GRADE 9 GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEVICES

Language Definition Effect

Device
Polysyndeton Repetition of conjunctions Causes the reader to
within a sentence e.g He was slow down and draws
hungry and tired and attentions to
saddened and depressed adjectives
with nobody to care for him.
Intensifies the
occurrences of within
the story by the fast-
pace description.
Asyndeton Omission of conjunctions This increases the
within a sentence e.g The pace of the story and
man bought creates a flowing pace
apples,oranges,bananas,Kool as the reader becomes
-Aid,chocolate,jellies and more interested.
onions.
Homeoteluton The repetition of words with The slightly rhythmic
a similar ending. She language device
swiftly,slyly,suavely,silently reflects the manner in
tip-toed across the room. which a character is
carrying out an action
Synaesthasia Mixture of two senses e.g Intensifies the
The smell was oozing rapidly experience that the
from the bus. character is feeling.
Adds an overwhelming
feeling to the
happening.
Litotes Making something appear as Demonstrates an
if it’s not as bad as it actually insecurity the
is with negating the contrary. character feels and
E.g I’m not as young as I used allows the reader to
to be. gain more of an
understanding about
who the reader is.
Anaphora Repetition of words at the This draws attention
beginning of a sentence or to a specific word and
clause. E.g Romeo,Romeo in this case, it
wherefore art thou Romeo. demonstrates the
longing for Romeo.
Epanadiplosis The repetition of a word at Draws attention to a
the beginning and end of a specific word
sentence. E.g Romeo,Romeo
*Effects can be altered based on the tone,emotions and feelings in the extract.