The Importance Of Imagery In Literature

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Start your $7 for 7 days trial now!search-imgsearch-imgFIND MY ESSAYThe Importance Of Imagery In Literature901 Words4 Pages

Imagery means to use figurative language to represent objects, actions and ideas in such a way that it appeals to our physical senses. Usually it is thought that imagery makes use of particular words that create visual representation of ideas in our minds. The word imagery is associated with mental pictures. However, this idea is but partially correct. Imagery needs the aid of figures of speech like simile, metaphor personification, onomatopoeia etc. in order to appeal to the bodily senses. The function of imagery in literature is to generate a vibrant and graphic presentation of a scene that appeals to as many of the reader’s senses as possible. It aids the reader’s imagination to envision the characters and scenes in the literary piece clearly. Apart from the above …show more content…

Symbolism can take different forms. Generally, it is an object representing another to give it an entirely different meaning that is much deeper and more significant. Sometimes, however, an action, an event or a word spoken by someone may have a symbolic value. For instance, “smile” is a symbol of friendship. Similarly, the action of someone smiling at you may stand as a symbol of the feeling of affection which that person has for you. Symbols do shift their meanings depending on the context they are used in. Imagery gives an author flexibility to add twofold levels of implications to his work: an exacting one that is plainly obvious and the typical one whose importance is much more significant than the strict one. The imagery, in this manner, offers comprehensiveness to the characters and the subjects of a bit of writing. Imagery in writing inspires enthusiasm for perusers as they discover a chance to get a knowledge of the essayist 's psyche on how he sees the world and how he considers basic protests and activities, having more extensive

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Gary Paulsen Winterdance Metaphors

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He eventually moves to Alaska and wants to run the Iditarod. He tells his stories and explains his relationships with the dogs. He explains the struggles using the literary concepts of symbols, theme, and metaphors to expand the reader’s understanding or the text. Symbol is an object representing something else. It is a concept or idea that uses something else to show it.

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Theme Of Indian Horse By Richard Wagamese

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Imagery is used throughout, in order to engage the reader and assist them in understanding things from Saul’s perspective. For example, the sense of sight was touched on when it describes the string of light bulbs, the shadows of the ice and the rocks and spindly trees. It creates a mental image with the use of sophisticated adjectives such as humped, spindly and eerie. Also, the description of the smell is very detailed by saying that it was a “potent mix” of various unpleasing scents. This proves that imagery is a device that is essential in helping the audience imagine the setting, make connections and hold interest.

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An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge Short Story

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The short stories, “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” and “Chickamauga” by Ambrose Bierce are two completely different stories but similar at the same time, they have the same stylistic techniques and they impact the reader in a similar manner. The first story “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”, takes place during the American civil war where a wealthy slave owner is being hung for his sympathy towards the confederate soldiers. In the second story “Chickamauga”, a young boy wanders into the woods with a toy sword to “fight” his enemies. These two stories have several similarities, they both take place during the civil war, the stories emphasize the connection between reality and fantasy, they’re also violent and tragic stories. In both of

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Defending Jacob Figurative Language

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Particularly when Andy Barber in Defending Jacob describes the days leading to Jacob’s trial as daunting due to “the intense awareness of time, the heaviness of the passing minutes, the dizzying, trippy sense that the days are both too few and too long (Landay 154.).” These words portray imagery because it recounts the agony the Barber’s experienced each day. This quote supports the theme because even though they were living a temporarily grueling life,  they decided they would strive for a normal one. Similarly, the narrator of “The Art of Resilience” explains that Steven Wolin, a psychiatrist, shares the past of a client who “had been whipped by her father throughout childhood anytime he felt challenged (Marano.).” This addition is an example of imagery because it clarifies the intensity of the woman’s state, which allows the reader to visualize the brutality of her childhood.

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How Does Steinbeck Use Imagery In The Chrysanthemums

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Imagery’s aid in the development of theme in “The Chrysanthemums” The literary element of Imagery refers to visually descriptive or figurative language. Imagery helps the reader put together an image of what is being read. In most cases, the imagery helps a reader to further their understanding of the theme and the story as a whole. In “The Chrysanthemums” by John Steinbeck, the imagery of Elisa’s clothing and her emotions helps to develop the theme of American gender inequality throughout the 1930s.

