Imagery and symbolism (english)

Imagery
1. The mental pictures created by a piece of writing: “The imagery of “The Waste Land” — crumbling towers, dried-up wells, toppled tombstones — conveys the author's sense of a civilization in decay.”

2. The elements in a literary work used to evoke mental images, not only of the visual sense, but of sensation and emotion as well. While most commonly used in reference to figurativelanguage, imagery is a variable term which can apply to any and all components of a poem that evoke sensory experience, whether figurative or literal, and also applies to the concrete things so imaged. Basically, it is the representation of one thing by another.

3. Imagery is used in literature to refer to descriptive language that evokes sensory experience.

Forms of imagery

Visual imageryis perhaps the most frequently used form.
• The crimson liquid spilled from the neck of the white dove, staining and matting its pure, white feathers. (mat: to pack or interweave into a thick mass)
Auditory imagery represents a sound.
• The bells chimed 2 o'clock.
• Onomatopoeia: a word that makes a sound. (birds, brakes and tyres screech)
Kinetic imagery represents movement
•as in Wordsworth's poem Daffodils: "tossing their heads in sprightly dance"
• she spun like a merry-go-round
Olfactory imagery represents a smell.
• His socks, still soaked with sweat from Tuesday's P.E. class, filled the classroom with an aroma akin to that of salty, week-old, rotting fish.
Gustatory imagery represents a taste.
• The sweet marinara sauce makes up for the blandsea-shell pasta beneath.
• Tumbling through the ocean water after being overtaken by the monstrous wave, I unintentionally took a gulp of the briny, bitter liquid, causing me to cough and gag.
Tactile imagery represents touch.
• The spongy soufflé was a pleasure to squeeze.
• The Play-Doh oozed between Jeremy's fingers as he let out a squeal of pure glee.

Imagery can be showcasedin many forms, such as metaphors and similes.
A simile is a literary device where the writer employs the words "like" or "as" to compare two different ideas. It can be a strong word to use as a describing word in a simile or metaphor.
• He flew like a dove.
• I am as bold as a lion.
• He has a heart as big as the outdoors.
• Her eyes sparkle like a crystal.
• Her hair islike a sea.
• He is acting like a clown.
• I am as red as a tomato.

A metaphor is similar to a simile; however this literary device makes a comparison without the use of "like" or "as".
• He has a hyena's laugh.
• Her face is a garden.
• Her eyes were endless pools of beauty.
• His voice was an explosion of sound.
Symbolism
Images suggesting furthermeanings and associations in ways that go beyond the fairly simple identifications of metaphor and simile are often called symbols.

A symbol is something that represents something else, either by association or by resemblance. It can be a material object or a written sign used to represent something invisible.
Language itself is a system of spoken or written symbols by which we communicate.Every word is a symbol; the five letters that form the word 'chair' represent a sound as well as a physical object.
In writing, symbolism is the use of a word, a phrase, or a description, which represents a deeper meaning than the words themselves. This kind of extension of meaning can transform the written word into a very powerful instrument.

Symbolism in Writing
In literature,symbolism is used to provide meaning to the writing beyond what is actually being described. The plot and action that take place in a story can be thought of as one level, while the symbolism of certain things in the writing act on another level to enhance the story.
Symbolism can take place by having the theme of a story represented on a physical level. A simple example might be the occurrence...