Imagery - visual, auditory and tactile

Read the sentence: 'As the hero crept through the tomb, the only sound was the soft hiss of sand trickling from a crack in the ceiling, a constant reminder of the passage of time.' What is the primary effect of the auditory imagery in this sentence?

• To create a feeling of tension and suspense

• To show that the tomb is about to collapse

• To describe the weather outside the tomb

• To create a loud and chaotic atmosphere

Answer explanation

The quiet, persistent 'hiss' in an otherwise silent tomb emphasizes the stillness and danger, building suspense for the reader. It's a subtle sound that makes the silence more noticeable.

Match each word to the tactile (touch) sensation it describes.

• A thick, sticky, and often unpleasant substance.

• Abrasive

• A rough surface that causes friction or scraping.

• Gooey

• A smooth, lustrous, and delicate texture.

• Silky

Answer explanation

'Gooey' describes a sticky texture, 'silky' describes a smooth and fine texture, and 'abrasive' describes a rough, scraping texture. All are examples of tactile imagery.

Sort these descriptive phrases into the correct sensory category: Visual, Auditory, or Tactile.

Groups:

(a) Visual

,

(b) Auditory

,

(c) Tactile

• the low hum of the refrigerator

• the sticky feel of spilled honey

• the rhythmic clang of a hammer on steel

• a field of brilliant yellow sunflowers

• a needle-sharp sting

• a sky bruised with purple and grey

Answer explanation

Phrases are sorted by the sense they engage: sight ('brilliant yellow', 'bruised with purple'), sound ('hum', 'clang'), or touch ('needle-sharp', 'sticky').

Read the sentence: 'He sank into the plush, downy cushions of the armchair, feeling the day's tension melt away.' What does the tactile imagery ('plush, downy cushions') help the reader understand about the character's experience?

• It emphasizes the character's feeling of comfort and relief.

• It suggests the character is in a cold, unwelcoming place.

• It shows that the armchair is old and broken.

• It describes the color and style of the furniture.

Answer explanation

The words 'plush' and 'downy' describe soft, luxurious textures that create a sense of physical comfort, which mirrors the character's emotional relief.

Read the passage: 'The forest floor was a tapestry of decay. Rotting leaves formed a soggy, brown carpet, and fallen logs were coated in a slick, green film of moss.' Which statement best analyzes the effect of the visual imagery in this passage?

• The imagery creates a vibrant, lively mood, suggesting a healthy ecosystem.

• The imagery creates a somber, decaying mood, suggesting a place of death and decomposition.

• The imagery focuses on the sounds of the forest to build suspense.

• The imagery describes the pleasant smells of nature to make the reader feel calm.

Answer explanation

Visual details like 'tapestry of decay,' 'soggy, brown carpet,' and 'slick, green film' all contribute to an atmosphere of decomposition and somberness, not life or calmness.

Match each sentence to the primary type of imagery it uses.

• Visual (Sight)

• A single, piercing whistle cut through the silence of the library.

• Auditory (Hearing)

• The icy wind whipped against his face, stinging his exposed skin.

• Tactile (Touch)

• The setting sun painted the clouds in hues of fiery orange and soft lavender.

Answer explanation

The first sentence uses 'icy' and 'stinging' to appeal to touch. The second uses 'piercing whistle' to appeal to hearing. The third uses 'fiery orange' and 'soft lavender' to appeal to sight.

When an author describes a character's physical sensations, like a 'pounding heart' or 'sweaty palms,' what is their most likely purpose?

• To reveal the character's internal emotional state, such as fear or excitement.

• To provide a medical diagnosis of the character's health.

• To prove the author has a good understanding of human anatomy.

• To slow down the plot and add unnecessary details.

Answer explanation

Authors use imagery describing physical sensations to show, rather than tell, a character's emotions. A pounding heart and sweaty palms are classic physical manifestations of fear, anxiety, or intense excitement.

Classify these descriptive words into three groups: Words for Sight, Words for Sound, or Words for Touch.

Groups:

(a) Words for Sight

,

(b) Words for Sound

,

(c) Words for Touch

• raspy

• bristly

• hazy

• bellowing

• thudding

• shimmering

Answer explanation

'Shimmering' and 'hazy' describe visual qualities. 'Bellowing' and 'thudding' describe sounds. 'Bristly' and 'raspy' describe textures felt by touch.

Read the sentence: 'The polished marble floor reflected the dazzling light from the crystal chandelier above.' Which words in the sentence are the primary source of the visual imagery?

• floor reflected the light

• polished, dazzling, crystal

• from the chandelier above

• The marble floor

Answer explanation

The words 'polished' (implying a shine), 'dazzling' (describing intense light), and 'crystal' (an object known for its glittering appearance) are the specific descriptive adjectives that create a vivid picture for the reader.

Match each word to the visual image it helps create.

• Allowing light to pass through, but not transparently clear.

• Gaudy

• Dark, dirty, or cloudy; difficult to see through.

• Murky

• Extravagantly bright or showy, typically in a tasteless way.

• Translucent

Answer explanation

'Murky' describes a lack of clarity (like muddy water). 'Gaudy' describes an overly bright and tasteless appearance. 'Translucent' describes a specific quality of light passing through an object (like frosted glass).