Literary Techniques List PDF

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Roy’s literary technique list – 0431 716 069

First Firstly, ly, I h have ave been tut tutorin orin oringg for 5 yyear ear earss an and d ge genuin nuin nuine ely enj enjoy oy ma makin kin kingg EEngli ngli nglish; sh; a typ typical ical ically ly tter er errifyi rifyi rifying ng subj subject ect fo forr m man an anyy st stud ud udent ent ents, s, an enj enjoy oy oyable able an and d ea easy sy sub subject ject ject.. SSo o I hop hope e yyou ou fin find d tthis his doc docu umen mentt h help elp elpful. ful. If you h hav av ave e aany ny q qu uest estion ion ionss aabou bou boutt th this is docu ocumen men mentt or Eng English lish in ge gene ne neral, ral, feel free to em email ail me on a.ro a.roy.93 y.93 y.93@ @hotm otmail. ail. ail.co co com. m. IIff I hav have e sp spar ar are e ti time me an and d tthe he re reque que quest st is n not ot u un nrea reason son sonab ab ably ly tim time e ccon on onsum sum sumin in ing, g, I will be more tha than n hap happy py to h help. elp.

THERE ARE HEAPS OF LISTS ONLINE. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS LIST? I’ve list listed ed tec techni hni hniqu qu ques es th that at ar are e si simil mil milaar, n next ext to eac each h ot oth her, in th the e sam same e ccol ol olour. our. Whilst it is true that there is an abundance of lists available online, they list them alphabetically making it easy to get techniques confused with each other. Hopefully my way of listing makes your memorisation process easier. For example, repetition, anaphora and epistrophe are fairly similar, so I have listed them in a group, in the same colour, so by memorising those three collectively, hopefully you won’t get anaphora confused with apostrophe or epistrophe confused with euphemism. I hav have e liste listed d tthe he def defin in initi iti ition on and ex examp amp ample le less ad adjac jac jacen en entt tto o each ot oth her. It is important you focus on the examples listed as opposed to merely memorising the definition, since knowing the definition of a technique is rendered pointless, if you can’t identify that technique. DO I NEED TO KNOW ALL OF THESE TECHNIQUES? SOME OF THEM SOUND A LITTLE UNNECESSARY? Well, I don’t think you will need to use all of these, but knowing most of them is certainly helpful. But more importantly, you need to recognise that using or identifying techniques alone, whilst important, won’t get you good marks. It is very important to ensure you explain the purpose or effect of that technique. IS THIS LIST COMPLETE AND ERROR FREE? No. No list is complete. There are many techniques that I may have missed or not heard of. But I do think this list is comprehensive enough to help you sit through your English HSC. Also, there certainly might be some errors; if there are, I would appreciate it if you messaged me and let me know of those errors, so I can fix them such that future students don’t learn incorrect information. Fin Finally, ally, if you fe feel el lilike ke you ar aren’ en’ en’tt d doin oin oingg as w well ell as you w wou ou ould ld lilike ke to in EEn nglish glish,, I would llike ike you tto o kn know ow tthat hat I of offe fe ferr tu tutor tor torin in ing, g, b both oth on one e on one an and d in ggrou rou roups ps of 3 m max. ax. Fo Forr in inqu qu quiri iri iries es relat related ed tto o tut tutorin orin oring, g, yyou ou can eem mail m me e on the em email ail ad add dress list liste ed ab abov ov ove e or ccont ont ontact act m me e on 00431 431 431716 716 71606 06 069. 9.

