List of Literary Techniques

List of Literary Techniques

List of Literary Techniques
Technique Definition + Example

AerialTechnique
Shot Definition + Example
Exterior shot taken from above scene via an aircraft/crane

Aerial Shot Exterior shot taken from above scene via an aircraft/crane
Allegory Use of highly symbolic features to represent well-known ideas, such as death or lov
Allegory Use of highly symbolic features to represent well-known ideas, such as death or love
Repetition of consonants at the beginning of successive words or within sentences/
Alliteration Repetition
to createofaconsonants
sense of at the beginning of successive words or within sentences/phrases
rhythm
Alliteration to create a sense of rhythm
E.g. Peter piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
E.g. Peter piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.

A
Asubtle
subtle or or
passing reference
passing to an event,
reference to anperson,
event,place, other text,
person, etc. other
place, that is intended to that
text, etc. be is inten
Allusion
Allusion noticed by readers
noticed by readers

When something is left to the reader’s imagination, which often involves the author not
Ambiguity
Whenexplicitly
stating something ishappening,
what is left to thewhat
reader’s
has beenimagination,
said, etc which often involves the author
Ambiguity
stating explicitly what is happening, what has been said, etc
An expansion of detail to clarify a point
Amplification
E.g. We few, we happy few, we band of brothers
An expansion of detail to clarify a point
Amplification
E.g. two
Uses Wesimilar
few, we happy
concepts few, to
or ideas wecreate
banda relationship,
of brothersdraw comparisons or contrast
Analogy between the two ideas
E.g. A sword is to a warrior as a pen is to a writer
Uses two similar concepts or ideas to create a relationship, draw comparisons or co
Analogy between the two ideas
The repetition of one or more words at the head of consecutive phrases, clauses or
Anaphora E.g. A sword is to a warrior as a pen is to a writer
sentences
E.g. I came, I saw, I conquered

The repetition of one or more words at the head of consecutive phrases, clauses or
Anecdotes Use of a short tale or amusing bibliographical incident
Anaphora sentences
E.g. I came, I saw, I conquered
A comic or grotesque dance presented before or between acts of masque to provide a direct
Antimasque
contrast

Anecdotes Use of a short tale or amusing bibliographical incident

The repetition of a word or phrase at the close of successive clauses
Antistrophe E.g. You said he was late — true enough. You said he was not prepared — true enough. You
A comic
said he didor
notgrotesque dance presented
defend his statements before or between acts of masque to
— true enough. provid
Antimasque
contrast
Using two sentences with contradictory or contrasting meanings close to one another,
Antithesis sometimes even in immediate succession
TheIt was
Eg. repetition
the bestof
of a word
times, or phrase
it was the worstat
of the close of successive clauses
times
Antistrophe E.g. You said he was late — true enough. You said he was not prepared — true eno
Aporia
said
A he didof not
statement defend
hesitation, his statements
in which — true
characters express enough.with actual or feigned
themselves
doubt

Using two sentences with contradictory or contrasting meanings close to one anoth
Antithesis sometimes even in immediate succession
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Eg. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times
 List of Literary Techniques

List of Literary Techniques

Apostrophe The interruption of a though to directly address a person

An archetype is an immediately recognisable character, concept or object that makes it easy

for audiences to categorise them based on what they resemble in literature
Archetype
Eg. Hagrid (Harry Potter) fits the ‘gentle giant’ archetype, while Batman is the ultimate ‘lone
Technique Definition
vigilante’ + Example
archetype.

Repetition of vowel sounds within sentences/phrases to create a sense of rhythm

AerialAssonance
Shot Exterior shot taken from above scene via an aircraft/crane
Eg. A long song

Allegory
Asyndeton Useabsence
The of highly symbolic features
of conjunctions to represent well-known ideas, such as death or lov

The part of a picture, scene or design that forms a setting for the main figures or objects, or
Background Repetition
appears of consonants
furthest from the viewerat the beginning of successive words or within sentences/
Alliteration to create a sense of rhythm
Backlighting E.g. light
Main Peter piper
source picked
is behind a peck
subject, of pickled
silhouetting it peppers.

