Descriptive Texts

Descriptive Text Examples

In descriptive writing, the author does not just tell the reader what was seen, felt, tested,
smelled, or heard. Rather, the author describes something from their own experience and,
through careful choice of words and phrasing, makes it seem real. Descriptive writing is vivid,
colorful, and detailed.

Good Descriptive Writing

Good descriptive writing creates an impression in the reader's mind of an event, a place, a
person, or a thing. The writing will be such that it will set a mood or describe something in
such detail that if the reader saw it, they would recognize it.
To be good, descriptive writing has to be concrete, evocative and plausible.
To be concrete, descriptive writing has to offer specifics the reader can envision. Rather than
"Her eyes were the color of blue rocks" (Light blue? Dark blue? Marble? Slate?), try instead,
"Her eyes sparkled like sapphires in the dark."
To be evocative, descriptive writing has to unite the concrete image with phrasing that evokes
the impression the writer wants the reader to have. Consider "her eyes shone like sapphires,
warming my night" versus "the woman's eyes had a light like sapphires, bright and hard." Each
phrase uses the same concrete image, then employs evocative language to create different
impressions.
To be plausible, the descriptive writer has to constrain the concrete, evocative image to suit
the reader's knowledge and attention span. "Her eyes were brighter than the sapphires in the
armrests of the Tipu Sultan's golden throne, yet sharper than the tulwars of his cruelest
executioners" will have the reader checking their phone halfway through. "Her eyes were
sapphires, bright and hard" creates the same effect in a fraction of the reading time. As always
in the craft of writing: when in doubt, write less.
 Examples of Descriptive Writing
The following sentences provide examples of the concreteness, evocativeness and plausibility
of good descriptive writing.

Her last smile to me wasn't a sunset. It was an eclipse, the last eclipse, noon dying away
to darkness where there would be no dawn.

My Uber driver looked like a deflating airbag and sounded like talk radio on repeat.

The old man was bent into a capital C, his head leaning so far forward that his beard
nearly touched his knobby knees.

The painting was a field of flowers, blues and yellows atop deep green stems that
seemed to call the viewer in to play.

My dog's fur felt like silk against my skin and her black coloring shone, absorbing the
sunlight and reflecting it back like a pure, dark mirror.

The sunset filled the sky with a deep red flame, setting the clouds ablaze.

The waves rolled along the shore in a graceful, gentle rhythm, as if dancing with the
land.

Winter hit like a welterweight that year, a jabbing cold you thought you could stand
until the wind rose up and dropped you to the canvas.

Examples of Descriptive Text in Literature

Because descriptive text is so powerful, many examples of it can be found in famous literature
and poetry.
The High Window
The mystery novelist Raymond Chandler was one of American literature's masters of
descriptive language. This sentence from The High Window strikes the perfect notes to
embody its subject:

"She had pewter-colored hair set in a ruthless permanent, a hard beak, and large moist eyes
with the sympathetic expression of wet stones."

Life in the Iron Mills

Notice the vivid description of smoke in this excerpt from Rebecca Harding Davis's Life in the
Iron Mills:

"The idiosyncrasy of this town is smoke. It rolls sullenly in slow folds from the great chimneys
of the iron-foundries, and settles down in black, slimy pools on the muddy streets. Smoke on
the wharves, smoke on the dingy boats, on the yellow river--clinging in a coating of greasy soot
to the house-front, the two faded poplars, the faces of the passers-by."

Jamaica Inn
In this excerpt from Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier, notice the writer's choice of
adjectives, adverbs, and verbs. Granite. Mizzling. Du Maurier's choice of words allows the
reader to almost feel the weather occurring on the page.

"It was a cold grey day in late November. The weather had changed overnight, when a backing
wind brought a granite sky and a mizzling rain with it, and although it was now only a little
after two o'clock in the afternoon the pallor of a winter evening seemed to have closed upon
the hills, cloaking them in mist."

