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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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The Types of Imagery in Essay Writing

Imagery has its root in the word image, but as an idea it encompasses so much more than just our visual senses. Imagery in writing is capable of communicating to all five of our senses. When placed in the appropriate order, words can evoke sensations like the heat of the sun on our bodies, the smell of fresh bread or the sound of a subway station.

Visual imagery is the most comfortable form of imagery for most writers. Describing that particular shade of pink found at the eraser tip of your pencil, or the blinding white you see when you look directly at the sun easily brings forth the images described.

Olfactory imagery -- or that which connects to the sense of smell -- tickles your nose like pepper. Describing the simplest of things like a dirty gym sock, or a cup of mint tea can create truly powerful imagery as our sense of smell is one of the strongest and longest lasting forms of memory we possess.

Auditory imagery is another of the more powerful forms of imagery. The sound of raindrops on your window or a sweetly-sung nursery rhyme can bring back feelings of nostalgia. Or, if you so choose, you can write about a rocket breaking the sound barrier, the powerful and delayed boom of the engines roaring overhead as the rocket flies out of sight.

Gustatory imagery -- or that which relates to taste -- can be a bit tricky, because you never know what your writer likes or dislikes in terms of specific foods. However, these images can be relatively potent if chosen carefully. Mint is a taste that most people are familiar with, especially people who brush their teeth with mint toothpaste. However, there are also tastes that have little to do with food. For example, the taste of copper will bring images of blood to most people.

Kinesthetic

Kinesthetic imagery is the broadest of the five. Kinesthetics encompasses any physical interaction with our body, such as touch, heat or cold transfer, movement and internal emotions. Describing the feeling of an ice cube being dropped down the back of your shirt, slowly migrating down to your waist in a swerving line, getting colder and colder the farther it goes or that feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you descend a roller coaster will evoke kinesthetic imagery.

• Dr. Wheeler's Website: Literary Terminology -- Imagery

Richard Kyori has been writing professionally since 2006. He has been teaching design and technology courses at colleges and universities since 2005. Kyori holds a Bachelor of Arts in art history from Boston University and is working toward a Master of Architecture.

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What is imagery?

In terms of writing, imagery is more than creating a pretty picture for the reader. Imagery pertains to a technique for the writer to appeal to the reader’s five senses as a means to convey the essence of an event. The five senses include sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste. The writer does not need to employ all five senses, only those senses that most effectively convey, transport the reader into that event.

Why use imagery?

Imagery engages the reader with specific sensory details. Imagery creates atmosphere/mood, causing the reader to feel a certain emotion. For example, a scary scene includes details that cause a reader to be frightened.

Example from Edgar Allan Poe’s “Masque of the Red Death”

The figure was tall and gaunt, and shrouded from head to foot in the habiliments of the grave. The mask which concealed the visage was made so nearly to resemble the countenance of a stiffened corpse that the closest scrutiny must have had difficulty in detecting the cheat. And yet all this might have been endured, if not approved, by the mad revellers around. But the mummer had gone so far as to assume the type of the Red Death. His vesture was dabbled in blood — and his broad brow, with all the features of the face, was besprinkled with the scarlet horror.

Imagery can be used throughout an entire essay, such as a description essay that focuses on a particular event. Writers should first decide what atmosphere/mood they want to create for their readers and then focus solely on the sensory details that convey that particular atmosphere/mood. For example, if a writer wanted to share the experience of a favorite holiday meal, then s/he would focus on the smells and tastes of all the food and the memories that those smells and tastes conjure. The hectic grocery shopping for all the ingredients would be omitted since that would not express the nostalgia of the meal.

Imagery can also be used per individual paragraph as a means to illustrate a point. For example, in an essay arguing for a ban on smoking, one paragraph could detail the damage to lungs caused by smoking.

A brainstorming technique for imagery involves drawing a picture by focusing on one sense at a time. So, find a blank sheet of paper and various colored pencils.

First and easiest would be sight. Slow down to mentally picture every object, shape, color, person, and so on in the scene. Draw, as best you can, representations of each of those visual details. (Only you will see this drawing; no need to stress over perfection.)

