The Seven Types of Imagery

The Seven Types of Imagery What are they? Why do author’s use them? How can they help us to better interpret literature?

The Seven Types of Imagery • Visual • Auditory • Olfactory • Gustatory • Tactile • Organic • Kinesthetic

Visual Imagery • This is the most frequent and basic type of imagery used to simply recreate an image.

Visual Imagery Woman with FlowerI wouldn't coax the plant if I were you.Such watchful nurturing may do it harm.Let the soil rest from so much diggingAnd wait until it's dry before you water it.The leaf's inclined to find its own direction;Give it a chance to seek the sunlight for itself.Much growth is stunted by too careful prodding, Too eager tenderness.The things we love we have to learn to leave alone.-Naomi Long Madgett

Auditory Imagery • Is the mental representation of any sound which is vital in imagining and feeling.

Auditory Imagery IF TREES COULD DO AS WE... If trees could talk as we, Oh, how they would echo Earth’s praises; If trees could sing as we, Gee, how they and we would Harmonize a sweet song of Spring breezes; If trees could walk as you and I With dances of lift and light; If trees could, then we could Imagine of them, their life, their soul, In our minds and hearts; And spare of them their life for us. -Frederick Douglas Harper

Olfactory Imagery • Is related to smell and this imagery helps summons and deliver familiar scents to the reader.

Olfactory Imagery Messy Room Whosever room this is should be ashamed!His underwear is hanging on the lamp.His raincoat is there in the overstuffed chair,And the chair is becoming quite mucky and damp.His workbook is wedged in the window,His sweater's been thrown on the floor.His scarf and one ski are beneath the TV,And his pants have been carelessly hung on the door.His books are all jammed in the closet,His vest has been left in the hall.A lizard named Ed is asleep in his bed,And his smelly old sock has been stuck to the wall.Whosever room this is should be ashamed!Donald or Robert or Willie or--Huh? You say it's mine? Oh, dear,I knew it looked familiar! -Shel Silverstein

Gustatory Imagery • Illustrates and recreates the tastes of food or many other items.

Gustatory Imagery Taste of Summer Crushed leaves and grass tasty tangy smells of summer Trees are full and plushFruits are succulent and ripeThe Gulmohar bright and proudsways in the brisk warm breeze. Lazy silent afternoons are intoxicating; Balmy winds refresh the evening walkersThirsty birds skip from branch to branchlooking for water troughs.fearless rowdy boys are at playthe sun doesn’t dampen their playful spirits.As the dusk falls inthe timid ones venture out.I know the rains are round the cornerthe brisk winds will soon be moistI take a deep breath and try to drink the summer. -Swati Goswami

Tactile Imagery • Appeals to the sense of touch by presenting attributes like hardness, softness or hot & cold sensations; texture type words.

Tactile Imagery My Papa's Waltz The whiskey on your breathCould make a small boy dizzy;But I hung on like death:Such waltzing was not easy. We romped until the pansSlid from the kitchen shelf;My mother's countenanceCould not unfrown itself. The hand that held my wristWas battered on one knuckle;At every step you missedMy right ear scraped a buckle. You beat time on my headWith a palm caked hard by dirt,Then waltzed me off to bedStill clinging to your shirt. - Theodore Roethke

Organic Imagery • An organic image is the representation of an internal sensation • Examples: hunger, thirst, pain, longing, regret, etc.

Organic Imagery “Hope” is the thing with feathers Hope is the thing with feathersThat perches in the soul,And sings the tune without the words,And never stops at all,And sweetest in the gale is heard;And sore must be the stormThat could abash the little birdThat kept so many warm.I've heard it in the chilliest landAnd on the strangest sea;Yet, never, in extremity,It asked a crumb of me.-Emily Dickinson

Kinesthetic Imagery • A kinesthetic image is a representation of physical movement

Kinesthetic Imagery MONGOOSE Their steps are quick and low, Fastly scooting they often go, Minding their own business of the day; A friend of man and woman they are, Kindly and cute animals by far; Mongooses, how beautifully they stroll Along; Mongooses, how beautifully they stroll Alone; Their brown coat glistening in the sun, Creatures of charm on the run. -Frederick Douglas Harper

Partner Practice • With a partner, using only the first poem, “egg horror poem” by Laurel Winter, highlight and label as many different images as you can.

Written response Choose any image from the Egg Horror Poem. Annotate the poem. Include the title of the poem, direct quote include the line in the citation, and type of image used. • What is the poet’s purpose in including this image? • What feeling does this image evoke? • How does this image enhance your understanding of the poem [or literary device, figurative language used. What is the deeper meaning/theme of this poem?

The Seven Types of Imagery