Lit Alliteration - Imagery quick review

Alliteration

Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words. It is used by the author to create emphasis, add beauty to the writing style, and occasionally to aid in shaping the mood.

EX) …many a man is making friends with death/Even as I speak, for lack of love alone.

Allusion

Reference to a literary work, literary character, historical figure, or historical event. Greek/roman myths and biblical characters/stories are alluded to in many great works of literature. The reference serves to explain, clarify, or enhance whatever subject is under discussion.

EX) In shakespeares Macbeth, the protagonist is referred to as “Bellona’s bridegroom”

Anaphora

Repetition of the same word or words at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or sentences.

EX) to think on death it is a misery, to think on life it is a vanity; to think on the world verily it is, to think that here man hath no perfect bliss.

Antithesis

Establishes a clear, contrasting relationship between two ideas by joining them together or juxtaposing them, often in parallel structure. It can convey some sense of complexity in a person or idea by admitting opposite or nearly opposite truths.

EX) Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice, moderation in the pursuit of Justice is no virtue.

Apostrophe

Interrupts the discussion and it directly addresses a person or personified thing, either present or absent. Its purpose is to vent or display intense emotion.

EX) O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her!

Assonance

Similar vowel sounds repeated in successive words containing different consonants.

EX) Mad as a hatter

Charactonym

When the name of a character has a symbolic meaning

EX) In Dickens Great Expectations, Miss Havisham has a sham, or lives a life full of pretense.

Foreshadowing

When the author drops clues about what is to come in a story. It builds tensions and the readers suspense throughout the book.

EX) The boy kissed his mother and warmly embraced her, oblivious to the last time he would ever see her.

Hyperbole

Deliberately exaggerates conditions for emphasis or effects.

EX) There are a thousand reasons why more research is needed on solar energy.

Metaphor

One type of figurative language. It is a comparison used to add descriptive meaning to a phrase, generally not meant literally

Metonymy

Another form of metaphor, in which the thing chosen for the metaphorical image is closely associated with (but not actual part of) the subject with which it is to be compared.

EX) the orders came directly from the White House.

Motif

When a word, phrase, image, or idea is repeated throughout a work or several works of literarature. Motifs may be used to establish mood and helps to establish theme.

EX) blood in Macbeth

Oxymoron

A paradox reduced to two words, usually in an adjective noun or adverb noun relationship. It is used for effect;l, complexity, emphasis, or wit

EX: freezing fire, wise fool

Objectification

The act of presenting humans or animals as objects, is used to associate a human with an abstract idea; thus one may be dehumanized

Personification

Attributing human characteristics to inanimate objects

Paradox

An assertion seemingly opposed to common sense, but that may yet have some truth in it

Ex: what a pity that youth must Be wasted on the young

Rhetorical question

Philisophical opening into one’s inner thoughts. A conflict within one’s soul or nature. Possible catalyst to characters decision or action

Simile

A comparison of two dissimilar things using like or as

Synecdoche

The use of a part for the whole, or the whole for the part

EX: the US won three gold medals, Farmer jones has two hundred head of cattle and three hired lands

Understatement

deliberately expresses an idea as less important than it actually is, generally for the ironic emphasis.

EX) the earthquake interrupted business somewhat in the downtown area.