Terms

Question 1

Allegory

Answer 1

A story or narrative with two meanings; the obvious or literal meaning that is immediately clear, and a second, usually hidden meaning.

Question 2

Alliteration

Answer 2

Repetition of consonants at the beginning of successive words or within sentences/phrases to create a sense of rhythm, though they can be overdone (as in tongue twisters). Also common in poetry.

Example: “Peter piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”

Question 3

Ambiguity

Answer 3

When something is left to the reader’s imagination. Often this involves the author not stating explicitly what is happening, what has been said

Question 4

Analogy

Answer 4

Uses two similar concepts or ideas to create a relationship or draw comparisons between the two
Example: “A sword is to a warrior as a pen is to a writer.”

Question 5

Antithesis

Answer 5

sentences that contrast each other

example: it was the best of times, it was the worst of times

Question 6

Archetype

Answer 6

An archetype is a stereotypical character that is easy to understand

Question 7

Assonance

Answer 7

Similar to alliteration, however in this case it is vowel sounds that are repeated. This may be at the beginning of words/phrases, or within the words themselves. Very common in poetry.

Example: “A long song.” has a repeated long ‘o’ sound in the last two words that creates assonance

Question 8

Characterisation

Answer 8

The process by which characters are introduced, described and then fully formed through their choices, interactions

Question 9

Connotations

Answer 9

The ideas, feelings or concepts associated with specific words, phrases or situations that go beyond their literal meaning.
Example: ‘Beautiful’ and ‘cute’, while both describing how something is visually appealing, have different connotations. ‘Beautiful’ creates a sense of grace, elegance and maturity, while ‘cute’ is more associated with youth, pettiness and the colour pink

Question 10

Context

Answer 10

The time, place and social setting within which a text was created, including the values of the time, the world events, major topics of discussion, key figures, etc.

Question 11

Dramatic Irony

Answer 11

Any situation wherein the audience is privy to some sort of information that the characters do not know, building audience tension, suspense, etc

Question 12

Euphemism

Answer 12

A mild or ‘proper’ expression used to replace one that is harsh, blunt or otherwise offensive in order to not cause trouble or appear vulgar. Euphemisms are commonly used to more politely refer to topics of an unsanitary, sexual or ‘improper’ nature.

Example: “I have to see a man about a dog.” is often said euphemistically when leaving a room or conversation to go to the toilet.

Question 13

Foil

Answer 13

A foil is another character in a story that specifically contrasts the main character in order to emphasise the main character’s attributes and values or compare the values of the two characters,
eg. draco to harry

Question 14

Figurative Language

Answer 14

Language, words and/or expressions that have meaning beyond their literal interpretation, often used to express links between ideas, characters and concepts or subtly tie into overall themes.

Question 15

Fractured Sentences

Answer 15

Incomplete or broken off sentences used most commonly in dialogue to replicate regular speech patterns and being cut off or trailing off while speaking

Question 16

Hyperbole

Answer 16

The purposeful over-exaggeration of a statement in order to create a more intense or over-the-top effect.
eg. so exhausted i couldn’t move if i tried

Question 17

Imagery

Answer 17

Words used to create an idea or mental image of something, most often found in descriptions or created through descriptive language.

Question 18

Intertextuality

Answer 18

This occurs when one text makes reference to another text, either obviously or in a more subtle way

Question 19

Irony

Answer 19

A disconnect between what is said and what is meant, usually with the words said having a second insulting, humorous or satirical meaning.

Question 20

Juxtaposition

Answer 20

Placing one character, idea, theme, object, setting, etc. parallel to another in order to compare and contrast the two. This is often done to encourage audiences to think about two things in relation to each other and draw conclusions about how they are similar and/or different, especially in regards to characters.

Question 21

Linear and Non-Linear

Answer 21

his describes the way in which a narrative flows or is told. A linear narrative moves forward in time, directly from point A to point B with events occurring in chronological order. A non-linear narrative may jump from different times, characters, etc. with events occurring out of chronological order.

Question 22

Metaphor

Answer 22

Comparing two things by saying that one ‘is’ the other in order to draw stronger comparisons and often add a level of figurative meaning.

Question 23

Metonymy

Answer 23

The act of referring to something not by its actual name but by a figurative name or the name of something associated with it. Many everyday phrases are examples of metonymy.

Example: “Lend me your ears!” (Julius Ceasar) in which ‘ears’ is used in place of ‘attention’,

Question 24

Modality

Answer 24

The strength or force of a word, which low modality words being passive while high modality words are forceful.
eg. u might wanna do this, or, u must do this

Question 25

Mood or Tone

Answer 25

Mood is similar to atmosphere, however it focuses more on the emotional or mental feeling the author has towards certain subjects or ideas and how they express that in the text.

Question 26

Motifs

Answer 26

A motif is an idea, symbol, object, concept or theme that is always present throughout an entire text, playing a significant and/or symbolic role in the narrative

Question 27

Omission

Answer 27

What is left out of a text – missing scenes, fade to blacks, conversations only mentioned in passing

Question 28

Onomatopoeia

Answer 28

A word that it the ‘sound’ of what it represents, allowing the reader to ‘hear’ what is occurring. eg. squeek screech

Question 29

Oxymoron

Answer 29

Two contradictory words or concepts used together to create a strange or complex thing/idea that still makes sense. Oxymorons tend to add an extra level of meaning to the concepts discussed and are often used as descriptors. Common in poetry.

Example: “Eyes burning cold.”

Question 30

Parallels

Answer 30

This involves setting up two characters, situations, settings or ideas to be parallel to one another, reflecting each other but having different outcomes

Question 31

Pathetic Fallacy

Answer 31

This involves giving any non-human object or nature some kind of human feelings or senses. It’s a more specific from of personification.

Question 32

Personification

Answer 32

The attributing of human characteristics to non-human objects, by which inanimate objects appear to have life and/or feelings. This is often used in figurative descriptive language and is common in poetry.

Question 33

Sibilance

Answer 33

A specific from of alliteration involving the repetition of ‘s’ within a phrase or sentence eg susie sells sea shells by the sea shore

Question 34

Simile

Answer 34

Comparing two objects, and object and a person, etc. using ‘like’ or ‘as’ to draw parallels between them. eg. she was as cold as ice.