writing you can touch, taste, hear, smell, and see: the five senses in writing
Hello, the tiny journal readers!
The average poet has a plethora of tools in his or her figurative arsenal. Imagery, visually descriptive language, may be one of the most versatile and flexible. In general, there are seven distinct forms of imagery: visual, olfactory, auditory, gustatory, tactile, kinesthetic, and organic. Each can be used to accentuate characterization, theme, plot, setting, and conflict, but knowing when to use each form can separate a good piece from a great piece!
Visual imagery appeals to the sense of sight, which is arguably more prevalent in historical works of literature. With visual imagery, the author is able to depict what a scenario or character looks like. An example of visual imagery would be, “And now a gusty shower wraps / The grimy scraps / Of withered leaves about your feet,” from T.S. Eliot’s “Preludes.”
Auditory imagery appeals to the sense of hearing by describing the sounds that are happening in the story. An example from T. S. Eliot’s same poem would be, “And at the corner of the street / A lonely cab-horse steams and stamps.” These two lines excellently carve out a scenario where a “cab-horse” is making a kind of noise. It’s imperative to ponder about the role of sound in imagery; does it contradict or bolster your existing narrative?
Olfactory and gustatory imagery are similar as they stem from chemical reactions in the nose and mouth, respectively. Olfactory imagery describes a particular scent while gustatory imagery explains a taste. An example of olfactory imagery from T.S. Eliot’s same poem is, “With smell of steaks in passageways. Six o’clock. The burnt-out ends of smoky days.” What role does smell play in this poem? What meaning does it add? Tactile imagery revolves around the sense of touch. Some leading questions to ask when considering tactile imagery: what is the character touching? Is it affecting the character’s feelings? A masterful example of tactile imagery comes from “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Rothke, “The hand that held my wrist / Was battered on one knuckle.” Through these two lines, Rothke is able to emphasize the physical connection between the two characters while revealing the complex nature of their dynamic household.
The other two types of imagery transcend the five senses. Kinesthetic imagery or kinesthesia delves into the movement and action of objects or people. An excellent example comes from “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” by William Wordsworth, “Ten thousand saw I at a glance, Tossing their heads in sprightly dance…” In this case, Wordsworth is able to utilize kinesthesia to invigorate tone, emotion, and a sense of wonder into his poem. The last form of imagery is organic, which revolves around synthesizing a specific emotion within the audience. These can be phrases that stir up sadness, fear, nostalgia, joy, and confusion. A great example of organic imagery can be found in “How You Get the Girl” by Taylor Swift, “And you were too afraid to tell her what you want.” In this lyric, Swift demonstrates a specific bodily sensation that toes the line between fear, anxiety, and shame — which all stem from the hesitancy to “tell her what you want.”
Imagery is one of the most diverse figurative devices in literature and can have meaningful applications in many mediums of writing from poetry, historical fiction, and memoir. By using imagery purposefully, the author is able to absorb the audience while creating a vivid experience. In particular, I use various forms of imagery in my creative writing to reveal characterization or communicate a motif. I hope you are able to approach using these forms of imagery in your future writing!
Best,
Taeyeon Han
Taeyeon Han is a student in California. His writing appears or is forthcoming in The National Poetry Quarterly, Eunoia Review, and American Library of Poetry. He has been nationally recognized by the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, the Pulitzer Center, and finger comma toes. Other than creative writing, Taeyeon loves to read historical fiction, sing at karaoke, and find new restaurants.