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IMAGERY & DESCRIPTIVE WORDS

Session 10

Objectives:

• That you can identify imagery in a story or poem.
• That you can can use imagery to improve your writing.
• That you can identify the descriptive words in a story or poem.
• That you can can use descriptive words to improve your writing.

Imagery involves one or more of your five senses (hearing, taste, touch, smell, sight). An author uses a word or phrase to stimulate your memory of those senses. These memories can be positive or negative which will contribute to the mood of your poem (We'll get to that later!). Be careful what you write about!

 Use the chart below to put the words or phrase from the following poem under the heading of the sense to which it appealed.

  Spring is here.

Brightest and best are the songs in the morning,  
Brightest and best at the break of the day.  
As in the valley we hear a fox calling  
With the bay of the hounds still far away.
 
Crisp is the air as daybreak is dawning.  
A herd of  Deer is seen on the hill  
And out in the fields the pheasants are calling  
As I take a deep breath and drink my fill.
 
The sun rises high as a new day is dawning,  
Chasing away the last bit of the night.
Bringing her warmth to the plants that are calling  
at last spring is here and everywhere's bright.

David Monteath

Definition:

Imagery is the use of vivid description, usually rich in sensory words, to create pictures, or images, in the reader's mind.

Figurative language is the language that uses imagery and such figures of speech as similes, metaphors, and personification.

Creating poetry requires the use of imagery. Think of some imagery words to describe some part of nature: The sea, a river, clouds, a tree, a picnic spot, an animal, etc. List the words in a table such as the following:

Senses:

Now, create a poem about what you described. Use imagery (some of the words you have listed) to describe the aspect of nature that you have chosen.

"Now Say That Again"

Could you describe brushing your hair without using the words "hair" or "brush"? You might say you are grooming your long, shiny tresses!

Choose one of the tasks below and write a two paragraph description without using any of the words listed after the task. Use your powers of imagination - and a thesaurus - to help you on your way.

1. "roasting a hot dog" roast, hot dog, fire, stick

2. "eating a piece of birthday cake" birthday cake, fork

3. "playing fetch with a dog" dog, run, fetch, play

4. "sailing" boat, sail, water

5. "watching television" watch, television, T.V., look

 Given each one of the words below, write as many single, descriptive words as you can about the noun.

 rabbit

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tree

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flower

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 bird

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summer

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winter

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