Literary Techniques Flashcards
Imagery
The image a writer creates using words
Personification
Describing an object, animal or idea as if it were a person
Contrast/juxtaposition
Placing two opposing ideas next to each other
Oxymoron
Two complete opposites used together to create a new meaning e.g bitter sweet
Symbolism
Using something to represent something else
Simile
When the writer compares two things using like or as
Metaphor
When something is said to be something else, stronger than a simile e.g “ a blanket of mist”
Hyperbole
Extreme exaggeration
Ambiguity
Where words/ sentences have more than one meaning
Rhetorical question
A statement disguised as a question ; a question that doesn’t need a response
Alliteration
Repetition of the same letter at the beginning of a series of words
Onomatopoeia
Words whose sound imitate their meaning e.g bang! Clap!
Assonance
Repetition of vowel sounds
Consonance
Repetition of consonants
Sibilance
Repetition of the “s” sound e.g she sells sea shells on the sea shore
Allegory
A story in which the characters and events are symbols that stand for ideas about human life or society
Colloquial
Slang, maybe be used in a story or poem to make it more informal or personal
Irony
Using words humorously or sarcastically implying the opposite of what they mean
Tone
The atmosphere or feeling of a story or poem e.g sadness, joy, anxiety, regret, anger
Lexical set
A group of words belonging to the same topic e.g haunt, ghost, nightmare
Semantic field
A set of words related in meaning e.g love, passion, affection
Connotation
Concepts associated to certain words/objects/ideas
Pathetic fallacy
Putting emotions or characteristics to nature, to make a scene more foreboding or dramatic
Satire
A work containing heavy sarcasm and humour to criticise an element of society or politics
