Literary devices
What is the definition of Repetition?
The act of repeating the same word for two times or more which can increase the rhythm and pace of the poem.
It focuses the reader on the word/phrase being repeated, suggesting that it is important. Also serves to drill an idea into the reader's head.
(Something similar is fine)
What is the definition of Adjectives?
A word naming an attribute of a noun, such as sweet, red, or technical. In literature, you need to look out for important diction.
What is the definition of Act & Scene?
Act: A major division in a play. An act can be subdivided into scenes. (See scene). Greek plays were not divided into acts. The five act structure was originally introduced in Roman times and became the convention in Shakespeare’s period. In the 19th century this was reduced to four acts and 20th century drama tends to favour three acts.
Scene: A traditional segment in a play. Scenes are used to indicate (1) a change in time (2) a change in location, (3) provides a jump from one subplot to another, (4) introduces new characters (5) rearrange the actors on the stage. Traditionally plays are composed of acts, broken down into scenes.
What is a Rhetorical question?
A question asked solely to produce an effect or to make an assertion and not to elicit a reply, as “What is so rare as a day in June?”.
What is Contrast?
To compare in order to show unlikeness or differences. Contrast can be used to emphasise a point through similarities and differences of the subject. Can suggest tension, confusion or extreme emotion. Can also suggest an ambiguous/ambivalent attitude towards the idea.
What is a Simile?
A figure of speech in which two unlike things are explicitly compared, by using "as" or "like". It can add layers of meaning; it aids the reader's understanding by comparing what might be unfamiliar to what is familiar.
What is the definition of Exclamation?
A word, phrase or sentence that expresses sudden pain, surprise, anger, excitement, happiness, or other emotion.
What is Gesture?
Any movement of the actor’s body that is used to convey meaning, attitude or feeling.
What is Foreshadowing?
A literary technique that introduces an apparently irrelevant element early in the story; its significance becomes clear later in the play.
What is Italics?
A style of printing in which the letters lean to the right. Often used for emphasis or contrast — that is, to draw attention to some particular part of a text. In dialogue, it would reflect that the word is given extra stress in delivery.
What is Symbolism?
The use of symbolic language, imagery, set design or colour to evoke emotions or communicate ideas.
What is Ellipsis?
The use of . . . three dots to indicate a pause or . . . interruption in the character's line.
What is stage direction?
A playwright's descriptive or interpretive comments that provide readers (as well as actors and directors) with information about the dialogue, setting, and action of a play. Modern playwrights tend to include substantial stage directions, while earlier playwrights typically use them more sparsely, implicitly, or not at all.
What is the definition of Theme?
As a literary device, theme refers to the central, deeper meaning of a written work.
What is Sarcasm?
The use of remarks that clearly mean the opposite of what they say, made in order to hurt someone's feelings or to criticise something in a humorous way.
What is a Hubris?
This negative term implies both arrogant, excessive self-pride or self-confidence, and a lack of some important perception or insight due to pride in one's abilities.
What is Idiom?
An idiom is a phrase or expression that typically presents a figurative, non-literal meaning attached to the phrase; but some phrases become figurative idioms while retaining the literal meaning of the phrase.
What is Proxemics & Levels?
Proxemics: The usage of space on a stage, or how the actors/characters are placed on a stage. The distance or level between character/actors shows their relationships and feelings, and gives clues of the situation or the people within the situation at that moment. Pay attention to stage directions and the movement of characters in their interactions.
Levels: The height or the positioning of a character compared to others. Levels can also refer to parts of the set that have been elevated or lowered to vary the height of the playing space.
What is the plot structure? (4 points)
Exposition
Complication
Climax
Denouement
What is an Epithet?
An adjective or phrase expressing a quality or attribute regarded as characteristic of the person or thing mentioned.
What is a Motif?
A motif is an idea, object, or concept that repeats itself throughout a text.
What is Lexical set?
This term refers to words within a passage of text which are related in some way.
What is Dialogue, Monologue & Soliloquy?
Dialogue: The conversation between characters. In plays, characters' speech is preceded by their names.
Monologue: A speech made by one actor before other characters on stage.
Soliloquy: A speech in which an actor speaks the inner thoughts of his/her character aloud for the audience to share; the actor is usually alone on stage during a soliloquy.
What is Juxtaposition?
An act or instance of placing words/phrases/ideas close together or side by side, especially for comparison or contrast.
What is Parallel syntax?
Parallel syntax is a grammatical device in which different sentences or parts of a sentence are arranged similarly to one another. This grammatical device not only helps to connect different ideas and improve the flow of a text, but also allows the author to emphasise a specific point or draw attention to the order of words in a sentence.