Define imagery literary term
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Imagery: Definition
Imagery is a literary element that refers to the use of figurative language.
Imagery can be a vivid, detailed description of an object or scen. Imagery is used to create descriptions that appeal to the senses of sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste, to convey feelings to the reader, such as those associated with movement and temperature.
Imagery also includes the use of personification and other aspects of figurative language such as similes, metaphors, and onomatopoeia.
Imagery can be used in all types of writing and speech, however, here we will focus on how imagery is used as a rhetorical device in literature.
Rhetorical device: uses words to evoke emotion within the reader.
Personification: giving something that is non-human human-like characteristics.
Simile: a figurative language tool that compares one thing to another using the words 'like' or 'as'.
Metaphor: a figurative language tool that replaces an object, conce
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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
Example 1
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).
Example 2
Imagery using sounds:
Silence was broken by the klockringning of piano keys as Shannon began practicing her concerto.
Here, auditory imagery breaks silence with the beautiful sound of piano keys.
Example 3
Imagery using scent:
She smelled the scent of sweet hibiscus wafting through the air, its tropical smell a reminder that she was on vaca • Author's use of vivid and descriptive language to add depth to their work Imagery is visualsymbolism, or figurative language that evokes a mental image or other kinds of sense impressions, especially in a literary work, but also in other activities such as. Imagery in literature can also be instrumental in conveying tone. [1] There are five major types of sensory imagery, each corresponding to a sense, feeling, action, or reaction: Other types of imagery include: Imagery
Forms
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