Characteristics of Imagery
-Appeals to the five senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell) so that the reader can better understand a piece of writing (Braiman)
-Use of language for Imagery can describe objects, thoughts, or behaviors (Imagery, University of Maribor)
-Imagery permits the reader to create their own personal mental image of what they are reading (Talib)

Resources about Imagery in Early American Literature

1. Boies, J. "Circular Imagery in Thoreau's Week." College English 26.5 (1965): 350-355. JSTOR. Web. 12 June 2010.
The article discusses Henry David Thoreau’s Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers. It talks about the metaphor and imagery found in his writing and how the language use reflects a transcendental flair. The use of nature and its beauty and meaning can be found to echo throughout Thoreau’s work. The source is credible because it was found in JSTOR, a credible and reliable database that many schools use for its reliability in producing scholarly peer-reviewed articles.


2. Dye, Matthew W. G, Gabriella Vigliocco, David P. Vinson, Bencie Woll, and Tyron Woolfe. “Langage and Imagery: Effects of Language Modality.” Proceedings: Biological Sciences. 272. 1574. (2005): 1859-1863. JSTOR. Web. 13 June 2010.
The scientific processes behind the relationship between language and imagery are discussed in the article. It reviews the correlation between a word and what image or feeling that particular word evokes to a reader. JSTOR is illustrious for its scholarly articles and journals. All content is approved and guided by the staff working with JSTOR and is a credible source.

3. Beyond Words: Imagery in Literature. Williamsburg: Center for Gifted Education, 2003. Google Books. 13 June 2010.
This Google Book is to help students with their reading, writing, and analyzing skills. It gives detailed information on analyzing content such as figurative language, critiquing literature, and persuasive writing. It allows the reader to practice usage of common English terminology and concepts including metaphors, imagery, and simlies. Not only does it teach ideas, the book makes sure that the student understands the concepts.

4. "Guide to Literary Terms: Imagery." eNotes: Guide to Literary Terms. Ed. Penny Satoris. Seattle: Enotes.com LLC, October 2002. Web. 5 June 2007.
The main purpose of the website is dedicated soley to study guides for great works of literature. Its a easy site to navigate and has precise and accurate information about different literary terms and information. The website describes the term imagery in a precise and accurate defintion. It seems to be more understanding than a modern dictionary. It also gives an idea of where this would be located when its in the text. It is very helpful about understanding the current text that I am reading about Lydia Maria Child and Phillis Wheatley. The website is credible and has many different contribution from different professors from various Universities.

5. "Imagery." University of Maribor. Web. 8 June 2007.
Imagery is the use of vivid of figurative language to portray objects, actons, or ideas. The author of the page points out that image in literature adds depth to a narrative. The page also quotes an author on image, which according to the quoted author, "appears to be a verbal embodiment of thought and feeling." The page elaborates on image as being a "reproduction of something else." This page actually gives a reader a good understanding about the literary term and also gives examples to help a reader better understand the definition of imagery. Examples such as presenting works of other writers who use imagery in their writing. I felt the information provided would be bery helpful in analyzing a selected text, whether poetry, fiction, or any other type of writing. The page is created by a university English department, and the information provided could have been a student project.

6. "Literary Terms." Owl Online Writing Lab. 1995. Purdue. Web. 9 June 2007.
The main purpose of the website is to offer readers definitions abut different literary terms. The website defines imagery as the collection of images within a literary work, it is used to evoke atmosphere, mood, and, tension. The website describes the psychological tensions that go with an image as a way to analyze texts using the literary term. Imagery helps me understand Bradford’s texts because his writings are full of it. He is using imagery to describe things and not saying that is really how is was. This is a credible website because it is linked to a reputable site, Purdue University.

7. “Imagery”. Mrs. Dowling’s Literature Terms. Web. 16 June 2007.
This website defines imagery as words and phrases which bring to life the imaginary world of the author. The website gives several examples of words that invoke images. This website is helpful in understanding literature because it gives a name to words and phrases used which evoke certain images or thoughts from a reader. When a reader understands this, they are able to write with words that create imagery and a more pleasant experience for the reader.

8. Jordan-Henley, Jennifer. "The Elements of Literature." Roanne State Community College Writing Lab. October 2004. Web. 24 June 2007.
This website lists various literary terms, including a definition of imagery, coupled with examples of various types of imagery. The instructor describes imagery as "A concrete representation of a sense impression, a feeling, or an idea which appeals to one or more of our senses." She then goes on to list various types of imagery, including "tactile, aural, olfactory, visual, and gustatory." The aforementioned five types are described as "sense of touch, sense of hearing, sense of smell, sense of sight, and sense of taste," respectfully. As an English professor at a community college, the websites gains a certain element of credibility. However, the definition was limited, and failed to offer any examples of such types of imagery. For definitional purposes, however, the website proved helpful.

9. Braiman, Jay. “Literary Devices.” 2003. Web. 24 June 2007.
This website is intended to provide writing and literature resources. This page looks at different literary terms. Imagery is when authors use words to create sensory stimulation, both visual and sound. Imagery appeals to specific senses allowing readers to feel like they can visualize, smell, feel, hear, or taste what they are reading about. Imagery is often found in poetry. In Emily Dickinson’s “Because I Could Not Stop for Death,” imagery allows the reader to accompany the speaker on her drive. With detailed language such as “fields of gazing grain” and “dews grew quivering and chill” the reader feels like they are part of the speaker's experience. This website was created by an English Professor.