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Roy’s literary technique list – 0431 716 069

Simi le: Dr awi ng par alle ls b et ween ttwo wo unr ela te d th in gs thr oug h th e us eo s’ or ‘lik e.’ Simile: Drawi awing aralle allels bet etw unrela elate ted thin ings throug ough the use off ‘a ‘as’ ‘like.’ E.g. Th blan eye the dead. dead. The e ccabi abi abin n win windo do dows ws ha have ve gro grow wn blan lankk aass eye yebal bal balls ls o off the Metap taphor hor:: Dra rawin wingg p par arall allels betw twee een unrela elate ted thin ings byy d dir irectl ectlyy aascr scribi ibing prope perti rties off o one entity Me tap hor win ar all els be tw ee n ttwo wo unr ela te d th in gs b ir ectl scr ibi ng pro pe rti es o ne en tity to aano no ther nother ther.. E.g. He h has as th the e he heart art of a lilio on.

Allit Alliter er eratio atio ation n: Usi Using ng wor word ds th that at st start art wi with th the sa same me let letter ter in clo close se p pro ro roxi xi ximit mit mityy to ea each ch oth other. er. E.g. Th The eb bea ea eauti uti utiful ful bou bouq que uett b blos los losso so some me med d in th the e br brig ig ight ht sun sun.. Sibi Sibilan lan lance: ce: Cr Creat eat eation ion o off th the e ‘s ‘s’’ so soun un und d (I (Im mpo porta rta rtant nt to rreal eal ealise ise th that at ev even en th the e let letter ter ‘‘c’ c’ ccan an cre creat at ate e th the e ‘‘s’ s’ sou sound. nd. nd.)) E.g. Au Austr str strali ali aliaa is a lland and of sscra cra cragg gg ggyy sh shap ap apes es and sp spar ar arse se fol foliag iag iage. e. Asso Asson nan ance: ce: Cr Creati eati eation on of th the e vo vowel wel so soun un unds ds in a ssen en enten ten tence ce or p phr hr hras as ase. e. E.g. Do n not ot go gen gentl tl tle e in into to th that at goo good dn nigh igh ight, t, Ol Old d aage ge ssho ho houl ul uld d bu burn rn an and d rrav av ave e at clos close eo off d day. ay. Cons Conso onan nance ce ce:: Cr Crea ea eatio tio tion no off ssou ou ounds nds pr prod od oduc uc uced ed by co conso nso nsonan nan nants ts in a ssen en enten ten tence ce or phr phras as ase. e. E.g. Th There ere is no ri right ght ti time me to imit imitat at ate e th the e te teache ache acher. r.

Vivi Vivid d iima ma mager ger gery: y: Usin Usingg ad adjec jec jectiv tiv tives es whi which ch all allows ows fo forr iima ma mages ges to b be e vi visu su suali ali alised. sed. E.g. Th The eb bar ar are eh hed ed edges ges an and d the cla clamm mm mmyy fiel fields ds ar are en no op plac lac lace e to sslee lee leep. p. Sens Sensor or oryy d deta eta etail: il: A typ type eo off im imag ag agery ery wh whic ic ich h iinvo nvo nvolve lve lvess ma makin kin kingg re refer fer feren en ence ce to th the e se sens ns nses. es. E.g. Th The e ssoft oft ro rose se pet petals als br bru ushe shed dp past ast h her er skin aand nd eli elicit cit cited ed with h her er bo both th jjoy oy an and d exci excite te teme me ment. nt.

Rhe Rhetor tor torica ica icall qu ques es estio tio tion: n: A q que ue uesti sti stion on ask asked ed wit with h no iint nt ntenti enti ention on of elici elicitin tin tingg a rresp esp espon on onse. se. E.g. Ca Can n yyou ou im imagi agi agine ne the ssuf uf ufferi feri fering ng of Chr Christ ist on th the e cro cross ss ss?? Pys Pysma ma ma:: Th The e ask askin in ingg of a sseri eri eries es of qu questi esti estion on onss in qu quick ick su succe cce ccess ss ssion. ion. E.g. W Why hy do co countr untr untrie ie iess eeng ng ngage age in w war? ar? W What hat is to be ga gaine ine ined d ffro ro rom md des es estru tru tructio ctio ction? n? Do Does es th the e eend nd jus justif tif tifyy th the e me mean an ans? s?

