Why use a simile? Similes are often used to clearly explain things that are unfamiliar by using ideas which the audience or reader is familiar with. For example, when first reading A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Scrooge is a stranger to reader and we do not fully understand how miserly he is. In order to convey to us that Scrooge is appallingly cruel and miserable, Dickens writes that he is, "Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret and self contained and solitary as an oyster." Flint and oysters are common objects that readers would understand, and would therefore be able to better comprehend the extent to which Scrooge was an isolated, greedy, and reserved man.

Why use sensory language? Sensory language allows for writers to enhance their writing by appealing to as many senses as possible. Readers will not only be able to comprehend what is happening in the story, but allows them to become immersed in the experience along with the characters. It also helps to convey a particular tone or mood to the audience. For example in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Scrooge is described as, "The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shriveled his cheek, stiffens his gait; mad his eye red, his thin lips blue; and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice. External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge. No warmth could warm, no wintry weather chill him". This use of touch and sight allows readers to see Scrooge, but to also feel how literally and figuratively cold Scrooge is.

Why use alliteration? Like previously mentioned for sibilance, alliteration is often used to mimic sounds or to emphasise particular ideas through the way the words are pronounced. For example, "boundless and bare" from the poem Ozymandias emphasises how wide and desolate this area is now, which contrasts with the grand civilisation King Ozymandias thought it would be. 

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Why use repetition? Repetition is a particularly effective technique when you are wanting to highlight an idea, theme, or tone in your writing. One of the most common examples in your GCSE texts is the repeated use of the word "cold" in the first stave ("Foggier yet, and colder. Piercing, searching, biting cold...mumbled by the hungry cold as bones are gnawed by dogs...") is there to emphasis how utterly and bitterly frigid it is. You might say: well of course, it's winter! However, Dickens is not trying to inform readers of the season, but rather how difficult and unpleasant life is for those less fortunate, who are either sleeping in the streets or cannot afford adequate heating/clothing to protect themselves from the weather. It makes the audience understand how imperative it is that they receive some form of help and generosity.

Why use rhetorical question? A rhetorical question can be used to engage the audience in your debate by making them think about what you are asking about. However, it can also be used to emphasise the frustration that a character or speaker can feel, such as, "What are we doing here?" in the poem 'Exposure'. Here, the poet is using this question to show that the soldiers have lost their sense of purpose and find fighting to be tiring and meaningless. 

Why use juxtaposition?  Juxtaposition is used to show the contrast or differences between two things, thus making them stand out more. A great example of this is in Frankenstein, in which the creature says, "Like Adam, I was apparently united by no link to any other being in existence; but... I considered Satan as the fitter emblem of my condition....". Here, the author uses the juxtaposition of Adam (the first man and considered God's perfect and beloved creation) with Satan (one of God's most powerful angels who betrayed him and suffered the consequences) to suggest that he feels he has been unjustly condemned to a life of sin and suffering at the hands of his creator when he should have been loved and cherished. 

Why use symbolism? Authors often use symbolism to reveal little details about how a character is feeling or their motivations behind what they do. For example, in An Inspector Calls, Eva drinks disinfectant, which could be interpreted symbolically as her wanting to cleanse herself of her perceived transgressions. We can also see this in the line, "I released a songbird from its cage" from 'Poppies'. The son in the poem would be the songbird and the cage would be the home and her control, so here we see her symbolically releasing him to be free and make his own decisions (and potentially get hurt outside the protection of the "cage"). 

Why use a rule of three? Three has long been seen as a "golden" number, because it is thought to be just the right amount of repetition to be memorable and entertaining, without being too few or too many. This technique might be seen as a word or idea repeated three times, as a list of three, or structurally using three components (three sentences that start the same way, three characters, three responses, etc.). This can be seen as a language device in Frankenstein where the creature says, "but I knew that I possessed no money, no friends, no kind of property". The list of three things the monster does not have makes it memorable and emphasises what he lacks (which are the basics for measuring success and happiness in society). 

Why use emotive language? Emotive language is used to connect with the I passed the night wretchedly. Sometimes my pulse beat so quickly and hardly that I felt the palpitation of every artery; at others, I nearly sank to the ground through languor and extreme weakness. Mingled with this horror, I felt the bitterness of disappointment; dreams that had been my food and pleasant rest for so long a space were now become a hell to me; and the change was so rapid, the overthrow so complete!

