Language Techniques Flashcards
Pathetic fallacy
Where the weather/atmosphere described the mood.
E.g a ‘dark night’ brings an evil/nasty atomsphere.
Personification
When a non human object is given human qualities
Simile
When you compare two things using ‘as’ or ‘like’
Metaphor
Compare two things using ‘is’ or ‘are’
Extended metaphor
When you use a metaphor and then continue to talk about the metaphor. E.g ‘life is a rollercoaster, it has many ups and downs’
Oxymoron
Two opposite words side by side, e,g the ‘small giant’
Juxtaposition
When you have two opposing/contrasting ideas. Basically a extended oxymoron
Symbolism
Where an object being described presents a meaning. E.g a face mask makes you think of COVID.
Semantic field
When words/phrases are linked to a feeling/idea.
Irony
When events in a text even suprises a character in the book
Rehtorical question
A question in a piece of writing that doesn’t require an answer
Hyperbole
Overexaggerating what is happening
Assonance
The repitition of vowels. E.g ‘to cool for school’
Alliteration
When words in a row begin with the same letter
Sibilance
When words in a row begin with the letter ‘s’
Euphemism
When you say something in a indirect mannor. E.g ‘you’ve not got long left’
Emotive language
When the writer makes a reader feel a particular feeling
Onomatopoeia
Words that describe sounds. E.g ‘the door was slammed shut’
Triplet
3 words of phrases in a row to describe something
Plosives
The repition of a harsh sound
Zoomorphism
Giving a person animal features
Repition
When the writer repeats a word of phrase. Can also be a structual device
Nouns,verbs,adjective,adverbs
Not sophisticated, use as a worst case scenario
Past participle
A verb which ends with ‘-ed’
Present participle…
Words that end in ‘-ing’
Anthropomophism
When you give an animal qualities of a human.
Proleptic irony
A term given to something which later on proves to be ironic.
What is a superlative?
An adjective showing the highest quality of degree. E.g biggest
What is imagery?
Vivid description of a particular scene
Auditory imagery is….
Vivid descriptions of sounds
Tactile imagery is….
Vivid descriptiom of physicsl sensation.
Olfactory imagery is….
Vivid description of smell
Gustatory imagery is…..
Vivid description of taste/flavour
Allusion…
This is an indirect or direct refernce to a person, place or event.
Sensory imagery….
Where some or all of the 5 human senses are used to describe/give an image of something.
Caesura is….
A pause which occurs within a line of poetry. This can have many effects depending on when its used, and in what context.
Free verse
This is where the verse in poetry is different from the common rhyme used within the play.
Enjambment is…..
The continuation of a clause or sentance across of a line break in poetry.
A pun is…
Is where a play on words is used, usually to convey a joke.
An idiom is….
A widely used saying or phrase which has a figurative meaning. E.g when you’re ill you say you’re feeling ‘under the weather’.
An allegory is….
An extended metaphor where something in a narrative is equated to something that’s outside of the narrative.
An anachronism is….
Where someone or something assosiated with a different time in history is placed in the wrong time frame.
An analogy is….
A comparison which points out the similarities between two things. E.g their features
An anaphora is….
Repition is a word or words at the beginning of consecutive phrases.
A visual rhyme is….
Where two words are spelled similarly but they’re pronounced differently.
Dramatic irony is when….
When the audience and readers know more than just what the characters in the play know.
What is situational irony?
This is when something happens which is totally different to what was exptected to happen.
What is verbal irony?
When a speaker says something through dialogue, but means something different. Contrasts what is actually happening.
What is a paradox?
When you say a phrase that contradicts itself, but also contains an element of truth.
What is Antithesis?
A person or thing that is a direct opposite of something else.
