What Is an Image? Imagery in Poetry Practice Feature Menu

An image is a word or phrase that appeals to one of our senses. Images can help us create a mental picture hear a sound feel texture or temperature taste a sweet, sour, or salty flavor

And straightway like a bell Came low and clear The slow, sad murmur of the distant seas, And in the hush of waters was the sound Of pebbles rolling round, For ever rolling with a hollow sound. And bubbling sea-weeds as the waters go Swish to and fro Their long, cold tentacles of slimy grey. —from “The Shell” by James Stephens Listen to this excerpt of “The Shell” by James Stephens and imagine the scene he describes.

Which words appeal to the sense of hearing? sight? touch? And straightway like a bell Came low and clear The slow, sad murmur of the distant seas, And in the hush of waters was the sound Of pebbles rolling round, For ever rolling with a hollow sound. And bubbling sea-weeds as the waters go Swish to and fro Their long, cold tentacles of slimy grey. —from “The Shell” by James Stephens Quick Check [End of Section]

And straightway like a bell Came low and clear The slow, sad murmur of the distant seas, And in the hush of waters was the sound Of pebbles rolling round, For ever rolling with a hollow sound. And bubbling sea-weeds as the waters go Swish to and fro Their long, cold tentacles of slimy grey. —from “The Shell” by James Stephens Hearing Sight Touch Which words appeal to the sense of hearing? sight? touch? Quick Check

Imagery Descriptive words or phrases that appeal to the 5 senses: sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell- creating a picture in the reader’s mind. What is the mental picture or image you are left with after reading the passage from “The Most Dangerous Game” Write down words or phrases that appeal to your senses.

“He leaped upon the rail and balanced himself there, to get greater elevation; his pipe, striking a rope, was knocked from his mouth. He lunged for it; a short, hoarse cry came from his lips as he realized he had reached too far and had lost his balance. The cry was pinched off short as the blood-warm waters of the Caribbean Sea closed over his head.” “He struggled up to the surface and tried to cry out, but the wash from the speeding yacht slapped him in the face and the salt water in his open mouth made him gag.” “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell

1. Select a passage from “The Most Dangerous Game” that appeals to at least 3 of the reader’s five senses. 2. Write the passage on the white paper provided. 3. Create a color code system to show which words appeal to which senses (example: all words in the passage that appeal to touch may be underlined red). 4. Based upon the passage create an illustration, collage, or various symbols that represent the most important images in the passage.

1. Select a paragraph from “The Most Dangerous Game” that you think is the best example of imagery. 2. Use pages ,220,221, 231,232 only. 3. Write the passage on the white paper provided. 4.Create a color code system to show which words appeal to which senses (example: all words in the passage that appeal to touch may be underlined red). 5. Based upon the passage create an illustration, collage, or various symbols that represent the most important images in the passage.