Next, take a different sense, such as sounds, and record those sounds on paper with various colors, symbols, or onomatopoeia. (Again, do the best you can to represent what you heard. Your goal is to remind yourself of the sounds, not create a work of art.)

Next, take a different sense and record that particular sense on paper with various colors and symbols.

The objective is to slow down and focus on each sense individually rather than trying to remember the scene all at once. By slowing down and envisioning each sense on paper, you can determine which senses most accurately create the atmosphere/mood for the essay and then apply only those senses in the essay.

Further Reading

First-Year Composition Copyright © 2021 by Jackie Hoermann-Elliott and Kathy Quesenbury is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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What is Imagery in Literature? Definition and Examples

by Fija Callaghan

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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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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5 Types of Imagery: Essay Writing Tips

Although it may seem like the term “imagery” refers to the use of images, it’s not only about visual senses. The truth is that there are various types of imagery, each of which involves one of the five senses. By choosing the right words and phrases, you can make your readers think of the smell of food or the heat of the sun. College-writers team prepared this quick guide so that you can understand the difference between the five types of imagery.

It’s the most common type of imagery because most writers find it comfortable to use. You can describe various shades, types of lighting, and shapes to make your readers see what you want them to see.

This type of imagery is all about the sense of smell. This type of imagery is very powerful because the sense of smell is one of the longest lasting types of memory we have. Therefore, olfactory imagery can evoke numerous associations and emotions.

This is another powerful type of imagery. Sometimes, the sound of raindrops or the right song can easily create the necessary emotional setting for your story. Another good example of auditory imagery is the sound of explosions when writing about war.

This sort of imagery relates to the sense of taste. Using it may be tricky because everyone has their own favorite food, and you never know what your readers like or dislike. Nevertheless, you can easily predict your readers’ reaction to some specific tastes. For example, the taste of copper is usually associated with blood.

Kinesthetic

This is the broadest type of imagery because it relates to a range of senses. You can use kinesthetic imagery to describe how a certain object feels if you touch it, as well as when describing heat or cold, and movement. This type of imagery is a great choice if you want to describe internal emotions. For example, you may describe grief as something heavy in your chest, or fear as a cold drop running down your back.

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4.18: Types of Imagery

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• Heather Ringo & Athena Kashyap
• City College of San Francisco via ASCCC Open Educational Resources Initiative

What Is Imagery (In Language)?

Writing Imagery to Invoke the Five Senses

• An Introduction to Punctuation
• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

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

• E.B. White's Drafts of 'Once More to the Lake'
• Specificity in Writing
• Reading Quiz on 'Once More to the Lake' by E. B. White
• An Introduction to Sensory Marketing
• Personification
• Examples of Images in Poetry, Fiction, and Nonfiction
• 5 Examples of How to Write a Good Descriptive Paragraph
• Definition and Examples of a Concrete Noun
• Jacobson's Organ and the Sixth Sense
• First-Person Point of View
• Overview of the Five Senses
• Practice in Identifying Metaphors
• Synesthesia (Language and Literature)
• polysyndeton (style and rhetoric)
• Subject in English Grammar
• Ekphrasis: Definition and Examples in Rhetoric

What Is Imagery? In literature, imagery refers to words that trigger the reader to recall images, or mental pictures, that engage one of the five senses: sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch. Imagery is one of the strongest literary techniques because it connects to the personal experiences, or memories, of the reader.

Showing vs. Telling Images don’t tell the reader something; they show the reader by using concrete details.

Ex. of Telling : "It was wretched weather in town." Ex. of Showing : "Gusts of wind and blasts of rain swept through the town."

• Literal. A literal image represents a literal object or sensation. Its meaning is obvious and realistic and needs no interpretation. It is what it says it is. Literal images are common in both prose and poetry.
• Simile - a figurative image which relies on “like" or “as” to compare two things which are unlike. It is an expressed analogy. Ex. “He acts like a pig at the dinner table.”
• Metaphor - a figurative image which identifies one thing with another without the use of “like” or “as.” It is an implied analogy. Ex. “He is a pig at the dinner table.”

