Literary Techniques

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