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FIVE TYPES OF IMAGERY

Different types of imagery correspond to different senses.Are you evoking all of them with these words?

When we hear the word imagery, we usually associate it with some form of visualrepresentation in our minds. We think about pictures and images. But, that's not allthere is to imagery. Imagery is more complex.

Good writers know and use the five types of imagery, each corresponding to one ofour senses visual, auditory, kinesthetic olfactory !smell", and gustatory!taste".

#he key to good imagery is engaging all five senses.

$ere are some examples of words specific to the five sensory systems

Visualpictureflashbrightsharpclearseelightdarklarge

blue

Auditoryscreamshoutlistentone

whisperringutternasal

s%ueal

%uiet

Kinestheticfeel

warmgraspsharp

peacefulcold

rugged&oyfulfuy

hard

Olfactorypungentfragrantsweetdank

rich aromastinkymustyrottenodor

essence

Gustatorysweetsoursaltybitterfresh&uicyblandburntesty

tangy

#he following examples will take you through all the senses and will guide you toevoke specific imagery internally. (or best results, close your eyes duringvisualiation.

Visual

#o evoke visual imagery, visualie the following ) shape circle, triangle, s%uare

)n oak tree

) rose

) sailing boat

) button

) computer

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)uditory

#o evoke auditory imagery, imagine the following

#he wind blowing through the trees

#he ring on your telephone

#he sound of your computer keyboard

*cales played on a guitar

Water lapping on a lake shore

Olfactory#o evoke olfactory imagery, con&ure up the following smells

Gasoline fumes

+ewly baked bread

hlorine

+ew mown grass

(reshly brewed coffee

Gustatory !taste"

#o evoke gustatory imagery, imagine the taste of

*ugar

Bananas

*alt

-emon

#oothpaste

Kinestheticinesthetic imagery can be further divided into sense of touch, temperature,movement, and feelings.

#ouch / imagine the feelings of

*tanding barefoot on a sandy beach

0unning your fingertips on satin fabric

$olding a smooth pebble

#emperature

*unlight falling over your arm

$olding an ice cube

*tepping into a warm bath

1ovement / feel yourself engaged in an activity

*wimming

0unning on grass

#hrowing a ball

Feelings

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What does it feel like in your body to be

2eaceful

)ngry

*ad

alm

$appy

#hese are the main five types of imagery. 3ngage as many senses as you can whenyou are doing visualiation or guided imagery.

http44www.stress/relief/tools.com4types/of/imagery.html

Here we give you some example of types imagery in poetry included the example of

them

1. Visual imagery

Ex: The Widows ament !n "pring Time

masses of #owers

load the cherry $ranches

and color some $ushes

yellow and some red

%William &arlos Williams'

The poem a$ove allows us to see the $eautiful scenery of #owers which grow up in

the cherry $ranches. We can also see yellow and red $ushes. This represents a

widows situation. Her life is li(e dry $ushes in the middle of the #owers growth.

). *uditory imagery

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Ex: "plinter $y &arl "and$urg

the voice of the last cric(et

across the +rst frost

is one (ind of good,$y

it is so thin a splinter of singing

This poem represents auditory image- it can $e seen in the +rst line the voice of

the last cric(et/. We can hear cric(et song in the end of autumn.

0. Tactile imagery

Ex: * dungeon horri$le- on all sides round.

*s one great umace lamed

%2ohn 3ilton'

The poem a$ove represents the torture clari+cation. rom the poem a$ove we can

feel how hot the +re. !t is almost li(e a $ig +replace. Tactile imagery is noticea$le $y

word fumace #amed/.

4. 5ld factory imagery

Ex: 3iss Thompson 6ees "hopping $y 3artin *mstrong

the old strange fragrance +lled the air

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a fragrance li(e the garden pin(-

$ut tinged with vague medicinal stin(

of a camphor- soap- new sponger- $lent-

with chloro form and violent scent.

The underlined phrase in the third line represents the aroma of pharmacist. rom

the poem a$ove we can smell the aroma of medicine. 5ldfactory imagery is

noticea$le $y phrase medicinal stin(/.

7. 6ustatory imagery

Ex: This !s 2ust To "ay $y William &arlos Williams

i have eaten

the plums

that were in

the ice $ox

and which

you. were pro$a$ly

saving

for $rea(fast.

forgive me

they were delicious

so sweet

and so cold

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6ustatory imagery can $e seen in the phrase so sweet/. This descri$es the taste of

the plums.