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Roy’s literary technique list – 0431 716 069

Sym Symbo bo bolis lis lism: m: Usi Using ng on one e eenti nti ntity ty to ssym ym ymbo bo bolis lis lise eo orr rrefer efer to an ano other en entity tity tity.. ((TThi hink nk of ‘x’ an and d ‘y ‘y’’ aass 2 en entiti titi tities es and in this this ccas ‘x’ rrefers ‘y’ and and ‘y’ can be be an as ase e ‘x’ efers to ‘y anyth yth ythin in ing/n g/n g/no on-sp n-spe ecifi cific.) c.) E.g. We all ch chase ase su succe cce ccess ss an and d ffear ear the oth othe er si side de of the co coin in (T (The he ‘oth other er ssid id ide eo off th the e coin’ sy symb mb mbol ol olise ise isess ‘fail failur ur ure.') e.') Me Meton ton tonyymy: Usi Using ng on one e ent entity ity to ssym ym ymbo bo bolis lis lise eo orr rrefer efer to aano no nother ther sp spe ecifi cificc en entity. tity. (In th this is cas case e ‘‘x’ x’ rrefe efe efers rs to ‘‘y’ y’ and ‘y’ is sp speci eci ecific. fic. fic.)) E.g. ‘Fr Frien ien iends, ds, Ro Rom mans aand nd cou countr ntr ntrym ym ymen en en,, le lend nd m me e yyour our eears ars.’ (‘Le Len nd me yo your ur ea ears’ rs’ re refer fer ferss to ‘‘pa pa payin yin yingg atte attenti nti ntion. on. on.’’) Syne Synecd cd cdoc oc oche: he: U Usin sin singg p parts arts to rrefer efer to th the e who whole le or usin usingg a ssm mall eenti nti ntity ty to ref refer er to a la large rge rgerr enti entity. ty. ((In th this is cas case e ‘x ‘x’’ re refer fer ferss to ‘y sq squa ua uare re red’ d’ or vice vvers ers ersa.) a.) E.g. Germ erman an anyy w won on th the e ssoc oc occe ce cerr w world orld cup. (‘G (‘Ger er erma ma many’ ny’ is u used sed to ref refer er to the ‘‘Ge Ge Germ rm rman an nati nation on onal al te team am am’’ an and d thus w we e ssee ee ho how w ‘‘wh wh whole ole ole’’ re repr pr pres es esents ents ‘p ‘part. art. art.’) ’) We hir hired ed h hands ands tto oh help elp us wi with th th the ew work ork orklo lo load. ad. (‘h (‘hand and ands’ s’ is u use se sed d to re refe fe ferr to tthe he hiri hiring ng of ‘‘peo peo people ple ple’’ and th thus us we se see eh how ow ‘‘pa pa part’ rt’ re repr pr prese ese esent nt ntss ‘w ‘whol hol hole.’ e.’ e.’)) Eup Euphe he hemi mi mism sm sm:: Us Usin in ingg a co comp mp mpar ar arati ati atively vely les lesss abr abrasi asi asive ve ffor or orm mo off eexpr xpr xpres es ession sion to rrefer efer to so som methi ething ng si signi gni gnifica fica ficantl ntl ntlyy hars harsh her. E.g. He h has as d drif rif rifted ted of offf to th that at et etern ern ernal al ssle le leep. ep. (‘E (‘Eter ter terna na nall sl sleep eep eep’’ is us used ed to ref refer er to ‘‘de de death ath ath’’ in a lless ess ab abra ra rasiv siv sive e ma mann nn nner.) er.)

