1. Imagery and Meaning

2. What image do you see in your mind when you read the following sentence?
A field of bright yellow flowers lay beautifully in front of me.

3. Is this image close to the one you saw in your mind?

4. What image do you see in your mind when you read the following sentence?
The big, juicy burger with its melted cheese and red tomatoes made my mouth water and my stomach grumble.

5. Is this image close to the one you saw in your mind?

6. Imagery
Definition:
Imagery refers to the “mental pictures” that readers experience when reading literature.
Imagery appeals directly to one or more of the five senses.
An author achieves imagery through the use of words.

7. There are five (5) types of imagery:
Visual – what you see
Auditory – what you hear
Kinaesthetic – what you feel
Olfactory – what you smell
Gustatory – what you taste

8. Examples
Visual – The golden rays of the setting sun reflected upon the clear waters of the lake.
Auditory – The trees rustled as the wind whistled gently through the leaves.
Kinaesthetic – My toes went numb and a shiver ran through my body as I stepped into the cold river.
Olfactory – The stench of rotting garbage overpowered my nostrils when I opened the bin.
Gustatory – Her mouth watered and her tongue burned as she bit into the sour, peppery mango chow.

9. The Castaways – Claude McKay
The vivid grass with visible delight Springing triumphant from the pregnant earth, The butterflies, and sparrows in brief flight Dancing and chirping for the season’s birth, The dandelions and rare daffodils That touch the deep-stirred heart with hands of gold, The thrushes sending forth their joyous trills, - Not these, not these did I at first behold! But seated on the benches daubed with green, The castaways of life, a few asleep, Some withered women desolate and mean, And over all, life’s shadows dark and deep. Moaning I turned away, for misery I have the strength to bear but not to see.
How many types of imagery can you find in this poem?

10. Getting Well – Ian McDonald
You can always tell the time for sure When patients who are getting well Will soon get up and leave the others here: They do not have that one-way-only stare. They seem to see the flowers in the jar. They do not make a boast of getting well: ‘The kindness of the ward,’ it’s called. But outside you can see amazing scenes. One time a man ran in the glorious sun And climbed a green tree standing in the yard. To the very top he climbed, rocking in the wind, And turned his face up to the burst of sun, Frolicked on a swaying branch, and scrambled down “I’m not mad!” he cried, And swung his mother round and round.
Write one example of a visual image and three examples of kinaesthetic images from this poem.