Strategies for Organizing an Essay on Imagery: There are several ways to organize your essay on imagery. You can discuss:

• Images suggesting ideas and/or moods. What ideas or moods are evoked by the images?
• Types of images. Is there a predominance of a particular type of image?
• Patterns of images. Is there a pattern of similar or consistent images?
• What types of images prevail in the work?
• How vivid are the images?
• What explanation is needed for the images?
• What effect do the images have on you? How do you respond to them?
• How well are the images integrated in the work?
• Within a group of images, do the images pertain to one location rather than another? For example, country vs. city or indoors vs. outdoors.

Remember: Imagery enhances character, setting, meaning, and theme in literature. Sensory imagery adds emotional power to writing because it connects with personal experiences of the reader.

Page last updated June 13, 2023.

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What Are the Best Tips for Writing an Essay on Imagery?

Imagery is one of the most commonly used and most effective literary techniques to really transport the reader into the story. As a result, it is common for teachers to assign students to write essays on imagery to be sure they understand this important concept. To begin writing an essay on imagery, it is first necessary to identify the examples of imagery in the story. Then, start considering the bigger picture; beyond the image itself, what could the author be trying to convey? It might be a symbolic image, or one meant to conjure up feelings related to something else in the text.

Identifying imagery can be difficult at first, but with practice it will become easier. When writing an essay on imagery, and trying to locate the examples of imagery in the story, it helps to consider the different possible types. Visual imagery is the most common, in which an author will describe how something looks, often making use of metaphor and simile . However, imagery can be used with any of the other four senses, including touch, smell, taste, and hearing. If an author takes the time to describe the way something smells, or the sound it makes, chances are it is an important part of imagery for the story.

Making notes and creating a type of outline of the imagery found throughout the story can be a great place to begin writing the essay. It can also make it easier to identify patterns. If a certain image is seen over and over again, this is a great place to focus to consider what the author meant by it. Even if images are not repeated, it is still necessary to look deeper; don't simply describe the images, but consider what they might mean on a deeper level.

A certain repeated image could represent the mood or personality of a character, for example. It might represent certain religious symbolism, or be indicative of a larger, theoretical idea. Though it may seem like too simple of an idea, it is also very helpful to consider other major aspects of the story, like plot and theme, when writing an essay on imagery. The theme of a book or short story is often repeated, over and over again, in the imagery used throughout. Asking these types of questions will generally make it easier to develop a thesis statement, which will help to guide the writing of the rest of the essay on imagery.

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Discussion Comments

Post your comments.

• By: michaeljung Using visual imagery, an author describes how something looks, often making use of metaphor and simile.
• By: Kenneth Sponsler Studying how imagery is used in different texts can help with writing an essay.

Figurative Language

Figurative Language Definition

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

Figurative language is language that contains or uses figures of speech . When people use the term "figurative language," however, they often do so in a slightly narrower way. In this narrower definition, figurative language refers to language that uses words in ways that deviate from their literal interpretation to achieve a more complex or powerful effect. This view of figurative language focuses on the use of figures of speech that play with the meaning of words, such as metaphor , simile , personification , and hyperbole .

Some additional key details about figurative language:

• Figurative language is common in all sorts of writing, as well as in spoken language.
• Figurative language refers to language that contains figures of speech, while figures of speech are the particular techniques. If figurative speech is like a dance routine, figures of speech are like the various moves that make up the routine.
• It's a common misconception that imagery, or vivid descriptive language, is a kind of figurative language. In fact, writers can use figurative language as one tool to help create imagery, but imagery does not have to use figurative language.

Figurative Language Pronunciation

Here's how to pronounce figurative language: fig -yer-uh-tiv lang -gwij

Figures of Speech and Figurative Language

To fully understand figurative language, it's helpful to have a basic understanding of figures of speech. More specifically, it's helpful to understand the two main types of figures of speech: tropes and schemes .

• Tropes are figures of speech that play with and shift the expected and literal meaning of words.
• Schemes are figures of speech that involve a change from the typical mechanics of a sentence, such as the order, pattern, or arrangement of words.

Put even more simply: tropes play with the meaning of words, while schemes play with the structure of words, phrases, and sentences.