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Rhetorical Analysis Of Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass

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One such instance where imagery is used is in the opening paragraphs, where Frederick is describing his family. While describing his mom, he said “She was the daughter of Isaac and Betsy Bailey, both colored and quite.” By describing his family in this way, but not himself, we can visualize what he may have looked like if we didn’t have resources such as the internet. Another instance in which imagery is utilized is while Douglass is describing his master’s wife. When discussing her attitude toward female slaves, Douglass said that “she [was] never better pleased than when she [saw] them under the lash.”

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Literary Devices In A Christmas Carol

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Imagery is a literary device that uses descriptive wording to put a vivid image of a scenario in your mind. Dickens uses imagery to describe the scenery and the change in Scrooge’s physical appearance throughout the course of the story. “eezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self- contained, and solitary as an oyster. The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shrivelled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue; and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice.

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The Man In The Black Suit Literary Devices Analysis

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Imagery allows a reader to imagine the events of a story within their mind through mental images. Imagery can describe how something looks, a sound, a feeling, a taste, or a smell. Imagery is especially important when the author is describing a character or a setting. The short story The Man In The Black Suit by Stephen King has several excellent examples of imagery.

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Harrison Bergeron's Use Of The Diction Of Harrison Bergeron

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Using symbolism adds to the depth and understanding of the story, it helps you “read inbetween the lines” and develop a better understanding of the story overall. In the story there were many symbols that were used, a good one is the character, Harrison Bergeron. Harrison was George and Hazel’s son, but he was different, and wanted the world to change. He is a symbol that represents a spark of defiance and individuality that exists in some people today. Harrison is an exaggerated character, who hungers for power, and this is evident when he storms into the T.V studio and crowns himself emperor.

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Another example, when the author showed imagery is when Fortunato is screaming in pain, where he is tie against the walls. In “The Cask of Amontillado” it said, “A succession loud and shrill screams bursting suddenly from the throat of the chained Fortunato.” When the author tells this, you can visualize how Fortunato was screaming for his life to let him go and being tortured. Montresor chains Fortunato against the walls and start burying him alive. Just because Montresor felt insulted he planned to murder his friend.

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Raisin In The Sun Symbolism

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“Symbolism is the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense.” Symbols can add a deeper meaning than just an object itself that the author is trying to make. Symbols can also foreshadow what is yet to come. The audience can interpret a symbol in many ways it depends on their experience. In Southside Chicago the Younger family is struggling to have hope as they are always facing society.

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Symbolism In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

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Symbolism in general is the building blocks to all sources of literature and can shape a piece of writing in many ways. Symbols in general can portray what something or someone represents, giving a deeper and metaphorical meaning to a symbol. Symbolism is often used within poetry, literature, music, or even art. This is how an author conveys a different meaning to the audience. For example artists may use the color “red” not only because of the color theory, but to convey love, passion, and maybe even health.

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Imagery And Symbolism In The Veldt By Ray Bradbury

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“A green lovely forest, a lovely river, a purple mountain, high voices singing, and Rima” (Bradbury 5). This quote shows the extreme change between the hot African veldt, and the mysterious imaginary forest of love and paradise. Imagery is used many times in the story for the same purpose. “The lions on three sides of them, in the yellow veldt grass, padding through the dry straw, rumbling and roaring in their throats” (Bradbury 10) captures the suspense the characters feel and giving it to the reader to make the story more exciting. Imagery is used repetitively to keep giving the senses and suspense to make the story feel real.

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The Story Of An Hour Literary Analysis

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“A Short Guide to Imagery, Symbolism, and Figurative Language Imagery” describes imagery as “a writer or speaker’s use of words or figures of speech to create a vivid mental picture or physical sensation”(Clark). In the short story, “The Story of an Hour,” Kate Chopin uses nature imagery to portray the journey of emotions that Mrs. Mallard experiences

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Literary Devices In Gilgamesh Research Paper

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Imagery can be so beautiful and vivid, it really engulfs you into the reading. It holds significance because we as humans like for things to be drawn out for us or painted out. Creating a narrative that's easy to understand, of course no one wants a story that's filled with misconception. Imagery provides a deeper connection with the deeper and takes the reader back to a time or a place just like repetition.

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More about The Importance Of Imagery In Literature

  • Mind
  • Meaning of life
  • Perception
  • Communication
  • Sense
  • Thought
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