Figurative Language: Imagery and the 5 Senses

One of the most important types of figurative language is imagery.  To use imagery is to be descriptive.  Very descriptive.  It's like painting a picture with your words. 

An easy way to approach this is to use the five senses.

Let's start with a basic sentence with no imagery:

• I walked in and mom was making cookies.

There's not a whole lot going on here and it's boring.  Let's start adding to it slowly using the five senses.  I'll start with sight:

• I slumped into the bright kitchen where mom hovered over the granite countertops, rolling a second batch of cookies into balls. 

Can you picture some of the things described?  Now let's add a little more using smell:

• I slumped into the bright kitchen, where I was greeted by the wafting smell of chocolate chip cookies drifting towards me.  My mom hovered over the granite countertops, rolling a second batch of cookies into balls. 

Smell is a powerful sense and makes for powerful imagery...or should I say "smellery."  Let's add some sound and touch now:

• I slumped into the bright kitchen, where I was greeted by the wafting smell of chocolate chip cookies drifting towards me.  The air was warm and wrapped itself around me like a blanket. Mom hovered over the granite countertops, humming to herself as she rolled a second batch of cookies into balls. 

To add taste, I'd throw a sentence like this on the end:

• I could almost taste the melting chocolate on my tongue already. 

Not every scene can incorporate all five senses, but you can always incorporate at least four of them.  You should always try for five.  Imagery peps up any kind of writing, making it more tangible, interesting, and relatable.  

Feel free to comment below with a scenario that you'd like me to write with imagery, or share one you did yourself.  

Until then, I remain your humble Online Writing Tutor,

Mrs. B