Advanced English Techniques Flashcards
Alliteration
The repetition of the initial consonant sounds in words close together.
Allusion
A reference to another text event
Anachronism
Something placed in a time period where it doesn’t belong.
Anaphora
Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses.
Antagonist
The character or force that opposes the protagonist.
Archetype
A typical character action
Assonance
The repetition of vowel sounds within words close to each other.
Asyndeton
The omission of conjunctions in a list to create a dramatic effect.
Bathos
An abrupt shift from serious to trivial or absurd for comic effect.
Bias
A writer’s or speaker’s personal preferences that influence the content or tone.
Cacophony
Harsh discordant sounds used in writing to create a jarring effect.
Catharsis
The emotional release or purification experienced by the audience typically in tragedy.
Characterization
The process by which an author reveals the personality of characters.
Chiasmus
A rhetorical device where two or more clauses are balanced against each other in reverse order.
Cliffhanger
A dramatic ending that leaves the audience in suspense.
Colloquialism
Informal language or slang used in writing.
Conflict
The struggle between opposing forces in a story (internal or external).
Consonance
Repetition of consonant sounds in close proximity similar to alliteration but not restricted to the initial sound.
Couplet
Two lines of verse that rhyme and often form a complete thought.
Denotation
The literal dictionary definition of a word.
Denouement
The final resolution or conclusion of a story where loose ends are tied up.
Diction
The choice of words and style of expression in writing.
Dialogue
The spoken interaction between characters in a text.
Dramatic Irony
When the audience knows something that the characters do not.
Elegy
A mournful or reflective poem often lamenting a loss.
Ellipsis
The omission of words or phrases that are understood from the context.
Enjambment
The continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line of verse.
Epiphany
A moment of sudden realization or insight.
Euphemism
A mild or less direct term used to replace one that is considered harsh or unpleasant.
Exposition
The introduction to a story where characters
Flashback
A scene set earlier in the story or before the narrative begins providing background information.
Foreshadowing
A technique where hints or clues are given about events to come later in the story.
Hyperbole
An exaggerated statement or claim not meant to be taken literally.
Imagery
The use of vivid and descriptive language to create mental pictures for the reader.
Imperative Mood
A sentence that gives a command or instruction.
In medias res
A narrative that begins in the middle of the action rather than at the beginning.
Irony
A contrast between appearance and reality often used for emphasis or humor.
Juxtaposition
The placement of two elements side by side to highlight their differences or similarities.
Metaphor
A comparison between two unlike things without using “like” or “as.”
Metonymy
The substitution of one thing for another with which it is closely associated.