Deliberate
A subtle use of harsh letter
or passing sounds to an event,
reference person, place, other text, etc. that is inten
Cacophony
Allusion E.g. The clash and clang of steel jarred him awake
noticed by readers
A satiric technique in which a picture, description, or imitation of a person in which certain
Caricature
striking
When characteristics
something is areleft
exaggerated in order to
to the reader’s create a comicwhich
imagination, or grotesque
often effect
involves the author
Ambiguity
stating explicitly what is happening, what has been said, etc
The use of strong contrasts between light and dark which affects the composition of the
Chiaruscuro
artwork or cinematography
An expansion of detail to clarify a point
Amplification
E.g.
A We few,
common and/orwe happyexpression,
overused few, we band of brothers
often found in similes and metaphors
Cliche
Eg. He ran like the wind

Uses two similar concepts or ideas to create a relationship, draw comparisons or co

Close
Analogy Shows head/shoulders,
between the two ideasproviding clear detail of a person
Shot/Closeup
E.g. A sword is to a warrior as a pen is to a writer
Is a rhetorical term for dwelling on a point by repeating it several times in different words
Commoratio E.g. He’s passed on! This parrot is no more! He has ceased to be! He’s expired and gone to
The repetition of one or more words at the head of consecutive phrases, clauses
meet his maker! He’s a stiff!
or
Anaphora sentences
E.g.situation
Any I came, I saw,two
wherein I conquered
different or opposing things are presented together in order to
Contrast
highlight their differences

Anecdotes Use of a short tale or amusing bibliographical incident

Cumulative Listing Listing of things/effects to emphasise a point

A comic
The or grotesque
repetition dancewith
of a word or phrase presented
one or twobefore or between
intervening words acts of masque to provid
Antimasque
Diachope
E.g. Put out the light, and then put out the light!
contrast

Dialogue A conversation between two or more characters/people

The repetition of a word or phrase at the close of successive clauses
Antistrophe
Diegetic Sound E.g. Youon
Belonging said he eg.
screen was late —sound
Dialogue, true enough. You said
effects, ambient noise he was not prepared — true eno
said he did not defend his statements — true enough.
Any situation wherein the audience is privy to some sort of information that the characters do
not know, building audience tension, suspense, etc
Using two sentences with contradictory or contrasting meanings close to one anoth
Antithesis sometimes even in immediate succession
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Eg. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times
 List of Literary Techniques

List of Literary Techniques

Dramatic Irony Eg. Romeo and Juliet uses dramatic irony to create audience tension and emotional
reactions when Romeo believes Juliet to be dead and kills himself, as audiences know she’s
actually alive and will wake up any moment.

Words chosen to create a specific emotional response in the reader, often linked to the
Technique
Emotive Language Definition + Example
word’s connotations and commonly used in highly emotional or descriptive scenes/situations

AerialEpilogue
Shot A section orshot
Exterior speech at the
taken end of
from a bookscene
above or play via
that an
serves as a comment on or a conclusion
aircraft/crane
to what has happened

Allegory
Epistrophe (or Userepetition
The of highly
of asymbolic
word at thefeatures to phrase
end of each represent well-known
or clause ideas, such as death or lov
epiphora) Eg. I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth

Repetition of consonants at the beginning of successive words or within sentences/

Epithet The illogical use of an adjective
Alliteration to create a sense of rhythm
E.g. Peter piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
Initial shot of a scene, typically from a distance, letting viewer know where scene occurs and
Establishing Shot
revealing everything that is happening in scene

A subtle or passing reference to an event, person, place, other text, etc. that is inten
Allusion A rhetorical technique that is used to convince an audience of the author’s credibility or
Ethos noticed by readers
character

Euphemism
When
A mild orsomething is left used
‘proper’ expression to the reader’s
to replace oneimagination, which
that is harsh, blunt often involves
or otherwise offensivethe
in author
Ambiguity order to not cause trouble or appear vulgar
stating explicitly what is happening, what has been said, etc

A sentence ending with an exclamation mark or said with a tone of shock/excitement is used
Anexpress
to expansion of detail to clarify a point
high emotion
Amplification
Exclamation
E.g.“I can’t
Eg. We few, weyou!”
believe happy
may few, we
be said band
when of brothers
someone has done something shocking or
betrayed a character in some way and elicited a strong emotional response

Exordium Uses
The two similar
opening concepts
or introduction or ideas
of a speech to create
(personal a relationship,
favourite, just because ofdraw comparisons
the name ) or co
Analogy between the two ideas
Extreme Close-Up E.g. A sword
Detailed view of aisperson/thing
to a warrior as a pen is to a writer
(eyes/mouth)

A view from an even greater distance, in which people appear as small dots in the landscape
Extreme Long Shot The repetition of one or more words at the head of consecutive phrases, clauses or
(if at all)
Anaphora sentences
E.g. I came, I saw, I conquered
Language, words and/or expressions that have meaning beyond their literal interpretation,
Figurative
often used to express links between ideas, characters and concepts or subtly tie into overall
Language
themes
Anecdotes Use of a short tale or amusing bibliographical incident

