Figures Of Speech/Stylistic Devices Flashcards
Alliteration
the repetition of usually initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words or syllables
Assonance
Assonance is a repetition of vowel sounds
Onomatopoeia
a word that sounds like the noise it describes
Simile
A simile is a phrase that uses a comparison to describe
Metaphor
A metaphor is a figure of speech that describes something by saying it’s something else
Personification
Personification is a poetic literary device in which non-living things are given human traits
Anthropomorphism
the attribution of human characteristics or behaviour to a god, animal, or object.
Allusion
an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference.
“an allusion to Shakespeare”
Hyperbole
exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally
Euphemism
a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing
Irony
the use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning.
Sarcasm
Sarcasm is an ironic or satirical remark tempered by humor
Innuendo
remark or remarks that suggest something sexual or something unpleasant but do not refer to it directly
Satire
the use of humour, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.
Pun
a joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words which sound alike but have different meanings.
Antithesis
a person or thing that is the direct opposite of someone or something else.
Oxymoron
a figure of speech that combines contradictory words with opposing meanings
Paradox
Seeming contradiction with underlying truth.
Example: Sometimes you need to be cruel to be kind.
Circumlocution
the use of many words where fewer would do, especially in a deliberate attempt to be vague or evasive.
Verbosity
the fact or quality of using more words than needed; wordiness.
Tautology
the saying of the same thing twice over in different words, generally considered to be a fault of style
Redundancy
the state of being not or no longer needed or useful.
Ambiguity
the quality of being open to more than one interpretation
Cliché
phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought
Denotation
the literal or primary meaning of a word
Connotation
an idea or feeling which a word invokes
Acronym
an abbreviation formed from the initial letters of other words and pronounced as a word (e.g. ASCII, NASA )
Initialism
an abbreviation consisting of initial letters pronounced separately (e.g. BBC ).
Style
Style is the diction, like is it persuasive or emotive language
And what type of writing it is. For example, narrative, descriptive, expository(informative)
Tone
the mood implied by an author’s word choice and the way that the text can make a reader feel.
Mood
the general feeling or atmosphere that a piece of writing creates within the reader
Register
Register is the level of formality in a piece of writing.
Formal - Jargan which is hobby or job specific no contractions etc
Informal - Colloquial
Intention
thing intended; an aim or plan.
Diction
the choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing.
Atmosphere
the character or mood of a place or situation
Abbreviation
An abbreviation is a short form of a word or phrase, made by leaving out some of the letters or by using only the first letter of each word
