(IC) Lesson Topic 3: Imagery

What is imagery? How can imagery paint a picture in a person's mind?

Imagery is a description that appeals to one of the five senses. Using senses creates a picture or image for the reader. Although most of the image-making words in any language appeal to sight (visual images), there are also images of touch, sound, taste, and smell. Imagery refers to the "pictures" which come to mind when we are reading a poem.

Take a look at this poem by Naomi Shihab Nye.

The Rider

A boy told me

if he rollerskated fast enough

his loneliness couldn't catch up to him.

the best reason I ever heard

for trying to be a champion.

What I wonder tonight

pedaling hard down King William Street

is if it translates to bicycles.

A victory! To leave your loneliness

panting behind you on some

street corner

while you float free into a cloud of sudden azaleas,

luminous pink petals that have never felt loneliness,

no matter how slowly they fell. 

What are the specific examples of imagery that you found when reading? What senses did they appeal to?

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