🎨 Language for Effect
"Language for Effect" questions ask you to explain WHY the writer chose specific words or techniques and their impact on the reader.
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Simile
A comparison between two unlike things using "like" or "as" to highlight a shared quality.
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Metaphor
A direct comparison that states one thing is another, without using "like" or "as." It implies a deeper, often symbolic connection.
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Personification
Giving human qualities, emotions, or actions to non-human things such as objects, animals, or abstract concepts.
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Alliteration
The repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of two or more closely placed words.
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Onomatopoeia
A word that imitates the natural sound it describes, making the text more auditory and immersive.
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Hyperbole
Deliberate and obvious exaggeration used for emphasis or dramatic effect, not meant to be taken literally.
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| Device | Definition |
|---|---|
| Simile | A comparison between two unlike things using "like" or "as" to highlight a shared quality. |
| Metaphor | A direct comparison that states one thing is another, without using "like" or "as." It implies a deeper, often symbolic connection. |
| Personification | Giving human qualities, emotions, or actions to non-human things such as objects, animals, or abstract concepts. |
| Alliteration | The repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of two or more closely placed words. |
| Onomatopoeia | A word that imitates the natural sound it describes, making the text more auditory and immersive. |
| Hyperbole | Deliberate and obvious exaggeration used for emphasis or dramatic effect, not meant to be taken literally. |
| Irony | A contrast between what is expected and what actually happens, or between what is said and what is meant. |
| Imagery | Descriptive language that appeals to the five senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch) to create vivid mental pictures. |
Answering "Language for Effect" Questions
Use this structure: Identify the device → Quote the example → Explain the effect on the reader. For example: "The metaphor 'a blanket of silence' creates a vivid image of complete stillness, emphasising the eerie quiet of the scene."
Metaphors Are Everywhere!
Did you know you use literary devices every day? "That test was a nightmare" (metaphor), "I died laughing" (hyperbole), "The alarm screamed at me" (personification). You already know these — now let's learn to spot them in exam passages!