Sensory Imagery – Descriptive Writing Basics

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions related to sensory imagery and descriptive writing from the lecture notes.

Imagery

A literary device that uses descriptive language to paint a picture in the reader’s mind, often appealing to the five senses.

Sensory Imagery

Specific imagery that directly appeals to sight, sound, taste, smell, or touch to create vivid mental pictures.

Auditory Imagery

Descriptive language that evokes sounds (e.g., “The cat shrieked endlessly outside my bedroom window.”).

Gustatory Imagery

Descriptive language that evokes taste or flavor (e.g., “The rich coconut milk combined perfectly with notes of paprika.”).

Visual Imagery

Descriptive language that evokes what something looks like (e.g., “The cat moved like a shadow across the dimly lit alley.”).

Olfactory Imagery

Descriptive language that evokes smell (e.g., “The musty scent of sweaty clothes filled the room.”).

Tactile Imagery

Descriptive language that evokes touch or physical sensation (e.g., “The smooth pebbles felt slippery beneath my feet.”).

Five Senses

Sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch—the bases for most sensory imagery in writing.

Descriptive Writing

A writing style focused on vivid description to create clear pictures and sensory experiences for the reader.

4-Line Poem (Quatrain)

A short poem consisting of four lines, used in this lesson to practice sensory imagery about one’s city.