Unfamiliar (H) Flashcards
Rhyme
The ends of words have the same sound. Usually at the ends of lines in poetry, but may be internal (within a line).
Makes the text memorable and can make poems amusing.
Can tie together the middle and end of verses.
Rhythm
A regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.
Makes the text as a whole more memorable and
makes it flow better.
Alliteration
Repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of words - usually close in succession.
Makes small sections of the text hang together and flow better.
Draws our attention to this phrase.
Creates a harder or softer mood in line with the meaning (hard
consonants are b d kpqt, soft are f hilmnsvw yz, while c and g
can be either hard or soft)
Assonance
Vowel sounds are repeated at the beginning or middle of nearby words.
Makes small sections of the text hang together and flow better. Draws our attention to this phrase. Repetition of vowels generally gives a soft, quiet, calm mood unless the sounds are the short vowels, eg in cat, pet, pin, off, cup.
onomatopoeia
Words sound like the sounds they name.
This helps us hear the actual sound being named and therefore we understand it properly or it transports us to the place of the sound.
Repetition
Repeating the same or nearly the same words for effect.
This is used to
emphasize whatever is being said or written, or to mimic repetition in nature.
Simile
An image which compares two things using like or as
All imagery gives the person/animal/thing being described the characteristics of something else. It therefore enlivens descriptions by helping us to see these people /animals/things in a new light - in a way we may have never seen them or thought about them before
Similes say something is similar to something else.
Metaphor
An image which compares two things without using like or as
All imagery gives the person/animal/thing being described the characteristics of something else. It therefore enlivens descriptions by helping us to see these people/animals/things in a new light- in a way we may have never seen them or thought about them before.
Metaphors are more compact and tighter in their comparative description than similes.
Personification
An image which gives human qualities to non-human things.
Personification makes inanimate objects seem lively and lifelike while it also contributes to our sense of oneness with these inanimate objects.
Jargon
Using more unusual or specialised or technical words
Sometimes, more unusual words provide more specific meaning than common ones. Specialised or technical words make it seem like the writer/speaker really knows the topic.
Slang
Informal language
Grounds the text in informality as well as a certain social group and period of time.
Direct/indirect speech
Quoting or reporting spoken words.
Makes the character come alive. We can “hear” the way s/he speaks - the actual vocab, grammar and tones.
Use of
incorrect grammar
Generally used in direct speech but may also be used in autobiography for particular effect.
Creates an image of the character - helps to define personality and place him/her in a particular educational or social class. Provides authenticity in your writing.
Pun
Word play involving the use of a word with two different meanings or two words that sound the same but mean different things.
Often used in advertising.
Provokes amusement and therefore a tendency for the reader to feel good about the company / product and possibly to buy the product.
It used by a character, shows that that character is rather clever and witty.
Hyperbole
Deliberate exaggeration
Used for emphasis to get a point across. Also illustrates something of the mood of the speaker/writer.
Rhetorical question
A question that does not expect an answer from the reader or audience.
To get the readers’ / audience’s attention and make them think about the answer before giving it
Symbolism
Use of an object (concrete noun) to represent some emotion or belief system or other abstract noun.
These are a form of shorthand to emotions - an author can use a symbol so that the reader / audience
understands the emotions invested in the object without describing those emotions every time the object is used. Provides the reader with a visual (actual or mental) aide-memoire - something that conjures up certain memories and/or emotions or qualities when s/he sees the symbol.
Neologism
New word - an invented word.
Newness / novelty / difference from
“ordinary” words makes it stand out - make the reader/viewer remember
them.
Listing
Objects/reasons/parts of a
text, usually with commas
separating them; in
adverts/web pages or text,
can be with bullet points.
Shows the extent of or emphasizes the topic/object/event being discussed/described;
shows the author’s wide knowledge of the topic.
Emotive language
Choice of words which have specifically intended emotional effects or are intended to evoke an emotional response in the reader.
The attitude and emotions of the author are transferred or made clear to the reader
Irony
Saying the opposite of what you mean.
Intent and effect are less offensive than in sarcasm, but the author may still feel strongly on the subject. For example, it’s ironic when a police station gets robbed.
Sarcasm
Unkind humour directed against what the writer / speaker doesn’t like.
The emotions and attitudes are ones of disdain or contempt or revulsion or dislike or bitterness).
Contrast
Using words of an opposite meaning close together.
Strengthens each aspect of the contrast by showing up the differences, to emphasise a change or difference or idea.
Allusion
A reference to another work.
Adds another dimension to the text by introducing material from our external knowledge (if we get the allusion).
Quotation
Direct use of another’s words (spoken or written.
A quotation will add some of the authority of the original author to the current speaker/writer.
Litotes
Deliberate understatement.
Shows just how strong the emotion is and illustrates something of the character of the speaker/writer.
For example, “It’s not the worst thing I’ve eaten” means that it probably tastes pretty good.
