Literary Techniques

noun the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words

• The poet used alliteration to create a rhythmic effect in his sonnet.
• I love how alliteration makes phrases sound catchy and fun.
• Alliteration is like when words start with the same sound, it's cool.
• The alliteration of 'singing in the rain' evokes a sense of joy and freedom.

adjective relating to or characteristic of art or artists

• The artist's work was praised for its artistic expression and attention to detail.
• She has a very artistic eye and can turn anything into a masterpiece.
• That graffiti artist is so talented, his work is straight up artistic.
• His words painted a vivid and artistic picture of the scene.

noun a practical joke or prank

verb to cut or divide into pieces

adjective cut into pieces

• The cutup technique is a form of artistic expression that involves cutting up and rearranging existing materials.
• I'm going to use the cutup method to create a collage for my art project.
• He's such a cutup, always making jokes and keeping everyone entertained.
• The author's writing style is like a cutup of different genres, creating a unique and innovative narrative.

adjective having no definite or regular shape or form

• The artist's abstract painting appeared formless to some viewers.
• I couldn't make sense of the formless blob of colors on the canvas.
• That movie was so confusing, it felt like a formless mess.
• Her thoughts were formless, drifting aimlessly through her mind.

noun a figure of speech in which the last thing is mentioned first and the first thing last

• The use of hysteron proteron in literature can create a sense of urgency or confusion.
• It's like putting the cart before the horse, using hysteron proteron in a sentence.
• Talking backwards like that is just hysteron proteron, dude.
• In the grand scheme of things, using hysteron proteron is like starting at the end before the beginning.

adjective relating to or consisting of iambs, a metrical foot consisting of one short (or unstressed) syllable followed by one long (or stressed) syllable

• The iambic pentameter is a common poetic form in English literature.
• I find iambic poetry a bit hard to understand sometimes.
• I don't really vibe with iambic verse, it's just not my thing.
• The iambic rhythm of the music seemed to mimic the beating of my heart.

verb to put or set something aside or out of the way

adverb in a manner that involves putting or setting something aside or out of the way

• It is important to lay aside personal biases when making decisions.
• Let's just lay aside our differences and enjoy the party.
• Hey, can you just lay that drama aside for now?
• Sometimes we need to lay aside our fears and take a leap of faith.

noun the reporting of news, especially by newspapers and broadcast media

• The journalist's reportage on the political unrest was thorough and well-researched.
• I love reading reportage pieces because they give me a deeper understanding of current events.
• Did you catch that reportage on the scandal? It was juicy!
• Her reportage painted a vivid picture of the social issues plaguing the community.

noun a tendency toward or advocacy of extreme conservatism or traditionalism

• The art movement of maximalism is characterized by the use of bold colors and intricate patterns.
• I love how maximalism allows me to mix and match different patterns and colors in my home decor.
• Maximalism is all about going big and bold with your style, no holding back!
• In her writing, the author embraced maximalism, packing each sentence with vivid descriptions and elaborate metaphors.

noun a theatrical performance or production

adjective relating to drama or the theater

• The thespic performance by the actors received rave reviews from the critics.
• I heard the thespic play at the theater was amazing!
• That thespic movie had me on the edge of my seat the whole time.
• Her thespic skills on stage were like watching poetry in motion.

noun a poetic form where the first letter of each line spells out a word or message when read vertically

• The poet composed an acrostic poem where the first letter of each line spelled out a secret message.
• I tried my hand at writing an acrostic for my crush, but I couldn't come up with anything clever.
• My friend acrosted me in their text message, but I couldn't figure out what they were trying to say.
• The clues in the scavenger hunt were like an acrostic, leading us to the hidden treasure.