Advanced Placement (AP) English Literature Practice Exam

What type of imagery involves a response from one sense triggered by the stimulation of another?

1. Synesthetic Imagery

2. Symbolism

3. Figurative Language

4. Alliteration

The correct answer is: Synesthetic Imagery

Synesthetic imagery refers to a literary technique where one sense is evoked or stimulated by the experience of another sense. For example, an author might describe a sound in visual terms, like "the music was a shimmering light," which encourages the reader to experience the sound through a visual lens. This creates a multidimensional sensory experience that can deepen emotional resonance and enhance the vividness of a scene. Symbolism focuses on using symbols to represent larger ideas or concepts, but it does not necessarily involve the blending of senses. Figurative language encompasses various forms of expressing ideas in a non-literal way, including metaphors and similes, rather than focusing specifically on mixed-sensory experiences. Alliteration is a sound device involving the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words, which is distinct from the idea of sensory interaction that characterizes synesthetic imagery. Each of these alternatives contributes to literature in its own way, but none captures the essence of sensory crossover as effectively as synesthetic imagery does.