1.1.3
Key Terms - Images, Symbols & Mood
Key Terms for English Language - Images and Symbols
Key Terms for English Language - Images and Symbols
You need to know the following key terms for your English Language exam:
Symbolism
Symbolism
- When one idea, feeling, emotion, or other concept is represented by something else. They reflect the figurative meaning of a picture, object, colour, etc.
- E.g. The colour black is often used to represent death or evil.
Simile
Simile
- A figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, using ‘like’ or ‘as.’
- You are comparing the qualities of the two things you are comparing.
- E.g. in the phrase 'He was as fierce as a lion', you are comparing the anger and aggression of the lion with the anger and aggression of the man you are describing.
Personification
Personification
- Giving human characteristics to something that isn't human to create imagery.
- E.g. The waves danced on the shore.
Metaphor
Metaphor
- A figure of speech in which you say something is another thing. You compare the qualities or behaviour of two things using metaphors.
- E.g. in 'the curtain of fog', you create the image of the fog falling down on the area as if it is a curtain being dropped over the place - this could also suggest that the fog is thick and difficult to see through.
Imagery
Imagery
- Language and description that appeals to the five senses (smell, sight, taste, touch and hearing). Often, imagery includes similes, metaphors, etc.
- E.g. The waves battered the defenceless rocks, crashing and bashing against them and spraying frigid, salty water into the night.
Anthropomorphism
Anthropomorphism
- This is when we make something that is not human do or say things that make them seem human.
- E.g. The Sorting Hat talks in Harry Potter.
- The difference between anthropomorphism and personification: anthropomorphism is when something inhuman actually does human-like things; personification creates imagery where something inhuman seems human.
Key Terms for English Language - Phrases
Key Terms for English Language - Phrases
You need to know the following key terms for your English Language exam:
Adverbial phrase
Adverbial phrase
- An adverb phrase is simply two or more words that act as an adverb. It can modify a verb, adverb, or adjective and can tell “how”, “where”, “why”, or “when".
- E.g. We strolled through the garden.
Cliché
Cliché
- A phrase or opinion that is overused and portrays a lack of original thought.
- E.g. Frightened to death.
Idiom
Idiom
- A metaphorical phrase which has a specific, well-known meaning, but the meaning does not explicitly link to the meanings of the individual words.
- E.g. A penny for your thoughts.
Noun phrase
Noun phrase
- A small group of words which contains a noun and other words to describe it (such as adjectives) but does not contain a verb.
- E.g. Delicious, cold ice cream.
Parenthetical remark
Parenthetical remark
- A parenthetical remark is one that explains or qualifies something.
- E.g. “I’m hungry, but I only want to eat chips.”
Pun
Pun
- A joke which exploits the different possible meanings of a word - it makes fun of the fact that there are other words that have similar sounds but mean something different.
- E.g. In the joke, 'The best way to communicate with a fish is to drop them a line', the pun comes from the double meaning of 'a line' - it can be either a fishing rod or a telephone.
Key Terms for English Language - Mood and Feelings
Key Terms for English Language - Mood and Feelings
You need to know the following key terms for your English Language exam:
Atmosphere
Atmosphere
- The tone or feeling created in a piece of creative work.
- E.g. The dark sky hung ominously as they shivered in fear.
Pathetic fallacy
Pathetic fallacy
- Pathetic fallacy is when a writer gives human emotions to the natural world (most commonly, the weather) or inanimate objects. You are probably most used to seeing pathetic fallacy used when the weather reflects the mood of the characters.
- E.g. the night was unruly.
Pathos
Pathos
- When language creates pity or sadness in the reader.
- E.g. When advertisements for charities show small children looking sad and living in horrible conditions - this is used to evoke pity and sadness in the audience, encouraging them to donate money to the cause.
1Key Terms
2Language Techniques
2.1Language Devices
3Paper 1: Reading
4Paper 1: Writing
5Paper 2: Reading
5.1DAFORESTER
6Paper 2: Writing
6.1Structuring Your Answer
6.2Types of Writing
6.3Writing to...
6.3.1Writing to Inform
6.3.2Writing to Inform - Example
6.3.3Writing to Explain
6.3.4Writing to Explain - Example
6.3.5Writing to Persuade
6.3.6Writing to Persuade - Example
6.3.7Writing to Argue
6.3.8Writing to Argue - Example
6.3.9Writing to Persuade vs Writing to Argue
6.3.10Writing to Advise
6.3.11Writing to Advise - Example
6.3.12End of Topic Test - Writing to...
6.3.13Exam-Style Questions - Paper 2: Writing
Jump to other topics
1Key Terms
2Language Techniques
2.1Language Devices
3Paper 1: Reading
4Paper 1: Writing
5Paper 2: Reading
5.1DAFORESTER
6Paper 2: Writing
6.1Structuring Your Answer
6.2Types of Writing
6.3Writing to...
6.3.1Writing to Inform
6.3.2Writing to Inform - Example
6.3.3Writing to Explain
6.3.4Writing to Explain - Example
6.3.5Writing to Persuade
6.3.6Writing to Persuade - Example
6.3.7Writing to Argue
6.3.8Writing to Argue - Example
6.3.9Writing to Persuade vs Writing to Argue
6.3.10Writing to Advise
6.3.11Writing to Advise - Example
6.3.12End of Topic Test - Writing to...
6.3.13Exam-Style Questions - Paper 2: Writing
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