English Techniques: Language + Structure Flashcards
Narrative voice
Who is narrating- what effect does this have
Simile
A comparison using ‘like’ or ‘as
Creating a vivid image
Metaphor
A comparison without like or as
Personification
A type of imagery in which non-human objects/animals/ideas given human characteristics
Onomatopoeia
Sounds of words eg. Bang, woof
To express or underline their meaning, sensory image
Pathetic fallacy
The environment(usually weather) reflects the mood of the character or scene
Alliteration
Repetition of same sounds usually at beginning of words
Assonance
Repetition of vowel sounds in a series of words
Rule of three
Repetition in a group of three to strengthen an idea or argument
Sibilance
Repetition of s sound- hissing sound created
Connotations
Implied meanings suggested by a word rather than its literal meanings
Hyperbole
Over the top exaggeration for effect
Repetition
Words, phrases or ideas that are repeated for effect
Rhetorical questions
A question asked for effect with no answer expected
Emotive language
Words chosen to bring an emotional response
Symbolism
An object given significance in a text that links to a wider meaning/theme
Adjective
Describes a noun
Verb
A doing word.
Active verbs are good to analyse(eg. Running/jumping)
Adverb
Describes a verb
Pronoun
First person: i ,we,me,my,our,us
Second person:you,yours,yourself
Third person:he,she,they,them,theirs
Tense
Which tense has the writer chosen (past or present-
What effect does this have
Openings
Start of text must interest the reader-comment on how the writer introduces ideas and raises quesions
Focus
What writer focused on as the text develops- analyse what is implied, what is causing this, what will happen next
Shifts
Changes in ideas and perspectives (eg outside to inside)-
Comment on how this change is effective, eg creates contrast
Contrast
Difference between two things- comment on the effect a drastic difference produces
Repetition or patterns-effect on reader
Can highlight key meanings, indicate a development or show a lack of change
Pace
Feeling of speed in the writing-are events and ideas revealed to reader slowly or quickly- what effect is created (eg. Slow pace builds tension, fast pace may suit a piece about things happening at speed)
Temporal references
References to time-comment on how time is used to speed up or slow down the pace of the text
Order of events
Could be chronological/start at end/middle/flashbacks/flashforwards- how does order of events introduce and prioritise key ideas- how does this engage the reader
Endings
Conclusion of text neat/leave us with questions/circular structure- how does reader feel at end have feelings change since the opening
Witholding information
Clues and hinds given without revealing everything at once- analyse what’s implied by hints- how does this build the reader’s expectations
Dialogue
Conversations and speech- how does dialogue move text forward
Headings/subheadings+ questions
Divides content of texts into topics and sub topics- can signal start of new points- how do they guide the reader through a text
Bullets
Can summarise and simplify a range of ideas- why does writer summarise certain points
Sentence structures
Varied types of sentences eg. Simple, compound, complex- comment on how it affects fluency of text (sudden short sentence could reveal shocking info)
Simple sentences
Usually highlight significant ideas
Paragraphing
How does paragraph length affect development of tect eg. Final paragraph may summarise key points in argument
Third person omniscient narrator
Narrator can see everything
Third person limited
Narrator follows one character
Free indirect style
Third person narrative voice gives reader direct access to charcater’s thoughts
First person
I, gives own opinion
Unreliable- biased, incomplete narration
-naïve- doesn’t understand as much as reader (dramatic irony)
Second person
Eg. You did this
Intrusive narrator
Omniscient narrator who makes comments on characters and evengs, may reflect more generally upon significance of the story
Simple sentence meaning
One independant(makes sense on it’s own) clause
Compound sentence
Atleast two independent clauses can be linked with a comma, coordinating conjunction or semicolon
Complex sentences
Atleast one independent clause and one dependent clause (doesn’t make sense on it’s own)
Syndetic lists
List with lots of ands- builds up tension/atmosphere
Superlative
-est eg. Greatest
Narrative hook
Making the reader want to continue reading, giving a hint at what will happen next
Instead of writing complex sentence write about …
- build up of clauses- tension
- parenthesis- highlight key phrase/word
