English Techniques

Metaphor

Definition: A direct comparison between two unlike things without using “like” or “as”.

Example: “The classroom was a zoo.”

Simile

Definition: A comparison between two things using “like” or “as”.

Example: “Her smile was like sunshine.”

Personification

Definition: Giving human qualities or actions to something non-human.

Example: “The wind whispered through the trees.”

Imagery

Definition: Descriptive language that creates a picture or sensory experience in the reader’s mind.

Example: “The warm, golden sun melted across the blue sky.”

Symbolism

Definition: When something represents a deeper meaning or idea.

Example: A dove can symbolise peace.

Repetition

Definition: Repeating a word, phrase or idea to emphasise it.

Example: “Run, run, run!”

Alliteration

Definition: Repetition of the beginning consonant sound in nearby words.

Example: “The wild wind whistled.”

Onomatopoeia

Definition: A word that imitates or represents a sound.

Example: “The bees buzzed around the garden.”

Hyperbole

Definition: Deliberate exaggeration used for emphasis or effect.

Example: “I’ve told you a million times.”

Rhetorical Question

Definition: A question asked for effect rather than to receive an answer.

Example: “Who doesn’t want to be happy?”

Emotive Language

Definition: Words chosen to create or appeal to emotions.

Example: “The innocent puppy was cruelly abandoned.”

Juxtaposition

Definition: Placing contrasting ideas, images or characters close together.

Example: A happy scene followed by a sad scene.

Irony

Definition: A contrast between what is expected and what actually happens.

Example: A fire station catching fire.

Tone

Definition: The attitude or feeling conveyed through language.

Example: Words such as “disgusting” and “unacceptable” create an angry tone.

Modality

Definition: Language showing certainty, possibility, obligation or probability.

Example: “You must complete your homework.”

Rhyme

Definition: The repetition of similar sounds, often at the ends of lines.

Example: “The cat wore a hat.”

Rhythm

Definition: The pattern of beats, stresses and sounds in language.

Example: A poem with a fast, repetitive beat can create excitement.

Enjambment

Definition: When a line of poetry continues onto the next line without a punctuation break.

Example: “The night was dark / and cold.”

Caesura

Definition: A deliberate pause within a line of poetry, often created by punctuation.

Example: “The night was dark — completely silent.”

Stanza

Definition: A group of lines in a poem, similar to a paragraph.

Example: A poem divided into four groups of four lines has four stanzas.

Salience

Definition: The feature in a visual text that attracts the viewer’s attention most strongly.

Example: A bright red object standing out against a black-and-white background.

Composition

Definition: How elements are arranged within a visual text.

Example: Placing the main character in the centre makes them important.

Colour

Definition: The use of colour to communicate ideas, emotions or mood.

Example: Red can suggest danger, anger or passion.

Framing

Definition: How the boundaries or shot size direct the viewer’s attention.

Example: A close-up of a character’s face highlights their emotions.

Vector

Definition: A line or direction in an image that guides the viewer’s eye.

Example: A character pointing towards an object directs our attention to it.