A foil is another character in a story that specifically contrasts the main character in order to
A comic or
emphasise thegrotesque dance
main character’s presented
attributes before
and values or between
or compare actsofof
the values themasque
two to provid
Antimasque characters
Foil contrast
Eg. Draco Malfoy is a foil to Harry Potter, as he represents the opposites of Harry’s values
and experiences, though the two are tied together by their positions on opposite sides of the
battle against Voldemort
The repetition of a word or phrase at the close of successive clauses
Antistrophe E.g. You said he was late — true enough. You said he was not prepared — true eno
Foreground Part of the scene closest to viewer
said he did not defend his statements — true enough.

The act of hinting at or setting up a situation, event or action that will later be extremely
Foreshadowing Using two sentences with contradictory or contrasting meanings close to one anoth
Antithesis sometimes even in immediate succession
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Eg. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times
 List of Literary Techniques

List of Literary Techniques important in the narrative but doesn’t seem important at the time

The construction and structure of a text based on the text type, the context and the author’s
Form
personal stylistic choices

Technique Definition + Example

This is often used in film and is essentially a ‘story within a story’, wherein the main narrative
is being told, remembered, etc. by someone in the ‘outside narrative’
E.g. “In fair Verona where we lay our scene… Is now the two hours’ traffic of our stage.” As
AerialFrame
ShotNarrative Exterior shot taken from above scene via an aircraft/crane
the introduction to Romeo and Juliet. Despite being part of the script, this monologue is
outside of the actual plot. Therefore, the main story is in a “frame”, which is why it’s a frame
narrative.
Allegory Use of highly symbolic features to represent well-known ideas, such as death or lov

A cinematic technique where the camera looks down on the subject from a high angle and
High-Angle Shot
Repetition
the of consonants
point of focus at the beginning
often gets "swallowed up” of successive words or within sentences/
Alliteration to create a sense of rhythm
E.g.purposeful
The Peter piper picked a peck
over-exaggeration of a of pickledin peppers.
statement order to create a more intense or over-
Hyperbole the- top effect
E.g. I’m so exhausted I couldn’t move if I tried.
A subtle or passing reference to an event, person, place, other text, etc. that is inten
Allusion
Hypophora noticed
A byquestion
rhetorical readersthat is asked and answered by the speaker

A line of verse with five metrical feet, each consisting of one short (or unstressed) syllable
Iambic Pentameter
When something is left to the reader’s imagination, which often involves
followed by one long (or stressed) syllable
the author
Ambiguity
stating
Eg. explicitly what
Two households, is happening,
both alike in dignity what has been said, etc

Words used to create an idea or mental image of something, most often found in descriptions
Imagery An expansion of detail to clarify a point
Amplification or created through descriptive language
E.g. We few, we happy few, we band of brothers
Implying something that is not overtly stated
Innuendo
E.g.
Uses “If you
twoknow whatconcepts
similar I mean” *wink*
or ideas to create a relationship, draw comparisons or co
Analogy between the two ideas
An additional thought or aside, often added in the heat of the moment
Interjection E.g. A sword is to a warrior as a pen is to a writer
E.g. “And ANOTHER THING!”

Theoccurs
This repetition of one
when one or more
text makes wordstoatanother
reference the head of consecutive
text, either phrases,
obviously or in a more clauses or
Intertextuality
Anaphora subtle way
sentences in order to make a point or draw links between the two
E.g. I came, I saw, I conquered
A disconnect between what is said and what is meant, usually with the words said having a
Irony
second insulting, humorous or satirical meaning
Anecdotes Use of a short tale or amusing bibliographical incident
Isocolon The use of clauses or phrases of equal length

A comic or grotesque dance presented before or between acts of masque to provid

Antimasque Placing one character, idea, theme, object, setting, etc. parallel to another in order to
Juxtaposition contrast
compare and contrast the two

Kairos The
A repetition
moment of conditions
where the a word orarephrase
tight forat the close
crucial ofan
action; ie successive
opportunisticclauses
moment
Antistrophe E.g. You said he was late — true enough. You said he was not prepared — true eno
A formhe
said of rhetoric
did notthat appeals
defend to statements
his logic as a means
— oftrue
convincing
enough. an audience through locial
Logos
reasoning

Using two sentences with contradictory or contrasting meanings close to one anoth
Antithesis sometimes even in immediate succession
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Eg. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times
 List of Literary Techniques

List of Literary Techniques

Long Shot A view of a scene that is shot from a considerable distance, so that people appear as
indistinct shapes.

