Imagery is an important part of literature as it is created through the use of descriptive language.
The reader is able to create a mental picture of what is being described by using words like ‘big’ and ‘small’ or ‘red’ and ‘blue’. Imagery can involve all five senses – sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. This means that when you are reading a book and you come across something that makes you feel hungry or thirsty, it is because the author has used the sense of taste or smell in their writing.
Imagery can be used to create an atmosphere or mood. A good example of this would be if a character was walking through a dark forest at night – it would make you feel nervous as well as creating an atmosphere around them which makes everything seem more dangerous than it actually is!
Imagery can be used to create a sense of place. This means that if someone was describing a beach full of shells or leaves falling from trees in autumn – they could effectively transport you there in your mind so that when they mention the feeling of sand under your feet or the smell of salt in the air – you will be able to imagine it clearly!
