English Key Terms Flashcards
(86 cards)
What is onomatopoeia?
Words that sound the same as what they represent
Examples include ‘buzz’ for a bee or ‘sizzle’ for frying.
Define alliteration.
The use of the same letter at the beginning of words that are close
Common in poetry and tongue twisters.
What is personification?
To give an inanimate object human characteristics
Example: ‘The wind whispered through the trees.’
Explain simile.
To describe something ‘as’ or ‘like’ something else
Example: ‘Her smile is like the sun.’
What does repetition refer to in poetry?
To use the same word/phrase more than once
Often used for emphasis or rhythm.
Define metaphor.
Comparing two things by saying they are each other
Example: ‘Time is a thief.’
What is enjambment?
The continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line
Creates a sense of movement in poetry.
What is rhythm in poetry?
This describes the beat of a poem
Influences the flow and pace of the reading.
Define rhyme.
When lines of poetry end with the same sounds
Commonly used in various poetic forms.
What is a stanza?
Groups of lines in a poem (a verse)
Similar to a paragraph in prose.
Define assonance.
When vowel sounds within words are the same or very similar
Enhances the musical quality of poetry.
What is a pivot in poetry?
Point at which poem changes mood, time, etc.
Often signifies a thematic shift.
What is caesura?
A pause within a line of poetry to give emphasis
Can create a dramatic effect.
Define irony.
Use of words or phrases that are often sarcastic and or humorous
It often conveys a meaning opposite to its literal meaning.
What are fricatives?
Soft, breathy sounds: s, z, th, f
These sounds are produced by forcing air through a narrow channel.
Define plosives.
Hard, explosive sounds: p, t, k, b, g, d
Produced by obstructing airflow in the vocal tract.
What is sibilance?
Sounded with a hissing effect, for example s, sh
Adds a musical quality to poetry.
Define superlative.
Expressing the highest or a very high degree of a quality
Example: ‘best’, ‘tallest’.
What is juxtaposition?
Two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect
Highlights differences or creates tension.
What is foreshadowing?
Be a warning or indication of (a future event)
Often used in narratives to create suspense.
Define lexical set.
A group of words with the same topic, function or form
Helps in categorizing vocabulary.
What are archaisms?
Words that are very old or old-fashioned
Example: ‘thee’, ‘thou’.
What is end focus?
The most important information in a clause or sentence is placed at the end
Enhances the impact of the statement.
What is an adjective?
A word that describes or modifies a noun.
