1. Imagery & other useful figures of speech and literary terms.
Close Reading
Imagery & other useful figures of speech and literary terms.

2. Figures of speech
Simile – a comparison in which one thing is said to be like another. E.g. It was as though the note of the fiddle touched some sub-conscious nerve that had to be answered – like a baby’s cry.
Metaphor – a comparison where one thing is said to be another for effect. E.g. Her lovely mouth was a political megaphone.
Writer’s sometimes sustain and develop the one comparison over several lines or throughout an entire piece of writing. This technique is called an extended metaphor.
Personification – a special type of metaphor where non-living objects are given human characteristics, moods or reactions. This figure of speech is often used to describe nature. E.g. The churning river grabbed and pulled at her ankles as she struggled to move away from the cracking ice.
Figurative language is used in literature to help the reader picture more clearly the scene that is being described.

3. Worked example
This extract is taken from a pervious paper which dealt with the topic of burying nuclear waste.
“How, then, should the rulers of today warn the future generations of the filthy brew that they have buried beneath their feet?”
What is the examiner looking for?
Identify the figure of speech.
What is being compared to what?
In what respect are the two things similar?
How does the comparison help you to visualise the subject better?

4. “How, then, should the rulers of today warn the future generations of the filthy brew that they have buried beneath their feet?”
This is a metaphor.
A store of nuclear waste is being compared to a disgusting concoction in a witch’s cauldron.
Both are mixtures of unpleasant ingredients which are extremely harmful to man.
The metaphor helps you to appreciate the unpleasant and harmful nature of the waste.
Answer: The metaphor is very effective as “brew” has connotations of a poisonous concoction in a witch’s cauldron, made of disgusting ingredients. “Filthy” strengthens the sense of its revolting and disgusting nature. The metaphor helps the reader appreciate the unpleasant and harmful nature of the waste and its potential for having evil consequences for man.

5. Task 1
Complete the imagery questions on p.39 pf the language book.

6. Other figures of speech
Sound effects
Alliteration
Series of words in which first letter is the same.
Eg: “It slithered silkily in the sunlight.”
Effect: the alliterated ‘s’ sounds mimic the sound being made by the snake.
Onomatopoeia
Words imitate the sound they are describing.
Eg: “clip-clop of clogs on the cobblestones”
Effect: we can hear the sound of the footsteps on the cobbles.
Pun
Word joke. Often seen in headlines.
Eg: “What’s this?”
“It’s bean soup.”
“I don’t care what it’s been; what is it now?”
Effect: depends. Normally comical.

7. Other literary techniques
Hyperbole
Deliberate exaggeration to emphasise a point that is being made.
Eg: “She was the most wonderful person in the universe.”
Effect can often be humorous.
Litotes
Deliberate understatement.
Eg: “It was a tad sore when I fell headfirst down the cliff.”
Effect: Depends on example. Humour?

8. More literary techniques
Euphemism
This is when a phrase or word or idea which is uncomfortable for some reason, is replaced by a kinder, gentler way of saying it.
Example:
Instead of “he died”, “he passed away”
Instead of “she’s butt ugly”, “she’s not the prettiest girl in the family.”
Effect: depends on example but usually, to reveal a patient/kind tone; to show sarcasm.

9. Nearly finished now! Paradox
Statement which appears to be a contradiction but which does contain an element of truth.
Eg: “to preserve the peace, we must go to war.” or “Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.”
Oxymoron
2 opposites placed side by side.
Eg: “free slavery”
Effect: depends. Often, heightens the effect of the contrast.
Juxtaposition
Placing 2 things side by side for a particular reason.
Eg: in the poem ‘Assisi’, the old beggar lies hunched against the rich, opulent church. The juxtaposition of the beggar’s poverty next to the building’s wealth emphasises our sympathy for the beggar and our annoyance that money has been spent on a building over a human being.

10. Finally, the new, old and overused
Neologism – coining of a new word often used to describe a recent development.
Archaism – a word from the past which is no longer used e.g. thy, thou etc
Cliché – an expression which might have been original at one point but has now become over used and so has lost its meaning e.g. “in this day and age” or a well worn simile like “as white as snow” are both cliché.

11. Task 2
Identify the literary techniques used on p.44 & 45 and explain the effect they have.