10. "Imagery." The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. Web. 12 Jun. 2010.
Dictionary.com defines Imagery as the formation of mental figures/images or likliness of things, or of such images collected. Later on the page, this explain this a little better by saying explaining better the meaning of imagery. In simple terms, it's the way the author provides images through things other than drawings, the way(s) the author can place images in your mind mental through details/words.

11. Zitlow, Connie S. "Sounds and Pictures in Words: Images in Literature for Young Adults." The ALAN Review. 27. 2. (2000): 20-26. Web.
This article goes into great detail about imagery in literature and how important it is to have imagery in a story. There are many great examples of imagery as well as breaking down the uses of imagery in classroom setting, in stories as well as how to use the five sense to bring out imagery in writing. The author tells us how students or readers can learn more from text that has powerful imagery, because imagery is an important way people learn. In reading great pieces of literature with powerful imagery we are able to become better writers. Imagery is one of the most important aspects of writing because it paints a picture in the readers mind. If the wording is wrong the image your reader gets will be wrong and therefore can change the meaning of the entire story. This website gave me a clear understanding of imagery and how it plays a role in all writing even in the writing of the Enlightenment period. With the use of this websites description of imagery I will be able to search it out in the text I have chosen for the Enlightenment time period. Then I will be able to pick it a part to better understand what the author is saying. Dr Connie Zitlow is an Associate Professor at Ohio Wesleyan University. She teacher young adult literature giving her the credentials to write this article.

12. Wheeler, Dr. "Literary Terms and Definitions." Carson Newman College. 6 June 2008. Web. 12 June 2008. This website is hosted by a professor at Carson Newman College and is for students to be able to learn more about literature and English. It defines imagery as the visual pictures a reader gets as well as the smells, textures, temperatures and other sensual ideas he or she gets from reading a poem, short story, etc. It is useful because it has a ton of information on literature and numerous definitions. It is credible because it is a .edu website and it is also hosted by a Doctor supported by a college. It is used by him to aid in teaching his English classes.


13. "Imagery." America Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. Web. 18 June 2008.
This is a straight forward dictionary definition of imagery as a literary element. It is most easily defined as a representation of something, by way of sparking one or all of the human senses. It helps to have easy concise meanings of terms, events, or whatever it is that you may be researching, and in that light this website is a useful tool.

14. Talib, Ismail. “A Brief List of Some Key Terms in Literature.” Web. 24 June 2008.
This site provides definitions for many literary terms, including links to additional sites for further information. The site also includes links to additional examples within the definitions. This source notes that imagery is often called figurative language and defines imagery as “’mental pictures’ which the reader experiences in his/her response to literary works.” Imagery would be a useful tool for an author in any literary period in order to draw a reader into his/her work. This site is a helpful resource as the information is clear and easy to find. This site is compiled by an Associate Professor; therefore, it is a reliable source.

15. Smith, Vivion. "Literature: What is Poetry?." English Works!. 02 June 2001. Web. 26 Jun 2008.
This site provides a number of definitions of literary terms. If you scroll down to where it mentions imagery, there is a lot of valuable information. It defines imagery as words and phrases used specifically to help the reader to imagine each of the senses: smell, touch, sight, hearing, and taste. The site also provides the five different types of imagery, and two examples. I believe this source to be credible because it has a works cited and is published by a univeristy.

19. "Imagery." Definr. Web. 6 Jun 2009. This website is an online dictionary, which is used to define and provide information on various topics. According to Definr, imagery is “the ability to form mental images of things or events”. Imagery is perhaps the most important thing in literature. It allows the reader to create their own version of what a setting, character, or situation looks like. Mental imagery is what makes literature unique for each person. The more blatantly an author talks about something, the less creative the reader can be. If an author tries to show what something looks like or what is happening rather than tell, the reader gets a much more personal and unique experience when reading the book.

20. "Imagery." VolWeb. Web. 05 June 2009.
The main purpose of this site is to help the user become familiar with recognizing imagery in literature and poetry. This site gives a simple definition of imagery. "Imagery is the use of vivid description, usually rich in sensory words, to create pictures, or images in the reader's mind" (Imagery). It also gives a literary example that uses imagery and prompts to help the user pinpoint what in a text is imagery. It teaches you to search for descriptive vocabulary when looking for imagery in any text. Understanding this term aids to the understanding of Clotel; or, the President’s Daughter because it makes it easier to spot the areas in which William Wells Brown is really trying to have the reader imagine the situations in which his characters are put in. It also helps with Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl because it helps you understand that Harriet is trying to give the reader the ability to imagine themselves being enslaved or the conditions she lived in when running toward freedom. This site is credible because it came from a middle schools web page and was written by English teachers.

21. Smith, Vivion. “What is Poetry?” Gallaudet University English Works. Web. 2 June 2001. This site provides definitions and examples for various literary terms. According to this site, the definition of imagery is, “words and phrases used specifically to help the reader to imagine each of the senses: smell, touch, sight, hearing, and taste” (Smith). Not only does this site provide the definition, but it continues to describe the 7 types of imagery. It also provides two examples of imagery, one being visual and the other being auditory. This website has set up the reader to be able to discover various types of imagery within literary texts. It has helped me gain a greater understanding of the term and I can now identify more than just visual imagery in texts.

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Henry David Thoreau