A dramatic entertainment of the 16th to 17th centuries in England, consisting of pantomime,

Masque
dancing, dialogue, and song, often performed at court
Technique Definition + Example
Comparing two things by saying that one ‘is’ the other in order to draw stronger comparisons
AerialMetaphor
Shot and often add
Exterior a level
shot takenof figurative
from abovemeaning
scene via an aircraft/crane
Eg. He was a crumbling ruin of a man; once great, then left to erode into dust

Allegory Usecalled
Also of highly
socialsymbolic
shot, showsfeatures
character to represent
from waist up —well-known ideas,
viewers can see such as
character’s death
faces or lov
Midshot
more clearly along with their interaction with other characters

Repetition of consonants at the beginning of successive words or within sentences/

Midground The visual plane located between both the foreground and background
Alliteration to create a sense of rhythm
E.g.strength
The Peter or
piper
forcepicked a peck
of a word, of pickled
which low modality peppers.
words being passive while high modality
Modality
words are forceful

A subtle or passing reference to an event, person, place, other text, etc. that is inten
Allusion A long speech by one actor in a play or film, or as part of a theatrical or broadcast
Monologue noticed by readers
programme

Motif
When
A motif issomething is left
an idea, symbol, to the
object, reader’s
concept imagination,
or theme which
that is always often
present involves
throughout an the author
Ambiguity entire text, playing a what
significant and/or symbolic role has
in thebeen
narrative
stating explicitly is happening, what said, etc

Narration A commentary delivered to accompany a film, broadcast, etc

An expansion of detail to clarify a point
Amplification
Narrative E.g. We few, we happy few, we band of brothers
A set of features determining the way a story is told and what is told
Perspective

Uses two similar concepts or ideas to create a relationship, draw comparisons or co

Non-Diegetic
Analogy
Sound between
Sound thecan
viewer two ideas
hear, but the characters can’t e.g. Music
E.g. A sword is to a warrior as a pen is to a writer
What is left out of a text –- missing scenes, fade to blacks, conversations only mentioned in
Omission
passing, etc
The repetition of one or more words at the head of consecutive phrases, clauses or
Anaphora sentences
A word that it the ‘sound’ of what it represents, allowing the reader to ‘hear’ what is occurring
Onomatopoeia E.g. I came, I saw, I conquered
E.g. Bang, crash, bam, screech, eek, etc

Anecdotes Two
Usecontradictory
of a short words or amusing
tale or concepts used together to create
bibliographical a strange or complex thing/idea
incident
Oxymoron that still makes sense
Eg. Organised chaos
A comic or grotesque dance presented before or between acts of masque to provid
Antimasque
Panning Shot contrast
Shot using moving camera to encompass full width of a scene

Paradox An apparent contradiction that in fact has an underlying truth

The repetition of a word or phrase at the close of successive clauses
Antistrophe E.g. You said he was late — true enough. You said he was not prepared — true eno
Comparing two objects, and object and a person, etc. to draw parallels between them,
Parallelism said hesimiles
includes did notanddefend his statements — true enough.
metaphors
Eg. He was cold as ice

Using two sentences with contradictory or contrasting meanings close to one anoth
Antithesis sometimes even in immediate succession
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Eg. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times
 List of Literary Techniques

List of Literary Techniques

Pathetic Fallacy Giving any non-human object some kind of human feeling or senses

Pathos A rhetorical technique that persuades an audience by appealing to their emotions

Peroration
Technique The concluding
Definition + argument
Example of a speech which recaps the speech and urges a greater force

The attributing of human characteristics to non-human objects, by which inanimate objects

AerialPersonification
Shot Exterior
appear shotlife
to have taken
and/orfrom above scene via an aircraft/crane
feelings
Eg. The tree branches thrashed against the window, their spindly, arthritic fingers creaking in
the wind
Allegory Use of highly symbolic features to represent well-known ideas, such as death or lov
Repetition of two or more forms of a word
Polyptoton
Eg. You try and forget, and in the forgetting, you are yourself forgotten
Repetition of consonants at the beginning of successive words or within sentences/
Alliteration to create a sense of rhythm
Insertion of conjunctions before each word in a list
Polysyndeton E.g.I laughed
Peter piper picked
Eg. and played and a peckand
talked offailed
pickled peppers.

