“The Mind's Eye A Writer’s Toolkit Words have power Words are used to condemn a person to dea words are used to award men and wor Nol Prize, words are used to name people and bury people, and words are used te express ‘One other person the deepest thourhts ny human being can experience 1 th He ‘Words really do have The more you words, the more Pe peopl the ways writers tse wo 7 marry people and feelings on Earth jer_-over language, and He, yOu sect: the MO" ¥ Jeabeut vautself and other Iinthis “Writer's Toot” you wali be able 10 see joel be able 10 use them yoursell in way hr expand your understanding and strengthen Tenguage. Use this Writer's Toolkit ¢ ne greedy 10 find out more shout the riche: cur nguage ges 10 YOu Alliteration iteration etivion of the same sounds in ‘ class to each other in order to produce he far breeze blew, the waite foam f Fhe farew tolowed free Irom “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner bby Samuel Taylor Coleridge Allusions ave references made to ai event ier work, Biblical alls common in Merature because the 1 2. significant impact on the world vestern civilisation. person, ns are A Dan come to judgement! Willsm Shakespeare The Merchant of Venice Antithesis With 2 tone of certainty, antithesis is putting one ‘ew against another, often by using balanced Statements next to each other. The words are placed i contrast to each other, either direct or implied, vg maketh a full many conference a ready man, is Bacon er Seat aN Paeaten 7 ‘Apostrophe Apostrophe is when you address 2 person or personified idea, often using the exclamation ‘O' for 2 dramatic effect ° West Wind, thou breath of Autumn's being Percy Bysshe Shelley Assonance This is a device which involves repeating the seme vowel sounds with different consonant sounds: seen deep, time—nine, pot—hod, are in assonance. ‘ften pieases the ear, and so 18 also very commen i slogans and adverts J stitch in time saves nine /Atmosphere Io Meret work oF periormance setting, when it refers where the action tak the work mosphere means the can be used with the ides © Lod of the actual place for the time o: Cliché This ¢ 2 time-worn phrase used to explain @ thought or feeling 1d ag the ike a bat out of het Colloquial language Colloquia! language commen converse Such common abbreviations as ‘dont, won't. & for careless language like ‘ain't ‘cobber’, as well as unerintat language includes casual languse well as slang, and so i a more general term Concrete and abstract words lity, while feelings not pert < “which moves ic the abstract eieeeeaees dee whe gee5 very difleult to gather together the mustard that escape out of a torn package, and are scattered in ail drectons: sa, when the human mind runs in diverse directions and is occupied with many things in the world itis nota very easy affair to collect and conéentrate it from Teachings of Sri Ramakrishna Consonance us is generally the harmony of sound, or the suiting { sourd t0 sense. !h a more technical sense it means 12 a diferent vowel sound followed by the same id of ines: add — read, bien — sham, Contrast ontrast between two ideas of 2 contrast between #7 words draws your attention to the idea being sented ° began to hum with a desperate cheerfulness ¢ the war years com The Power and che Glory by Gratam Greene Denouement whens ‘ord is from the French word ‘unknotting. often >osely used to describe the ending of a story or play. wut properly applies to the preparation for that con- ison, Other names are ‘unraveling’ and ‘aling action’ vorking up to a imax the author works at ing the threads of the knot and so draws the sory 10.2 close. & skilful writer willuse other obstacles 9 ncertainties to maintain interest after the vias, Shakespeare is an expert, with the climax of his often occurring in Act ill but the two remaining keeping our interest even though they are in lensuament meaning, Such a sentence is said to be elliptical Death has done all (that) death can (do) Euphemism 5 a figure of speech in which a mild or pleasant, ion replaces an unpleasant one. A dead person passed on’, which is a euphemistic In America funeral directors are often jef managers’, which is another euphemism, xed or phrase gathers negative associations, a euphernism 1s often used instead Figurative language his is where we use expressions to add vividness or ‘presenting an idea The Human Anima) clarity to our ideas. We time in our everyday lang ne ‘hit the nail on the head’. ar ‘made 2 mountain out of a molehill, you are using figurative language The best writers, and especially poets, will naturally use figures which are less commanplace, to allow us to see things in a new and pleasing way. The pale sikten ribbons of the rain Knotted, are fluttering down the window pane Eich Siewel Whenever a writer calls oh our imagination to make comparisons and transfer ideas (as in simile, metaphor, personification) or to realise that he/she is exaggerating (asin hyperbole) or that ne/she means the opposite of ny), then the writer is usin vihat iS said (25 in i figurative language Formal language Formal language is correctiy forened wt appropriate to formal speaking associated with significant public oc and published writing, considered to be of the hi