The Different Things People Mean When They Say Figurative Language

When people say figurative language, they don't always mean the precise same thing. Here are the three different ways people usually talk about figurative language:

• Dictionary definition of figurative language: According to the dictionary, figurative language is simply any language that contains or uses figures of speech. This definition would mean that figurative language includes the use of both tropes and schemes.
• Much more common real world use of figurative language: However, when people (including teachers) refer to figurative language, they usually mean language that plays with the literal meaning of words. This definition sees figurative language as language that primarily involves the use of tropes.
• Another common real world use of figurative language: Some people define figurative language as including figures of speech that play with meaning as well as a few other common schemes that affect the rhythm and sound of text, such as alliteration and assonance .

What does all that boil down to for you? If you hear someone talking about figurative language, you can usually safely assume they are referring to language that uses figures of speech to play with the meaning of words and, perhaps, with the way that language sounds or feels.

Common Types of Figurative Language

There are many, many types of figures of speech that can be involved in figurative language. Some of the most common are:

• Metaphor : A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unrelated things by stating that one thing is another thing, even though this isn't literally true. For example, the phrase "her lips are a blooming rose" obviously doesn't literally mean what it says—it's a metaphor that makes a comparison between the red beauty and promise of a blooming rose with that of the lips of the woman being described.
• Simile : A simile, like a metaphor, makes a comparison between two unrelated things. However, instead of stating that one thing is another thing (as in metaphor), a simile states that one thing is like another thing. An example of a simile would be to say "they fought like cats and dogs."
• Oxymoron : An oxymoron pairs contradictory words in order to express new or complex meanings. In the phrase "parting is such sweet sorrow" from Romeo and Juliet , "sweet sorrow" is an oxymoron that captures the complex and simultaneous feelings of pain and pleasure associated with passionate love.
• Hyperbole : Hyperbole is an intentional exaggeration of the truth, used to emphasize the importance of something or to create a comic effect. An example of a hyperbole is to say that a backpack "weighs a ton." No backpack literally weighs a ton, but to say "my backpack weighs ten pounds" doesn't effectively communicate how burdensome a heavy backpack feels.
• Personification : In personification, non-human things are described as having human attributes, as in the sentence, "The rain poured down on the wedding guests, indifferent to their plans." Describing the rain as "indifferent" is an example of personification, because rain can't be "indifferent," nor can it feel any other human emotion.
• Idiom : An idiom is a phrase that, through general usage within a particular group or society, has gained a meaning that is different from the literal meaning of the words. The phrase "it's raining cats and dogs" is known to most Americans to mean that it's raining hard, but an English-speaking foreigner in the United States might find the phrase totally confusing.
• Onomatopoeia : Onomatopoeia is a figure of speech in which words evoke the actual sound of the thing they refer to or describe. The “boom” of a firework exploding, the “tick tock” of a clock, and the “ding dong” of a doorbell are all examples of onomatopoeia.
• Synecdoche : In synecdoche, a part of something is used to refer to its whole . For example, "The captain commands one hundred sails" is a synecdoche that uses "sails" to refer to ships—ships being the thing of which a sail is a part.
• Metonymy : Metonymy is a figure of speech in which an object or concept is referred to not by its own name, but instead by the name of something closely associated with it. For example, in "Wall Street prefers lower taxes," the New York City street that was the original home of the New York Stock Exchange stands in for (or is a "metonym" for) the entire American financial industry.
• Alliteration : In alliteration, the same sound repeats in a group of words, such as the “ b ” sound in: “ B ob b rought the b ox of b ricks to the b asement.” Alliteration uses repetition to create a musical effect that helps phrases to stand out from the language around them.
• Assonance : The repetition of vowel sounds repeat in nearby words, such as the " ee " sound: "the squ ea ky wh ee l gets the gr ea se." Like alliteration, assonance uses repeated sounds to create a musical effect in which words echo one another.

Figurative Language vs. Imagery

Many people (and websites) argue that imagery is a type of figurative language. That is actually incorrect. Imagery refers to a writers use of vivid and descriptive language to appeal to the reader's senses and more deeply evoke places, things, emotions, and more. The following sentence uses imagery to give the reader a sense of how what is being described looks, feels, smells, and sounds:

The night was dark and humid, the scent of rotting vegetation hung in the air, and only the sound of mosquitoes broke the quiet of the swamp.

