Figures of Speech Image
In literature, an “image” refers to a vivid and descriptive representation that appeals to the reader’s senses, emotions, and imagination. It’s a figure of speech used to create a mental picture or sensory experience by employing descriptive language, figurative language, and sensory details.
Various Forms of Image:
- Visual imagery: Descriptions that appeal to the sense of sight. For example, “The sun setting behind the mountains painted the sky in hues of pink and orange.”
- Auditory imagery: Descriptions that appeal to the sense of hearing. For instance, “The leaves rustled in the gentle breeze, creating a soothing melody.”
- Olfactory imagery: Descriptions that appeal to the sense of smell. For example, “The air was filled with the scent of freshly baked bread.”
- Gustatory imagery: Descriptions that appeal to the sense of taste. For instance, “The soup was so spicy it set my tongue on fire.”
- Tactile imagery: Descriptions that appeal to the sense of touch. For example, “The soft, velvety petals of the rose brushed against her fingertips.”
Read More: Literary Term Comedy
Function of Images:
- Visual Representation: Images in literature can create vivid mental pictures for the reader, painting scenes, characters, or settings with descriptive language that evokes sensory experiences.
- Symbolism: Images often carry symbolic meaning, representing abstract ideas, emotions, or themes. For instance, a recurring image like a storm might symbolize turmoil or conflict.
- Emotional Impact: Strong images can elicit emotions and feelings in readers, allowing them to connect more deeply with the text. Descriptions that evoke a sense of nostalgia, joy, or sadness can resonate profoundly.
- Imagery and Atmosphere: They help establish the tone and atmosphere of a piece. By describing a setting or character in a certain way, authors can set the mood—creating tension, suspense, or a sense of tranquillity.
- Character Development: Images can be used to portray and develop characters, offering insights into their personalities, motivations, and inner worlds through metaphors or comparisons.
Read More: Literary Term Epic
Examples:
1. It was dark and dim in the forest.
Explanation: It is an instance of visual images. Here, “dark” and dim” appeal to our sense of seeing. “
2. The children were screaming and shouting in the fields.
Explanation: It is an example of an image referring to the sense of hearing. “Screaming” and “shouting” appeal to our sense of hearing here.
3. He whiffed the aroma of brewed coffee.
Explanation: It is an example of an image referring to smell. Here, the words “whiff” and “aroma” evoke our sense of smell.
4. The girl ran her hands on a soft satin fabric.
Explanation: It is an example of an image referring to touch. The idea of “soft” in this example appeals to our sense of touch or tactile sense.
5. The fresh and juicy orange are very cold and sweet.
Explanation: It is an example of an image referring to taste. Here,” juicy” and “sweet” affect our sense of taste.
6. “O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope’s ear;” – [Romeo and Juliet
Explanation: Here, we find images of light, darkness and hearing. Romeo praises Juliet by saying she appears more radiant than the brightly lit torches in the hall. He says that at night, her face glows like a bright jewel shining against the dark skin of an African. Romeo portrays Juliet’s beauty through the contrasting images of light and dark. These images serve the function of beautifying a piece of literature.
7. “Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;
And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;
Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft
The redbreast whistles from a garden-croft,
And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.” [To Autumn]
Explanation: Here we find images of hearing. The animal sounds in the above excerpt keep appealing to our sense of hearing. We hear the lamb bleating and the crickets chirping. We hear the whistles of the redbreast robin and the twitters of swallows in the sky. These images beautify the poem by generating a lively and graphic presentation of the sense of hearing.
Read More: Figures of Speech Anti-Climax
8. “It was a rimy morning, and very damp. I had seen the damp lying on the outside of my little window… Now, I saw the damp lying on the bare hedges and spare grass,…. On every rail and gate, wet lay clammy; and the marsh-mist was so thick, that the wooden finger on the post directing people to our village-a direction which they never accepted, for they never came there was invisible to me until I was quite close under it.” [The Great Expectations]
Explanation: Here we find an image of damp morning in a marsh. The repeated use of the words “damp” and “wet” makes us rough it was for him (Pip) in that damp and cold morning. The function of the image is to help our imagination visualize the morning scene in a marshland.
Previous Years Questions and Solutions
NTRCA Exam-2005
1. Season of mist and mellow fruitfulness.
Explanation: This is an instance of the visual image. Here, the words “mist” and “mellow fruitfulness” appeal to our sense of sight. The function of the image is to generate a graphic presentation of autumn.
NTRCA Exam-2006
1. As I rode to sleep the owls were bearing the farm away.
Explanation: This is an instance of the visual image. Here, the “owls” bearing the farm away appeal to our sense of sight. The function of the image is to express the fantasy of the child.
2. Notice Neptune, though,
Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity,
Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me!
Explanation: This is an instance of a symbolic image of domination. Here, we find the image of a god, “Neptune,” taming a sea-horse. The image of the powerful god taking control over a creature like a sea horse demonstrates the relationship between the Duke (Neptune) and the last Duchess (seahorse). Here, the Duke restates his power over his future bride and his more general power in the world. The function of this image is to expose the arrogant nature of the Duke.
NTRCA Exam-2010
1. Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find
Thee sitting careless on a granary flour
Thy hair soft lifted by the winnowing wind.
Explanation: This is an instance of the visual image. Here, we find the image of Autumn as a woman with soft hair. She has nothing to do but hang out. She sits on the granary, and a gentle wind lifts her hair. The function of the image is to imagine how autumn is sitting careless.
NTRCA Exam-2015
1. The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew.
The furrow followed free.
Explanation: This is an instance of the visual image. Here, we find the image of a ship sailing onward, calmly making track behind it. A favourable, gentle wind blew. The white foam flew off the surface of the ocean. While moving forward, the ship made a track, splitting the water behind it. It suggests that the ship sailed on smoothly. “The furrow followed free’ suggests that the ship sailed on smoothly. The function of this image is to generate a lively and graphic picture of the ship that appeals to our sense of sight. This is also an example of alliteration.
