super duper important definitions Flashcards
define ‘personification’
a literary technique where human qualities are given to non human objects or ideas.
define ‘soliloquy’
a speech in a play where a character talks to themselves, revealing their inner thoughts and feelings. often used to provide insight into the characters mind and emotions.
define ‘juxtaposition’
placing two things side by side to highlight their differences or create a contrast.
define ‘simile’
a figure of speech that compares two different things using the words ‘like’ and ‘as’ to highlight a similarity between them.
define ‘metaphor’
a figure of speech that describes something by saying its something else, highlighting a similarity between them.
define ‘euphemism’
a mild or indirect word or phrase used to replace a more direct or harsh one.
define ‘dramatic irony’
when the audience knows something that the characters don’t, creating a contrast between the characters understanding and the reality known by the audience.
define ‘foreshadowing’
a technique where hints or clues are given about what will happen later in the story, building anticipation or suspense.
define ‘sonnet’
a 14 line poem with a specific rhyme scheme and meter, usually written in iambic pentameter.
define ‘hyperbole’
an exaggerated statement or claim not meant to be taken literally but used for emphasis or effect.
define ‘hypothora’
a rhetorical device where a speaker poses a question and then immediately answers it. it’s used to engage the audience and guide their thinking.
define ‘antithesis’
a rhetorical device where two opposing ideas are placed close together in a sentence or phrase to highlight their contrast.
define ‘oxymoron’
a figure of speech where two contradicting words are combined to create a paradoxical effect.
define ‘chiasmus’
a rhetorical device where two or more clauses are balanced against each other by reversing their structure.
define ‘anaphora’
a rhetorical device where the same word or phrase is repeated at the beginning of successive sentences or clauses.
