Stylistic Features in Poetry and Prose

Caesura (poetry)

pause through punctuation, disrupt the rhythm of the poem to create dramatic effect

Enjambment (poetry)

continue sentences, allows an idea to continue beyond the limitations of a single line, establish a rhythm/pace

Alliteration (more poetry)

means of controlling the poem’s mood, ‘s’ sounds make it sound more sinister, ‘b’, ‘d’, ‘p’ are more percussive. E.g. ‘The worried walrus wanted war’

Imagery

language that produces image, evokes emotions to the senses imagined. Senses: sight, smell, sound, taste, touch

Juxtaposition

two contrasting ideas placed closely together (e.g. light and darkness, life and death), creates tension and contrast. E.g. ‘curse, bless me now with you fierce tears’

Personification

giving an object human characteristics, adds a human element, communicates ideas more vividly, connects us to things we usually can’t relate to

Pathetic fallacy (poetry)

Where nature is given human attributes (e.g. ‘leaves dancing in the wind’), done to evoke emotions

Anaphora

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of a sentence.

Repitition

Writers may repeat a word, a phrase or an entire sentence for emphasis.

Internal rhyme (poetry)

two rhyming words juxtaposed inside the line rather than at the end (e.g. tapping at my chamber door - only this and nothing more)

Metaphor

statement in which two often unrelated objects are compared to each other, packs multiple descriptions and images into a short sentence, more weight and value than direct description

Simile

Indirect comparison, relies on the words “like“ or “as”, creates a degree of separation

Paradox

Juxtaposition of contrasting ideas while revealing a deeper truth

Allusion

essentially a literary reference, referring directly/indirectly to a commonly-known piece of art/literature. Usually biblical

Allegory

sole purpose to represent an abstract concept/idea, sometimes extended allusions

Onomatopoeia (poetry)

Words that sound like the words they describe (boom, bang)

Symbolism

combines ideas presented in metaphor and imagery, the use of an object to represent a concept (e.g. a white dove = peace)

Hyperbole

exaggerated statement/description, allows for comparison between emotions and extremes, gives the reader an idea of how intensely something is felt

Irony

Moment of dark humour, irony highlights the difference between ‘what seems to be’ and ‘what is’. (e.g. the burger glistened with health and good choices)

Parallelism

The technique of arranging words, phrases, clauses, or larger structures by placing them side by side and making them similar in form. “We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields.”

Diction

Word choice: hopeful, sombre, melancholy, resigned etc.

Mood

Overall emotional tone, extended use of diction

Dramatic Irony

the audience understands the story more than the story’s characters, often motivates the reader to keep reading.