English, Sek II date:

Bka Stylistic devices – an overview

Exercise 1: Match the definitions and effects to the stylistic devices.

stylistic device definition effect

alliteration repetition of initial consonant emphasis
letters
analogy showing similarities between an explanation becomes
two things more understandable
anaphora repetition of identical words draws the attention to certain
ideas
antithesis shows two opposite things produces an effective
contrast
antonym a word which means the emphasis
opposite of another word
ellipsis leaving out words from a avoid repetition, more
sentence emphasis
enumeration listing of words or phrases clearer overview of ideas

euphemism a pleasant word for an softening the impact,

unpleasant situation/term/... manipulate, ridicule
hyperbole/exaggeration representing sth. larger, create a serious or comic
better, worse, ... effect, strong overstatement
imagery use of vivid or descriptive produces a picture → better
language memory
metaphor comparison of two things more powerful description
which are unlike one another
parallelism repetition of same sentence elements are of similar
pattern importance
personification an object, idea or animal is emphasise the power of sth.
given human attributes
repetition words or phrases which catch sb.'s attention
occur more than once
rhetorical question a question which strongly push sb. to a particular
suggests a certain answer conclusion
simile comparison of two things; specification
with “as” or “like”
symbol sth. concrete which carries represents ideas, creates an
an abstract meaning image (“shorthand”)
synonym word with the same meaning emphasis, avoiding
like another repetition

used (abridged and altered) source: Claussen, Stephanie, u.v.a.. “Camden Town – Oberstufe – Qualifikationsphase”. Westermann (2019).
exercise 2: State which stylistic device is used in the following examples.

• “a land that has been tunnelled and burrowed and shifted and finally left to settle”
__________________________________________________ (enumeration)
• “a darker, dearer green”
__________________________________________________ (alliteration)
• “north – south”
__________________________________________________ (antonym)
• “He was heavily drunk and intoxicated.”
__________________________________________________ (synonym)
• “It is our city. It is our decision. It is our future.”
__________________________________________________ (anaphora)
• “The sea devoured the ship.”
__________________________________________________ (personification)
• “Holidays are heaven.”
__________________________________________________ (metaphor)
• “She is strong like a lioness.”
__________________________________________________ (simile)
• “Petal is to flower as leaf is to tree.”
__________________________________________________ (analogy)
• “It used to be hot, it becomes cold. It used to be strong, it becomes weak.” (Malcolm
X)
__________________________________________________ (antithesis)
• “He passed away.”
__________________________________________________ (euphemism)
• “He waved a white flag.”
__________________________________________________ (symbol)
• “Is the pope Catholic?”
__________________________________________________ (rhetorical question)
• “My head is pounding like a drum.”
__________________________________________________ (imagery)