Why use noun phrases? Authors use noun phrases to make their writing more detailed and specific. However, you should also focus on which words have been grouped to help create the noun phrase, as they reveal more about the tone and how we should react to the character, setting, etc.

Why use a metaphor? Like similes, metaphors are also used to clearly explain things that are unfamiliar by using ideas which the audience or reader is familiar with. For example, when reading Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare, Romeo beholds Juliet and says, "It is the east, and Juliet is the sun". This comparison is used to convey to audiences how much Romeo adores Juliet. Like with the flint and oysters in the previous example, audiences are familiar with the sun and what it represents (the dawning of a new day, a guide in life, a center in which his world revolves around, warmth, shining star, etc.).

However, metaphors can also be implied rather than stated outright. For example, Mr. Birling mentions the Titanic in his speech at dinner, "the Titanic – she sails next week – forty-six thousand eight hundred tons – forty-six thousand eight hundred tons – New York in five days – and every luxury – and unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable". The mentioning of Titanic can be interpreted as a metaphor for the family; they start of very prosperous and full of hope, but due to arrogance and refusing to acknowledge the figurative warnings they receive, they ultimately meet their demise. 

Why use personification? This allows for a comparison of ideas that helps communicate abstract or unfamiliar ideas. For example, in the poem Exposure, Owen writes, "...the merciless iced east winds that knive us...". Here, he is trying to express that the weather is just as dangerous and painful as the fighting itself, and therefore equips the wind with a metaphorical "knife". Readers are better able to comprehend the extent of the frigid weather.

Why use imagery? Imagery is used by authors to immerse readers into the story by appealing to their senses (sensory language). By using these detailed descriptions, readers get a better sense of character, setting, and atmosphere. For example, Dickens creates richly descriptive scenes through his use of imagery when describing the graveyard where Scrooge’s potential future gravestone lies: 'Walled in by houses; overrun by grass and weeds, the growth of vegetation s death, not life; choked up with too much burying; fat with repleted appetite’. The exact description allows the reader to picture what this space looks like, but then goes on to touch on aspects of life and death that are not normally discussed: the death of these people has given life to these weeds. Neither Scrooge’s body nor his wealth can be described as doing good after his death because they feed the grossly abundant, unwanted aspects of society, such as the thieves who steal from his body.

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Why use onomatopoeia? Onomatopoeia helps heighten language beyond the literal words on the page. Onomatopoeia's sensory effect is used to create particularly vivid imagery—it is as if you are in the text itself, hearing what the speaker of the poem is hearing. For example, Dickens uses onomatopoeia to describe Marley's dramatic entrance. “The cellar-door flew open with a booming sound.” Using this onomatopoeia appeals to more of our senses as we read, thus heightening the tension and suspense of the moment. 

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Why use sibilance? Sibilance also appeals to our sense of hearing and sometimes feeling, as it creates a repeated "s" sound. This might imitate the sound of what is being described, or can make characters sound more animalistic. For example, in Macbeth, the main character's murderous tone is noticeable due to Shakespeare’s extensive use of sibilance in this line with “shakes so my single state” and “smother’d in surmise”. The sibilance is the produces a serpentine effect which develops the audience’s idea of Macbeth being a sinister character due to the religious association of serpents with evil and chaos and thus this  foreshadows the future wrong doings Macbeth will come to commit. Or another example from Exposure: "...sudden successive flights of bullets streak the silence...". Here, the sound of bullets is being mimicked to convey the sense of shots being fired and the threat of being killed or injured as a result. 

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Why use an asyndetic list? One reason you would use this, is because it is a strong and direct way to build an idea or to communicate a significant idea. This is well remembered by GCSE students when Scrooge is described as, "A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner!" None of these words has a positive connotation and it perfectly showcases, in one sentence, how truly despicable Scrooge is at the beginning of the novella. 

Why use colloquialism? Colloquialism is very revealing of tone and character. This is informal language so it can mean that your character is either not educated enough (for whatever reason) to use formal language or that the conversation that is being held is an informal one where they don't have to worry about using some slang now and again. This can be helpful in writing as it makes you sound relatable and friendly, but should be used sparingly (unless it is to create a realistic character in a story) as it can make non-fiction sound less credible. We see this used in An Inspector Calls when Sheila tells Eric he is "squiffy", which is slang for being drunk. Sheila is then chastised by her mother for using slang (and for saying that her brother is drunk, which is unseemly in that circle of society), but conveys her youthful and honest attitude as the younger generation are more likely to use slang words in conversation.

