READING06L21: Sensory Images
OBJECTIVES
1. Get to know what is sensory imagery
2. Identify the five types of imagery
3. Classify ideas according to their type of imagery
LESSON PREREQUISITE
LESSON PROPER
Sensory Imagery
These are the ideas and feelings that make use of the senses based on their description.
It uses words that pertain or are related to at least one of the human senses: smell, taste, sight, hearing, and touch. They are descriptive words that ignite the senses while reading.
These words are used so that the reader can pay attention to details and will help him or her in understanding the text or selection.
Types of Sensory Imagery
1. Visual Imagery (Sense of Sight)
Words that allow the reader to sense what a certain text would have
looked like and may indicate color, shape, and appearance.
The author paints a picture of the text right in front of the reader.
Words like gloomy, dark, bright, dazzling, gigantic are examples of sensory
words of sight.
Examples:
The decorators are hanging colorful balloons along the hall.
The yellow taxi cars were stuck in traffic.
The muddy socks were piled on top of the rug.
2. Auditory Imagery (Sense of Hearing)
Words that allow the reader to sense what a certain text would have
sounded like
These words allow the author to let the reader listen to a scene in the
selection.
Words like loud, piercing, thumping, crashing are examples of sensory
words of hearing.
Examples:
The buzzing sound filled the air.
The audience made a thundering applause after the show.
Honking sounds filled the city streets.
3. Gustatory Imagery (Sense of Taste)
Words that let the reader know if a thing tasted nice or bad
Words like zesty, tangling, sour, sweet, stinky are examples of sensory
words of taste.
Examples:
This cake is good to the last bite.
The dish served during the rehearsal dinner tasted delicious.
The pizza tasted like cardboard.
4. Olfactory Imagery (Sense of Smell)
Words that let the reader know if a thing smelled nice or bad
These are often associated with sensory words of smell.
Words like fragrant, stale, pungent, rotten, stinky are examples of sensory
words of smell. Examples:
The insecticide you have sprayed is odor-free.
Her perfume smelled like flowers and vanilla.
What I love about rain is the smell of wet dirt.
5. Tactile Imagery (Sense of Touch)
Words that let the reader sense what a certain thing would feel like when
it is touched
Words like creepy, gritty, slimy, sticky, fluffy are examples of sensory
words of touch.
Examples:
Be careful with the vases. They are fragile.
The mud felt slimy and cold between my toes.
The cold raindrops fell on my skin as I rushed home.