Language and Structural Techniques Flashcards
(86 cards)
Simile: definition, effect and example
Definition:
A figure of speech that compares two different things using “like” or “as.”
Effect on the reader:
Creates vivid imagery, making descriptions more engaging and relatable. Helps the reader understand something unfamiliar by comparing it to something they know.
Example:
Her smile was as bright as the sun.
Metaphor: definition, effect and example
Definition:
a figure of speech that makes a non-literal comparison between two things (typically by saying that something is something else).
Effect on the reader:
Makes descriptions more powerful and thought-provoking. Helps the reader see things in a new way by making strong, imaginative connections.
Example:
He was a lion in the fight.
Extended Metaphor: definition, effect and example
Definition:
A metaphor that continues throughout a piece of text, developing the comparison further.
Effect on the reader:
Deepens understanding and reinforces a theme or idea throughout the text. Engages the reader by sustaining imagery.
Example:
Life is a journey, with its winding roads, unexpected detours, and breathtaking views.
Personification: definition, effect and example
Definition:
Giving human characteristics to non-human objects, animals, or ideas.
Effect on the reader:
Creates vivid imagery and emotional connection, making descriptions more engaging and relatable.
Example:
The wind whispered through the trees.
Pathetic Fallacy: definition, effect and example
Definition:
A type of personification where human emotions are given to nature or the weather.
Effect on the reader:
Sets the mood or atmosphere, influencing how the reader feels about a scene or character.
Example:
The angry storm raged against the ship.
Alliteration: definition, effect and example
Definition:
The repetition of the same sound at the beginning of closely placed words.
Effect on the reader:
Creates rhythm, draws attention to key phrases, and makes writing more memorable.
Example:
The slippery snake slithered silently.
Assonance: definition, effect and example
Definition:
The repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words.
Effect on the reader:
Creates musicality and enhances mood, making phrases more fluid and engaging.
Example:
The gleaming sunbeams shone down on the vast green fields.
Anecdote: definition, effect and example
Definition:
A short personal story used to illustrate a point.
Effect on the reader:
Makes writing more relatable and engaging, building a connection between the writer and reader.
Example:
I remember the first time I rode a bike. I fell three times, but I never gave up!
Irony: definition, effect and example
Definition:
A contrast between expectation and reality, often in a humorous or dramatic way.
Effect on the reader:
Engages and surprises the reader, sometimes creating humor or highlighting deeper meanings.
Example:
A fire station burns down.
Onomatopoeia: definition, effect and example
Definition:
A word that imitates the sound it represents.
Effect on the reader:
Makes descriptions more immersive and engaging, appealing to the reader’s senses.
Example:
The bees buzzed.
Sibilance: definition, effect and example
Definition:
The repetition of “s” or “sh” sounds in words close together.
Effect on the reader:
Can create a soft, soothing effect or a sinister, hissing sound depending on the context.
Example:
The snake slithered silently through the grass.
Colloquial Language: definition, effect and example
Definition:
Informal, everyday language or slang.
Effect on the reader:
Makes writing feel more conversational and relatable, helping to create a realistic voice.
Example:
“I ain’t got no time for that!”
Semantic Field: definition, effect and example
Definition:
A group of words related in meaning, often associated with a particular theme or topic.
Effect:
Creates a specific mood, reinforces a theme, or immerses the reader in a particular setting.
Example:
In a war-related text: “battlefield, soldiers, weapons, blood, victory.”
Euphemism: definition, effect and example
Definition:
A mild or indirect expression used to replace something harsh or unpleasant.
Effect:
Softens difficult or uncomfortable topics; can also be used humorously or to deceive.
Example:
Instead of “died,” saying “passed away.”
Double Entendre: definition, effect and example
Definition:
A phrase that has two meanings, often used by shakespear.
Effect:
Engages the reader with wordplay and can add humor or hidden meanings.
Example:
“Children make delicious snacks.”
Idiom: definition, effect and example
Definition:
A commonly used phrase where the meaning is not literal but understood culturally.
Effect:
Makes language more engaging and relatable, often adding color and informality.
Example:
Its raining cats and dogs.
Figurative Language: definition, effect and example
Definition:
Language that goes beyond the literal meaning, including metaphors, similes, and personification.
Effect:
Creates vivid imagery, engages the reader’s imagination, and conveys deeper meanings.
Example: “The world is a stage.”
Emotive Language: definition, effect and example
Definition:
Words that provoke strong emotions in the reader.
Effect:
Persuades or influences the reader by making them feel anger, sadness, excitement, etc.
Example:
“The innocent child sobbed uncontrollably as she was torn from her family.”
Evocative Verbs: definition, effect and example
Definition:
Strong action words that create a vivid mental image.
Effect:
Adds intensity and dynamism to writing, making scenes more powerful.
Example:
“The waves crashed against the shore, devouring the sand beneath.”
Allusion: definition, effect and example
Definition:
A reference to a well-known person, place, event, or literary work.
Effect:
Adds depth and meaning, allowing the reader to connect ideas.
Example: “He was a real Romeo with the ladies.”
Allegory: definition, effect and example
Definition:
A story, poem, or picture that has a deeper symbolic meaning, often moral or political.
Effect:
Encourages deeper interpretation and conveys complex ideas in a simple form.
Example:
Animal Farm by George Orwell is an allegory for the Russian Revolution.
Didactic: definition, effect and example
Definition:
Writing intended to teach or convey a moral lesson.
Effect:
Encourages the reader to learn or reflect on ethical or moral issues.
Example:
Aesop’s fables, like The Tortoise and the Hare, which teaches patience and perseverance.
Repetition: definition, effect and example
Definition:
The deliberate use of the same word or phrase multiple times for emphasis.
Effect:
Reinforces an idea, creates rhythm, and makes the message more memorable.
Example:
“Never give in. Never, never, never.”
Rhyme: definition, effect and example
Definition:
The repetition of similar sounds, typically at the end of lines in poetry.
Effect:
Creates musicality, enhances memorability, and can set a particular tone.
Example:
“The cat sat on the mat.”
