English Techniques Flashcards
Adjective
Commonly called a describing word, they are used to add description. they can be quite simple, such as “big” or “small” etc.
Adverb
These mainly change or add information to a verb or verbs. Many adverbs end in ‘ly’.
Allegory
A story in which the characters and events represent or symbolise an underlying meaning. For example, George Orwell’s novel seems to be about animals taking over a farm and getting rid of their tyrannical master. In fact, the story is an allegory of the Russian Revolution.
Alliteration
This is the repetition of the consonant sound in words that occur close together. ‘Red Rooster’ ‘Penrith Panthers’ ‘Krispy Kreme’
Allusion (biblical, literary etc.)
It is a brief reference to a person, event, or place, real or fictitious, or to a work of art within a text. It relies on the reader being able to understand the allusion and being familiar with all of the meaning hidden behind the words.
Anecdote
A short narrative account of an amusing, unusual, revealing or interesting event. Usually, the anecdote does not exist alone, but it is combined with other material such as arguments. Writers may use anecdotes to clarify abstract points, to humanise individuals, or to create a memorable image in the reader’s mind.
Antagonist
The person of force in conflict with the main character. They are not necessarily bad or evil, in the conventional sense, but they are in opposition with the main character in some way. (This is for identification, not a direct technique)
Antonym
A word having a meaning opposite to that of another word: The word wet is an antonym for the word dry.
Assonance
Repetition of vowel sounds. ‘Slow road to nowhere.’
Aside
In drama, words directed to the audience that are not heard by other characters on stage.
Atmosphere
The mood or feeling of a text as conveyed by a description of setting or characters.
Autobiography
A non-fictional account of someone’s life written by that actual person.
Background
The background can often be very important in a visual. It is everything behind the main focus.
Bias
Favouring one side (of an argument) - not remaining neutral.
Biography
A non-fictional account of someone’s life written by someone else.
Body Language
The body language often reveals the emotions, beliefs or thoughts of characters in a visual image or film.
Camera Angles
The angle of a camera can be high, eye level or low angle shot.
Camera Shots
Extreme close up, close up, medium shot, long shot and extreme long shot.
Characterisation
This is everything that has to do with the character, how they are described by the narrator, what they say, what others say about them, what they think, how they behave, if they develop throughout the story, how they effect other characters, etc. Ask yourself what role do they play and what message are they trying to convey?
Cliché
An overused expression or idea - ‘there’s no place like home.’ ‘peer pressure.’
Climax
When the rising action in a story reached its peak.
Colloquial language
Informal language. The language of everyday speech (using contractions and slang words)
Connotation
The deeper meaning, more symbolic meaning of a word.
Consonance
The repetition of consonants or of a consonant pattern, especially at the end of words, as in blank and think or strong and string.
Context
Conditions, including facts, social/historical background, time and place. Everything that exists ‘around’ the text or the reader’s own personal context. (background/situation)
Contradiction
Assertion of the contrary or opposite.
Denotation
The literal meaning. Dictionary definition of a word.
Descriptive Language
This is where the composer has attempted to describe someone or something in a lot more detail. Often using many adjectives and vivid sensory imagery.
Dialogue
When two or more characters are speaking in a text.
Direct and Indirect Speech
This refers to the way speech is represented in writing. Direct speech represents the actual words that are spoken by a person or character, with quotation marks used to indicate the words spoken. Indirect speech is a report of an event without the use of quotation marks.
Double Entendre
If you deliberately say something that can be interpreted two ways.
Dramatic Irony
Where the audience or reader is aware of something important that the characters in the story are not aware of. The irony is the fact that the character doesn’t know as much as the audience does.
Empathy
The ability to sense and understand someone else’s feelings as if they were one’s own.
Emotive Language
Words that create an emotional response in the reader, or try to. Words that are emotional in nature.
Enjambment
The running of a thought from one line to the next, in a poem, with no break.
Euphemism
Using a mild or gentle phrase instead of a blunt, embarrassing, or painful one. For instance, saying “Grandfather has gone to a better place” is an euphemism for “Grandfather has died”
