Techniques

Question 1

Simile

Answer 1

A figure of speech involving the comparison if one thing with another, example; as brave as a lion

Question 2

Metaphor

Answer 2

Describes an object or action in a way that isn’t literally true, but helps explain an idea or make a comparison; example; the black sheep

Question 3

Imagery

Answer 3

Language used to create images in the mind of the reader, types include visual, auditory, tactile, smell and taste. Example; the night was as black as ever…

Question 4

Personification

Answer 4

A thing, an idea or an animal is given human attributes. Example; the flowers danced in the gentle breeze

Question 5

Hyperbole

Answer 5

Exaggeration of ideas for the sake of emphasis. Example; she is as heavy as an elephant

Question 6

Irony

Answer 6

A difference between appearance and reality, whether it be in words or situations that characters are involved in. Example; the name of Britain’s biggest dog is Tiny

Question 7

Onomatopoeia

Answer 7

A word which imitates the natural sounds of a thing. Example; the buzzing bee flew away

Question 8

Repetition

Answer 8

Repeats the same words or phrases a few times to make an idea clearer and more memorable. Example; if you think you can do it, you can do it

Question 9

Symbolism

Answer 9

The use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities, by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense. Example; they dressed in black for the funeral of their friend.

Question 10

Juxtaposition

Answer 10

Two or more ideas, places, characters, and their actions are placed side by side, for the purpose of developing comparisons and contrasts. Example: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness…” (Dickens ‘A Tale of Two Cities’)

Question 11

Oxymoron

Answer 11

When two words that are not normally associated with each other are brought together. Example: cold heat

Question 12

Dissonance

Answer 12

A discordant combination of sounds placed together. Example: the clash, spew and slow pang of grinding waves against the quay

Question 13

Enjambent

Answer 13

Used in poetry, when a sentence continues on past the line or verse. Often used to maintain a sense of continuation from one line/stanza to another

Question 14

Assonance

Answer 14

When the same vowel sound is repeated but the consonants are different. Example: A cool, foolish look

Question 15

Alliteration

Answer 15

Repetition of sounds or letters at the start of a word, in two or more words in close proximity. Example; ‘tyger tyger, burning bright’

Question 16

Cliché

Answer 16

An over used, common expression. Example; opposites attract

Question 17

Ellipsis

Answer 17

The three dots (…) usually used to symbolise dramatic effect, or doubt

Question 18

Emotive language

Answer 18

Words that stir the reader’s emotions. Example; ‘How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable/Seem to me all the uses of this world!’ (Shakespeare’s Hamlet)

Question 19

Anecdote

Answer 19

An interesting or unique story or personal account. Can develop ideas, demonstrate elements of a character’s personality or add to their world

Question 20

Contrast

Answer 20

Deliberate positioning of two or more objects, events, characters who have different characteristics. Example; Henry, old and stern and Hal, wild, unpredictable and intelligent.

Question 21

Intertextuality

Answer 21

When a text makes references to other texts.

Question 22

Foreshadowing

Answer 22

An allusion to something that will happen later in the narrative

Question 23

Modality

Answer 23

The certainty which a speaker will use in their language. High modality- certainty “It will hail today”, semi modality- a doubt that something should occur will occur “It ought to rain today”, low modality- uncertainty “It may rain today”

Question 24

Allusion

Answer 24

A subtle or indirect reference to another thing, text, historical period or religious belief.

Question 25

Ambiguity

Answer 25

A statement or aspect of the text that lacks clear meaning

Question 26

Analogy

Answer 26

Comparison of two things for the purpose of explanation or clarification

Question 27

Consonance

Answer 27

Repetition of consonants throughout a sentence or a phrase

Question 28

Motif

Answer 28

Image, sound, figure, character archetype or object which has a symbolic reference to a particular idea or theme

Question 29

Dialect

Answer 29

A form of English spoken by a certain group from a particular region e.g. Australian English, American English, Scottish English, Cockney English etc

Question 30

Didactic

Answer 30

Any texts that instructs a reader, or obviously portrays a moral message

Question 31

Paradox

Answer 31

A statement that is self contradictory or logically unacceptable but has valid reasoning e.g. War is peace, freedom is slavery and ignorance is strength (Orwell’s 1984)

Question 32

Parody

Answer 32

Conscious imitation for a satiric purpose e.g. Chris Lilley shows

Question 33

Tone

Answer 33

The way a character or composer feels, conveyed by word choice