What is Imagery in literature?

IMAGERY:

Imagery is the special use of words or language in literature which creates pictures in the minds of the readers. By using some figures of speech like simile, metaphor, onomatopoeia and so on the author is able to create pictures for the readers. It is rightly said, “Poetry is a speaking picture and picture is a mute poetry.” Imagery appeals our five senses – sense of vision, sense of sound, sense of touch, sense of taste and sense of smell. The authors try to appeals these human senses by using different five types of imagery in their literature. These five types of imagery are as under:

1.     Visual Imagery: Here, the poet creates visual pictures with the special use of words. For example, Wordsworth writes “I saw a thousand (daffodils) at a glance” to create a beautiful scene of yellow flowers in the reader’s mind.

2.     Auditory Imagery: Here, the poet creates sound effect by some special use of onomatopoeic words. For example, when we read the following lines, the words “them” at the at of each line creates the sound of cannons.

 “Cannons to the right of them

Cannons to the left of them

Cannons in front of them.”

 3.     Olfactory Imagery: Here, the poet appeals our sense of smell. By mentioning various perfumes, fragrances and odors, the poet makes us smell a particular object.

4.     Gustatory Imagery: Here, the poet appeals our sense of taste. For example, in order to create the effect of sweet taste of something, the poet mentions cookies, chocolates, sweets etc.

5.     Tactile Imagery: It describes what we feel or touch. For example, the poet may use some special words which indicates extreme hot or cold atmosphere to give us the real feeling.