Writing
Poetry 101: What Is Imagery? Learn About the 7 Types of Imagery in Poetry With Examples
Written by MasterClass
Last updated: Aug 31, 2022 • 7 min read
If you’ve practiced or studied creative writing, chances are you’ve encountered the expression “paint a picture with words.” In poetry and literature, this is known as imagery: the use of figurative language to evoke a sensory experience in the reader. When a poet uses descriptive language well, they play to the reader’s senses, providing them with sights, tastes, smells, sounds, internal and external feelings, and even internal emotion. The sensory details in imagery bring works to life.