Pers Personi oni onific fic ficati ati ation: on: As Ascri cri cribin bin bingg ani animat mat mate e qu qualiti aliti alities es to an in inani ani anim mate o ob bject. E.g. Th The ew waff aff affle le ju jump mp mped ed up ou outt of th the e to toas as aster ter ter.. Tran Transf sf sferr err erred ed ep epith ith ithet et or hyp hypal al allage: lage: Th The e acti active ve tr trans ans ansfer fer of em emoti oti otion on fro from m an an anim im imat at ate eo obje bje bject ct to an inan inanim im imat at ate eo obje bje bject. ct. E.g. He walk walk the ha happy road. road. (Not (Not the tra emo the pe the ro alked ed do down wn the ote e the transf nsf nsfer er o off emo motio tio tions ns fro from m the perso rso rson n to the road) ad) Pat Pathe he hetic tic ffall all allacy acy acy:: As Ascri cri cribin bin bingg h hum um uman an fe feelin elin elings gs sp speci eci ecific fic fically ally to n natur atur ature. e. ((Thi Thi Thiss is no nott to too o diss dissiimil milar ar to tran transf sf sferr err erred ed epit epithe he het.) t.) E.g. Th The e llone one onely ly clo clouds uds w wan an ande de dered red th the e sk skies ies aass th the e thu thund nd nder er roar roared ed migh mightil til tily. y. Apo Apostro stro strop phe he:: En Enga ga gagin gin gingg in aan n ex exten ten tend ded dis disco co course urse w with ith an in inani ani anim mate ob objec jec jectt eegg a p perso erso erson n who p pass ass assed ed aw awaay. E.g. ‘Whe here re be you yourr gib gibes es no now? w? You Yourr gam gamb bols?’ (P (Pri ri rince nce H Ham am amlet let ad addr dr dress ess essin in ingg th the ed dea ea ead d YYorr orr orrick ick ick))

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Roy’s literary technique list – 0431 716 069

Tautolo tology gy:: TThe repeti etitio tion words with simila ilarr m mea eanin ningg in q qui uick succces cessio sion. Tau tolo gy he rep eti tio n of wor ds wi th sim ila ea nin ui ck su sio n. E.g. This This tech list is a rathe rathe enjo and plea plea read techn niqu ique e list therr enjo njoya ya yabl bl ble, e, en enter ter tertai tai taini ni ning ng and leasan san santt read ead.. Pleona nasm sm:: TThe unne neces cessar saryy use of wo words that imply the ame meani aning sente nten orr p phr hras ase. Pleo na sm he un ne ces sar rds th at imp ly th e ssam am e me ani ng in a se nte nce o hr as e. E.g. I ssaw aw th the eb beas eas eastt w with ith m myy ow own n eeye ye yes. s. ((Her Her Here e bot both h ‘‘my’ my’ aand nd ‘o ‘own’ wn’ ar are eu unn nn nnec ec ecess ess essary ary an and d iimp mp mply ly the sa sam me thin thing.) g.) Tautop tophr hras ase: phras rase that repeat eatss an id ide usin ingg th the word Tau top hr as e: A ph ras e th at rep eat ea us in e ssaame wor ds. E.g. It is w wh hat it is. W Wha ha hatev tev tever er hap happ pens wil willl h happ app appen en en..

