Figures of speech and poetic devices Flashcards
alliteration
the repetition of consonant sounds
anaphora
repetition of words, usually at the beginning of a phrase or sentence.
antithesis
a contradiction where two statements are contradicted within a sentence
assonance
the repetition of vowel sounds
bathos
anti-climax after the build up of ideas or expectations
climax
the arrangement of ideas in ascending order of importance
ellipsis
shows that an idea is ongoing or that it will be explained in more detail
enjambment
a run-on-lines, used to quicken the pace of a poem
extended metaphor
the main comparison is repeated in different ways throughout, indirect comparison
euphemism
using a mild, indirect term instead of being blunt to describe something unpleasant or sensitive.
hyperbole
deliberate over-exaggeration
imagery
language that brings to mind sensory impressions or appeals to the 5 senses.
what are the 5 types of imagery
visual= sight
aural= hearing
olfactory= smell
gustatory= taste
tactile= touch
irony
a device that emphasizes the contrast between the way things are expected to be and the way they actually are.
metaphor
an indirect comparison of one thing to another without the use of ‘like’ or ‘as’
onomatopoeia
words in which spoken sounds resembles the actual sound
oxymoron
a statement with two parts or ideas that seem to be contradictory, but upon closer examination are linked. these words or ideas are placed side by side in a sentence
paradox
a statement that looks illogical but is quite logical when looked at closely. these two contradictions are placed further apart in a sentence.
personification
giving an inanimate object living or human qualities
pun
a clever or humorous play on words, where one word may have multiple meanings which are used .
refrain
a word, phrase or sentence which is repeated in a poem
rhetorical question
a question that does not require an answer. it can be used to make a reader think about the question in more depth.
simile
a direct comparison using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’
tautology
the repetition of a word or phrase to repeat meaning
allusion
references to familiar historical or literary persons or events that readers are expected to recognise and which enrich a work by introducing associations from another context
anthropomorphism
a form of personifications where human qualities are given to animals
apostrophe
the poet addresses an inanimate object, person or idea as if it were human
consonance
the repetition of consonants within a word or sentence
epigram
a short, pointed saying. it has been compared to a scorpion because it has a sting in the tail
epithet
an adjective or phrase expressing a quality or attribute regarded as characteristic of the person or thing mentioned. an adjective is called an epithet in literature.
innuendo
a usually disapproving remark that hints or suggests something, without saying it outright. it is an insinuation.
litotes
use a negative and a positive to understate what is intended
meiosis
a deliberate under-exaggeration
metonymy
a figure of speech that compares unlike things in such a way that one is closely related to the other.
polysyndeton
a literary technique in which conjunctions are used repeatedly in quick succession, often with no commas
synechdoche
a part is used to represent a whole
name the sound devices
- alliteration
- assonance
- onomatopoeia
- rhyme
name the comparison devices
- simile
- metaphor
- personification
- anthropomorphism
- apostrophe
name the contradiction devices
- irony
- sarcasm
- oxymoron
- antithesis
- paradox
- satire
- epigrams
name the exaggeration and understatement devices
- Hyperbole
- Meiosis
- Bathos
- Innuendo
