from The Life of Olaudah Equiano

In this excerpt from his autobiography, Olaudah Equiano uses sensory details to re-create the despair of the Middle Passage. Sensory details are words or phrases that appeal to one or more of the five senses. Equiano’s descriptions include “the galling of the chains,” the “bitter cries,” and the “loathsomeness of the stench.” These details help readers visualize the horror of life aboard the ship. Write a short autobiographical essay in which you use sensory details to capture a personal experience. It can be a joyful or an upsetting experience, but be sure you describe some of the sights, smells, tastes, sounds, or textures you encountered.