Descriptive Language Techniques

Question 1

How do you effectively complete a ‘writing to describe’ task?

Answer 1

Use adjectives and language techniques to write in detail.

Keep your reader in mind by creating a believable scene and exploring thoughts and feelings.

Question 2

What is a metaphor?

Answer 2

A direct comparison; saying one thing is another.

For example:
Skyscrapers are mountains of the modern world.

Her cheeks were red apples.

Question 3

What is personification?

Answer 3

Giving an object or animal human characteristics.

For example:
Birds chatted to each other amongst the branches.

The car grumbled away.

Question 4

What is alliteration?

Answer 4

Repeated sounds at the beginning of words.

For example:
The Christmas tree twinkled in through the window (repeated hard ‘t’ sound).

Question 5

What is repetition?

Answer 5

Words or phrases that are repeated throughout a text.

Question 6

What is a simile?

Answer 6

A comparison using ‘like’ or ‘as’.

For example:
She was like a whirlwind.

I felt as light as a feather.

Question 7

What is pathetic fallacy?

Answer 7

Using nature, especially the weather, to reflect the mood.

For example:
Ominous clouds smothered the sky.

Golden sunlight streamed through the window.

Question 8

What is tripling?

Answer 8

A list of three. This can be three nouns, three adjectives, etc.

For example:
The hotel boasts an Olympic sized swimming pool, two restaurants and a roof top bar.

Even though I was happy for them, I felt pushed out, alone and forgotten.

Question 9

What is onomatopoeia?

Answer 9

Words that describe sounds.

For example:
Bang, crash, buzz.

Remember:
Loud noises do not need to be capitalised. To emphasise a sound, describe it in more detail, or use an exclamation mark.