Gustatory Imagery

Gustatory imagery definition

Gustatory imagery, a literary device, refers to the author's use of language to represent experiences or sensations of taste. The goal is to create a vivid mental picture that stimulates the reader's taste buds, making the description more immersive and engaging. Such imagery can describe a wide range of taste sensations, from the delectable sweetness of honey to the harsh bitterness of medicine, and everything in between. This type of imagery is particularly effective in food-related texts but can be found across a wide variety of literary genres.

Effect of gustatory imagery

Gustatory imagery can often be used to evoke certain memories or emotions in the reader.

For example, if a writer describes the taste of something that the reader is already familiar with, they may associate it with a memory from the past and will be able to remember the taste.

Gustatory imagery examples

Now we know that Gustatory imagery pertains to descriptive language that appeals to the sense of taste, here are a few examples:

1. In Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist (1838), he writes: 'The gruel disappeared; the boys whispered each other, and winked at Oliver; while his next neighbours nudged him. Child as he was, he was desperate with hunger, and reckless with misery.' This stirs the taste of the gruel, a thin, tasteless porridge.

2. In William Carlos William's 'This Is Just To Say' (1934): 'Forgive me/ they were delicious/ so sweet/ and so cold' Here, the reader can almost taste the sweet plums from the icebox.

These examples use gustatory imagery to evoke a sensory reaction in the reader related to the experience of taste. Gustatory imagery can be literal, such as describing the actual flavour of food/drink. The five main tastes of food and drink are as follows:

• Sweet
• Umami (savoury/meaty)
• Salty
• Bitter
• Sour

Adjectives, nouns, and adverbs

To describe the literal taste of something, adjectives can be used. For example:

Adjectives can also be turned into nouns to describe something. For example:

Adverbs can be used alongside adjectives or nouns to either emphasise or downplay the flavour of something. For example:

Figurative language

Gustatory imagery can also be created through the use of figurative language (such as metaphors, similes, personification, hyperbole, etc).

Figurative language is a type of language that is not taken literally. It can be used to create gustatory imagery by emphasising a flavour or comparing the taste of something to another thing. For example:

In this example, a simile is used to compare the taste of the ice cream to a physical experience. A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using 'like' or 'as.' This helps the reader to visualise the sense of taste. For example, we are able to imagine how refreshing a dip in the pool would be, and can compare this to the refreshing taste of the ice cream.

Fig. 2 - Figurative language can be used to compare tastes to other things or experiences.

Here, the saltiness of the sardines is largely emphasised. This is an example of hyperbole (and should not be taken literally). A hyperbole is a figure of speech that is used to purposely exaggerate something in an extreme way. We know it is highly unlikely that someone would need to drink five gallons of water after eating sardines!

Gustatory imagery in Literature

There are many examples of gustatory imagery in Literature. The following example is from Nigella Lawson's cookbook, Forever Summer (2002):

In this example, the food is described literally through words such as 'sweetness' and 'grassy herbalness.' Figurative language is also used, as the basil is described as having a 'radiant sunniness.' We know that basil cannot actually taste 'sunny', but it is compared to the sun to emphasise its nice flavour!

Gustatory imagery In Poetry

This example of gustatory imagery in poetry comes from Robert Frost's 'To Earthward' (1923):

The poem involves a juxtaposition of sensory experiences that relate to both taste and touch, enhancing the emotional depth of the poem. The craving for 'strong sweets' creates an image of rich, sugary foods that the reader can almost taste. It also introduces a nostalgic element, reflecting on a time when these intense flavors were more desirable or enjoyable.