IB English HL - Paper 1: Literary Techniques
Figurative Language Devices
1. Imagery
Descriptive language that appeals to the senses, creating vivid mental pictures.
2. Metaphor
A direct comparison between two unrelated things, implying similarity.
3. Simile
A comparison between two things using "like" or "as."
4. Symbolism
The use of symbols to represent deeper ideas or themes.
5. Personification
Attributing human traits to non-human entities.
6. Hyperbole
Exaggeration for emphasis or dramatic effect.
7. Oxymoron
Two contradictory words placed together to create a meaningful effect (e.g., "bittersweet").
8. Paradox
A statement that seems contradictory but reveals a deeper truth.
9. Allegory
A narrative with a symbolic meaning that conveys moral, spiritual, or political ideas.
10. Allusion
An indirect reference to a well-known work, person, event, or place.
11. Pathetic Fallacy
Attributing human emotions to nature or inanimate objects, often to reflect a character's mood.
Sound Devices
12. Alliteration
Repetition of initial consonant sounds for rhythm or emphasis.
13. Assonance
Repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words to create harmony.
14. Consonance
Repetition of consonant sounds in the middle or end of words for texture.
15. Onomatopoeia
Words that imitate natural sounds, enhancing auditory imagery.
16. Rhyme
Repetition of sounds at the end of lines, creating musicality.
17. Rhythm
The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line, giving poetry its beat.
18. Meter
A structured rhythm in poetry based on syllabic patterns (e.g., iambic pentameter).
19. Sibilance
Repetition of "s" or "sh" sounds to create a hissing or soothing effect.
20. Enjambment
Continuation of a sentence across a line break in poetry, adding flow or urgency.
21. Caesura
A deliberate pause or break within a line of poetry, emphasizing rhythm or meaning.
Structural Devices
22. Juxtaposition
Placing contrasting ideas, images, or themes side by side for impact.
23. Foreshadowing
Hints or clues about what will happen later in the narrative.
24. Flashback
A scene that interrupts the chronological flow to show past events.
25. Stream of Consciousness
A narrative style that mimics a character's internal thought flow.
26. Frame Narrative
A story within a story, where the outer narrative provides context for the inner one.
27. Motif
A recurring image, idea, or symbol that reinforces themes.
28. Repetition
Deliberate reuse of words or phrases for emphasis or rhythm.
29. Anaphora
Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses.
30. Epistrophe
Repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses.
31. Chiasmus
A rhetorical structure in which ideas are repeated in reverse order.
32. Antithesis
A contrast of ideas expressed in a parallel structure.
33. Asyndeton
Omission of conjunctions between phrases for dramatic or fast-paced effect.
34. Polysyndeton
The use of multiple conjunctions in close succession to slow down the rhythm or emphasize abundance.
35. Cliffhanger
An unresolved ending designed to keep the audience engaged.
Narrative Devices
36. Narrative Perspective
First-person: Told from the perspective of a character using "I."
Second-person: Addresses the reader directly using "you."
Third-person Limited: Focuses on one character’s thoughts and experiences.
Third-person Omniscient: An all-knowing narrator who can see into all characters’ thoughts.
37. Unreliable Narrator
A narrator whose credibility is questionable, adding ambiguity or tension.
38. Deus Ex Machina
An unexpected or improbable event that resolves the plot.
39. Foil
A character whose traits contrast with another, highlighting key differences.
40. Protagonist
The main character driving the story.
41. Antagonist
The character or force opposing the protagonist.
42. Bildungsroman
A coming-of-age story focusing on a character’s growth.
Logical and Rhetorical Devices
43. Pathos
Appealing to the audience’s emotions to create a connection.
44. Ethos
Establishing credibility or authority to persuade the audience.
45. Logos
Appealing to logic and reason through evidence and rational arguments.
46. Euphemism
Replacing harsh or unpleasant terms with milder expressions.
47. Rhetorical Question
A question asked for effect rather than an answer.
48. Parallelism
Using similar structures in sentences or phrases for rhythm or clarity.
49. Inversion
Reversing the usual order of words for emphasis or effect.
