Imagery in Action Activity

Name _______________________
I am Imagery Investigator A or B
Imagery is the verbal representation of sensory experience (sight, sound,
touch, taste, and smell). Visual imagery is most common, but good writers
experiment with a variety of images and even purposefully intermingle the
senses (giving smells a color, for example). Imagery depends on both diction
and detail: an images success in producing a sensory experience results
from the specificity of the authors diction and choice of detail. Imagery
contributes to voice by evoking vivid experience, conveying specific emotion,
and suggesting a particular idea.
Imagery itself is not figurative, but may be used to impart figurative or
symbolic meaning. For example, the parched earth can be a metaphor for a
characters despair, or a birds flight a metaphor for hope. Traditional
imagery typically has a history. A river, for example, is usually associated
with lifes journey. You should learn to study imagery and analyze
nontraditional imagery for meaning.
From Nancy Deans Voice Lessons
To interpret an authors use of imagery, you must first understand
imagery and diction in your own writing. For this activity, you will
be given multiple unfamiliar items that you must describe in a new
and fresh way. Be purposeful and creative in your diction and use of
literary devices!
Sounds:
After listening to the clip, write down what you think the sound was. Write a
sentence that vividly describes what you heard. Be as descriptive as
possible. Example: The squeaky pipes sounded like a dying cat trapped
between the concrete walls.
1. The sound is a ______________
a. Descriptive Phrase:
______________________________________________________________
2. The sound is a ______________
a. Descriptive Phrase:
______________________________________________________________
3. The sound is a _______________
a. Descriptive Phrase:
______________________________________________________________

4. The sound is a _______________

a. Descriptive Phrase:
______________________________________________________________
Sights:
After viewing the clip, guess what the image is. Write a sentence that vividly
describes what you saw.
1. The image is a _______________
a. Descriptive Phrase:
_____________________________________________________________
2. The image is a _______________
a. Descriptive Phrase:
__________________________________________________________________
3. The image is _________________
a. Descriptive Phrase:
__________________________________________________________________
4. The image is a ________________
a. Descriptive Phrase:
__________________________________________________________________
Touch
After touching the object, guess what the object is. Write a sentence that
vividly describes what you felt.
1. The object is a _________________
a. Descriptive Phrase:
__________________________________________________________________
2. The object is a ________________
a. Descriptive Phrase:
__________________________________________________________________
3. The object is _________________
a. Descriptive Phrase:
__________________________________________________________________

4. The object is _________________

a. Descriptive Phrase:
__________________________________________________________________

Taste
After tasting the food, guess what the food is. Write a sentence that vividly
describes what you tasted.
1. The food is ________________
a. Descriptive Phrase:
__________________________________________________________________
2. The food is ________________
a. Descriptive Phrase:
__________________________________________________________________
3. The food is ________________
a. Descriptive Phrase:
__________________________________________________________________
4. The food is ________________
a. Descriptive Phrase:
__________________________________________________________________
5. The food is ________________
a. Descriptive Phrase:
__________________________________________________________________

Smell
After smelling the item, guess what the smell is. Write a sentence that
vividly describes what you smelt.
1. The smell is ________________
a. Descriptive Phrase:
__________________________________________________________________
2. The smell is _______________

a. Descriptive Phrase:
__________________________________________________________________
3. The smell is ________________
a. Descriptive Phrase:
__________________________________________________________________

4. The smell is ________________

a. Descriptive Phrase:
__________________________________________________________________
5. The smell is ________________
a. Descriptive Phrase:
__________________________________________________________________
6. The smell is ________________
a. Descriptive Phrase:
__________________________________________________________________