Rep etit io n: R ep ea tin or ds or phr as es or sen te nce s. ((The The re ar e va ri ous ty pes of re pe titi on, so me of Repetit etitio ion: Rep epea eatin tingg w wor ords phras ases sente tence nces. There are vari rious types repe petiti tition, some which liste ted belo elow. w.)) wh ich are lis te db elo w. E.g. Mess essi’s i’s dri dribbl bbl bblin in ingg co coup up uple le led d wi with th his pace an and d aagili gili gility ty is wh what at aallo llo llows ws Me Mess ss ssii to be th the eb bes es estt p pla la layer yer in the worl world. d. (R (Real eal M Madri adri adrid d ffan an ans, s, n no o ne need ed to be up upse se set.) t.) Anaph phor ora: repeti etitio tion words phr hrase tartt of cl claus auses verses ses.. Ana ph or a: TThe he rep eti tio n of wor ds or a p hr ase aatt the sstar tar aus es or ver ses E.g. It was th the eb best est of tim times es es,, it w was as th the ew wors ors orstt of ti time me mes, s, iitt was the aage ge of wisd wisdo om. Epi pho ra or ep istr op he e rep et ition of w ord hr ase at the en end do off each clau clause se se.. Epipho phora epistr istrop ophe he:: Th The repet etition word ordss o orr a p phr hrase E.g. If you ha had d kno known wn th the e vviirtue of th the e rring, ing, or ha half lf h her er wo worth rth rthin in iness ess th that at gav gave e the rin ring, g, you w woul oul ould d not then h hav av ave ep part art arted ed wi with th tthe he ri ring. ng. Sym plo ce mb in atio n of aanap nap hora an d epi pho ra in th e sa me ssen en ten ce. Symplo ploce ce:: A co comb mbin inatio ation naph and epipho phora the sam enten tence. E.g. If the theyy aargu rgu rgue, e, we w well ell rre esis sist. t. If the theyy fi fight, ght, w we e wi willll rresi esi esist. st. If tthe he heyy in inva va vade, de, w we ew will ill res resist. ist. Epizeu zeuxis xis:: Th The epeti etition off word wordss o orr ph phras rases qui uick ccessi sion no words etween. Epi zeu xis e rrep ep eti tion o ras es in q ui ck ssu ucces si on with n o wor ds in betw een. E.g. Alo Alon ne, aalo lo lone, ne, alo alone ne in the vvast ast sea sea.. Poly ptono n: Th e rrepe epe tit ion of d iff ere nt wor ds th at ar e de riv ed fro m th e sa me ro ot or bas e wor d. Polyp tonon The epetit tition diff iffere erent words that are deriv rived from the sam root base word. E.g. It wa wass a gri grievo evo evous us fa fault ult an and d So Sond nd ndip ip gri grievo evo evous us usly ly pai paid d fo forr it. Mo tif o eit mo tif: Th e rrep ep et itio no ea or co nce pt tthro hro ugh th e ent ire bo dy of wor e Motif orr lleit eitmo motif: The epet etitio ition off an id ide conce ncep hrough the entire body workk of th the compo poser ser.. com po ser E.g. Th The e rrep ep epeti eti etition tion of th the e ide ideaa of d darkn arkn arknes es esss in Jo Jose se seph ph Co Conrad nrad nrad’s ’s no novel vel vel,, H Hear ear eartt o off D Dar ar arkn kn kness. ess.

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Roy’s literary technique list – 0431 716 069

Oxy mo ron eo ntra di ctor or ds in qui ck ssuc uc ce ssio n tto ou lti mate ly h elp ex po und upo na Oxymo moron ron:: The us use off co con tradi dictor ctoryy w wor ords quick ucce cessio ssion ulti ltim ately help expo pound upon dee per le ve th. deeper leve vell of tru truth. E.g. W War ar is a te terrib rrib rrible le be beaut aut auty. y. Juxtap taposi osition tion:: PPos ositio itionin ningg two op opp osingg en entiti tities close each oth ther highlililight the diffe ifferen rence ce/c /contr ontras astt Jux tap osi tion os itio nin posin titi es clos e to ea ch o th er to high ght th ed iffe ren ce /c ontr as bet wee n th em. betwee ween them. E.g. Ob Obse se servin rvin rvingg the m mini ini iniatur atur ature e ssta ta tatus tus of th the e pe pers rs rson on onaa aagai gai gainst nst th the eh high-r igh-r igh-ris is ise eb buil uil uildin din dings gs fill filled ed him w with ith sur surpris pris prise. e. Parado adox: Positi sitioni oning contras trastin tingg ide ideas orr con concep cepts near each other, such that on surfa face Par ado x: Po siti oni ng two con tras tin as o cep ts n ear ea ch ot her, su ch th at o n tthe he sur fa ce the sent en ce see ms to la ck me ut on fur th er o bs erv ati on rev eals dee pe eanin g. senten ence seems lack meaaning, b but furth ther obs bserv ervati ation reve deepe perr m me aning. E.g. "I mu must st be cru cruel el to b be e kin kind." d." (Haml mlet) et)

