G9 Literary Devices & Subject Terminology

dramatic monologue

a poem in the form of a speech or narrative by an imagined person, in which the speaker inadvertently reveals aspects of their character while describing a particular situation or series of events.

What is the effect of a dramatic monologue in the poem 'Prayer Before Birth'?

Takes the role of a baby that has not been born yet, allowing us to view the world through innocent eyes, creating a sense of sympathy

refrain

A line or set of lines repeated several times over the course of a poem.

What is the effect of using refrain?

It emphasizes the main idea of the poem, making it more impactful. It also creates a sense of rhythm.

Juxtaposition

the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect.

What is the effect of juxtaposition?

To help strengthen an argument, or add deeper meaning

Temporal marker

These are uses of phrases which mark points in time

What is the effect of temporal markers?

It helps establish a sense of pace for which things go wrong.

Zoomorphism

Applying animal characteristics to humans

What is the effect of zoomorphism?

Mimics animlistic features, or implies a loss of control

Plosives

Sounds which release a sudden burst of air e.g. p,b,t

What is the effect of plosives?

Creates a harsher tone, creating negative imagery

Metonymy

substituting the name of one object for another object closely associated with it

What is the effect of metonymy?

Metonymy gives writers the ability to make single words or phrases more powerful

Free Verse

poetry that does not rhyme or have a regular meter

personification

Giving nonhuman things human characteristics

direct address

Use of personal pronouns to directly address the desired audience

What is the effect of direct address?

Creates a confrontational tone

anaphora

the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses

What is the effect of anaphora?

Builds up a change in state

tercet

three line stanza

What is free indrect discourse?

Third person narration that reports the thougts, feelings and dialogue of the character.

listing

A sentence with multiple phrases that create a list.

What is the effect of listing?

Highlight importance or provide detail to an idea in the text.

Quatrain

A four line stanza

Rhyming couplet

AA BB rhyme structure

Enjambment

A run-on line of poetry in which logical and grammatical sense carries over from one line into the next.

What is the effect of enjambment?

Increases the pace, creates a sense of overflowing

Caseura

a break or punctuation within a line of poetry

What is the effect of caseura?

Slows down the pace of the reader placing emphasis on certain words

Sibilance

A type of alliteration in which the "s" sound is repeated.

What is the effect of sibilance?

Maintains rhythm, or makes the description sound soft

Media res

a piece of writing that begins in the middle of the action

What is the effect of media res?

Creates tension, as the reader is thrown straight into action, making it more engaging

pathetic fallacy

attribution of human characteristics to natural conditions such as the weather

foreshadowing

A warning or indication of a future event

What is the effect of foreshadowing?

Adds dramatic tension to a story by building anticipation about what happens next.

Volta

the shift or point of dramatic change in a poem

What is the effect of a volta?

Brings reader to a different viewpoint to conclude the story

Oxymoron

A figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.

Elegy

a sad or mournful poem

Paenan

a song of praise, joy, or triumph

Internal rhyme

words that rhyme within a line of poetry

What is the effect of an internal rhyme?

Emphasizes the writer's key point in the poem

Stream of conciousness

a style of writing in which the thoughts and feelings of the writer are recorded as they occur

What is the effect of stream of conciousness?

Allows the reader to 'listen in' the character's thoughts

Iambic pentameter

a poetic meter that is made up of 5 stressed syllables each followed by an unstressed syllable

Polyptoton

repetition of words derived from the same root but with different endings

What is the effect of polyptoton?

Draws particular attention to a word

Antithesis

Direct opposite

Analogy

A comparison of two different things that are similar in some way for clarity

Alliteration

Repetition of initial consonant sounds

What is the effect of alliteration?

Creates a sense of rhythm and draws focus to a particular section of text

Fragmented sentences

Incomplete sentences used to increase tension or urgency

Infantalizing

using baby talk in addressing older adults

What is the effect of infantalization?

Discredits the actions of characters, lowering their credibility

Colloquialism

informal words or expressions not usually acceptable in formal writing

What is the effect of colloquialism?

Connects with reader

Hyperbole

exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.

What is the effect of a hyperbole?

Emphasizes magnitude of something

dramatic irony

when a reader is aware of something that a character isn't

What is the effect of dramatic irony?

Creates suspense and humor, and can also be used to lower the character's credibility

Epizeuxis

repetition of the same word in succesion for emphasis