Imagery & Figurative Language

Imagery and figurative language are the poet's most powerful tools. They transform abstract ideas into vivid, concrete pictures that the reader can see, hear, and feel. In the unseen poetry exam, your ability to identify and analyse imagery is one of the most important skills the examiner is looking for. This lesson covers every type of imagery you need to know, with worked examples and analysis strategies.

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What Is Imagery?

Imagery is language that creates a picture or sensory experience in the reader's mind. It can appeal to any of the five senses:

Sense	Name	Example
Sight	Visual imagery	"the scarlet leaves tumbled"
Sound	Auditory imagery	"the church bells clanged"
Touch	Tactile imagery	"the rough bark scraped her palms"
Taste	Gustatory imagery	"a bitter wind"
Smell	Olfactory imagery	"the sweet rot of autumn"

Examiner's tip: When you spot imagery, always name the sense it appeals to and explain what it makes the reader experience. Do not just say "the poet uses imagery" — that is too vague.