English A- Literary terms and their effects

adverb

tell us things like manner, time, and place, called adverbs of manner.

• Can also modify adverbs and verbs by suggesting the degree (how much or how little)

alliteration

repetition of sound at the beginning of words.

• used for emphasis, highlighting keywords, or rhythm of flow, creating pleasing musical quality to language, further alluding the reader to it.

  Also used for memorability, or for creating an image

allusion

reference is made to a person, event, place, or place.

• The effect of this is enriching readers’ understanding by linking text to broader (cultural or historical) contexts.

• Can also build connections with other texts by allowing the reader to become familiar. Also engage with the reader.

• eg. 'Let's see, my dilemma for today: To teach or not to teach, that is the question.'

  (reference to Hamlet by William Shakespeare)

anaphora

repetition of the same word/phrase.

usually used to establish a rhetorical effect for reader.

Antithesis

contrast between ideas by placing them together for rhetorical effect, allowing reader to consider writers argument more carefully, highlighting contrast between opposing ideas. Also shown by parallelism, which enhances coherance of text.

Cacophony

Cacophony is discordant, rugged or hard-sounded effects in prose or verse, usually produced by clusters of consonants arranged so as to make pronunciation difficult.

• Cacophony is frequent in comical verse and tongue-twisters.

characterisation

way in which writer creates characters in narrative to attract or repel sympathy from reader. May serve as symbols or allegorical representations of broader ideas.

Colloquialism

effects lead to authenticity and realism to dialogue, showing characterisation, setting the tone, irony.

Conjunctions

Conjunctions are words that are used to connect words, phrases, and clauses (for example, and, because, so).

enables flow and cohesion, and impacts rhythm and syntax of sentences.

denotation

Literal factual meaning of word.

dramatic irony

when the audience has more information about what is taking place than some of the characters themselves have.

creates tension adding depth to the narrative.

elipsis

• eg Coming?, Soon. the ellipted words are ‘Are you’ and ‘I will be (coming)’ respectively.

Equivocation

Equivocation is when a word is used in two different senses in an argument. Take for

• example the following syllogism:

A hamburger is better than nothing

Nothing is better than good health

Therefore a hamburger is better than good health

The word 'nothing' has two meanings. In the first line it means the absence of something. In the second line it refers to a range of things, as in: 'of all the good things in life, nothing is better than good health.'

ethos

establishing credibility, usually for rhetorical use.

Characters with a compelling ethos can evoke empathy and emotional resonance in readers.

Euphemism

a word or phrase that makes something sound better than it actually is.

Euphemisms can be found in political speeches, advertsing campaigns or everyday conversation.

For example, instead of saying someone 'died', we say they 'passed away'.

Graphology

The visual aspect of a text, including layout, font, and image.

Hyperbole

emphasis/exaggeration

can be used for comedic effect, rhetorical effectiveness, vivid imagery.

Imagery

Imagery is a stylistic device, which uses language to appeal to the reader's senses of sight, sound, smell, taste or touch. Often used for enhanced visualization, making it more immersive and engaging, emotional impact and symbolism.

irony, verbal irony and situational irony.

• irony used for humour, social/cultural commentary by exposing hypocracy

• verbal irony can take the form of a question that is not meant to be answered (also rhetorical qstns)

• situational irony is when the opposite happens from what is expected.

juxtaposition

highlights contrast and similarities, drawing attention to their distinct characteristics. inviting the reader to consider both elements.

logos

present arguments in clear manner, making it easier to follow reasoning.

Also gives authority to the author's voice and encourages readers to trust the validity of their arguments.

metaphor

gives the effect of symbolism, emotional resonance and enhanced understanding.

Metonymy

Metonymy is the act of referring to a concept not by its name

Modality

Modality is the linguistics of judgement. It is the way in which writers express attitudes towards their subject matter. Goes along with narrative tone.

Noun phrases

enrich the passage, establish setting of the passage, direct the reader's attention to specific elements of the narrative

pathos

emotional engagement, and persuasion by eliciting feelings of empathy or compassion.

personnification and anthropomorphism

• Personification is a stylistic device where inanimate objects are given human qualities.

this allows the reader to think differently about the characteristics or traits of the object or person.

• anthropomorphism is the attribution of human characteristics or behaviour to a god, animal, or object.

Semantic field

A group of words that are related or analogous in meaning, and are often connected with a particular context of use.

(champ lexicale en francais)

Simile

Simile is the comparison of two things, using the words 'like' or 'as'. It is similar to, butdifferent from, metaphor that compares two things without the use of such words such as 'like' or 'as'

• A famous example is found in the movie Forest Gump: "Life is like a box of chocolates. You

  never know what you're going to get."

slogans

effect: memorability, persuasion, thematic reinforcement.

Synecdoche

Synecdoche is a stylistic device. It is the act of referring to an entity by one of its parts.

• For example, if you refer to your car as your 'wheels', you are using synecdoche. 'All hands on deck!' is another example.

Use of celebrities

advertisement use: This technique relies on the premise that people want to be like the celebrities