Sensory Details and Figurative Language

Using Sensory Details and Figurative Language

By Ms. Cooksey

What is sensory language?

Sensory language uses words that appeal to:

sight
sound
smell
taste
touch

What are figurative elements?

Figurative language includes:

similes
metaphors
hyperbole
personification

Why do we use them?

Boring writing leads to boring grades. You want your grades to be interesting enough to make institutions of higher education interested in you.

Boring Sentence

My home was dark.

Interesting Sentences

The darkness devoured my home.

The lack of light painted goosepimples along my arms.

Fear of the unknown gripped my nerves.

Boring Sentence

The garden is nice.

Interesting Sentences

The garden bursts with vibrant colors.

The sweet scene of blooming roses fills the air.

Soft petals brush against my fingertips.

Turning a boring sentence into an interesting sentence does not change its meaning, but it gives it more soul. Let's practice!

Match

Boring sentence:

The campfire was burning.

• Sight

• Sound

• Smell

• Taste

• Touch

The campfire flickered in the dark.

Crackling and popping, the fire sang.

The smoky scent of burning pine needles.

The sharp tang of toasted marshmallows.

The heat from the fire kissed my feet.

• The campfire flickered in the dark.

• Crackling and popping, the fire sang.

• The smoky scent of burning pine needles.

• The sharp tang of toasted marshmallows.

• The heat from the fire kissed my feet.

Match

Boring Sentence

The rain was falling.

• Sight

• Sound

• Smell

• Taste

• Touch

Silver droplets streamed down the window

The rain drummed a steady rhythm.

Earthy pine filled my nose.

Cool raindrops covered my lips.

The gentle rain brushed my skin.

• Silver droplets streamed down the window

• The rain drummed a steady rhythm.

• Earthy pine filled my nose.

• Cool raindrops covered my lips.

• The gentle rain brushed my skin.

Match

Boring Sentence

The old house looked spooky.

• Sight

• Sound

• Smell

• Taste

• Touch

The old house loomed like a shadow.

Wind howled through broken shutters.

A musty scent of damp wood and mold.

The stale dust filled my throat.

The rough wood splintered my finger.

• The old house loomed like a shadow.

• Wind howled through broken shutters.

• A musty scent of damp wood and mold.

• The stale dust filled my throat.

• The rough wood splintered my finger.