Note-taking DirectionsNote-taking Directions  All of the following literary techniques may appear on your upcoming King Lear Pre-AP tests, so take thorough notes.  In your notebook, write down the term, definition and example.  You may or may not choose to write down repeated techniques that you have already in your notebook.  Annotate for these techniques while reading the play.

Euphemism  a mild or pleasant word or phrase that is used instead of one that is unpleasant or offensive  Ex: using “eliminate” as a euphemism for “kill”

Paradox  a statement or situation that appears to be false or self-contradictory, but that proves to be true upon reflection  Ex: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times

Aphorism  a short pithy saying expressing a general truth; maxim  Ex: “Art is long, life is short.”

Anecdote  a short account of an interesting or humorous incident

Tautology  needless repetition of the same sense in different words; redundancy  Ex: Either it will rain tomorrow or it will not rain tomorrow.

Chiasmus  a reversal in the order of words in two parallel phrases  Ex: He went in, out went she.  Flowers are lovely, love is flowerlike” (Coleridge).

Metonymy  a figure of speech in which one word or phrase is substituted for another with which it is closely associated  Ex: the use of Washington for the United States government or of the sword for military power.

Ellipsis  the omission of a word or phrase necessary for a complete syntactical construction but not necessary for understanding  Ex: “Begin when ready” for “Begin when you are ready”

Apostrophe  the direct address of an absent or imaginary person or of a personified abstraction, especially as a digression in the course of a speech or composition  Ex: Carlyle's “O Liberty, what things are done in thy name!”

Allegory  the representation of abstract ideas or principles by characters, figures, or events in narrative, dramatic, or pictorial form  Ex: The blindfolded figure with scales is an allegory of justice

Rhetoric  The composition of words to achieve a desired result.  Authors/speakers use the following to create their desired affect:  R epetition (of sounds, words or phrases, or structure)  O mission (of words or phrases; or in the form of an understatement)  A ddition (of grammatically superfluous words or phrases; in the form of an overstatement or exaggeration; or of description, elaboration, or correction)  D irection (in the form of inversion or rearrangement; by arranging a series, building, or diminishing; by arranging contrast; or by redirecting the focus or object of speech)  S ubstitution (of parts of words, full words, phrases, or structure; or conceptually-based)  Remember the acronym R.O.A.D.S to Rhetoric