English Vocab Term 1

Lineation

How lines are arranged in a poem

Stanza forms

Groupings of lines in poems

Enjambment

A line that flows without pause into the next

Caesura

A pause within a line often marked by punctuation

Volta

A shift in tone or argument

Free verse

Poetry without a regular rhyme or meter

Imagery

Vivid sensory descriptions to evoke images or emotions

Olfactory imagery

Imagery associated with smell

Auditory imagery

Imagery associated with sound

Gustatory imagery

Imagery associated with taste

Tactile imagery

Imagery associated with touch

Visual imagery

Imagery associated with sight

Alliteration

Repetition of initial consonant sounds

Assonance

Repetition of vowel sounds

Onomatopoeia

Words that imitate sounds

Sibilance

Repetition of "s" or "sh" sounds

Cacophony

Use of harsh discordant sounds

Euphony

Use of pleasing harmonious sounds

Simile

Comparison using "like" or "as"

Metaphor

Direct comparison

Personification

Attributing human qualities to non-human entities

Hyperbole

Exaggeration for effect

Tone

The speaker's attitude

Mood

The emotional effect on the reader

Persona

The voice or role assumed by the speaker

Dramatic monologue

A poem where the speaker addresses a silent listener revealing character indirectly

Purpose

The reason the author writes the text

Audience

The intended readers or viewers influencing tone and style

Chronological structure

Events presented in time order

Cause and effect structure

Explaining why something happens and its consequences

Compare and contrast structure

Highlighting similarities and differences between ideas

Problem-solution structure

Presenting an issue and proposing resolutions

Cyclical structure

A structure where the ending mirrors or reflects the beginning

Juxtaposition

Placing contrasting ideas events or descriptions close together for effect

Formal language

Polished professional tone with precise vocabulary

Informal language

Conversational tone including colloquialisms and slang

Rhetorical question

A question posed to provoke thought rather than get an answer

Cliché

An overused expression

Ethos

Appeal based on credibility or authority

Pathos

Appeal to emotions

Logos

Appeal to logic using facts and statistics

Chiasmus

Reversal of words or phrases for effect

Antithesis

Contrasting ideas placed in parallel structures

Jargon

Specialised language used by a profession or group

Anecdote

A short personal story used to illustrate a point

Direct address

Speaking directly to the audience

Imperative

An order or command

Repetition

Words or statements used more than once for emphasis

Point of view

The author’s perspective or stance

Bias

The author’s subjective views revealed through word choice

Euphemism

Mild or indirect phrasing to soften harsh realities

Satire

Use of humour irony or ridicule to criticise flaws in individuals or society

Characterisation

The way a writer reveals a character

Direct characterisation

The author explicitly describes a character’s traits

Indirect characterisation

The reader infers traits through actions dialogue or thoughts

Archetype

A universal character model or pattern

Foil

A character who contrasts with another character

Linear narrative

Events presented in chronological order

Non-linear narrative

Events presented out of order

Conflict

The main problem driving the story

Foreshadowing

Hints about events to come

Climax

The turning point or moment of highest tension

Setting

The time place and social context of a story

Pathetic fallacy

Attributing human emotions to nature to reflect mood

First person narrator

The narrator is a character in the story using "I"

Third person limited narrator

The narrator knows the thoughts of one character

Third person omniscient narrator

The narrator knows the thoughts of all characters

Unreliable narrator

A narrator whose credibility is questionable

Stream of consciousness

Narrative style mimicking the flow of thoughts

Intrusive narrator

A narrator who interrupts the story with commentary

Figurative language

Creative expressions that go beyond literal meaning

Symbolism

Using objects or characters to represent abstract ideas

Motif

A recurring image idea or element that reinforces themes

Allusion

A reference to another text historical event or cultural figure

Allegory

A story functioning as an extended metaphor