A range of Literary Techniques which can be used in English Literature, to look out for when analysing an extract or a poem.
Stanza
A group of lines in a poem forming a division
Rhyme
Correspondence of sound between words at the end of lines, especially in poetry
Internal rhyme
Rhyme between words within a line of poetry
Rhyming Couplet
Two consecutive lines that rhyme
Half Rhyme
Imperfect rhyme, where the sounds are similar but not identical
Rhythm
The overall pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a poem or piece of writing
Caesura
A pause within a line of verse, often indicated by a punctuation mark
Repetition
The repeating of a word or phrase for emphasis or effect
Enjambment
The continuation of a sentence without a pause at the end of a line of verse
Simile
A figure of speech comparing two things using "like" or "as"
Metaphor
A figure of speech that directly compares two things without using "like" or "as"
Personification
Giving human qualities to an object or idea
Assonance
Repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words
Alliteration
Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words
Onomatopoeia
The use of words that imitate sounds
Volta
A sudden shift in thought or direction in a poem
Lineation
The arrangement of words into lines in a poem
Imagery
The use of vivid language to create sensory experiences
Symbolism
The use of symbols to represent ideas or concepts
Sibilance
The repetition of hissing sounds (such as s, sh, and z)
Juxtaposition
The placing of two contrasting ideas or images side by side to give a powerful effect of contrast between them
Oxymoron
A figure of speech that combines two contradictory terms
Pathetic Fallacy
The attribution of human emotions or characteristics to inanimate objects - usually referring to nature.
Hyperbole
An exaggeration
Iambic Pentameter
A specific meter in poetry with five iambs - a pattern of a unstressed and stressed syllables - per line
Metre
The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a poem, the specific and repeated change which used throughout a poem.
End-stopped Lines
Lines of poetry that come to a complete stop at the end of the line
Anaphora
Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive lines or clauses
Allusion
A reference to a historical or literary figure or event
Semantic Field
A group of words that are related in meaning
Blank Verse
Poetry which follows a metre - most commonly iambic pentameter - without rhyming
Free Verse
Poetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme
Consonance
Repetition of consonant sounds within words which are close together
Epistrophe
Repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive lines or clauses
Metonymy
A figure of speech where a word or phrase is used to represent something else closely associated with it
Motif
A recurring element or theme in a work of literature
Tone
The writer's attitude towards the subject or audience
Irony
A contradiction between what is expected and what actually happens
Contrast
The placing of opposing (or very different) ideas or characters side by side to highlight their differences
Connotation
The implied meaning of a word, in addition to its literal meaning
Paradox
A statement that seems contradictory but may contain truth
Pun
A play on words that has two meanings
Rhetorical Question
A question asked for effect, not expecting an answer
Asyndeton
A deliberate omission of conjunctions (like and, but, or) between words, phrases, or clauses in a sentence for rhetorical effect.
Polysyndeton
The excessive use of conjunctions (like and, but, or) between words, phrases, or clauses in a sentence for rhetorical effect.
Parallelism
The use of similar words, clauses, phrases, sentence structure, or other grammatical elements to emphasize similar ideas in a sentence