IB English HL - Paper 1: Literary Techniques

Imagery

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses, creating vivid mental pictures.

Metaphor

A direct comparison between two unrelated things, implying similarity.

Simile

A comparison between two things using 'like' or 'as.'

Symbolism

The use of symbols to represent deeper ideas or themes.

Personification

Attributing human traits to non-human entities.

Hyperbole

Exaggeration for emphasis or dramatic effect.

Oxymoron

Two contradictory words placed together to create a meaningful effect.

Paradox

A statement that seems contradictory but reveals a deeper truth.

Allegory

A narrative with a symbolic meaning that conveys moral, spiritual, or political ideas.

Allusion

An indirect reference to a well-known work, person, event, or place.

Pathetic Fallacy

Attributing human emotions to nature or inanimate objects, often to reflect a character's mood.

Alliteration

Repetition of initial consonant sounds for rhythm or emphasis.

Assonance

Repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words to create harmony.

Consonance

Repetition of consonant sounds in the middle or end of words for texture.

Onomatopoeia

Words that imitate natural sounds, enhancing auditory imagery.

Rhyme

Repetition of sounds at the end of lines, creating musicality.

Rhythm

The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line, giving poetry its beat.

Meter

A structured rhythm in poetry based on syllabic patterns.

Sibilance

Repetition of 's' or 'sh' sounds to create a hissing or soothing effect.

Enjambment

Continuation of a sentence across a line break in poetry, adding flow or urgency.

Caesura

A deliberate pause or break within a line of poetry, emphasizing rhythm or meaning.

Juxtaposition

Placing contrasting ideas, images, or themes side by side for impact.

Foreshadowing

Hints or clues about what will happen later in the narrative.

Flashback

A scene that interrupts the chronological flow to show past events.

Stream of Consciousness

A narrative style that mimics a character's internal thought flow.

Frame Narrative

A story within a story, where the outer narrative provides context for the inner one.

Motif

A recurring image, idea, or symbol that reinforces themes.

Repetition

Deliberate reuse of words or phrases for emphasis or rhythm.

Anaphora

Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses.

Epistrophe

Repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses.

Chiasmus

A rhetorical structure in which ideas are repeated in reverse order.

Antithesis

A contrast of ideas expressed in a parallel structure.

Asyndeton

Omission of conjunctions between phrases for dramatic effect.

Polysyndeton

The use of multiple conjunctions in close succession to emphasize abundance.

Cliffhanger

An unresolved ending designed to keep the audience engaged.

Narrative Perspective

The perspective from which a story is told (first person, second person, third person limited, third person omniscient).

Unreliable Narrator

A narrator whose credibility is questionable, adding ambiguity or tension.

Deus Ex Machina

An unexpected or improbable event that resolves the plot.

Foil

A character whose traits contrast with another, highlighting key differences.

Protagonist

The main character driving the story.

Antagonist

The character or force opposing the protagonist.

Bildungsroman

A coming-of-age story focusing on a character’s growth.

Pathos

Appealing to the audience’s emotions to create a connection.

Ethos

Establishing credibility or authority to persuade the audience.

Logos

Appealing to logic and reason through evidence and rational arguments.

Euphemism

Replacing harsh or unpleasant terms with milder expressions.

Rhetorical Question

A question asked for effect rather than an answer.

Parallelism

Using similar structures in sentences or phrases for rhythm or clarity.

Inversion

Reversing the usual order of words for emphasis or effect.

Litotes

An understatement where a positive statement is expressed by negating its opposite.

Microcosm

A small-scale representation of a larger system or idea.

Archetype

A universal symbol, character, or situation that recurs across literature.

Metonymy

Referring to something by an associated term.

Synecdoche

A part representing the whole, or vice versa.

Anthropomorphism

Making non-human entities literally behave as humans.

Verisimilitude

The appearance of reality in fiction, making events and characters feel authentic.

Allegorical Name

A character’s name that reflects their traits or role.

Intertextuality

The relationship between texts, where one references or echoes another.

Red Herring

A misleading clue designed to divert attention from the actual issue.

Catharsis

An emotional release experienced by the audience, often through tragedy or resolution.

Zoomorphism

Attributing animal characteristics to humans, objects, or abstract ideas.

Euphony

The use of pleasant, harmonious sounds to create a soothing effect.

Cacophony

The use of harsh, jarring sounds to create a sense of discord or tension.

Anastrophe

Deliberate inversion of the usual word order for emphasis or poetic effect.

Anadiplosis

Repetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the next.

Tautology

Repetition of the same idea using different words, often for emphasis.

Periphrasis

Using a longer or more complex phrasing to express something simple.

Hypophora

Raising a question and immediately answering it.

Meiosis

Intentional understatement to downplay significance, often for ironic effect.

Diacope

Repetition of a word or phrase with a small number of intervening words.

Polyptoton

Repetition of the same root word with different endings or forms.

Zeugma

Using one word to modify or govern two different words.

Syllepsis

A type of zeugma where the word applies differently to each object.

Chremamorphism

Attributing characteristics of inanimate objects to humans.

Antanaclasis

Repetition of a word in two different senses.

Malapropism

The mistaken use of a word in place of one that sounds similar, often humorous.

Portmanteau

A word created by blending two existing words.

Paralepsis

Emphasizing a point by pretending to ignore or downplay it.

Synesthesia

Describing one sense using terms from another.

Archetypal Imagery

Symbols or images that recur across cultures and literature.

Leitmotif

A recurring theme, phrase, or symbol associated with a particular idea or character.

Focalization

The perspective or lens through which a story is told.

Negative Capability

A concept where uncertainty or ambiguity in a text enhances its depth.

Tragic Flaw (Hamartia)

A character trait that leads to the protagonist’s downfall.