Studied by 3 people
tone
attitude of the narrator or speaker
diction
word choice
Modality
level of certainty of language (e.g. must, might, should, maybe)
Imperative language
an authoritative command
voice
perspective of the narrator or speaker: first, second, third person
allusion
a reference to something outside of the text, e.g. history, literature, culture
metaphor
direct comparison of an object to something else
simile
indirect comparison of an object to something else (uses "like" or "as")
personification
human-like description of a non-human object
pathetic fallacy
The attribution of human emotions or characteristics to inanimate objects or to nature; for example angry clouds; a cruel wind.
visual imagery
descriptive language that appeals to the sense of sight
auditory imagery
details that appeal to the sense of sound
olfactory imagery
descriptive language that appeals to the sense of smell
kinesthetic imagery
language that creates a sense of motion
symbol
something that stands for an abstract idea
alliteration
Repetition of consonant sounds (not aeiou) at the beginning of words
assonance
Repetition of vowel sounds
consonance
Repetition of consonant sounds
sibilance
hissing sounds represented by s, z, sh
rhyme
Repetition of sounds at the end of words
cacophony
Harsh sounds (opposite of rhyme and melody)
onomatopoeia
A word that imitates the sound it represents.
repetition
again and again! Anything can be repeated: words, lines, techniques, sounds, metaphors, symbols, etc.
anaphora
The repetition of words at the beginning of successive clauses.
listing
this, this, that, and this
enjambment
A run-on line of poetry in which logical and grammatical sense carries over from one line into the next.
endstop
the poetic line ends with a punctuation mark
caesura
A pause or sudden break in a line of poetry
stanza length
How long a stanza is :)
line break
Where a line of poetry ends :)
verbal irony
saying one thing but meaning another
dramatic irony
Irony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.
juxtaposition
Placement of two things closely together to emphasize comparisons or contrasts
hyperbole
An exaggeration
paradox
A statement that seems contradictory but actually contains a hidden truth
oxymoron
A combination of contradictory terms
antithesis
A balancing of two opposite or contrasting words, phrases, or clauses.
syntax
Arrangement of words in phrases and sentences
asyndeton
Leaving out conjunctions between words, phrases, clauses.
polysyndeton
Deliberate use of many conjunctions
rhetorical question
A question asked merely for effect with no answer expected.
internal monologue
Private sensations, thoughts, and emotions of a character
dramatic monologue
a poem in which a speaker addresses a silent listener
foil character
A character who is used as a contrast to another character; the contrast emphasises the differences between the two characters, bringing out the distinctive qualities in each.
characterisation
Actions, dialogue, and narrative description that reveal a sense of a character's personality to the reader.
