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IB English > Poetry: Devices and figurative language > Flashcards

Poetry: Devices and figurative language Flashcards

1
Q

enjambement

A

a run-on line, continuing into the next without a grammatical break
(no comma at the end of a line)

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2
Q

metaphor

A

a figure of speech which makes a direct comparison of unlike objects using identification or substitution

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3
Q

simile

A

a figure of speech which makes a direct comparison of two unlike objects, using the works like or as

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4
Q

Conceit

A

an extended metaphor, used to create a powerful effect

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5
Q

personification

A

giving objects/animals human qualities

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6
Q

apostrophe

A

an address to a person or personified object not present (or dead)

(Oh sun, please shine on my flowers)

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7
Q

Metonymy

A

the substitution of a word which relates to the object or person to be named in place of the name itself

(not part of the whole)
(the SERPENT lied to me)

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8
Q

Synecdoche

A

a part of something represents the whole object/idea (unlike metonymy)

(the TONGUE lied to me)

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9
Q

hyperbole

A

an exaggeration/overstatement for effect

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10
Q

litotes

A

a form of understatement in which the negative of an antonym is used to achieve emphasis and intensity

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11
Q

irony

A

the contrast between actual meaning and another meaning

verbal: oral
dramatic: audience knowledge vs character knowledge
situational: unexpected outcome of a situation

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12
Q

symbolism

A

the use of one object to suggest another, hidden object/idea

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13
Q

imagery

A

the use of words to represent things/actions/ideas by sensory description

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14
Q

paradox

A

a seemingly self-contradictory statement that underlines a basis of truth

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15
Q

oxymoron

A

contradictory terms used together to expressed a paradox for strong effect

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16
Q

allusion

A

a reference to an outside fact, event or another source

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17
Q

Allegory

A

a story or narrative, often told at some length, which has a deeper meaning below the surface

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18
Q

Ambiguity

A

use of language where the meaning is unclear or has two or more possible interpretations or meanings

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19
Q

Ambivalence

A

indicates more than one possible attitude is being displayed by the writer towards a character, theme, or idea, etc

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20
Q

Anachronism

A

something that is historically inaccurate

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21
Q

Anthropomorphism

A

the endowment of something that is not human with human characteristics

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22
Q

Antithesis

A

contrasting ideas or words that are balanced against each other

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23
Q

Archaic

A

language that is old-fashioned - not completely obsolete but no longer in current use

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24
Q

Atmosphere

A

the prevailing mood created by a piece of writing

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25
Caricature
a character described through the exaggeration of a small number of features that he or she possesses
26
Catharsis
a purging of the emotions which takes place at the end of a tragedy
27
Cliché
a phrase, idea, or image that has been used so much that it has lost much of its original meaning, impact, and freshness
28
Colloquial
ordinary, everyday speech and language
29
Comedy
originally simply a play or other work which ended happily. Now we use this term to describe something that is funny and which makes us laugh.
30
Connotation
an implication or association attached to a word or phrase
31
Denouement
the ending of a play, novel, or drama where 'all is revealed' and the plot is unraveled
32
Diction
the choice of words that a writer makes
33
Didactic
a work that is intended to preach or teach, often containing a particular moral or political point
34
Dramatic monologue
a poem or prose piece in which a character addresses an audience
35
End Stopping
a verse line with a pause or a stop at the end of it
36
Euphemism
expressing an unpleasant or unsavory idea in a less blunt and more pleasant way
37
Euphony
use of pleasant or melodious sounds
38
Figurative language
language that is symbolic or metaphorical and not meant to be taken literally
39
Lament
a poem expressing intense grief
40
Motif
a dominant theme, subject, or idea which runs through a piece of literature
41
Parody
a work that is written in imitation of another work, very often with the intention of making fun of the original
42
Pastoral
generally, literature concerning rural life with idealizes settings and rustic characters
43
Pathos
the effect in literature which makes the reader feel sadness or pity
44
Pun
a play on words that have similar sounds but quite different meanings
45
Refrain
repetition throughout a poem of a phrase, line, or series of lines, as in the 'chorus' of a song
46
Satire
the highlighting or exposing of human failings or foolishness within a society through ridiculing them
47
Sestet
the last six lines of a sonnet
48
Soliloquy
a speech in which a character, alone on stage, expresses his or her thoughts and feelings aloud for the benefit of the audience, often in a revealing way
49
Style
the individual way in which a writer has used language to express his or her ideas
50
Syntax
the way in which sentences are structured
51
Theme
the central idea or ideas that the writer explores through a text
52
tone
a literary technique created through the combined effects of a number of features, such as diction, syntax, rhythm, etc
53
caesura
a break within a line of verse
54
carpe diem
saying that means to make the most of the present and give little thought to the future
55
chiasmus
inverted words
56
description
text that explains/describes something to help the reader visualize it
57
dues ex machina
God's hand/unexcepted force changes a seemingly hopeless situation
58
digression
a temporary departure from the main subject in speech or writing.
59
ellipsis
the omission of word(s) that are significant/necessary in a sentence series of dots
60
epigraph
a short quotation or saying at the beginning of a book or chapter, intended to suggest its theme
61
epilogue
a conclusion
62
epiphany
when a character receives sudden insight
63
exposition
explanation of background information to the audience
64
in medias res
middle of a narrative
65
jargon
use of specific phrases in a particular situation/profession for conveying hidden meanings understood in that situation/profession
66
leitmotif
a repeating theme associated with a person, idea or situation
67
lyrical
a work that can be sung, or a work with an enthusiastic tone
68
myth
a legend/traditional story about an event/hero/gods with little factual explanations
69
nom de plume
a pen name
70
parable
a simple story with a moral/spiritual lesson
71
parallelism
the balance in one or more sentences that are grammatically identical (ex: the -ing, -ing, -ing)
72
persona
the character/speaker in a first-person poem
73
syllogism
a conclusion derived from using reason on previous statements Usually a flawed conclusion
74
volta
in an Italian sonnet, the point when the feelings changes; usually between the octave and the sestet

IB English (8 decks)

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