Do Imagery Differ from Figurative Language?

One of the common questions many learners grapple with is the ability to understand if there is a difference between figures of speech, figurative language and imagery. In this article I aim to dissect the terms and shine the light where there have been uncertainties. I Kindly, encourage you to interact with me in this post as we learn. Therefore, by the end of it all my objectives are:

a)   Explain the similarity and difference in the two terms.

b)  Understand the common figures of speech

What exactly do we mean by Figurative Language?

Figurative language employs figures of speech to increase its effectiveness and persuasiveness. This language employs words or expressions that have meanings that differ from the literal interpretation. Furthermore, the opposite of figurative language is literal language, also known as ordinary language. This is what we say on a daily basis. In everyday language, we generally use words that are completely consistent with their original meanings.

Figurative language is more elaborate than ordinary language, and this type of language is commonly used in works of literature. Moreover, writers use figures of speech like similes, metaphors, hyperbole, personification, paradox, idioms, etc. to make the language more elaborate and figurative.

What is Imagery

Imagery is the use of vivid or figurative language to represent objects, actions, or ideas. A writer uses his or her language to vividly describe the incidents of the story by addressing to our senses. Moreover, the human body has five basic senses: vision, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Since there are five senses, there are five types of imagery as well. 

Visual Imagery: appeals to our sense of sight.

For Example

The passage was dark and gloomy, but she could see a faint light coming from the far end of the passage.

Auditory Imagery: appeals to our sense of hearing.

For Instance

The peal of laughter coming from the street broke the silence in the room. 

Olfactory Imagery: appeals to our sense of smell.

Such as,

The stagnant water in the tank had the smell of rotting eggs, so he covered his nose.  

Gustatory Imagery: appeals to our sense of taste.

For Example

The warm, sweet chocolate drink made him happy.

Tactile Imagery: appeals to our sense of touch.

For Instance

Then she rolled in the feather-soft mattress, and closed her eyes.

Relationship Between Figurative Language and Imagery

• Both figurative language and imagery are built on figures of speech.
• Moreover, imagery can be created from figurative language or literal language.

Difference Between Figurative Language and Imagery

1. Definition

Figurative language is the language that uses words or expressions with meanings that are different from the literal interpretation. In contrast, imagery is the use of vivid or figurative language to represent objects, actions, or ideas, and appeal to our senses.

      2.Senses

Moreover, figurative language may or may not appeal to our senses, but imagery appeals to our senses.   

What is the Difference Between Figurative Language and Imagery

The main difference between figurative language and imagery is that figurative language is a language that uses words or expressions with meanings that are different from the literal interpretation; meanwhile, imagery is the use of descriptive language that engages the human senses.

Most people tend to assume that the terms figurative language and imagery mean the same. It is because these two concepts are very similar. In addition to that, both of these are built on figures of speech. However, these are not the same. The best way to identify the difference between the two is to remember that imagery always appeals to our senses, but figurative language does not necessarily appeal to our senses. 

Since both figurative language and imagery rely on figures of speech  let us have a look at the following examples:

• Those based on resemblance, such simile, metaphor, personification and apostrophe.
•  Those based on contrast such as Antithesis and Epigram.
• Those based on association, such as metonymy and synecdoche.
• Those depending on construction, such as climax and anti-climax.

Simile

It is a figure of speech that is based on comparison between two different kinds, objects which however have at least one thing, character in common. Similes are usually introduced by such words as, like, as if.

Let us examine the following examples.

Mad as a March Hare

O my love’s like red, red rose

Task

Can you identify instances of similes from the two examples given above?

Note that comparison of two same kinds is not a simile.

Metaphor

A metaphor is an implied simile. Unlike simile it does not state that something or someone is like or acts as another but takes that for granted and proceeds to imply that the two things compared are the same.

Let us examine the following examples

The camel is the ship of the desert

What if life is a dream and death wake us.

Revenge is a best dish served cold.

Note that every simile can be composed into metaphors and every metaphor can be expanded into simile.

For Example

Kalmin Jaimes fought like a lion. (simile)

Kalmin Jaimes was a lion in a fight. (Metaphor)

Further Example

Variety is the spice of life.

It also important to note that metaphors should never be mixed, that is, an object should not be identified with two or more different things in the same line or sentence.

For Instance

I smell a rat, I see it floating in air, but I will nip in the bud.

 

Personification

It is a figure of speech which gives non-animated objects human attributes.  It refers to giving non-human beings human characters.

Let us examine the following examples

Laughter holding both her sides

Pride goeth forth on horseback, grand and gay

But cometh back on foot, and begs it way

Murder comes home

Death lays his icy hands on kings

Task

Can you identify and explain instances of personification from examples given above?

 

Apostrophe

An apostrophe is a direct address to the dead, to the absent, or to a personified object or idea that cannot respond. This figure of speech is special form of personification.

 For instance

Roll on, thou deep and dark blue ocean, roll!

O death! Where is thy sting?

O grave! Where is thy victory?

Task

Explain how apostrophe as a figure of speech comes out of the given examples?

 

Hyperbole/Exaggeration/Overstatement

It refers to excessive exaggeration or overstatement. Hyperbole occurs when someone or something is presented beyond the ordinary. Hyperbole as a figure of speech is used to impress the reader and influence his judgement.

For Example

Why, man, if the river were dry, I am able to fill it with tears.

Loved Ophelia, forty thousand brothers could not with all their quantity of love make up the sum.

Cry me a river.

Euphemism

It is a figure of speech that consist a description of disagreeable thing by an agreeable name. It is a pleasant term for words or phrase which have offensive association. It can also be referred as the use of words or phrases that are less expensive or direct but considered less offensive.

For Instance

He has fallen asleep. Meaning he is dead.

You telling me a fairy tale. Meaning you telling me a lie.

 Antithesis

It refers to balancing of two contrasting ideas, words, phrases or sentences. An antithesis is often expressed in a balanced sentence, that is, a sentence in which identical or similar grammatical structure is used to express contrasting ideas. Here a striking opposite or contrast of words or sentiments is made in the same sentence/line. As a figure of speech, it is employed to secure emphasis.

Let us examine the following examples

To err is human, to forgive is divine

Many are called, but few are chosen

Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice

Speech is silver, but silence is golden

Not that I loved Ceaser less, but that I loved Rome more.

 

Oxymoron

It is a figure of speech that combines opposite or contradicting ideas or terms. Oxymoron suggest, a paradox but it does not it briefly, usually in two or three words.

For Example.

Sweet sorrow

Living death

Wise fool

Stupid thinker