English P1

• Adage


  A short, pointed and memorable saying based on facts.
• Adynaton


  An extreme form of hyperbole, the exaggeration will make it seem impossible.
• Allegory


  A figure of speech in which abstract ideas and principles are described in terms of characters, figures and events.
• Alliteration


  A stylistic device in which a number of words having the same first consonant sound occur close together in a series.
• Allusion


  Brief and indirect reference to a person, place,thing or idea of historical,cultural, literary or political significance.
• Ambiguity


  A word, phrase or statement which contains more than one meaning.
• Anachronism


  An error of chronology in a literary piece.
• Anacoluthon


  Interruption from one sentence to the other.
• Anadiplosis


  The typical pattern of repeating a word at the end of the first clause and the beginning. Of the following clause.
• Analogy


  The comparison in which an idea or thing is compared to something else that is quite different from it.
• Anaphora


  The deliberate repetition of the first part of a sentence.
• Anecdote


  A short and interesting story or amusing event.
• Antagonist


  A character or group of characters who stand in oppostion to the protagonist/main character.
• Antanaclasis


  When a word is repeated, but with different meanings.
• Anthropomorphism


  Making an animal or object appear and behave as if they were human beings.
• Anti-climax


  The expectations of the reader/audience are raised and then suddenly something boring happens.
• Antimetabole


  Repeating a phrase in reverse order. Eg - "Fair is foul and foul is fair".
• Antithesis


  A rhetorical device in which two ideas are put together to achieve a contrasting effect.
• Aposiopesis


  The writer breaks off abruptly which leaves the statement incomplete.
• Archaism


  A word used that is outdated in comparison to the rest of the poem/novel.
• Archetype


  A typical character,action or a situation that seems to represent universal patterns of behaviour. Eg - the hero, the villain, good vs evil.
• Assonance


  Two or more close words to one another that repeat the same vowel sound. Eg. Go and mow.
• Cacophony


  The use of words with sharp or unmelodious sounds.
• Caricature


  Particular aspects of a subject are exaggerated to create comedic effect.
• Climax


  The point in a work where the tension hits the highest point.
• Colloquialism


  The use of informal language by a writer.
• Connotation


  A meaning that is implied by a word apart from the thing which it describes explicitly.
• Consonance


  Repetitive sounds produced by consonants within a sentence or phrase.
• Denotation


  The literal/dictionary meaning of a word.
• Dialect


  The language used by people of a specific area,class or district.
• Elision


  Omitting or slurring part of a word for rhythmic effect. Eg o'er.
• Euphemism


  Polite, indirect expressions which replace words that are considered harsh and impolite. Eg. Passed away as opposed to died.
• Exposition


  This is used to introduce background info about events, settings and characters to the audience.
• Eye Rhyme


  Looks as though it should rhyme but it does not. Eg. Home and come
• Foil


  A character that shows qualities in contrast to the qualities of another character.
• Foreshadowing


  A literary device in which the writer hints what is to happen later in the story.
• Half Rhyme


  A poetic device in which the stressed syllables rhyme however the consonants do not. Eg. bridge and grudge.
• Hubris


  Extreme pride and arrogance displayed by a character. Normally brings about their downfall.
• Hyperbole


  Extreme exaggeration.
• Imagery


  The use of figurative language to represent things so that it appeals to out physical senses.