allow the reader to understand the settings in the author's work.

There are seven forms of imagery:

• Visual imagery, which allows the reader to see, or imagine in their mind, what scenes or settings the author is describing.

An example of visual imagery is: "The tavern was worn down with age, the wooden bar chipping away, the floors looking black from the dirt, and the ceiling carrying dark brown stains from water damage."

• Auditory imagery, where the reader can hear the sounds that are being made or can be heard. Authors sometimes use Onomatopoeia to convey this type of imagery.

An example of auditory imagery is: "The scream she let out was bloodcurdling and horrifyingly painful to listen to."

Onomatopoeia is a sort of auditory imagery where a word imitates or suggests the source of the sound. An example of this is: "The animal let out a shrill meow of hunger." The meow allows the reader to recognize the animal as a cat because of the sound it makes.

• Olfactory imagery, which allows the reader to imagine the smell of the odors and scents in the writing.

An example of olfactory imagery is: "The perfume she sprayed reminded her of the sweet and calming scent of mangos and vanilla, a wave of relaxation soon overcoming her."

• Gustatory imagery, where the reader can imagine the taste of certain things.

An example of gustatory imagery is: "The first bite she took filled her mouth with a spicy kick from the jalapeños, and so she drank the sweet and fruity juice she had been given."

• Tactile imagery, which allows the reader to imagine the feel or texture of certain things.

An example of tactile imagery is: "The blanket was as soft as cotton and as smooth as silk."

• Kinesthetic imagery, where the reader can envision the movements and actions of a character or object.

An example of kinesthetic imagery is: "His body moved fluidly throughout the obstacle course, dodging every object thrown at him with agility and grace while speeding down the path."

• Organic imagery, which allows the reader to feel what the character feels, such as thirst, hunger, or fatigue.

An example of organic imagery is: "He was completely drained of energy, his knees buckling from carrying his own weight and eyes drooping from exhaustion."

Imagery can also be given through use of a simile or metaphor. A simile is a figure of speech comparing two different objects, or even a noun and verb, by using the words "like" or "as" in a sentence. A metaphor also compares, though it doesn't use the words "like" or "as". More information upon metaphors can be found here.

By incorporating imagery into any work, an author is immersing the reader in their writting, allowing them to experience the writing as if they were actually there. This is a great way to improve one's writing, as well as make readers appreciate what the author has written.