1. In Mrs Tilscher’s Class
Carol Ann Duffy
Imagery

2. Simile Metaphor Personification Imagery
Imagery is language that is not meant to be taken literally and involves a comparison
The comparison adds something to the writing, conveying an image and/or an idea
The three main types are:
Simile
Metaphor
Personification

3. Simile
A comparison between two different things that uses the words ‘as’ or ‘like’.

4. Example of a simile Sandy Shaw: If you say you love me madly
I'll gladly be there
Like a puppet on a string
Qualities of a puppet
Control

5. Metaphor
A comparison between two different things that does not use ‘as’ or ‘like’.
Metaphor is a stronger comparison than a simile because you are saying something IS something else (not just that it is like it)

6. Soft! What light through yonder window breaks?
Example of a metaphor
Romeo:
Soft! What light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east and Juliet is the sun.
Qualities of the sun
Romeo’s feeling for Juliet
Innocent view of love?

7. Personification
When something not human is given human-like qualities

8. Example of personification
The leaves danced in the wind on the cold
October afternoon.
When do humans dance?
What kind of atmosphere does this suggest?

9. Personification
A kind of metaphor where an object (or animal) is given human characteristics
The clue is in the name: personification
The object/animal is described as if it is a person

10. Which of these are personification?
The shadows from the candle trembled on the wall
The engine purred as the car sped away
He shot out of his seat like a rocket
The toaster angrily spat out the burnt toast
The dark windows watched her with suspicious eyes

11. * Personification The shadows from the candle trembled on the wall *
The engine purred as the car sped away
He shot out of his seat like a rocket
The toaster angrily spat out the burnt toast *
The dark windows watched her with suspicious eyes *

12. Imagery recap
Imagery is language that is not meant to be taken literally and involves a comparison
The comparison adds something to the writing, conveying an image and/or an idea
The three main types are:

13. Now identify any examples of imagery you can find in the poem.
Underline the example and annotate it by identifying the kind of imagery used (simile, metaphor or personification).
Also, note down why the imagery used is effective.

14. Analysing Imagery
When you have completed this, pick two examples and answer the five questions below:
1. What kind of imagery is used?
2. What is being compared to what?
3. What are the qualities of the thing it is being compared to?
4. What does this tell us about the first thing?
5. How does this relate to the poem’s theme, or how does it help us to understand the theme?

15. “the laugh of a bell swung by a running child”
Type of imagery?
Why did the poet pick this particular image?
What does this tell us about the sound the bell makes?
What are the connotations/associations of the word ‘laugh’
What kind of atmosphere does this create?

16. “a skittle of milk” Type of imagery? Why use this comparison? Image
Connotations?
Adds to what kind of atmosphere?
Relates to what theme(s)

17. “A xylophone’s nonsense…”