English Techniques

Description

In a critical essay you should be able to write about key language features used in novels, short stories, plays and poems. Here's a reminder of what they are and how they work.
Dom Clark
Flashcards by Dom Clark, updated more than 1 year ago
Dom Clark
Created by Dom Clark over 9 years ago
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Resource summary

Question Answer
ALLITERATION the first letter of a word is repeated in words that follow; the cold, crisp, crust of clean, clear ice.
ASSONANCE the same vowel sound is repeated but the consonants are different; he passed her a sharp, dark glance, shot a cool, foolish look across the room.
COLLIQUIAL language that is used in speech with an informal meaning; 'chill', 'out of this world', 'take a rain check'.
DIALECT the version of language spoken by particular people in a particular area, such as Scots.
DIALOUGE conversation between two people; sometimes an imagined conversation between the narrator and the reader. This is important in drama and can show conflict through a series of statements and challenges.
DISSONANCE a discordant combinations of sounds; the clash, spew and slow pang of grinding waves against the quay.
ENJAMBMENT a device used in poetry where a sentence continues beyond the end of the line or verse. This technique is often used to maintain a sense of continuation from one stanza to another.
HYPERBOLE exaggerating something for literary purposes which is not meant to be taken literally; we gorged on the banquet of beans on toast.
IMAGERY similes, metaphors and personification; they all compare something 'real' with something 'imagined'.
IRONY the humorous or sarcastic use of words or ideas, implying the opposite of what they mean.
METAPHOR a word or phrase used to imply figurative, not literal or 'actual', resemblance; he flew into the room.
MONOLOUGE an uninterrupted monologue can show a character's importance or state of mind. Monologue can be in speech form, delivered in front of other characters and having great thematic importance.
ONOMATOPOEIA a word that sounds like the noise it is describing: 'splash', 'bang', 'pop', 'hiss'.
OXYMORON Where two words normally not associated are brought together: 'cold heat' 'bitter sweet'.
PATHOS language that evokes feelings of pity or sorrow.
PERSONIFACATION attributing a human quality to a thing or idea: the moon calls me to her darkened world.
REPETITION the repetition of a word or phrase to achieve a particular effect.
RHYME the way that words sound the same at the end of lines in poetry. Poems often have a fixed rhyme-scheme.
RHYTHM a repetitive beat or metre within a poem. Tennyson's poem The Lady of Shallot uses a strong internal rhythm to build up the sense of unrelenting monotony in the poem.
SIMILE a phrase which establishes similarity between two things to emphasize the point being made. This usually involves the words 'like' or 'as'; 'he is as quick as an arrow in flight', 'as white as snow', 'like a burning star'.
SYMBOLISM often objects, colours, sounds and places work as symbols. They can sometimes give us a good insight into the themes. white usually symbolizes innocence and a ringing bell can be a symbol for impending doom.
TONE the writer's tone or voice or atmosphere or feeling that pervades the text, such as sadness, gloom, celebration, joy, anxiety, dissatisfaction, regret or anger.
WORD CHOICE sometimes called 'register', this is the common thread in an author's choice of language. Authors may use words commonly associated with religion.
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