. Again, while the aforementioned anthropomorphism actually applies these traits to non-human things, personification means the behavior of the thing does not actually change. You probably allude to things all the time in everyday speech, without even noticing. Sometimes, poets and playwrights will disrupt this rhythm if they want to emphasise a particular word, swapping or dropping emphasis of certain syllables unexpectedly, a device that can feel jarring to the reader. add value to the text. Many critics argue that the character of Falstaff is a satirical representation of Sir John Oldcastle, a Lollard (the pre-cursor to protestants) who was executed for treason and heresy. The act of referring to something not by its actual name but by a figurative name or the name of something associated with it. Literary texts are typically dense in metaphor. A poetic form that uses repetition, rhythm, and/or rhyme to convey a sense of magic or magical power. Allusion. One of the enjoyable challenges you’ll face as you become increasingly familiar with English is reading some of the great works of literature written in this fascinating language. So, if you want perfect services from a reliable team, we are always here to help. So a typical verb-subject-adjective sentence such as “Are you ready?” becomes a Yoda-esque adjective-verb-subject question: “Ready, are you?” Or a standard adjective-noun pairing like “tall mountain” becomes “mountain tall.”, Example: “Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing.” — The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe. Pronounced “sim-il-ee”, this term refers to likening something directly to something else, and it’s a form of metaphor used to add colour to writing of any kind – from poetry to novels to songs. This includes individual word choices based on connotations, as well as specific overall language choices used to characterise certain characters and develop a stronger sense of voice. “How long is a short story?” can be a particularly tough question to answer — …. Since the frame story supports the rest of the plot, it is mainly used at the beginning and the end of the narrative, or in small interludes between chapters or short stories. For instance: Did you hear about the psychic dwarf who escaped from prison? },{ },{ Alliteration. ", Art of Smart Education is an award winning provider of, The Ultimate HSC English Literary Techniques Cheat Sheet. It’s often seen in poetry and speeches, intended to provoke a emotional response in its audience. Definition: Onomatopoeia is use of words that sound like the noises they describe. Paraprosdokians are also delightful literary devices for creating surprise or intrigue. a woman being referred to as different flowers throughout a text). that is intended to be noticed by readers (though isn’t always picked up on). Click here to learn more about rhetorical devices. TS Eliot utilises deixis extensively in ‘The Hollow Men.’ He refers to an unknown “I” and “we” and numerous places connoted as “here” to disorientate the reader. "@type": "Answer", Another example might be “He’s not unintelligent”, as a means of saying that someone is intelligent (or even a genius). Example: “Oi mate, who was it?” versus “Pardon me, who was at the door?”. ", In an allegorical story, things represent more than they appear to on the surface. Tip: Do not confuse yourself if the literal meaning sounds slightly off, it’s metonymy. For instance: Fred mentions offhand that he’s allergic to peanuts in chapter two. "acceptedAnswer": { And if a standard metaphor doesn't do the trick, a writer can always try an extended metaphor: a metaphor that expands on the initial comparison through more elaborate parallels. "text": "To anthropomorphize is to apply human traits or qualities to a non-human thing such as objects, animals, or the weather. Along with consonance, it is a common technique used majorly in poetry. "name": "What is Synecdoche? "text": "An allusion is a passing or indirect descriptive reference to something. Example: “This is not Romeo, he's some other where.” – Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare" "name": "What is Onomatopoeia? Example: Hamlet’s 'to be or not to be' speech, in which he ruminates on the nature of life and death, is a classic dramatic soliloquy." Whether it is the consonant sound or a specific vowel group, the alliteration involves creating a repetition of similar sounds in the sentence. },{ They may also work subtly to improve the flow and pacing of your writing. Definition: Characterisation is the way that the author describes a character throughout a text. Tragicomedy is just what it sounds like: a blend of tragedy and comedy. When a text makes a reference to other texts. Example: In Titanic, the audience knows from the beginning of the movie that the boat will sink. Most of the novel is the story he is telling, while the frame is any part that takes place in the inn. The spontaneous nature of this flashback suggests that Winston has gone to lengths to repress the traumatic memory involving his family. Click, clack, moo. Very common in poetry. Example: “Peter Piper picked a pot of pickled peppers.”. A student might say, “I’m going to Matrix.” But they really mean that they are going to the Matrix Hurstville Campus. For instance: The child was a monkey, climbing all over the table and chairs and screaming at the top of his lungs. } For instance: When the volcano erupted, the forest was swallowed up in ash and dust like Jonah.” In the Bible, Jonah was swallowed by a whale. If so, that’s anaphora. "text": "A frame story is any part of the story that “frames” another part of it, such as one character telling another about their past, or someone uncovering a diary or a series of news articles that then tell the readers what happened. Words used to create an idea or mental image of something, most often found in descriptions or created through descriptive language. ", Alliteration is the use of a sequence of two or more words each beginning with the same letter or sound. Can also be humorous if used in mundane settings. […] War will make corpses of us all.” (J. R. R. Tolkien, Lord of the Rings) This dialogue expresses a mood of distaste for war and that it only leads to death, reflecting Tolkien’s own views. A particular way of looking at individuals, issues, events, texts, facts etc. "name": "What is Tmesis? A non-linear narrative may jump from different times, characters, etc. Definition: Verse is a form of writing in which the structure of the text is just as important as the text itself. Repetition, repetition, repetition… where would we be without it? read our Beginner’s Guide to Acing HSC English. ", Flashbacks can have many effects. } "text": "Anastrophe is a figure of speech wherein the traditional sentence structure is reversed. A commentary on the events leading up to Stalin's rise and the formation of the Soviet Union, the pigs at the heart of the novel represent figures such as Stalin, Trotsky, and Molotov. The weight on Christian’s back is the knowledge of his own sin. In a text, an anomaly is something which deviates from what is normal or expected. I remember saying, “I do.”. However, these 15 terms are some of the must-know concepts necessary for success in the English Literature exam. Other moods include the indicative (as in ‘That cat is suspicious’) and the interrogative (‘Is that cat suspicious?’). You wonder what his name was, where he came from. An example of connotations used in literature is George Orwell’s Animal Farm, in which certain animals have been chosen for particular characters because of the connotations those animal species have. Definition of Zeugma: Zeugma is when the author uses a word that has numerous meanings for different phrases in the same sentence. "@type": "Answer", Tip: If it makes you laugh but also makes you question what exactly is being made fun of and why it’s satire. This Literary Techniques Toolkit is your essential resource for analysing written texts for English.