Why use hyperbole? Many people use hyperbole in everyday conversation and the reasons behind it are the same as why authors use it in their writing: to stress a point. By exaggerating how good or bad something is, it conveys how much you adore or detest it, and gives insight to how you or the character really feel about the subject. GCSE students should remember the famous hyperboles that Romeo speaks, including that he "ne'er saw true beauty" until he met Juliet. This would be true, had he not been besotted with the most beautiful woman (Rosaline) only a few hours ago. In this sense, Shakespeare uses it to tell us that Romeo sees Juliet and is immediately entranced by her. However, it also conveys how childish and naive Romeo is that his heart can change so quickly.

Why use oxymoron? Like juxtaposition, the opposites are put close together to emphaises the stark differences between the two ideas, and also to convey a particular message. In 'London' the poem ends with the oxymoron, "marriage hearse" is a figurative representation of how all love must ultimately end in death. The speaker links together the image of a joyful bride and groom with the dark specter of a funerary hearse. In this way, the speaker implies that even love is doomed to end in despair, like everything else.

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Why use irony? There are many reasons to use irony, though they largely are used to affect the reader. Commonly, irony is used to add entertainment to a piece of work, as we often find it amusing that what we expect and what actually happens are contradictory. However, it can also be used to create tension. Victor Frankenstein is a great example of this, as his main goal in life is to find a way to create life from dead matter, yet he ends up bringing death to his loved ones instead. This can be used as a language or structural device. 

Why use dramatic irony? Dramatic irony then is similar to irony, except that it is easier to spot. This technique can also be used to add tension or humour to a scene, but it also can help impact the way we feel about a particular character. This can be seen in An Inspector Calls when Mr Birling talks about the Titanic being, "unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable". The audience knows that this is not the case, and that shortly after the play it will sink. Priestly uses this technique to show that the opinions of Mr Birling are wrong, and if he is wrong about this, then he must be wrong about other things (like Capitalism being necessary and preferable to Socialism). 

Why use a semantic field? This technique it predominantly used to create and maintain a particular image or meaning in the reader's head throughout the text. By repeatedly using words that have a similar meaning throughout a work, it continually returns to that core idea and it helps solidify that message to the reader. In 'Ozymandias', the author creates a semantic field of  destruction by using words such as "shattered", "decay", and "wreck". All of these words continually return the reader to the idea that the kingdom is no longer standing and even the statue has fallen into disrepair. Why? To show that nothing lasts forever, despite what Ozymandias thought when he was creating it in the first place. 

Why use a declarative? As you would expect, this is a way to state a strong opinion. GCSE students, upon hearing this definition, should immediately think of Mrs Birling from An Inspector Calls, who makes many strongly-worded statements to the Inspector about how she feels. Famously, she even says, "I've done nothing wrong and you know it", despite learning that her actions and choices helped lead a girl to take her own life. This declaration clearly conveys to use how strongly Mrs Birling rejects responsibility and her unwillingness to change. 

Why use an imperative? By constrast, an imperative is a command and can be used to refer to a single word or a whole sentence. There are imperatives in most texts, but students will likely think of Lord Capulet and his commands to both Juliet and Tybalt. At the party when Tybalt threatens to make a scene with Romeo, Capulet tells him, "Be quiet, or ... I'll make you quiet". The imperative "Be quiet" comes across as quite aggressive and threatening (especially when coupled with the second half of this quote), conveying his rage at being questioned by a member of his family, who should be obedient to his decision.

Why use an extended metaphor? Extended metaphors help to further convey major thematic ideas. For example, we can see how Shakespeare builds off the simple metaphor mentioned above: “But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks? / It is the east, and Juliet is the sun". Once Shakespeare establishes the terms of his initial metaphor (“Juliet is the sun”) he elaborates on the qualities of the sun and extends its function “arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon”. The extended metaphor serves to highlight Romeo’s intense passion and immediate love upon seeing Juliet.

Why use zoomorphism? This particular technique can be used to make a character seem inhuman or just less than human. A most common example studied in GCSE is through the Sign of the Four and the character of Tonga. Doyle describes Tonga as if he were a demonic creature with "features so deeply marked with all bestiality and cruelty. His small eyes glowed and burned with a sombre light, and his thick lips were writhed back from his teeth, which grinned and chattered at us with a half animal fury." This clearly demonstrates the prejudice of the Victorians towards those that they viewed as foreigners or "others", and many readers of the time would have sadly viewed the Andamanese (where Tonga is from) as savages or no better than an animal in their thoughts, emotions, and actions. A bias that is now openly challenged today. 