Pysma Asking a series

A subtle of questions
or passing that require
reference complex
to an answers
event, person, place, other text, etc. that is inten
Allusion
noticed by readers
Repetition Restating key words or phrases to make the text more memorable

Rhetorical When
A something
question is without
that is asked left to the
theintent
reader’s imagination,
of receiving an answerwhich often
because involves
the answer itselfthe
is author
Ambiguity
Question stating explicitly what is happening, what has been said, etc
obvious

The correspondence of sound between words or the endings of words, especially when
Rhyme An expansion of detail
Amplification these are used at the ends ofto clarify
lines a point
of poetry
E.g. We few, we happy few, we band of brothers
Rhythm A strong, regular repeated pattern of movement or sound

Uses two similar concepts or ideas to create a relationship, draw comparisons or co

Salience The quality of being particularly noticeable or important; prominence
Analogy between the two ideas
E.g. A sword is to a warrior as a pen is to a writer
Irony/Sarcasm/Ridicule with the intent of showing the foolishness/injustice of a situation,
Satire
often political
The repetition of one or more words at the head of consecutive phrases, clauses or
Anaphora
Sibilance sentences
A specific form of alliteration involving the repetition of ‘s’ within a phrase or sentence
E.g. I came, I saw, I conquered
An act of speaking one’s thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers,
Soliloquy
especially by a character in a play
Anecdotes Use of a short tale or amusing bibliographical incident
An instruction in the text of a play indicating the movement, position, or tone of an actor, or
Stage Directions
the sound effects and lighting
A comic or grotesque dance presented before or between acts of masque to provid
Antimasque
contrast
A word or phrase that takes on a particular meaning for the audience and is used to
Symbol
represent something
The repetition of a word or phrase at the close of successive clauses
SYMBOLISM!!!
Antistrophe When an object,
E.g. You said person,
he was etc. represents
late — trueaenough.
more complex
Youidea,
saidconcept
he was or theme
not prepared — true eno
said he did not defend his statements — true enough.
Syntax The way a sentence is constructed – short, long, fragmented, compound, complex, etc

Using two sentences with contradictory or contrasting meanings close to one anoth
Antithesis sometimes even in immediate succession
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Eg. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times
 List of Literary Techniques

List of Literary Techniques

Tautology Repeating the same idea in a different word to add emphasis
E.g. English is never bored or tedious

The overall message or moral of a narrative which is intended to cause audiences to think on
Theme
real-life issues or moral questions
Technique Definition + Example
The emotional state of the speaker’s voice which gives clues as to their attitude towards the
Tone
subject
Aerial Shot Exterior shot taken from above scene via an aircraft/crane

A series of three parallel words, phrases, clauses or statements

Tricolon
Allegory UseTellofme
Eg. highly
and I symbolic features
forget. Teach me and I to represent
remember. well-known
Involve ideas,
me and I learn. such as death or lov

Truncated
Sentences Repetition
Blunt, cut-off, of consonants
shortened at the
sentences beginning
to create of
emphasis successive words or within sentences/
Alliteration to create a sense of rhythm
E.g. Peter
Object piperour
that directs picked a peckfocal
eyes towards of pickled
point e.g. peppers.
subject in visual text is pointing or
Vector
looking towards a certain direction

A subtle or passing reference to an event, person, place, other text, etc. that is inten
Allusion A technique used in theatre and cinema that prevents the audience from losing itself
Verfremdungseffekt noticed by readers
completely in the narrative, instead making it a conscious critical observer, who is distanced
(Distancing Effect)
from the emotion of the stage

When something is left to the reader’s imagination, which often involves the author
Ambiguity
stating explicitly what is happening, what has been said, etc

An expansion of detail to clarify a point

Amplification
E.g. We few, we happy few, we band of brothers

Uses two similar concepts or ideas to create a relationship, draw comparisons or co

Analogy between the two ideas
E.g. A sword is to a warrior as a pen is to a writer

The repetition of one or more words at the head of consecutive phrases, clauses or
Anaphora sentences
E.g. I came, I saw, I conquered

Anecdotes Use of a short tale or amusing bibliographical incident

A comic or grotesque dance presented before or between acts of masque to provid

Antimasque
contrast

The repetition of a word or phrase at the close of successive clauses

Antistrophe E.g. You said he was late — true enough. You said he was not prepared — true eno
said he did not defend his statements — true enough.

Using two sentences with contradictory or contrasting meanings close to one anoth
Antithesis sometimes even in immediate succession
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Eg. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times