Language techniques

Question 1

Assonance

Answer 1

Repetition of vowel sounds within words (e.g. “The mellow bells fell”).
✨ Effect: Creates internal rhyme or harmony; often used to slow or soften tone.

Question 2

Sibilance

Answer 2

A type of alliteration that repeats ‘s’, ‘sh’ or ‘z’ sounds (e.g. “silent snakes slid slowly”).
✨ Effect: Often creates a sinister, soft, or soothing tone depending on context.

Question 3

anaphora

Answer 3

The deliberate repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive lines or clauses.
✨ Effect: Reinforces a message or builds intensity.

Question 4

oxymoron

Answer 4

Two contradictory terms placed together (e.g. “deafening silence”).
✨ Effect: Highlights tension or paradox; can provoke deeper thought.

Question 5

metaphor

Answer 5

A direct comparison between two unlike things, saying one is the other (e.g. “Time is a thief”).
✨ Effect: Creates vivid imagery and can reveal deeper meanings or emotions.

Question 6

simile

Answer 6

A comparison using “like” or “as” (e.g. “She was as brave as a lion”).
✨ Effect: Makes descriptions more relatable and helps the reader visualise the subject.

Question 7

hyperbole

Answer 7

Deliberate exaggeration for emphasis or effect (e.g. “I’ve told you a million times!”)
✨ Effect: Heightens emotion or humour; draws attention to the intensity of feeling.

Question 8

euphemism

Answer 8

A mild or indirect word used instead of one that might be too harsh or blunt (e.g. “passed away” instead of “died”).
✨ Effect: Softens serious or uncomfortable subjects; can reflect social sensitivity or avoidance.

Question 9

dysphemism

Answer 9

A deliberately harsh or blunt term used instead of a more neutral or polite one (e.g. “croaked” for died).
✨ Effect: Shocks, adds humour, or shows character attitude or anger.

Question 10

semantic field

Answer 10

A group of words related in meaning or theme (e.g. war: “battle”, “blood”, “weapon”, “wound”).
✨ Effect: Strengthens atmosphere or emotional tone; emphasises key ideas or symbolism.

Question 11

irony

Answer 11

When the intended meaning is opposite to the literal meaning (e.g. calling a messy room “a palace”).
✨ Effect: Adds humour, criticism, or deeper commentary.

Question 12

juxtaposition

Answer 12

Placing two contrasting ideas or images close together (e.g. “the rich and the ragged”).
✨ Effect: Highlights differences, tensions, or unexpected similarities.

Question 13

symbolism

Answer 13

When an object, colour, or action represents a deeper meaning (e.g. a rose symbolising love).
✨ Effect: Adds layers of meaning and encourages interpretation beyond the literal.

Question 14

idiom

Answer 14

A commonly used expression with a meaning not deducible from the individual words (e.g. “spill the beans”).
✨ Effect: Reflects cultural voice; can reveal character or tone.

Question 15

colloquial language

Answer 15

Informal or conversational language (e.g. “gonna”, “yeah right”).
✨ Effect: Creates a realistic voice or relaxed tone; may show character’s background or setting.

Question 16

Pathetic Fallacy

Answer 16

When weather or nature reflects human emotions (e.g. rain during a sad scene).
✨ Effect: Creates mood and reinforces emotional themes.

Question 17

plosive

Answer 17

Harsh sounds created by letters like b, p, t, d (e.g. “big bang”).
✨ Effect: Creates impact, aggression, or abruptness; may reflect tension or violence.

Question 18

consonance

Answer 18

Repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of words (e.g. “blank and think” or “strong string”).
✨ Effect: Creates rhythm, unity, or emphasis.

Question 19

Lexical Choice

Answer 19

The poet’s deliberate selection of words or vocabulary.
✨ Effect: Reveals tone, formality, setting or emotion. Key in identifying semantic fields and patterns.

Question 20

Archaism

Answer 20

An old-fashioned or obsolete word or phrase (e.g. “thy”, “ere”, “thou”).
✨ Effect: Creates a historical or timeless tone; can make a poem feel traditional or nostalgic.

Question 21

Epistrophe

Answer 21

Repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses or lines.
✨ Effect: Reinforces themes or emotions; can create a sense of finality or insistence.

Question 22

zoomorphism

Answer 22

Giving animal characteristics to a human or object (e.g. “he growled in anger”).
✨ Effect: Can suggest primal behaviour, dehumanisation, or emotional intensity.

Question 23

synesthesia

Answer 23

A blending of senses in description (e.g. “a loud colour” or “a bitter wind”).
✨ Effect: Creates vivid, layered imagery; disorients or enriches the sensory experience.

Question 24

metonymy

Answer 24

When something is referred to by something closely associated with it (e.g. “the crown” for monarchy).
✨ Effect: Adds depth and symbolic meaning; evokes cultural or political associations.

Question 25

onomatopoeia

Answer 25

Words that imitate natural sounds (e.g. “buzz”, “clang”). ✨ Effect: Makes descriptions vivid and immersive.

Question 26

Ecphonesis

Answer 26

A sudden, emotional exclamation, often marked by “O!” or other expressive outbursts. Used to convey intense emotion like grief, shock, anger, or joy.

Question 27

dichotomy

Answer 27

A division or contrast between two things that are represented as being opposed or entirely different e.g war and peace. ✨ Effect: provokes deeper thought / paradox