Informal words or phrases used in everyday conversation
Colloquialism
Example: “Gonna” instead of “going to.”
A mild or indirect word/phrase used to soften something harsh or unpleasant.
Euphemism
Example: “Passed away” instead of “died.”
Descriptive language that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell).
Imagery
Example: “The crisp leaves crunched under her boots.”
When words or situations mean the opposite of what is expected.
Irony
Example: A fire station burns down.
Giving human qualities to non-human objects or ideas.
Personification
Example: “The wind whispered through the trees.”
A play on words with multiple meanings, often humorous.
Pun
Example: “Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.”
What is Very informal language used by specific groups or generations.?
Slang
Example: “That’s lit” meaning “that’s amazing.”
Comparison not using like or as. Often extended
instead of just one line of metaphor, an extended metaphor lasts for a long duration of the poem
Hints or clues about future events in the story.
Foreshadowing
The process by which a writer reveals a character’s personality, motivations, and development.
Characterisation
A recurring object, phrase, idea, or image.
Motif
First person: “I stepped onto the stage”
Second person: “You stepped onto the stage.”
Third person: “She stepped onto the stage”
Narrative voice/point of view
Author’s attitude toward the subject (tone) or the emotional atmosphere (mood).
Tone/mood
Analyse what’s said vs. unsaid, subtext, or dialect use.
Dialogue
Variation in sentence length, complexity, or paragraph structure.
Syntax
Character’s inner thoughts or feelings
Internal monologue
Extended narrative where the plot, characters, and setting symbolize broader ideas.
e.g. classical allegory, biblical allegory
animal farm is political allegory
Allegory
Deliberate withholding of information, cliffhangers, or conflict.
Suspense/Tension
