Techniques Flashcards
What is imagery in a text?
Descriptive language that appeals to the five senses, creating vivid pictures in the reader’s mind (e.g., “The golden sun sank behind the hills”).
How can you identify simile?
Look for comparisons using “like” or “as” (e.g., “Her smile was as bright as the sun”).
What is metaphor?
A figure of speech where something is described as if it is something else to suggest similarity (e.g., “Time is a thief”).
What is personification?
Giving human qualities to non-human objects or abstract ideas (e.g., “The wind whispered through the trees”).
What is alliteration?
The repetition of the same consonant sounds at the beginning of nearby words (e.g., “She sells seashells by the seashore”).
What is onomatopoeia?
Words that imitate the sounds they describe (e.g., “buzz,” “bang,” “whisper”).
How do you recognize hyperbole?
It’s an exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally (e.g., “I’ve told you a million times”).
What is irony?
A situation or statement where the actual meaning is opposite to what is expected or said (e.g., calling a very tall person “Tiny”).
How can you spot symbolism?
Look for objects, characters, or events that represent something more than their literal meaning (e.g., a dove often symbolizes peace).
What is oxymoron?
A combination of contradictory or opposing words (e.g., “bittersweet,” “deafening silence”).
How do you identify repetition in a text?
Look for words or phrases that are repeated to emphasize an idea or feeling (e.g., “Never, never give up”).
What is rhetorical question?
A question asked for effect, not meant to be answered (e.g., “Who doesn’t love a sunny day?”).
What is foreshadowing?
A technique where the author gives hints or clues about what will happen later in the story.
How do you recognize juxtaposition?
When two contrasting ideas, characters, or images are placed side by side to highlight their differences (e.g., “darkness and light”).
What is tone, and how can you identify it?
Tone refers to the writer’s attitude toward the subject, which can be identified through word choice (e.g., formal, sarcastic, hopeful).
What is mood, and how do you recognize it?
The mood is the emotional atmosphere of a text, created through descriptions and setting (e.g., suspenseful, gloomy, joyful).
What is contrast?
Highlighting differences between two ideas, objects, or characters (e.g., “The cold, gray streets contrasted with the warm, lively market”).
What is anaphora?
The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses (e.g., “We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds”).
What is parallelism?
The use of similar grammatical structures or patterns in successive sentences to create rhythm or emphasis (e.g., “She likes cooking, jogging, and reading”).
What is emotive language?
Words or phrases used to evoke an emotional response from the reader (e.g., “heartbreaking,” “devastating,” “joyous”).
What is allusion?
A reference to another text, person, event, or place (e.g., “He’s a real Romeo” refers to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet).
What is assonance?
The repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words (e.g., “The light of the fire is a sight”).
What is consonance?
The repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of words (e.g., “The lumpy, bumpy road”).
What is euphemism?
A mild or indirect word or expression used to replace one considered harsh or blunt (e.g., “passed away” instead of “died”).
