Techniques - Language Flashcards

1
Q

alliteration

A

the repetition of the same sound or letter at the beginning of words in close succession

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2
Q

allegory

A

a story, character, place, or event is used to convey a hidden meaning, typically moral or political, about real-world events or issues
e.g. his death is an allegory for the risk of killing kings

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3
Q

allusion

A

an indirect reference to another event, person or work which the writer assumes the reader is familiar with

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4
Q

antithesis

A

the direct opposite of a concept of person

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5
Q

archetype

A

a person or thing who is a typical example of something, usually a personality type, with clear, recognisable characteristics

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6
Q

bathos

A

an anti-climax which is abrupt; usually humour that comes from an odd and sudden change in tone

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7
Q

biblical

A

language that relates to the bible and thus has religious connotations

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8
Q

blazon

A

a poem in which the speaker describes a woman’s physique by focusing on and listing various individual parts of a woman’s body

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9
Q

caricature

A

an imitation where particular notable characteristics are exaggerated to a comic or grotesque effect

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10
Q

colloquialism

A

an informal word or phrase used in normal or familiar conversation

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11
Q

comic relief

A

relief from tension caused by the introduction of a comedic element

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12
Q

connotation

A

an impression, idea, or feeling associated with a word or phrase beyond its literal meaning

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13
Q

dichotomy

A

a division or contrast between two opposed things

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14
Q

dramatic irony

A

when the audience knows more about a situation than the characters discussing or experiencing it, meaning they know whether a character’s prediction or statement is correct

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15
Q

double entendre

A

words or phrases that have a double meaning and is deliberately ambiguous, especially when one of the meanings is risqué
e.g. in Elizabethan England, “die” referred to both death and orgasm

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16
Q

dysphemism

A

the substitution of a more offensive term for one considered less so

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17
Q

epithet

A

a word or phrase applied to a person to describe an actual or credited quality
e.g. “star crossed lovers”

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18
Q

epitome

A

a perfect example of a specific quality

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19
Q

epizeuxis

A

the repetition of words in succession within the same sentence

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20
Q

euphemsism

A

the substitution of a harmless term of one that is considered as offensively risqué or explicit

21
Q

extended metaphor

A

a metaphor that continues over many sentences and could even extend throughout the entire play

22
Q

foreshadowing

A

a device in which an author suggests certain plot developments that might come later in the play

23
Q

grotesque

A

ugly and distorted, physically or figuratively, in a way that is comic or repulsive

24
Q

hyperbole

A

an extravagant exaggeration of fact, used either for serious or comic effect

25
ideology
a system of beliefs and ideals, typically forming a framework for a political policy or a religion
26
imagery
use of language which is visually descriptive or symbolic
27
innuendo
an implicit remark or hint, particularly one that is supposed to be suggestive or inappropriate
28
interjection
a sudden remark, used often as an interruption or aside in a text
29
irony
the use of words where the meaning is contrary to what is expected to actually occur
30
juxtaposition
a literary technique that places two opposing words, phrases or events side by side, often for the main purpose of comparing or contrasting them e.g. "here's much to do with hate but more to do with love"
31
metaphor
describing a person, object, or concept as something it cannot literally be, but that has recognisable and defining implications for it
32
manifestation
a physical expression or realisation of an abstract idea through a character, object, place, or event
33
motif
an element that reoccurs, such as a word, phrase, idea, image, action, character or symbol that appears throughout the play for emphasis
34
oxymoron
a form of paradox that combines a pari of contrasting terms into a single sometimes unique expression e.g. "o happy dagger"
35
parable
a story used to teach a moral or spiritual lesson, typically told in the Bible by Jesus
36
parody
imitating a particular style, genre or piece of work with deliberate exaggeration to create a comic effect
37
pathetic fallacy
when human emotions or characteristics are given to objects, nature or the weather
38
personification
giving something non-human a human trait, capability, or personality
39
pun
a play on words which suggest multiple meanings
40
sarcasm
saying the opposite of what one means or something that is obviously not true or reasonable, in order to mock or show contempt
41
satire
using irony, exaggeration, humour, or ridicule to criticise someone's stupidity or cruel behaviour, particularly in a political context
42
semantic field
using words that are linked by a particular concept, context, or connotation throughout a text or section of a text
43
sibilance
the repetition of an "s" sound in a word, sentence, or section of text
44
simile
comparing something to something else in a nonliteral way, in order to convey a particular idea or quality about the original thing
45
situational irony
when the outcome of an event is different than what was expected by the characters and the audience
46
symbolism
using a character, object or event to represent something else, particularly an abstract idea
47
trope
a particular type of character, event, or setting that is used frequently in stories e.g. 'damsel in distress'
48
zoomorphism
imagery repressing animal forms