Imagery - visual, auditory and tactile

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

• Tactile (Touch)

• The sun-warmed stone of the garden path

• Visual (Sight)

• The piercing wail of a distant siren

• Auditory (Sound)

• A sky streaked with brilliant orange and purple

Answer explanation

Each phrase is matched to the sense it most strongly appeals to: 'wail' is a sound (auditory), 'sun-warmed' is a feeling (tactile), and 'streaked with orange and purple' is a sight (visual).

Read the sentence: 'The cat's tongue felt like coarse sandpaper as it licked my hand.' Which sense does this imagery appeal to?

• Sight

• Hearing

• Touch

• Smell

Answer explanation

The phrase 'coarse sandpaper' describes a texture, which is a sensation felt through the sense of touch (tactile imagery).

Sort these descriptive phrases by the sense they appeal to: Visual Imagery or Auditory Imagery.

Groups:

(a) Visual Imagery

,

(b) Auditory Imagery

• the faint hum of the computer

• glittering confetti falling from the ceiling

• the thunderous applause from the crowd

• a field of bright yellow sunflowers

Answer explanation

Phrases describing what can be seen ('sunflowers,' 'glittering confetti') are visual imagery. Phrases describing what can be heard ('hum,' 'thunderous applause') are auditory imagery.

Match each phrase to the type of sensory imagery it primarily uses.

• Tactile (Touch)

• a low, persistent hum from the refrigerator

• Visual (Sight)

• the sticky, rough bark of the pine tree

• Auditory (Sound)

• the diamond-like sparkle on the water's surface

Answer explanation

The phrase 'diamond-like sparkle' appeals to the sense of sight (visual). The phrase 'low, persistent hum' appeals to the sense of hearing (auditory). The phrase 'sticky, rough bark' appeals to the sense of touch (tactile).

Sort these words based on the type of tactile sensation they describe: Texture or Temperature.

Groups:

(a) Texture

,

(b) Temperature

• Prickly

• Scalding

• Velvety

• Icy

Answer explanation

'Velvety' and 'prickly' describe the surface feel (texture), while 'icy' and 'scalding' describe how hot or cold something is (temperature). Both are forms of tactile imagery.

A writer wants to show a character is nervous. Which line of tactile imagery would best create that feeling?

• He felt the warm sun on his face.

• He noticed his palms were slick with sweat.

• He heard the birds singing outside.

• He saw the bright blue color of the walls.

Answer explanation

The feeling of 'slick with sweat' is a physical sensation (tactile imagery) commonly associated with nervousness or anxiety, effectively showing the character's emotional state.

Match the imagery to the mood it most likely helps create.

• Peaceful / Calm

• The icy rain slicked the dark, empty streets.

• Anxious / Suspenseful

• Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air.

• Gloomy / Ominous

• The insistent, rhythmic pounding on the door grew louder.

Answer explanation

The gentle visual of 'dancing dust motes' creates peace. The cold, dark visual of 'icy rain' creates gloom. The loud, repetitive sound of 'pounding' creates anxiety.

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

Groups:

(a) Visual

,

(b) Auditory

,

(c) Tactile

• the fuzzy texture of a peach

• the blinding flash of a camera

• the low rumble of distant thunder

• the deafening roar of the crowd

Answer explanation

Each phrase is sorted by the primary sense it engages: 'blinding flash' is seen (visual), 'roar' and 'rumble' are heard (auditory), and 'fuzzy texture' is felt (tactile).

What is the primary purpose of imagery in writing?

• To make the text longer and meet a word count.

• To quiz the reader on different types of senses.

• To create a vivid experience and engage the reader's senses.

• To use as many adjectives and adverbs as possible.

Answer explanation

The main goal of imagery is to immerse the reader in the story by appealing to their senses, making the world of the text feel more real and memorable.

An author describes a character's hands as 'chapped and rough, with calluses on every fingertip.' This tactile imagery helps the reader understand that the character likely...

• plays a lot of video games.

• works hard with their hands.

• is very wealthy and doesn't work.

• is a young child.

Answer explanation

The description of the hands as 'chapped,' 'rough,' and 'callused' provides tactile clues that suggest a history of manual labor or physically demanding activity.