𝖕𝖔𝖊𝖙𝖗𝖞 𝖙𝖊𝖈𝖍𝖓𝖎𝖖𝖚𝖊𝖘

allegory

written work that can be interpreted to have a secondary meaning

alliteration

repetition of a sound or letter at the beginning of multiple words in a series

allusion

indirect reference to another famous literary work

apostrophe

the writer addresses a subject that is not present in the work (e.g., ‘o stranger of the future!’)

assonance

repetition of vowel or diphthong sounds in one or more words found together

diphthong

combination of 2 adjacent vowel sounds of the same syllable

blank verse

poetry written without rhyme, especially if the poetry is written in iambic pentameter

sibilance

assonance using an ‘s’ sound

consonance

repetition of specific consonant sounds in close proximity

enjambment

continuation of a sentence beyond a line break, couplet, or stanza without an expected pause

irony

use of tone or exaggeration to convey a meaning opposite to what’s being literally said

metaphor

writer compares one thing to another by saying it is the thing

meter

the rhythm of a written work as it’s expressed through the number and length of the feet in each line

ode

short lyrical poem, often in praise of something

repetition

process of repeating certain words or phrases

rhetorical question

question asked to make a point rather than in expectation of an answer

rhyme

repetition of syllables at the end of words

rhythm

the pattern of long, short, stressed, and unstressed syllables in writing

sonnet

14 line poem with a strict rhyme scheme, often written in iambic pentameter

simile

figure of speech that compares 2 things using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’

personification

figure of speech that gives human qualities to non-human things or ideas

hyperbole

exaggerated statement for emphasis or effect

imagery

the use of vivid language to create a sensory experience for the reader

symbolism

the use of an object, person, or event to represent something else

onomatopoeia

a word describing its sound

euphony

repetitive use of mellow, melodic tones that are enjoyable to read or listen to; soft consonant sounds like m, n, w, r, f and consonants that vibrate such as s, sh, and th

cacophony

use of unappealing, repulsive, or harsh noises (mostly consonants) to evoke chaos, disorder, or dread

euphemism

replacing a term that can offend or imply something unpleasant with one that is less hurtful or pleasing

ambiguity

statement’s structure or substance leaves room for alternative interpretations and obscures it’s intended meaning

anthropomorphism

attribution of human characteristics, emotions, and behaviours to animals or other non-human things

analogy

establishes a relationship between two concepts based on similarities or connections

denotation

the neutral, objective meaning of a term (e.g., ‘home’ denotes a place where someone lives, with connotations of warmth, safety, and family)

cliché

scenario or term that is overused to the extent that it is deemed unoriginal

connotation

use of a word to imply a unique association from its denotative (literal) meaning

contrast

the antithesis of two things, highlighting and clarifying their differences org

structure

organisation and arrangement of literary work

metonymy

figure of speech when one term or phrase is used in place of another with which it is closely related. also a rhetorical technique used to describe something indirectly by making references to objects around (e.g., ‘lend me your ears’)

oxymoron

contradictory terms appear in conjunction

paradox

emphasising something by discussing the exact opposite of it

synecdoche

a term for a minor aspect of anything may be used to represent the main idea or vice versa (e.g., ‘wheels’ signifies a vehicle, ‘behind bars’ signifies being in jail)

kenning

two-word sentence that uses metaphors to describe an item (e.g., bookworm)

stanza

a verse of poetry

verse line

single line of poetry

ballad

type of narrative poem written in a sequence of four-line stanzas

epitaph

an inscription or written remembrance of a person on a gravestone or in a work of literture (e.g., the best is yet to come - frank sinatra)

synaesthesia

terminology from one sense is used to describe another (e.g., the silence was as thick as a forest)

tone

the mood of a piece

antithesis

the direct opposite of something else

rhyming couplet

pair of successive lines that rhyme

perspective

narrative point of view

figurative language

type of descriptive language used to convey meaning in a way that differs from its literal meaning (e.g., similes, metaphors, personification, hyperbole, allusions, idioms, etc)