The Story of Tom Brennan
General
Find the Technique
Visual Texts
100
"Come on," Dad said, steering me through the courtroom. "Let's get inside." I could feel his hand trembling on my jacket.
Question: What technique is used to highlight Dad’s emotional state?
Tactile imagery – the trembling hand conveys his anxiety and fear.
100
“I looked at the road ahead, long and winding, uncertain and treacherous, yet there was no other path."
Identify the technique used in "long and winding, uncertain and treacherous.
Parallelism – the balanced, repeated structure of the adjectives creates rhythm and emphasizes the difficulties of the journey.
100
"The lights flickered, the wind howled, the night pressed in around us, yet we did not move."
Identify a technique that has been used in this text.
Imagery, anaphora, parataxis
100
What visual technique is being used to create an ominous atmosphere?
Low key lighting – the contrast of light and dark creates a sense of danger and suspense.
200
"Bang went the hammer."
Question: What sound device is used in this quote?
Onomatopoeia
200
"He yelled and screamed, he thrashed and kicked, but no one came to help."
What technique is used in the first part of the sentence?
Parataxis – the use of short, coordinated clauses without conjunctions builds intensity and urgency.
200
"She knew what was coming. She knew the consequences. She knew the pain it would bring, and yet, she chose to stay."
Identify a technique in this quote.
Anaphora, foreshadowing, tension
200
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/person-standing-middle-road-deep-thinking-1583871313
What visual technique is being used to emphasize the character’s insignificance?
Juxtaposition / Contrast - the large mountain dwarfs the person, symbolizing their smallness and vulnerability.
300
"Everything I thought I knew about who I was and who the Brennans were changed forever."
Question: What technique is used in "changed forever"?
Hyperbole – exaggerating the impact of the event on Tom’s identity.
300
"If he had called earlier, if he had apologized, if he had tried to make amends—perhaps things would have been different."
What technique is used in the repetition of "if he had"?
Anaphora – the repetition of "if he had" creates a rhythm and emphasizes the missed opportunities.
300
"The rain came in sheets, the wind came in waves, and the darkness wrapped around us."
Identify a technique in the quote.
Imagery, parallelism, monosyllabic phrasing
300
What visual technique is used to isolate the character?
Framing – the doorway encloses the character, creating a sense of entrapment or isolation.
400
"Daniel stumbled towards the bush, his arms wrapped around his head."
Question: Identify the technique used to describe Daniel’s movements.
Imagery – this creates a vivid picture of Daniel’s desperation and confusion.
400
"The streets were a jungle, with cars roaring like wild beasts."
Question: What two techniques are used in this quote?
Metaphor – the streets are compared to a jungle. Simile – the cars are compared to wild beasts.
400
"His heart pounded like a drum in his chest."
Identify the cliche in this text.
Pounded like a drum. It's been overused.
400
What visual technique is used to focus on the character’s emotions?
Close-up – focusing on the eyes reveals the character’s fear and vulnerability.
500
"Kylie had hers pressed against her mouth."
Question: What technique is used to describe Kylie’s body language?
Answer: Visual imagery – it vividly shows her shock or suppression of emotion.
500
"The rain tapped gently on the window, a soothing lullaby."
Question: What technique is used to describe the sound of the rain?
Personification – the rain is described as tapping and singing, emphasizing its calming nature.
500
"Her smile was a ray of sunshine on a sad and cloudy day."
Identify two techniques in the following.
Imagery, metaphor, pathetic fallacy
500
Define the relationship between Gaze and Vector Lines?
Both are used to direct where the eye should travel in an image.