The Eagle
In Alfred Tennyson's "The Eagle," he conveys power and majesty in just a few lines:
"He clasps the crag with crooked hands;
Close to the sun in lonely lands,
Ring'd with the azure world, he stands.
The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls;
He watches from his mountain walls,
And like a thunderbolt he falls."

Descriptive Text in Songs

Descriptive text examples can also be found in many songs, since songs are meant to capture
your emotions and to invoke a feeling.

Through the Strings of Infinity

Some of the most vivid and effective descriptive writing in music can be found in rap. The
evocation of alienation and the need to create in "Through the Strings of Infinity" by Canibus is
truly poetic.

"I was born in an empty sea, My tears created oceans

Producing tsunami waves with emotions
Patrolling the open seas of an unknown galaxy
I was floating in front of who I am physically
Spiritually paralyzing mind body and soul
It gives me energy when I'm lyrically exercising
I gotta spit 'til the story is told in a dream by celestial bodies
Follow me baby"

Windowpane
The heavy metal band Opeth uses vivid descriptive writing to evoke loneliness in their song
"Windowpane."
"Blank face in the windowpane
Made clear in seconds of light
Disappears and returns again
Counting hours, searching the night"

Blank Space
In her hit song "Blank Space," Taylor Swift uses concrete, evocative descriptions to evoke two
very different impressions.

First:

"Cherry lips, crystal skies

I can show you incredible things
Stolen kisses, pretty lies
You're the king, baby, I'm your queen"

Then:

"Screaming, crying, perfect storm

I can make all the tables turn
Rose gardens filled with thorns
Keep you second guessing"

All in the Details

Now that you have several different examples of descriptive text, you can try your hand at
writing a detailed, descriptive sentence, paragraph or short story of your own. If you need help
with powerful descriptions, try some figurative language to help to paint a picture and evoke
emotions.

Examples of Figurative Language

Figurative language refers to the colour we use to amplify our writing. It takes an ordinary
statement and dresses it up in an evocative frock. It gently alludes to something without
directly stating it. Figurative language is a way to engage your readers, ushering them through
your writing with a more creative tone.

Although it's often debated how many "types" of figurative language there are, it's safe to say
there are at least five distinct categories. They are: metaphors, similes, personification,
hyperbole, and symbolism.

Understanding the Concept

Any time your writing goes beyond the actual meanings of your words, you're using figurative
language. This allows the reader to gain new insights into your work.
One of the best ways to understand the concept of figurative language is to see it in action.
Here are some examples:

This coffee shop is an ice box! (Metaphor)

She's drowning in a sea of grief. (Metaphor)
She's happy as a clam. (Simile)
I move fast like a cheetah on the Serengeti. (Simile)
The sea lashed out in anger at the ships, unwilling to tolerate another battle.
(Personification)
The sky misses the sun at night. (Personification)
I've told you a million times to clean your room! (Hyperbole)
Her head was spinning from all the new information. (Hyperbole)
She was living her life in chains. (Symbolism - Chains are a symbol of oppression of
entrapment.)
When she saw the dove soar high above her home, she knew the worst was over.
(Symbolism - Doves are a symbol of peace and hope.)
The Big Five Resources
Let's dive deeper into "the big five." We'll consider their place in your writing, and give some
examples to paint a better picture for you.

Metaphor
When you use a metaphor, you make a statement that doesn't literally make sense. For
example, "Time is a thief." Time is not actually stealing from you but this conveys the idea that
hours or days sometimes seem to slip by without you noticing.
Metaphors only makes sense when the similarities between the two things being compared
are apparent or readers understand the connection between the two words. Examples
include:

The world is my oyster.

You're a couch potato.
Time is money.
He has a heart of stone.
America is a melting pot.
You are my sunshine.

Simile
A simile also compares two things. However, similes use the words "like" or "as."
Examples include:
Busy as a bee.
Clean as a whistle.
Brave as a lion.
The tall girl stood out like a sore thumb.
It was as easy as shooting fish in a barrel.
My mouth was as dry as a bone.
They fought like cats and dogs.
Watching that movie was like watching grass grow.
Personification
Personification gives human characteristics to inanimate objects, animals, or ideas. This can
really affect the way the reader imagines things. Personification is often used in poetry, fiction,
and children's rhymes.
Examples include:
Opportunity knocked at his door.
The sun greeted me this morning.
The sky was full of dancing stars.
The vines wove their delicate fingers together.
The radio suddenly stopped singing and stared at me.
The sun played hide and seek with the clouds.

