MYP English Lang & Lit 5.2 Imagery Notes

Imagery

1. (or: how writers make you see, hear, and feel things that aren’t really there)

2. When writing is working properly, it doesn’t just tell you information. It creates pictures in your head.
3. That’s imagery.

1. What is imagery?

1. Imagery is language that appeals to the five senses.
2. It helps the reader:
   1. see
   2. hear
   3. smell
   4. taste
   5. feel
3. In simple terms:

   1. Imagery turns words into experiences.

2. Why imagery matters

1. Imagery:
   1. makes writing vivid and memorable
   2. creates mood and atmosphere
   3. shows emotion without naming it
   4. deepens tone and meaning
2. Without imagery, writing can feel flat, distant, or vague.

3. The five types of imagery (the useful ones)

Visual imagery (sight)

1. What the reader can see:
   1. colours
   2. shapes
   3. movement
   4. light and darkness

Auditory imagery (sound)

1. What the reader can hear:
   1. silence
   2. noise
   3. tone
   4. rhythm

Tactile imagery (touch)

1. What the reader can feel physically:
   1. temperature
   2. texture
   3. pressure

Olfactory imagery (smell)

1. What the reader can smell:
   1. smoke
   2. food
   3. decay
   4. perfume

Gustatory imagery (taste)

1. What the reader can taste:
   1. bitterness
   2. sweetness
   3. dryness

4. Imagery and emotion

1. Imagery often shows how a character feels without saying it.
   1. harsh imagery can suggest anger or fear
   2. soft imagery can suggest calm or safety
   3. unpleasant imagery can suggest discomfort or tension
2. Writers use sensory details to make emotion physical.

5. Imagery and tone

1. Imagery strongly shapes tone.
   1. dark imagery often creates a tense or ominous tone
   2. bright imagery often creates a hopeful or calm tone
   3. repetitive imagery can reinforce mood
2. Tone is often felt before it is understood.

6. Imagery and voice attach

1. Imagery reflects how the speaker sees the world.
2. Two speakers can describe the same place very differently, depending on:
   1. mood
   2. attitude
   3. experience

7. Imagery and poetic form

1. Imagery often works alongside form.
   1. short lines can sharpen images
   2. free verse can let images unfold naturally
   3. repetition can make images stick
2. Form controls how imagery is delivered.

8. Using PEEL to analyse imagery

You can analyse imagery using PEEL.

P: Point

1. Identify the type of imagery and its effect.
   1. visual
   2. auditory
   3. tactile
   4. olfactory
   5. gustatory

E: Evidence

1. Quote a specific image or phrase.

E: Explain

1. Explain:
   1. what the image shows
   2. what it suggests or symbolises
   3. how it makes the reader feel

L: Link

1. Link to:
   1. tone
   2. emotion
   3. character
   4. theme

9. Now it's your turn...