Language Techniques Flashcards
Pathetic fallacy
Where the weather/atmosphere described the mood.
E.g a ‘dark night’ brings an evil/nasty atomsphere.
Personification
When a non human object is given human qualities
Simile
When you compare two things using ‘as’ or ‘like’
Metaphor
Compare two things using ‘is’ or ‘are’
Extended metaphor
When you use a metaphor and then continue to talk about the metaphor. E.g ‘life is a rollercoaster, it has many ups and downs’
Oxymoron
Two opposite words side by side, e,g the ‘small giant’
Juxtaposition
When you have two opposing/contrasting ideas. Basically a extended oxymoron
Symbolism
Where an object being described presents a meaning. E.g a face mask makes you think of COVID.
Semantic field
When words/phrases are linked to a feeling/idea.
Irony
When events in a text even suprises a character in the book
Rehtorical question
A question in a piece of writing that doesn’t require an answer
Hyperbole
Overexaggerating what is happening
Assonance
The repitition of vowels. E.g ‘to cool for school’
Alliteration
When words in a row begin with the same letter
Sibilance
When words in a row begin with the letter ‘s’
Euphemism
When you say something in a indirect mannor. E.g ‘you’ve not got long left’
Emotive language
When the writer makes a reader feel a particular feeling
Onomatopoeia
Words that describe sounds. E.g ‘the door was slammed shut’
Triplet
3 words of phrases in a row to describe something
Plosives
The repition of a harsh sound
Zoomorphism
Giving a person animal features
Repition
When the writer repeats a word of phrase. Can also be a structual device
Nouns,verbs,adjective,adverbs
Not sophisticated, use as a worst case scenario
Past participle
A verb which ends with ‘-ed’
