English IB Paper 1 Techniques HL

Adage

A short, pointed and memorable saying based on facts.

Adynaton

An extreme form of hyperbole, the exaggeration will make it seem impossible.

Allegory

A figure of speech in which abstract ideas and principles are described in terms of characters, figures and events.

Alliteration

A stylistic device in which a number of words having the same first consonant sound occur close together in a series.

Allusion

Brief and indirect reference to a person, place,thing or idea of historical,cultural, literary or political significance.

Ambiguity

A word, phrase or statement which contains more than one meaning.

Anachronism

An error of chronology in a literary piece.

Anacoluthon

Interruption from one sentence to the other.

Anadiplosis

The typical pattern of repeating a word at the end of the first clause and the beginning. Of the following clause.

Analogy

The comparison in which an idea or thing is compared to something else that is quite different from it.

Anaphora

The deliberate repetition of the first part of a sentence.

Anecdote

A short and interesting story or amusing event.

Antagonist

A character or group of characters who stand in oppostion to the protagonist/main character.

Antanaclasis

When a word is repeated, but with different meanings.

Anthropomorphism

Making an animal or object appear and behave as if they were human beings.

Anti-climax

The expectations of the reader/audience are raised and then suddenly something boring happens.

Antimetabole

Repeating a phrase in reverse order. Eg - "Fair is foul and foul is fair".

Antithesis

A rhetorical device in which two ideas are put together to achieve a contrasting effect.

Aposiopesis

The writer breaks off abruptly which leaves the statement incomplete.

Archaism

A word used that is outdated in comparison to the rest of the poem/novel.

Archetype

A typical character,action or a situation that seems to represent universal patterns of behaviour. Eg - the hero, the villain, good vs evil.

Assonance

Two or more close words to one another that repeat the same vowel sound. Eg. Go and mow.

Cacophony

The use of words with sharp or unmelodious sounds.

Caricature

Particular aspects of a subject are exaggerated to create comedic effect.

Climax

The point in a work where the tension hits the highest point.

Colloquialism

The use of informal language by a writer.

Connotation

A meaning that is implied by a word apart from the thing which it describes explicitly.

Consonance

Repetitive sounds produced by consonants within a sentence or phrase.

Denotation

The literal/dictionary meaning of a word.

Dialect

The language used by people of a specific area,class or district.

Elision

Omitting or slurring part of a word for rhythmic effect. Eg o'er.

Euphemism

Polite, indirect expressions which replace words that are considered harsh and impolite. Eg. Passed away as opposed to died.

Exposition

This is used to introduce background info about events, settings and characters to the audience.

Eye Rhyme

Looks as though it should rhyme but it does not. Eg. Home and come

Foil

A character that shows qualities in contrast to the qualities of another character.

Foreshadowing

A literary device in which the writer hints what is to happen later in the story.

Half Rhyme

A poetic device in which the stressed syllables rhyme however the consonants do not. Eg. bridge and grudge.

Hubris

Extreme pride and arrogance displayed by a character. Normally brings about their downfall.

Hyperbole

Extreme exaggeration.

Imagery

The use of figurative language to represent things so that it appeals to out physical senses.

Internal Rhyme

A poetic device in which the middle and end words in a line rhyme with each other.

Irony

A figure of speech in which a word's intended meaning is different from the actual meaning.

Jargon

Use of specific words and phrases that are commonly used in a particular profession, situation or trade. NOT SLANG!!

Juxtaposition

Two or more places, characters or actions are placed side by side in order to develop comparisons.

Line Break

A poetic device that is used at the end of a line and at the beginning of the next line s that the sentence overlaps two or more lines.

Metaphor

Figure of speech that makes an indirect comparison between two things that are unrelated but share some common characteristics. Eg - His voice is music to her ears. - implies happiness

Motif

Object or idea that repeats itself throughout a literary work.

Non Sequitur

A literary device that includes statements,sayings and conclusions that do not add up. Eg. Harry has a phone, therefore he must be popular.

Onomatopoeia

A word which imitates the natural sound of something. Eg. Boom

Oxymoron

Two opposite ideas are joined together to make an effect. Eg. Living death

Paradox

A statement that appears to be self contradictory/silly but may actually include some truth.

Parallelism

Use of words in a sentence that are grammatically the same or similar in their construction.

Pathetic Fallacy

Attributes human qualities and emotions to inanimate objects of nature.

Pathos

Evokes the emotions of pity, sympathy or sorrow.

Personification

A figure of speech in which a thing,an idea or an animal is given human attributes.

Poetic Justice

An ideal form of justice in which the good characters are rewarded and the bad characters are punished in an ironic twist of fate.

Portmanteau

Two or more words join together to coin a new word which share the same semantic features. Eg. Oxbridge, camcorder, rom-com.

Prose

A form of language that has no formal metrical structure.

Protagonist

The central character/leading figure in poetry,narrative, novel or any other story.

Pun

A play on words in which a humorous effect is produced.

Red Herring

An irrelevant topic introduced in an argument to divert the attention of readers from the original issues.

Repetition

A literary device that repeats the same words/phrases a few times to make an idea clearer.

Rhetoric

A technique of using language effectively and persuasively in spoken or written form.

Rhyme

Repetition of similar sounding words occurring at the end of lines in a poem.

Rhythm

Demonstrates the long and short patterns through stressed and unstressed syllables.

Simile

A figure of speech that makes a comparison showing similarities between two different things using like or as.

Syllogism

A rhetorical device that starts an argument with something general and from this draws a conclusion to something more specific.

Symbolism

Use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense.

Tautology

Repetitive use of words/phrases which have the similar meanings. Eg. "Reiterate again"

Theme

The main idea/underlying meaning of a literary work. May be stated directly or indirectly.

Thesis

A statement in a piece of literary work that the writer intends to support.

Tone

The attitude of a writer towards a subject and/or an audience.

Tragic Flaw

A trait in a character leading to their downfall.

Utopia

Denotes an illusionary place that projects the notion of a perfect society to the reader.

Verisimilitude

A likeness to the truth.