Imagery is a feature of written and spoken language and occurs whenever someone has chosen to use language in a non-literal way.
Imagery is a way of describing something symbolically, using words to create a picture in the reader's imagination.
In the Close Reading paper you need to be able to recognise imagery and to consider how successful the imagery is at conveying to you what the writer is trying to express.
Imagery frequently conveys more than just meaning. It is used to heighten the effect of language and is often an extension of word-choice.
Normally an image will extend to a phrase or a few words but sometimes it will be longer.
The simplest form of imagery to recognise is when something or someone is compared to something else, with the purpose of establishing some parallel between the two. Images of this kind frequently concern qualities like beauty, speed, force, power and natural and animal traits.