50. Litotes
An understatement where a positive statement is expressed by negating its opposite (e.g., "not bad").
Advanced and Unique Devices
51. Microcosm
A small-scale representation of a larger system or idea.
52. Archetype
A universal symbol, character, or situation that recurs across literature.
53. Metonymy
Referring to something by an associated term (e.g., "the crown" for monarchy).
54. Synecdoche
A part representing the whole, or vice versa (e.g., "wheels" for a car).
55. Anthropomorphism
Making non-human entities literally behave as humans.
56. Verisimilitude
The appearance of reality in fiction, making events and characters feel authentic.
57. Allegorical Name
A character’s name that reflects their traits or role (e.g., "Faith" in Young Goodman Brown).
58. Intertextuality
The relationship between texts, where one references or echoes another.
59. Red Herring
A misleading clue designed to divert attention from the actual issue.
60. Catharsis
An emotional release experienced by the audience, often through tragedy or resolution.
Extended List of Literary Devices
1. Zoomorphism
Attributing animal characteristics to humans, objects, or abstract ideas.
Example: Describing someone as "snarling" or "purring."
2. Anthropomorphism
Making non-human entities (e.g., animals, objects) behave like humans, often literally.
Example: Characters like Winnie the Pooh or Simba in The Lion King.
3. Euphony
The use of pleasant, harmonious sounds to create a soothing effect.
Example: Using soft consonants like "l," "m," and "n."
4. Cacophony
The use of harsh, jarring sounds to create a sense of discord or tension.
Example: Words like "grate," "crash," and "shriek."
5. Anastrophe
Deliberate inversion of the usual word order for emphasis or poetic effect.
Example: "Powerful you have become; the dark side I sense in you" (Yoda).
6. Anadiplosis
Repetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the next.
Example: "Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering."
7. Tautology
Repetition of the same idea using different words, often for emphasis.
Example: "It’s a free gift."
8. Periphrasis
Using a longer or more complex phrasing to express something simple.
Example: Referring to "the king" as "the sovereign holder of the crown."
9. Hypophora
Raising a question and immediately answering it.
Example: "Why do we fight? Because we must."
10. Meiosis
Intentional understatement to downplay significance, often for ironic effect.
Example: Referring to a battlefield as "a bit of a mess."
11. Diacope
Repetition of a word or phrase with a small number of intervening words.
Example: "The horror! Oh, the horror!"
12. Polyptoton
Repetition of the same root word with different endings or forms.
Example: "Who shall watch the watchmen?"
13. Zeugma
Using one word to modify or govern two different words, often in unique ways.
Example: "She broke his car and his heart."
14. Syllepsis
A type of zeugma where the word applies differently to each object.
Example: "She exercises her rights and her body daily."
15. Chremamorphism
Attributing characteristics of inanimate objects to humans.
Example: "He was cold and unyielding, like a stone."
16. Antanaclasis
Repetition of a word in two different senses.
Example: "We must all hang together, or we shall all hang separately."
17. Malapropism
The mistaken use of a word in place of one that sounds similar, often humorous.
Example: "He is the pineapple of politeness" (instead of pinnacle).
18. Portmanteau
A word created by blending two existing words.
Example: "Brunch" (breakfast + lunch).
19. Paralepsis
Emphasizing a point by pretending to ignore or downplay it.
Example: "I’m not saying he’s irresponsible, but..."
20. Synesthesia
Describing one sense using terms from another.
Example: "A loud color" or "a bitter silence."
Additional Conceptual Techniques
21. Archetypal Imagery
Symbols or images that recur across cultures and literature.
Example: The hero’s journey, the wise mentor.
22. Leitmotif
A recurring theme, phrase, or symbol associated with a particular idea or character.
Example: The musical motif for Darth Vader in Star Wars.
23. Focalization
The perspective or lens through which a story is told, affecting what the reader knows.
24. Negative Capability
A concept where uncertainty or ambiguity in a text enhances its depth.
Example: Leaving the resolution of a mystery open-ended.
25. Tragic Flaw (Hamartia)
A character trait that leads to the protagonist’s downfall.
Example: Macbeth’s ambition.