Techniques Flashcards
Simile
A figure of speech involving the comparison if one thing with another, example; as brave as a lion
Metaphor
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
Imagery
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…
Personification
A thing, an idea or an animal is given human attributes. Example; the flowers danced in the gentle breeze
Hyperbole
Exaggeration of ideas for the sake of emphasis. Example; she is as heavy as an elephant
Irony
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
Onomatopoeia
A word which imitates the natural sounds of a thing. Example; the buzzing bee flew away
Repetition
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
Symbolism
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.
Juxtaposition
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’)
Oxymoron
When two words that are not normally associated with each other are brought together. Example: cold heat
Dissonance
A discordant combination of sounds placed together. Example: the clash, spew and slow pang of grinding waves against the quay
Enjambent
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
Assonance
When the same vowel sound is repeated but the consonants are different. Example: A cool, foolish look
Alliteration
Repetition of sounds or letters at the start of a word, in two or more words in close proximity. Example; ‘tyger tyger, burning bright’
Cliché
An over used, common expression. Example; opposites attract
Ellipsis
The three dots (…) usually used to symbolise dramatic effect, or doubt
Emotive language
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)
Anecdote
An interesting or unique story or personal account. Can develop ideas, demonstrate elements of a character’s personality or add to their world
Contrast
Deliberate positioning of two or more objects, events, characters who have different characteristics. Example; Henry, old and stern and Hal, wild, unpredictable and intelligent.
Intertextuality
When a text makes references to other texts.
Foreshadowing
An allusion to something that will happen later in the narrative
Modality
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”
Allusion
A subtle or indirect reference to another thing, text, historical period or religious belief.
Ambiguity
A statement or aspect of the text that lacks clear meaning
Analogy
Comparison of two things for the purpose of explanation or clarification
Consonance
Repetition of consonants throughout a sentence or a phrase
Motif
Image, sound, figure, character archetype or object which has a symbolic reference to a particular idea or theme
Dialect
A form of English spoken by a certain group from a particular region e.g. Australian English, American English, Scottish English, Cockney English etc
Didactic
Any texts that instructs a reader, or obviously portrays a moral message
Paradox
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)
Parody
Conscious imitation for a satiric purpose e.g. Chris Lilley shows
Tone
The way a character or composer feels, conveyed by word choice
