subject terminology Flashcards
Adjective
Describes a noun, gives more information about it
Beautiful, stunning, disgraceful, angry
An autobiography
a person’s life story written by themselves.
Adverb
Describes a verb, gives more information about it.
Angrily, happily, joyfully
Allegory
A type of writing in which the settings, characters, or events stand for other, often
larger ideas
The novel Animal Farm appears to be about a group of animals, but they represent larger ideas about revolution and politic
Alliteration
The same letter or sound at the beginning of words close to each other.
Brilliant birds
Slithering snake
Sweet birds sang
Allusion
Making reference to people, places, events, literary works, myths, or works of art
‘Don’t be such a Scrooge’
‘Is there a good Samaritan who can
help me?
Anaphora
Repetition of a word or phrase at the
beginning of successive sentences, phrases
or clauses
‘It was the best of times, it was the
worst of times
Antithesis
A person or thing that is the direct
opposite of someone or something else
Love is the antithesis of hate
Assonance
When two or more words close to one
another repeat the same vowel sound but
start with different consonant sounds.
We light fire on the mountain.
I feel depressed and restless.
Characterisation
How a character is introduced and
developed, through what the writer
informs us about them
‘the noble Harry Potter’
‘good Harry Potter’
Cliché
A phrase or opinion that is overused and
shows a lack of original thought.
Time heals all wounds
Frightened to death
Colloquialism
The use of informal words, phrases or even
slang.
Wanna
Gonna
Go nuts
Connotation
The feelings or associations suggested by
words/phrases. These can help to find the
hidden meaning.
The word ‘discipline’ has unhappy
connotations of punishment and
repression
Figurative language
Using figures of speech (metaphor, simile, hyperbole, personification) to be more effective, persuasive or impactful
Metaphors, similes, hyperbole,
personification
Foreboding
When it is implied that something bad or
dangerous will happen
Dark clouds could suggest that trouble is on the way
Foreshadowing
Suggesting what is to come later in the piece of writing through imagery, language and/or symbolism
‘take care of yourselves - and don’t
leave the path!’
Hyperbole
Deliberate exaggeration (often used to persuade).
‘I’ve told you a thousand times not
to do that’
Imagery
Visually descriptive language (‘painting a picture with words’)
The night was black as ever, but
bright stars lit up the sky
Irony
Using language that normally signifies the opposite of what you actually mean, typically for humorous or emphatic effect. A state of affairs or an event that seems to be the opposite to what we expect.
“Don’t go overboard with
gratitude” – to someone who
hasn’t said thank you.
You laugh at a person who slipped
stepping on a banana peel and the
next thing you know, you’ve
slipped too.
idiom
an expression
Juxtaposition
Two contrasting ideas placed close
together
It was the best of times, it was the
worst of times.
Metaphor
Saying something is something else. A direct comparison which is not meant literally.
He is winter.
The house was a pocket of tension.
Narrative voice
How the story is told to the reader, the point of view from which we hear the events that happen
‘I’m going to share a story with
you…’
Onomatopoeia
The formation of a word from an associated sound (a ‘sound effect’)
Bang
Crash
Sizzle
Oxymoron
A phrase using contradictory terms (words placed together which mean the opposite to one another).
organised mess
controlled chaos
adult child
loving hate
Pathetic fallacy
The use of weather (or another part of nature) to express emotions of a scene or character.
‘When shall we three meet again?
In thunder, lightning or in rain’
Personification
Using human characteristics to describe something non-human.
“The clock face stared at me
menacingly.”
Prefix
Added at the beginning of a word in order to turn it into another word.
Un e.g. unlucky
Dis e.g. disorder
Pronoun
Replaces a noun or noun phrase
I, you, we, he, she, me, my, our, your
Repetition
Repeating a sound, word, phrase or stanza for effect.
‘Tomorrow and tomorrow and
tomorrow’ ’
Rhetorical
question
A question which does not require an answer
‘How many times have I told you
not to do that?’
Semantic field
When a group of words all link to one overall theme.
Semantic field of nature
flowers
plants
trees
grass
leaves
Simile
The comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, using ‘like’ or ‘as.’
As bright as a button
As fierce as a lion
Like the wild sea
Suffix
to turn it into another word.
-ment e.g. embarrassment
-ness e.g. sadness
Syllable
Sounds like a beat in a word. Syllables consist of at least one vowel, and possibly one or more consonants.
ha-ppy (2 syllables)
pos-i-tive (3 syllables)
com-pli-ca-ted (4 syllables)
Symbolism
Where the writer uses a ‘thing’ (usually a physical object) to represent deeper meanings or themes.
Harry Potter’s scar is a symbol of
his bravery
Bears are often seen as symbols of
courage
Syntax
The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences
The boy jumped happily
Happily, the boy jumped (here the
syntax is varied)
Tone
The writer’s attitude or emotion conveyed through the text
(e.g., sarcastic, optimistic).
Example: A sarcastic tone might show the writer’s criticism of an idea.
Tricolon (Rule of Three)
A trio of words, phrases, or clauses to create a memorable effect.
Example: “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Epistrophe
Repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses or sentences.
Example: “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.”
Anecdote
A brief personal story to illustrate a point.
Example: “When I was a child, I learned the value of hard work by helping on the family farm.”
Bias
A writer’s preference or prejudice towards a particular viewpoint.
Example: “This article shows clear bias towards renewable energy.”
Statistics/Data
Use of numerical evidence to support an argument.
Example: “90% of people agree that climate change is a critical issue.”
Juvenalian Satire - HISTORY
Harsh, biting satire to criticize or mock.
Example: A political cartoon exposing corruption.
paradox
