J.K. Rowling uses visual imagery to help the reader create a picture in their mind. She does this often because most of the elements she writes about aren't real and only exists in the world of her novels. Rowling does this, for example, to describe the creatures of Mandrakes. She writes "Instead of roots, a small, muddy, and extremely ugly baby popped out of the earth. The leaves were growing right out of his head. He had pale green, mouled skin, and was clearly bawling as the top of his lungs." (1) Throughout the world Rowling has created many different characters are introduced in each of the books. She takes it into account to describe the appearence of every new character introduced. In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix an abundance of characters were introduced and were described whether or not they are importsnt in the series, "'-Emmeline Vance' -a stately looking witch in an emerald green shawl inclined her head- 'Sturgis Podmore' -a square-jawed wizard with thick, straw-colored hair winked- 'and Hestia jones.' A pink- cheeked, black-haired witch waved from next to the toaster." (2) By Rowling adding many examples of visual imagery she is able to make her imaginary world more real to the audience.
Another predonimant imagery device is auditory imagery. Rowling incorporates this in all of her novels and is often found scattered throughout all the chapters. She uses auditory imagery to for different purposes, one of which is to try and make the audience experience what the character is going through. In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Rowling uses auditory imagery to convey what the magical creatures of mermaids sound like, something not found in our world, "the most horrible noise, a loud and screechy wailing, filled the room." Rowling tries to put sound to things so that the audience can understand the atmosphere, and even the characters. In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets she uses sound to add to the characters of Fred and George Weasley and show contrast, "The Dursleys liked everything neat and ordered; the Weasleys' house burst with strange and unexpected...The ghoul in the attic howled and dropped pipes whenever he felt thiings were getting too quiet, and small explosions from Fred and George's bedroom were considered perfectly normal." (3)
Rowling uses organic imagery because it's essential to the story. In her fifth novel, Harry Potter andf the Order of the Phoenix, Rowlling uses organic imagery to tell the audience whenever there is urgency. She writes "Harry felt shivery; his scar was still aching, he felt almost feverish." (4) Rowling's series is told in third-person limited point of view so all organic imagery is done throught the character of Harry. Rowling also uses organic imagery to describe an atmosphere and mood, for example whenever Harry feels hungry the mood is usually light and less severe.
(1, 3)- Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. New York: Scholastic, 1999
(2, 4)- Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix. New York:Scholastic, 2003