Cambridge Secondary English
Language features/techniques
Here are some literary techniques a writer might choose to use in a text:
Device Definition Example E ect
A comparison made His home is presented
without using 'like' or as a secure and safe
Metaphor 'as'. "His home was his castle." place to be.
A comparison made
using ‘like’ or ‘as’ to "She had a smile like the Her smile seems
Simile create a vivid image. sunrise." bright and full of hope.
A type of imagery in The wind is given the
which non-human human characteristic
objects, animals or of "screaming." This
ideas are given human "The wind screamed creates an uneasy
Personification characteristics. through the trees." atmosphere.
The repeated
Any repeated idea, references to illness
theme or image that has “rotten apple…feverish could symbolise the
a symbolic significance heat… plague of moral sickness within
Motif in the text. flies…sickened trees…” the narrative.
The repetition
emphasises the e ort
"Stephen tried and tried and exerted and Stephen’s
Words, phrases or ideas tried to get the ball in the desperation at his
Repetition are repeated for e ect. net." failed attempts.
“Phoebe saw that the
garden was over-flowing
with foxgloves, lupins, The listing gives a vivid
A number of connected daisies, sun-flowers and sense of the garden’s
items written one after pretty weeds of all shapes abundance and
Listing the other. and heights.” beauty.
Cambridge Secondary English
Device Definition Example E ect
The repetition of the The repetition of the
same sounds (mainly ‘s’ sound adds to the
consonants) usually at "The su ocating steam discomfort of the
Alliteration the beginning of words. filled the room." room.
We get a sense of the
The sounds of words to cat’s terror from the
express or underline "Howling, the cat ran sound of the word
Onomatopoeia their meaning. through the house." "howling."
Cambridge Secondary English