This sentence uses no figurative language. Every word means exactly what it says, and the sentence is still an example of the use of imagery. That said, imagery can use figurative language, often to powerful effect:

The night was dark and humid, heavy with a scent of rotting vegetation like a great-aunt's heavy and inescapable perfume, and only the whining buzz of mosquitoes broke the silence of the swamp.

In this sentence, the description has been made more powerful through the use of a simile ("like a great-aunt's..."), onomatopoeia ("whining buzz," which not only describes but actually sounds like the noise made by mosquitoes), and even a bit of alliteration in the " s ilence of the s wamp."

To sum up: imagery is not a form of figurative language. But a writer can enhance his or her effort to write imagery through the use of figurative language.

Figurative Language Examples

Figurative language is more interesting, lively, beautiful, and memorable than language that's purely literal. Figurative language is found in all sorts of writing, from poetry to prose to speeches to song lyrics, and is also a common part of spoken speech. The examples below show a variety of different types of figures of speech. You can see many more examples of each type at their own specific LitChart entries.

Figurative Language Example: Metaphor

Metaphor in shakespeare's romeo and juliet.

In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet , Romeo uses the following metaphor in Act 2 Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet , after sneaking into Juliet's garden and catching a glimpse of her on her balcony:

But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.

Romeo compares Juliet to the sun not only to describe how radiantly beautiful she is, but also to convey the full extent of her power over him. He's so taken with Juliet that her appearances and disappearances affect him like those of the sun. His life "revolves" around Juliet like the earth orbits the sun.

Figurative Language Example: Simile

In this example of a simile from Slaughterhouse-Five , Billy Pilgrim emerges from an underground slaughterhouse where he has been held prisoner by the Germans during the deadly World War II firebombing of Dresden:

It wasn't safe to come out of the shelter until noon the next day. When the Americans and their guards did come out, the sky was black with smoke. The sun was an angry little pinhead. Dresden was like the moon now , nothing but minerals. The stones were hot. Everybody else in the neighborhood was dead.

Vonnegut uses simile to compare the bombed city of Dresden to the moon in order to capture the totality of the devastation—the city is so lifeless that it is like the barren moon.

Figurative Language Example: Oxymoron

These lines from Chapter 7 of Ernest Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls describe an encounter between Robert Jordan, a young American soldier fighting in the Spanish Civil War, and his lover María.

She held herself tight to him and her lips looked for his and then found them and were against them and he felt her, fresh, new and smooth and young and lovely with the warm, scalding coolness and unbelievable to be there in the robe that was as familiar as his clothes, or his shoes, or his duty and then she said, frightenedly, “And now let us do quickly what it is we do so that the other is all gone.”

The couple's relationship becomes a bright spot for both of them in the midst of war, but ultimately also a source of pain and confusion for Jordan, as he struggles to balance his obligation to fight with his desire to live happily by Maria's side. The contradiction contained within the oxymoron "scalding coolness" emphasizes the couple's conflicting emotions and impossible situation.

Figurative Language Example: Hyperbole

Elizabeth Bennet, the most free-spirited character in Pride and Prejudice , refuses Mr. Darcy's first marriage proposal with a string of hyperbole :

From the very beginning, from the first moment I may almost say, of my acquaintance with you, your manners impressing me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain of the feelings of others, were such as to form that ground-work of disapprobation, on which succeeding events have built so immoveable a dislike; and I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry.

Elizabeth's closing statement, that Darcy is the "last man in the world" whom she would ever marry, is an obvious hyperbole. It's hard to believe that Elizabeth would rather marry, say, an axe murderer or a diseased pirate than Mr. Darcy. Even beyond the obvious exaggeration, Austen's use of hyperbole in this exchange hints at the fact that Elizabeth's feelings for Darcy are more complicated than she admits, even to herself. Austen drops various hints throughout the beginning of the novel that Elizabeth feels something beyond mere dislike for Darcy. Taken together with these hints, Elizabeth's hyperbolic statements seem designed to convince not only Darcy, but also herself, that their relationship has no future.

