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Stylistic device

In literature and writing, a stylistic device is the use of any of a variety of techniques to give an auxiliary meaning, idea, or feeling to the literal one written.

Contents

Alliteration

Repetition of a sound, normally a consonant, at the beginning of neighbouring words, or of stressed syllables within such words, to produce a usually rhythmic, sometimes also comic effect. Example: Oh dear daddy of death dance

Allusion

Direct or indirect reference to something or somebody the reader or listener is supposed to recognize and respond to. An allusion may be literary, historical, biblical, etc.

Assonance

The repetition of the same or similar vowel sounds within stressed syllables of neighbouring words. It will not be understood if the reader has not seen the idea done before

Contrast

The bringing together of opposing views, words or characters to emphasize their difference and usually to highlight one of the opposing elements. In contrasting two characters, the author may be showing the goodness of one by emphasizing the evil of another; in contrasting two ideas, a writer may be attempting to show how the idea he or she opposes is not as worthy of consideration as the idea he or she expounds. One form of contrasts is juxtaposition in which the writer places two quite different things together. The way in which contrast is used will show what the author or writer intended.

Euphemism

is a figure of speech intended to hide the real nature of somethin unpleasant by using a mild or indirect term for it. Example: He has passed away. Instead of: He has died

Rhyme

[To be written...]



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01-04-2007 01:21:04