Language devices Flashcards
Pathetic fallacy
When the weather or atmosphere describes the mood
e.g.
weather - if its sunny people are happy
atmosphere - dark night - evil, nasty atmosphere
Personification
When a non human is given human features
e.g. the pen sitting on the table
Simile
Compare 2 things using like or as
Metaphor
Compare 2 things mostly using is or are - not using like or as
Extended metaphor
Like a normal metaphor but longer over a few sentences. you just explain how
Oxymoron
When you have 2 opposite words side by side
e.g. The small giant
Juxtaposition
When you have 2 opposite ideas - You do this by getting an oxymoron and explain how
e.g.
A butler spends his days in a beautiful mansion dressed in a tuxedo, but returns home to a closet-sized apartment in a rundown part of town.
Symbolism
Objects are linked and present meaning
e.g.
If I wear a mask people will think covid
If I have popcorn people will think movies
Semantic field
Words across an extract can be linked to 1 idea
e.g.
Ring, gloves, punch, referee - These all represent boxing
Irony
Events in the text itself even surprises the characters
Rhetorical question
Question that doesn’t require an answer
Hyperbole
Over exaggerate
Assonance
Vowels - a, e, I, o, and u
Repetition of vowel sounds
e.g.
Light the fire - repeated - I
I’m too cool for school - Repeated - O
Sibilance
Words in a row begin with S latter
Euphemism
Say something in an indirect matter
e.g.
He passed away - indirect way
He died - Direct way
