subject terminology Flashcards
simile
comparing something using like or as. He was as fast as a cheetah.
metaphor
saying something is something else; a direct comparison, not meant literally
extended metaphor
exactly the same as a normal metaphor, but you’ll see the same idea repeating over multiple sentences, lines, paragraphs (or stanzas). Think:
You’re a lion. When you speak, you roar. You’re the king of the jungle, the bravest of the beasts.
personification
(or Anthropomorphism), applying human characteristics to objects, Gods or things. i.e. the angry sea.
zoomorphism
Zoomorphism is when you give humans (or other things!) animal features, i.e. he growled with wolfish hunger
pathetic fallacy
when human emotions are applied to things (often found in nature), i.e. the “angry sky” or “the wind whispered through the trees”. Usually done to set the tone or reflect the mood of characters.
assonance
repeating vowel sounds (not necessarily rhyming though) – the house is out-rowed with the louts and crows
anecdote
a short story from personal experience. Like that time you missed the bus, got soaked in the rain, then had to cycle all the way to school. You know?
irony
– Something contrary to what you might expect. Alanis Morissette knows it (or not, as the case may be)
onomatopoeia
words that sound like what they are. Bang, clap, thud….etc
sibilance
a repeated ‘s’ sound – either at the start, or in the middle of words (N.B. ‘c’ can sometimes sound like an s!)
colloquial language
informal or slang words and phrases (i.e. just how you’d speak everyday!). Think wanna rather than “want to”.
connotation
Like word associations… think of a lovely word cloud, hovering over you.
semantic field
When a group of words all link to one overall theme
sensory detail
Sight, sound, taste, touch, smell.
euphemism
A polite way of saying something often taboo or controversial
double entendre
When a word or phrase has two meanings, one of which is often rude. Shakespeare had loads of them!
emotive language
Powerful describing words or adjectives
figurative language
the creative use of words or phrases to create a special meaning, that isn’t literally what they say.
evocative verb
A doing word which sounds particularly powerful . The cat slinked, crawled, darted – rather than just walked.
evoking or tending to evoke an especially emotional response
allusion
making reference to people, places, events, literary work, myths, or works of art
allegory
A type of writing in which the settings, characters, and events stand for other, often larger ideas. i.e. Animal Farm about capitalism vs. communism
didactic
Intended to teach, instruct, or have a moral lesson for the reader. Think about Aesop’s Fables…. The tortoise and the Hare
hyperbolic language
Exaggerating – it was the worst day ever in the history of the universe!