Why use anaphora? Largely used to either evoke an emotional response or to emphasise a particular point, this technique is very easy to spot. This is used in two ways in the poem 'Charge of the Light Brigade', for both of these effects. Firstly, the repeated use of "Cannon" in the lines, "Cannon to the right of them, / Cannon to the left of them, / Cannon in front of them" emphaises how surrounded they are on all sides by gunfire and enemies. Later, the lines begin with the word "theirs" in, "Theirs not to make reply, / Theirs not to reason why, / Theirs but to do and die." to get an emotional reaction from the reader as it tells us that it is their role to follow commands and die in battle. 

Why use polysyndeton? As one thought finishes, the next one is right behind, which can purposely overwhelm the reader. If a character is speaking excitedly or anxiously, polysyndeton can convey that feeling. Writers also use polysyndetons to create pauses in a sentence; this allows an emphasis on each of the series of words or thoughts to show that each one is equally important. Polysyndeton creates a rhythmic cadence, sometimes speeding the tempo up and sometimes slowing it down. We can see this in our text A Christmas Carol when we are told Scrooge, "...went to church, and walked about the streets, and watched the people hurrying to and fro, and patted children on the head, and questioned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of houses, and up to the windows and found that everything could yield him pleasure". Through the use of the repeated "and" conjunction, we can infer that Scrooge's senses are overwhelmed with the pleasure that the Christmas spirit, and his own transformation, has brought him. He is overflowing with excitement at the opportunities before him.

Why use euphemism? Euphemisms are used when the reader or character faces an uncomfortable topic (or is trying to discuss a topic that is not supposed to be spoken about in polite company). Some writers will also use them as a way of adding humour to the work by using other means to describe crude ideas. This can soften the impact of what is said and makes it easier to hear/read. This can be seen in Romeo and Juliet where Mercutio tells Romeo, "They have made worms’ meat of me". The reader clearly understands he is dying (as does Romeo), but Mercutio can't bring himself to say it directly, and instead uses a euphemism instead. 

Why use anthropomorphism? Often confused with zoomorphism, this one is more literal. Instead of describing something using human traits, the subjects are literally given these traits. Think talking dogs or living furniture - the subject remains non-human but acts like one. Writers might use this to build intrigue or add a more fantastical element to their stories. 

Why use hypophora? Hypophora can be used for a variety of reasons: to take the discussion in a new direction, to catch the reader's attention, or to suggest and answer questions the reader might not have thought of. A famous example of this can be found in the famous speeches made by Martin Luther King Jr. "There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, “When will you be satisfied?” We can never be satisfied as long as the N---- is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality." Here he poses the question and answers it to emphasise the answer that Civil Rights activists knew, but that was clearly still a mystery to those continuing to promote racial segregation. 

Why use synecdoche? This technique allows speakers to emphasize certain parts of a whole, highlighting their importance by substituting them for the whole. They also draw attention to the power of associative and referential thinking, as readers automatically understand that a part can stand for the whole and vice versa. We can easily remember this as the crown, in Britain (and several other countries) represents the monarchy. You might also encounter it in everyday speech, where someone might ask you to "check out my new wheels". In this context, "wheels" would refer to an automobile, though you are only referencing a part of it. 

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Why use tmesis? Typically used to create humour, it can also be a way to emphasise. This can be seen in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, when the titular character Juliet says, “This is not Romeo, he’s some other where.” Rather than saying Romeo was "somewhere,” the use of tmesis gives the line a dreamy, rhythmic touch and adds a sense of longing to Juliet’s speech. 

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Why use malapropism? As the definition suggests, this is largely used to add humour. This is seen in Romeo and Juliet, where the following exchange happens:

Nurse
If you be he, sir, I desire some confidence with you.    

Benvolio
She will indite him to some supper.

The nurse, who is not the most educated person in the world, commits a malapropism here. What the Nurse meant to say was, "I desire some conference with you," meaning she wants to speak to Romeo. Benvolio makes fun of her by intentionally committing another malapropism: he says that the nurse is going to "indite" Romeo to supper instead of "invite" him.

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