Imagery may make an abstract concept, such as an emotion or idea, appear more physical and tangible to the reader. Authors may elicit the emotion they want to discuss in their readers by utilizing imagery... and by making their readers feel, writers can also assist readers relate to the messages in their work.
Images are used in writing to create a sense of atmosphere, convey information about the characters or setting, etc. Images can even help clarify ideas that would otherwise be difficult to express in words alone. For example, when trying to explain something like cause and effect, an image might help make the connection between two events or situations clearer for the reader.
In literature classes, students are often asked to select a character from a story and describe him or her using only physical characteristics- hair color, eye color, height, weight, etc. Students are then asked to imagine what that person would be like if he or she were a painter painting a portrait. The student is then supposed to connect the two descriptions together by explaining why the character in words would look like the person in paint.
This exercise helps students understand how important it is for authors to use descriptive language to write effective stories. It also teaches them that words aren't the only way to get ideas across to readers; sometimes images are needed as well.
Imagery is used to make writing more vivid and to "create a picture" for the reader. By connecting words with sensory experiences, a writer who employs imagery successfully can appeal to the reader's imagination. Images also can be effective tools for persuasion because they can create strong emotions in readers. The better the image, the stronger the emotion.
Images can be used to make facts or ideas easier to understand. For example, when explaining the functions of different parts of the body, an author can use pictures to help the reader comprehend otherwise complex concepts. Image usage is particularly important in scientific papers because scientists must be able to communicate their findings clearly while avoiding using jargon. A scientist could, for example, describe how a part of the brain is connected to other regions by showing a diagram with arrows representing nerve fibers.
Image description is also necessary when creating metaphors or similes. These comparisons rely on visual images to explain abstract concepts. For example, one might say that President Lincoln was like a magnet for men because both leaders had many young officers under them. One could also say that they were opposites in terms of personality and style -- Lincoln was calm and thoughtful while Davis was impulsive and hot-headed. In this case, one has used imagery to describe these leaders and their approaches to management.
Finally, images can be useful when trying to persuade readers about something.
Imagery occurs when a writer use highly descriptive language, as well as figurative language (such as similes, metaphors, and personification), to appeal to all of your senses. The reader can see, hear, taste, touch, and feel the text when it is written correctly. Imagery is used by writers to create a more vivid picture in the readers' minds than could be achieved with just plain old writing.
You can explain imagery to students by saying that writers use images because it can help them express ideas and feelings that only people who experience something first-hand can understand. For example, someone who has been through suffering will know exactly how another person feels when they are sick with the flu, even if they have never had the flu themselves. That person can write about this experience by using words like "sick," "painful," and "uncomfortable" to describe what it's like to get the flu. These descriptions would not be enough on their own, but together they help make the image of being sick with the flu as clear as possible to the reader.
Images also help writers avoid boring or repetitive phrases that would be necessary if they were just to use plain old writing to describe what is happening. Instead of writing "She put on her coat and left the house", an author could say "She wrapped herself in her favorite red sweater".
Imagery encompasses all descriptive literary strategies such as metaphors and similes. These are typically employed in evocative images or narratives. When a writer employs imagery, he or she is attempting to evoke a certain image in the reader's mind. This can be done by comparing two things that may not seem related at first glance, such as "a rocking horse will never hurt your child". The phrase "will never hurt your child" uses metaphor to compare a rocker to a weapon that could harm a child. Metaphor is often used to explain how one thing is like another but not exactly like it. In this case, the parent object (the horse) is compared to a dangerous weapon to show that even though they are both toys, they can still be harmful if used improperly.
In addition to metaphors and similes, other forms of imagery include personification (attributing human qualities to objects), synecdoche (using part to describe the whole), and metonymy (using one part of a thing to stand for the whole). Imagery is useful in creating a strong connection with readers through the use of details that may not be apparent right away. For example, when describing a battle scene, a writer might choose to use images rather than plain language to help readers understand what is happening.
Imagery is the use of words or figures of speech by a writer or speaker to create a vivid mental picture or physical feeling. When writers overuse pictures and figures of speech in their work, it appears fake and unprofessional, and it may be irritating. The more frequently a figure of speech is used, the more likely it is to cause irritation.
Examples of imagery in speech include allusions to music, poetry, and other forms of literature; metaphors; similes; and adjectives that compare one thing to another or one place/thing to something else as being like or similar to it. Imagery is used by writers to create a vivid image in readers' minds of what they are describing, so that they can better convey information about the topic.
As a reader, it is important for you to understand what kind of language will not offend your writer. Overused and inappropriate images can annoy readers instead of helping them understand a topic better. For example, using too many medical terms or jargon-laden language when writing for a general audience can make it difficult for others to understand what you're saying.
Writers often use imagery to describe things that they cannot put into actual words. For example, if someone says, "I loved watching him play basketball," the writer uses imagery to explain how much he or she enjoyed seeing his friend play basketball.
An picture is a description intended to elicit emotion. As a result, authors employ images to elicit emotion. Imagery in writing helps the reader grasp what's going on and how to feel about it. The picture is only a tool. What the writer chooses to do with it is up to him or her.
Images are useful when you want to make certain points clear to your readers. For example, if you are trying to explain something complicated, then it can be helpful to break it down into simple terms by using pictures. Images are also useful for making yourself understand something that might otherwise be difficult to comprehend. If you're having trouble understanding why someone would commit suicide, for example, you could draw a picture of a car accident as an analogy. Or you could show a photo of a person who has been through a lot in order to make your point clearer.
Images can also help create a sense of atmosphere. If you write a scene set in a prison, for example, you could describe it as being dark and dreary, full of violence. But without some kind of image, you would be hard-pressed to convey all this feeling to your reader. You could paint a picture of a prison cell on your page, for example, which would help make your point about this place being terrible even before you started talking about violence.
Images can also help bring characters to life.