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in poetry, imagery is a vivid and vibrant form of description that appeals to readers’ senses and imagination. despite the word’s connotation, “imagery” is not focused solely on visual representations or mental images—it refers to the full spectrum of sensory experiences, including internal emotions and physical sensations. here are 7 main types of imagery in poetry!
in this form of poetic imagery, the poet appeals to the reader’s sense of sight by describing something the speaker or narrator of the poem sees. it may include colors, brightness, shapes, sizes, and patterns. examples of imagery include metaphors, similes, or personification, which can help conjure a clear picture in a reader’s mind.
this kind of imagery invokes a reader’s sense of hearing or sound. it may include music and other pleasant sounds, harsh noises, or silence. in addition to describing a sound, the poet might also use a sound device like onomatopoeia, or words that imitate sounds, so reading the poem aloud recreates the auditory experience.
this use of imagery appeals to a reader’s sense of taste by describing something the speaker or narrator of the poem tastes. it may include sweetness, sourness, saltiness, savoriness, or spiciness. this is especially effective when the poet describes a taste a reader has experienced before and can recall from sense memory.
in this form of poetic imagery, the poet focuses on the sense of touch, describing something the speaker of the poem feels on their body. it may include the feel of temperatures, textures, and other physical sensations.
in this form of poetic imagery, the poet appeals to the reader’s sense of smell by describing something the speaker of the poem inhales. it may include pleasant fragrances or off-putting odors.
with kinesthetic imagery, the poet describes a sense of motion. it may include the sensation of speeding along in a vehicle, a slow sauntering, or a sudden jolt when stopping, and it may apply to the movement of the poem’s speaker/narrator or objects around them.
in this form of poetic imagery, the poet communicates internal sensations such as fatigue, hunger, and thirst, as well as internal emotions such as fear, love, and despair.