Antithe thesi sis: Havi aving thesis the first hal alff o off th the sente tence havin vingg tthe latter half the sente tenc nce Anti the si s: H avi ng a th esis in th e fir st h al e sen te nce aand nd ha vin he latt er h alf of th e sen te nc e disprov rove the initia itiall tthesi hesis. disp rov e th e in itia hesi s. E.g. ‘I‘It’s t’s no nott tthat hat I lo love ve ved d Cae Caesar sar les less, s, I lov loved ed Ro Rome me m mor or ore. e. e.’’ (Ju (Juliu liu liuss Caes Caesar ar ar)) ‘To b be e or no nott to b be.’ e.’ ((Ha Ha Haml ml mlet) et)

Jargo Usin Jargon n: Usin singg vvoca oca ocabu bu bular lar laryy sspe pe pecifi cifi cificc to a tra trade. de. E.g. Lef Leftt w win in ingg p peo eo eople ple ar are e ttyp yp ypica ica ically lly mo more re lib liber er eral al m mind ind inded ed tha than n th the e av avera era erage ge per perso so son n aand nd ar are e pr pro-ab o-ab o-abor or ortion tion and pr pro-c o-c o-cho ho hoice. ice. (P (Poli oli olitica tica ticall ja jargo rgo rgon) n)

Hyp er bato n: Th e in te nti on al inv ersio n of wor ds or th e ssttruct ure of a sen ten ce. A n eas ier wa Hyper erbato baton The inte tenti ntion onal inversio ersion word the ructure senten tence. An easier wayy to reme mber this techn chniq ique emem embe berr it as ‘‘Yo Yod speak eak.’ rem emb er th is te chn iq ue is to rrem em em be Yo da sp eak .’ E.g. Pa Patie tie tience nce yo you u mus mustt ha have, ve, you young ng Lu Luke ke Sk Skyw yw ywalk alk alker. er. No mor more e doe doess d de eath ha haun un untt m me. e.

Zeugm gma: The use on wor ord which applie liess to ttwo oth ther word rdss in d diff ifferen erentt sen senses ses.. Zeu gm a: Th eu se of o ne w or d whi ch app lie wo o th er wo rd iff eren ses E.g. He br brok ok oke e hi hiss jjaw aw an and d th the e llaaw aatt th the e ssam am ame e tim time. e. She op open en ened ed th the ed door oor an and dh her er he hear ar artt to th the eh help elp elple le less ss girl girl..

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Roy’s literary technique list – 0431 716 069

Accu Accum mula ulativ tiv tive e lilistin stin stingg: M Ment ent entio io ionin nin ningg a m multi ulti ultitud tud tude e of thin things gs in th the e ssam am ame e ssen en enten ten tence. ce. Lis Listed ted b belo elo elow w ar are e th the e typ types es of aaccu listin ccu ccumu mu mula la lativ tiv tive e listin sting. g. Asyn Asynd deto eton: n: A ty type pe of ac accu cu cumu mu mulat lat lativ iv ive e lis listin tin tingg whe where re the co con njun junctio ctio ctions ns are in inte te tentio ntio ntiona na nally lly lleft eft o out. ut. ((No No and and/bu /bu /but/f t/f t/for/ or/ or/no no nor/so r/so r/so/y /y /yet. et. et.)) E.g. ‘I cam came, e, I ssaw, aw, I co con nqu quer er ered. ed. ed.’’ Synd Syndeto eto eton n: A typ type e of ac accu cu cumu mu mulati lati lative ve lilisti sti sting ng wh wher er ere e ttwo wo con conju ju junc nc ncts ts ar are e join joined ed by a conj conjun un unctio ctio ction. n. ...