Méthodologie du commentaire composé Flashcards
Simile
Comparison used to attract the reader’s attention and describe something in descriptive terms. (‘as’ or ‘like’)
Metaphor
Comparison used to add descriptive meaning to a phrase (without using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’): an implicit mode of comparison.
In Absentia (or Implicit) Metaphor
When the term of comparison is not explicitly mentioned.
Extended metaphor
When the metaphor extends over several lines or pages.
Personification
When human attributes/feelings/behaviour are given to inanimate objects or animals.
Synecdoche
Synecdoche occurs when a part of something is used to refer to the whole.
Metonymy
Linked to the synecdoche, but instead of a part representing the whole, a related object or part of a related object is used to represent the whole.
Allegory
A character who embodies an abstract notion.
Anaphora
Repetition at the beginning of a line in poetry, or of a sentence in prose.
Polyptoton
Repetition of the same root with various grammatical functions.
Parallelism
Similarity of structure in a pair of related words.
Chiasmus
From the letter chi, X in Greek : ‘criss-cross’ structure.
Alliteration
Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds.
Consonance
Similar to alliteration, but the consonants are at the ends of words: ‘short and sweet’, ‘odds and ends’; almost rhymes.
Assonance
Similar to alliteration, but when vowel sounds are repeated.
Paronomasia
Use of words that are so similar they are almost homophones.
Onomatopoeia
This includes words that sound like their meaning, or imitations of sounds.
Antithesis
This is one of Shakespeare’s favourite stylistic devices. When two opposites are introduced together for contrasting effect.
Oxymoron
Specific kind of antithesis. An oxymoron joins two opposite words in a condensed form.
Scansion
Number and especially the alternation of stress/unstressed syllables.
Beat
Stressed syllable. Symbol is ‘/’ (placed above the syllable)
Off-beat
Unstressed syllable. Symbol is ‘U’ (placed above the syllable)
Metrical feet
Combination of these two types of syllables.
iamb
U / (alternation of an unstressed and a stressed syllable)
Trochee
/ U (stressed – unstressed)
Spondee
/ / (very rare because heavy, and cannot have a whole line made up of this)
Anapest
U U / Very light, emulates dancing
Dactyl
/ U U
Metre
The number of feet in a line. Count → monometer – dimeter – trimeter – tetrameter – pentameter – hexameter…
Structure
Number of stanzas and number of lines in a stanza.
Couplet
2-line stanza
Tercet
3-line stanza
Quatrain
4-line stanza
Quintain or quintet
5-line stanza
Sestet
6-line stanza
Septet
7-line stanza
Octave
8-line stanza
Couplet rhymes
AA BB CC…
Alternate rhymes
AB AB
Introverted / Enclosing rhymes
ABBA
Ballad metre
ABAB or ABCB
Shakespearian sonnet
ABAB CDCD EFEF GG = 3 quatrains of alternate rhymes and a rhyming couplet.
Blank verse
Poem that doesn’t rhyme.
Free verse
Does not follow any rhyme at all.
Prose
Written or spoken language in its ordinary form, without metrical structure.
Pauses
2 kinds in poetry:
- inside a line: caesuras. Where in the line do they fall, and how
does this contribute to meaning?
- between two lines, you usually have a pause that is brought on by the syntax: the syntax follows the metre. But sometimes the sentence goes on without any pause. This creates enjambments, or run-on lines. These are significant → when you notice one you have to try and determine. Why it’s here and what effect it creates?
Building your general outline (plan)
- Synthesise your remarks
- Must answer the problematic
- Parts should be roughly the same length
- Progressive outline
- Never, ever dissociate form and matter
- Never use a ‘linear’ outline
Progressive outline
The easiest, most ‘obvious’ or descriptive analyses should be tackled in the first part; and you must try to end with the most complex and challenging aspects of the text.
Introduction
After the textual analysis and after deciding on the outline. 4 steps:
- Opening sentence, contextualising the text.
- Present the text, explain briefly the structure.
- Problematic
- Announce of the general outline
Body of the commentary
The main idea for each part needs to be clearly stated in an introductory sentence at the beginning of each part. 2 to 4 paragraphs to illustrate the point. Each paragraph must constitute an argument to make the main point of this part; each argument must be based on a close textual analysis.
Conclusion
2 steps:
- Recapitulate
- Widen up the perspective
