English Literary Techniques

Question	Answer
Oxymoron	Contradictory terms used in conjunction eg: "bitter sweet"
Inversion	the practice of changing the conventional placement of words. Used to highlight specific words/ideas or to achieve a particular effect
Euphemism	substituting harsh thought with something less offensive eg: "she's a little unbalanced" as opposed to "she's psycho"
Juxtaposition	a side-by-side comparison
Anecdote	short story/account
Stanza	Poetry verse
pronoun	he, she, our, us.. USED TO SHOW POSSESSION/OWNERSHIP
hyperbole	exaggeration eg "omg you're killing me" (but is, in fact, living)
Abstract diction	language of ideas and concepts
concrete diction	language of vivid, sensuous detail & experience. concrete diction works through senses - we can feel, see, touch, taste the experience of parts of it
Figurative imagery	Objects that are not present, but are connected to the scene by the writer. may be metaphors or similes
literal imagery	objects actually present in the scene

Resource summary

	Created by Jess Boylan over 8 years ago