Hyperbole
Hyperbole is an outrageous exaggeration that emphasizes a point. It tends toward the
ridiculous or the funny. Hyperbole adds color and depth to a character.
Examples include:
You snore louder than a freight train!
It's a slow burg. I spent a couple of weeks there one day.
She's so dumb, she thinks Taco Bell is a Mexican phone company.
I had to walk 15 miles to school in the snow, uphill, in bare feet.
You could've knocked me over with a feather.

Symbolism
Symbolism occurs when a word has its own meaning but is used to represent something
entirely different.
Examples in everyday life include:

Using the image of the American flag to represent patriotism and a love for one's
country.
Incorporating a red rose in your writing to symbolize love.
Using an apple pie to represent a traditional American lifestyle.
Using a chalkboard to represent education.
Incorporating the color black in your writing as a symbol for evil or death.
 Using an owl to represent wisdom.

Symbolism examples in literature include:

"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and
their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts." - As You Like It, William
Shakespeare

The "stage" here symbolizes the world and the "players" represent human beings.

"My love for Linton is like the foliage in the woods. Time will change it; I'm well aware, as
winter changes the trees. My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath a source
of little visible delight, but necessary." - Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte

Bronte uses imagery of the natural world to symbolize the wild nature and deep feelings of her
characters.

Examples of descriptive texts: places.

Example of Descriptive Text – Venice

One of the famous city in Italy is Venice. It get its popularity because Venice is a rich and
interesting city. It has a lot of history documentations and offers a lot of attractive things to
visitors.
Venice has been established over 2000 years ago when waves of barbarians drove people out
of their homes in various Roman cities. Around years 800-1100 AD, Venice underwent a period
of growth, and became more centralized. It gradually developed into a city state, which is
essentially a self-governed region of a country that trades freely among others.
As Venice gradually developed, it became a prominent player in the sea trade of the time. It
was set upon by many different threats. Pirates became the hugest problem. Fewer and fewer
shipments were making it through the treacherous water. It happened when the Republic of
Venice decided to move the operations to the eastern shores.
When we think of Venice, the first thing which comes to mind are canals. They are considered
the trademark of the city. Canals are mostly recognizable for providing the main form of
transportation throughout the city. Visiting Venice brings a rich aura of history and culture.
Floating through the canals for an afternoon makes for a memorable experience, and it’s one
that any traveler commonly enjoy.

Example of Descriptive Text – City of Rome

Italy has some famous cities. One of them is Rome. It is a very historical city. If you visit Rome,
you will have plenty of chances to see all sorts of great sights.
Rome can be traced through its mythology when it was founded on . It was said that twins of
Romulus and Remus has founded the city in 753 BC, on the date of April 21st. This
corresponds fairly closely to archeological evidence, which shows farming communities in the
area. As the Catholic Church grew, Rome became more and more important in both religion
and politics.
Rome was one of the central leading cities in the Renaissance. It is seen when visitors walk
through the streets and see the various buildings. The style was profoundly affected by the
work of the artists of the time. Visitors can see evidence of all sorts of artistic influences, such
as the Baroque palaces, the huge squares and obelisks, and other structures throughout the
city.
Rome is well known for its architecture. The colosseum is one sample of famous Roman
structures. It was once a grand, ground-breaking amphitheatre, and was at the forefront of
architectural advancements in 70 AD. Since then it has fallen apart slightly, but it still an
astounding and imposing structure.
Modern Rome is a very busy place to go. It is considered a cultural center for the region, and
offers all the arts in various forms. It has a thriving music scene, with several major concert
halls. Rome puts out a lot of movies every year, more so than any other region of Italy. It is
home to Cinecittà studios, the biggest facility in Europe.