Figurative Language Example: Personification

In Chapter 1 of The Scarlet Letter , Nathaniel Hawthorne describes a wild rose bush that grows in front of Salem's gloomy wooden jail:

But, on one side of the portal, and rooted almost at the threshold, was a wild rose-bush, covered, in this month of June, with its delicate gems, which might be imagined to offer their fragrance and fragile beauty to the prisoner as he went in, and to the condemned criminal as he came forth to his doom, in token that the deep heart of Nature could pity and be kind to him.

In the context of the novel's setting in 17th century Boston, this rose bush, which grows wild in front of an establishment dedicated to enforcing harsh puritan values, symbolizes those elements of human nature that cannot be repressed, no matter how strict a community's moral code may be: desire, fertility, and a love of beauty. By personifying the rosebush as "offering" its blossoms to reflect Nature's pity (Nature is also personified here as having a "heart"), Hawthorne turns the passive coincidence of the rosebush's location into an image of human nature actively resisting its constraints.

Figurative Language Example: Idiom

Figurative language example: onomatopoeia.

In Act 3, Scene 3 of Shakespeare's The Tempest , Caliban uses onomatopoeia to convey the noises of the island.

Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, Sounds, and sweet airs that give delight and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices...

The use of onomatopoeia makes the audience feel the sounds on the island, rather than just have to take Caliban's word about there being noises.

Figurative Language Example: Synecdoche

In Act 4, Scene 3 of Shakespeare's Macbeth , an angry Macbeth kicks out a servant by saying:

Take thy face hence.

Here, "thy face" stands in for "you." Macbeth is simply telling the servant to leave, but his use of synecdoche makes the tone of his command more harsh and insulting because he uses synecdoche to treat the servant not as a person but as an object, a body part.

Figurative Language Example: Metonymy

In his song "Juicy," Notorious B.I.G. raps:

Now I'm in the limelight 'cause I rhyme tight

Here he's using "limelight" as a metonymy for fame (a "limelight" was a kind of spotlight used in old theaters, and so it came to be associated with the fame of being in the spotlight). Biggie's use of metonymy here also sets him up for a sweet rhyme.

Figurative Language Example: Alliteration

In his song "Rap God," Eminem shows his incredible lyrical dexterity by loading up the alliteration :

S o I wanna make sure, s omewhere in this chicken s cratch I S cribble and doodle enough rhymes T o maybe t ry t o help get s ome people through t ough t imes But I gotta k eep a few punchlines Just in c ase, ‘ c ause even you un s igned Rappers are hungry l ooking at me l ike it's l unchtime…

Why Do Writers Use Figurative Language?

The term figurative language refers to a whole host of different figures of speech, so it's difficult to provide a single definitive answer to why writers use figurative language. That said, writers use figurative language for a wide variety of reasons:

• Interest and beauty: Figurative language allows writes to express descriptions, ideas, and more in ways that are unique and beautiful.
• Complexity and power: Because figurative language can create meanings that go beyond the literal, it can capture complex ideas, feelings, descriptions, or truths that cause readers to see things in a new way, or more closely mirror the complex reality of the world.
• Visceral affect: Because figurative language can both impact the rhythm and sound of language, and also connect the abstract (say, love) with the concrete (say, a rose), it can help language make an almost physical impact on a reader.
• Humor: By allowing a writer to layer additional meanings over literal meanings, or even to imply intended meanings that are the opposite of the literal meaning, figurative language gives writers all sorts of options for creating humor in their writing.
• Realism: People speak and even think in terms of the sorts of comparisons that underlie so much figurative language. Rather than being flowery, figurative language allows writers to describe things in ways that match how people really think about them, and to create characters who themselves feel real.

In general, figurative language often makes writing feel at once more accessible and powerful, more colorful, surprising, and deep.

Other Helpful Figurative Language Resources

• The dictionary definition of figurative : Touches on figurative language, as well as some other meanings of the word.
• Figurative and Frost : Examples of figurative language in the context of the poetry of Robert Frost.
• Figurative YouTube : A video identifying various forms of figurative language from movies and television shows.
• Wikipedia on literal and figurative language : A bit technical, but with a good list of examples.

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• Alliteration
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