Authors create a strong, engaging setting by including lots of details. Sensory details are details that relate to each of your five senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell.
Because we experience the world through our senses, it is important for authors to draw on these details when describing setting. A vivid description of a place is far more exciting to a reader than a bland, boring description! If an author has done a good job of engaging all five of your senses in the description, you can close your eyes and feel transported to another world.
Read the short paragraph about a girl visiting her grandmother in a nursing home. Because it is written without sensory detail, it is somewhat boring. If you click the arrow to see the next slide, though, you'll see a version of the paragraph with more sensory details added. Continue clicking until you see the paragraph with its full set of sensory details. Notice how different you feel reading the last slide--compared to the first.
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Amanda was nervous to visit Granny Brown in the nursing home. Being surrounded by so many old people gave her a funny feeling in her stomach. When she walked through the door, however, she was greeted by her grandmother’s smile. All the nervous energy in her stomach disappeared. She embraced Granny Brown in a hug. It was nice to be with family again. These sentences provide a short scene for the reader. The story is very plain and leaves readers with unanswered questions. Now let’s see how the story changes when we add sensory details. First, let’s add details related to sight:
Amanda was nervous to visit Granny Brown in the nursing home. Being surrounded by so many old people--with their leathery skin, yellow eyes, and shaky hands--gave her a funny feeling in her stomach. When she walked through the tall, wooden door, however, she was greeted by her grandmother’s broad smile. All the nervous energy in her stomach disappeared. She embraced Granny Brown in a hug. It was nice to be with family again. Already, the story is becoming a bit more interesting, and the reader has a stronger sense of setting. Now, let’s add details related to sound:
Amanda was nervous to visit Granny Brown in the nursing home. Being surrounded by so many old people--with their leathery skin, yellow eyes, and shaky hands--gave her a funny feeling in her stomach. When she walked through the tall, wooden door, however, she was greeted by her grandmother’s broad smile. All the nervous energy in her stomach disappeared.She laughed softly as she embraced Granny Brown in a hug. It was nice to be with family again. The detail of Amanda laughing softly is small, but it gives the reader great insight into her emotion. Now, let’s add details related to smell.
Amanda was nervous to visit Granny Brown in the nursing home. Being surrounded by so many old people--with their leathery skin, yellow eyes, and shaky hands--gave her a funny feeling in her stomach. When she walked through the tall, wooden door, however, she was greeted by her grandmother’s broad smile. All the nervous energy in her stomach disappeared. She laughed softly as she embraced Granny Brown in a hug. Granny still smelled like laundry soap and cinnamon, just like she had when Amanda was a child. It was nice to be with family again. Next, let’s add details related to taste.
Amanda was nervous to visit Granny Brown in the nursing home. She sucked intently on the peppermint candy in her mouth. Being surrounded by so many old people--with their leathery skin, yellow eyes, and shaky hands--gave her a funny feeling in her stomach. When she walked through the tall, wooden door, however, she was greeted by her grandmother’s broad smile. All the nervous energy in her stomach disappeared. She laughed softly as she embraced Granny Brown in a hug. Granny still smelled like laundry soap and cinnamon, just like she had when Amanda was a child. It was nice to be with family again. Finally, let’s add details related to touch.
Amanda was nervous to visit Granny Brown in the nursing home. She sucked intently on the peppermint candy in her mouth. Sweat moistened her face and hands, and her heart thrummed in her chest. Being surrounded by so many old people--with their leathery skin, yellow eyes, and shaky hands--gave her a funny feeling in her stomach. When she walked through the tall, wooden door, however, she was greeted by her grandmother’s broad smile. All the nervous energy, those butterflies fluttering in her stomach, disappeared. She laughed softly as she embraced Granny Brown in a hug. Granny still smelled like laundry soap and cinnamon, just like she had when Amanda was a child. Granny patted her hand softly, and kissed her gently on the cheek. It was nice to be with family again. Adding sensory details can greatly improve a story! Sensory details are important because they give readers more information about characters, setting, and mood. |
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Now let’s practice what you’ve learned. In the following activity, connect the mood with the sensory detail that would help create that particular atmosphere.
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calm
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roaring seas
lapping waves
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hostile
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dogs barking
babies crying
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ominous
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clock ticking loudly
a woman singing
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whimsical
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sweet cotton candy
bitter lemon rinds
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comical
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giant shoes
stinky shoes
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friendly
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laughter
jeers
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optimistic
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scratchy sheets
the slap of high-fives
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gloomy
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drizzling rain
the sun peeking out from the clouds
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Complete