standard in the community. You could k political spe of formal langua hes ar public statements to see evamples Hyperbole Hyberbole is the use of eightened exaggeration for an effect, Wild horses wouldn't drag me to that party Id give my right hand t2 go out with im, Tettold you 2 milion times 10 clean your room, imagery k or a mentat picture, is often created by a object in reference to some- thing else, or by using vivid mental images presented to the reader. The poetic mind vall see things in new ways, will see new relationships and cr new images The finest imagery wl ight up the subject and open new doors of meaning to deep or hidden ideas. Iti not merely for decoration, but lor ilumination. Images can be created by using similes oF person by more compiex metaphors or symbols. ger cation, or -Ued ey ay Inversion order in the Inversion is when you change the normat sentence for a particular effect. lrony. Using irony often means suggesting the opposite of what i actualy said in a literal sense. it the conflict between appearance and realityThe Mind's Eye Verbal irony is when a person says one thing but us Caesar, Antony 's speaking ‘onically when | fear { wrong the henourabile men Whose daggers have stabb'd Caesar S ‘ony is when you adopt another person's jeapoint in order to ridicule and/or the person. Debaters and polticians often use it. Understatement isa form of irony, when you delib erately underplay 3 situation. For example, 10 say a dollar or tw frement family ‘na when they are very wealthy is unders Dramatic oF tragic irony is when the significance of St said or acted on stage 1s hidden from the .cters in the play or film, but is revealed to the ‘innuendo is a ferm of irony when you imply more Safi you say. Often itis something negative-that you @ implying The impact les in actualy not saying what you really feel Jargon This is any speech oF wniting which uses words whi are ugly 6 sound or dificut to understand. In 3 narrow Sense its the use of technical terms which are under- Stood only by people in a trade oF profession, and not the general reader or listener (such as sporting argon. legal jargon) Juxtaposition |Juxtaposition is linking two very diferenteas together, in order to focus our attention and often chalenge our ‘ereotyped view of things. frorm TRAVELLING Travelling all day, at evening the road is hauled away slowly from the river — that pale, cold tea watched for hour 4 plunges now and rrges over the long and shuddering roots of a mountain range Cars are coming out, as if a town’s near, theie lights opening, Robert Grey A road being ‘hauled away, and mountains ‘shuddering’, are unusual ideas; the observations are being juxtaposed with a fresh perspective of a scene the poet has experienced. It is a unique vision of the world he sees Metaphor Metaphors make dabjects or ideas f object is directly identified with the other, 2 Usually a purely imagrative one in respect of one or two qualities, Metaphors used well can add vividness conciseness or emphasis to ideas anc expression Everyday speech is ful of metaphor. 2.g. “3 cutting remark’, ‘the heart of the ‘the skin of your teeth The moor cloudy seas and feelings play no part, The wri ‘only with describing events 0) writer's own ideas, Onomatopoeia ‘This poetic device is where the sense of the event is suggested by the sound of the words used. Somaumes it occurs in single words hike “groan and other times in 3 group of of sounds, ‘The moan of daves in ummamorial elms [And murmuring af innumerable bees Lord Alfred Tennyson Oxymoron | must be eruel only to be kind \Willam Shakespeare, Hamler never heard So musical a discord, such sweet thunder Wiliam Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream Paradox Paradox is the use of a seemingly contradictory state ment that appears absurd, but which really has 4 thoughtfut uth within it Paradox can create a forcefut Siatement ‘The wheel humbles itself to be exalted. | think that nature often shows her chief strangeness in er sameness. GK. ChestertonParaphrase This is reproducing in other words the full sense of a passage of verse or prose, with no original idea being feft out. Its purpose is to convey the meaning in language more familar to the reader Parody This is the _conscious imitation of another literary work, and is dane often to satinse oF mock. The style, ideas or rhythm of the original work can be parodied for this effect. Personification Personification is when objects are given living characteristics to draw attention to their impact upon 2 person or situation, ymetimes whoever seek abroad may find Thee sitting careless on a granary floor. Thy hair softlfted by the winnowing wind, Joho Keats, from ‘Ode to Autuma® Precis This i a pruned or cut-down statement: a compressed summary of the main points of a statement or a series of pieces of waiting. Its length is usually about one-third of the original, and the different points should be arranged in a proper sequence. Repetition Repetition can be consciously used by a writer to add force to the language. Repeating words and phrases can drive home or emphasise the thoughts and feelings, of the writer or speaker. Alone, alone. al all alone ‘Alone on a wide, wide sea from “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ ‘by Samuel Taylor Coleridge Rhetorical questions Rhetorical questions are questions which are not eneant to be answered by the reader, but which the writer answers in the writing. It comes froma technique speakers use to obtain greater effect. It «presses the reader and can grab attention more than a plain statement. Were there ever such unthinkable deities as parents? | would give a great deal to know what, in nine cases ‘out of ten, is the chid’s unvarnished feeling. from The Sporting Spire by Aldous Huxley | thrice presented him a kingly crown, Which he did thrice refuse: Was this ambition? fom julus Caesar by William Shakespeare The Human Aaimal 19 Rhythm, Rhythm is the musical flow of the language, which is roduced uses and stresses as shown through the punctuation, and by the ways sentences are struc- tured and patterned in a piece of writing. There can be a very fluent rhythm in the sentences, echoes of sound and other sound patterns, and figurative language. all leading to a very lyrical styl. The moving, flowing, siding sounds Sarcasm Sarcasm uses sharp. direct and intentionally cutting words. The word sarcasm literally means fleshtearing, 40 itis making a remark that intentionally ridicules, « shows contempt or disapproval. Sometimes the real meaning can be hidden, but itis always personal in 5 intention (unlike verbal irony, which 15 genera!) He has so many faults and defects t will be hard to replace him in the job. Satire This is where human frailty is mocked in_a scornful _amusing way. It offen uses irony, innuendo, sarcasm a5, Swell as scorn. In most cases it ‘5 used to teach by exposing the follies and foolishness of people, but it can also be nothing more than letting go of personal feelings about someone, or something people have done. Sentence structures 1 Balanced sentences are those in which the two halves, of the sentence balance each other. It wil be seen that | am describing a clever man: and this ws really why Doctor Sloper had become a local celebrity, fcom Washingeon Square by Henry James D Loose sentences are those in which facts tumble on ‘one after the other in a natural conversational flow He said he thought he was certain he had seen somebody by the rick and it was Tom Bakewell who ‘was the only man he knew who had a grudge against Farmer Blaze and i the object had been a litle bigger he would not mind swearing to Tom and would swear to him for he was dead certain it was Tom only what he saw looked smaller and it was pitch dark at the time. from The Ordeal of Richard Feverel by George Meredith 3, Periodic sentences have punchline endings, so you ‘have to wait unti the last word of the sentence to feel its real impact. Mic Sooo. Staff Reterence Copy20 The Mind’ Ey At 100 kilometres an hour the loudest noise in this ew Rolls Royce cotpes from the electrg lock “phew Ralls Royce compes fromm 1 Ree FOE ok Different sentence lengths can draw your attention toa point the writer wants to emphasise, for example, a very short sentence after a long one. There is a jolt of awareness, “That was what made him worthy of damnation — the power he stil had of turning the wafer into the flesh and blood of God. He was a sacrilege from The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene Simile iz Similes make comparisons between ideas or objects, for a particular eflect or purpose. They are used to make the ideas clearer or more forcefully presented. ‘The comparison is not between things of the same kind but between things which are diferent. Often the geqy/ords ike! or "as" are sed to intraduce a simile Red as a rose she ‘And tke a lobster boled, the morn From black to red began to turn Samuel Budler Slang Slang is language in common use but generally con- sidered to be outside standard Australian English, Stang hs a liveliness and a dramatic power when it is used elfectvely. Ripper. boner, lousy’ and ‘rad’ are all slang words Poor slang, however, i used as a filin for unexplored ideas or feelings Slang can be very friendly and also can be a way of showing that you belong to a certain group — such as skateboard riders, bikies, or surfers, It might also be used as a polite way of refusing someone, or be used ‘ecretly by lovers, secret society members or children wath their own private games. Many rock songs use slang in their lyrics, partly cause slang is a ready-rnade shorthand to express 11s and can communicate the feelings and ideas of a subculture in our society. by He chucked a wheel and then king a dude it was radeal Spoonerism This is the accidental swapping of the first few letters of adjacent words. It creates a humorous effect, Kinquering Kongs (Conquering Kings) A well-boiled icicle (A well-oiled bicycle) Style Style s the way or manner in which a writer puts the ‘words together to get the meaning across. Itis import- ant that your feelings about the writing are taken into consideration. It might be formal, informal, poetic conversational, The content (whatis said) should decide the style (the way it is said) A letter to a close friend right have an informal, conversational style. Here are some words to describe the style of « piece of writing narrative photographic descriptive sensitive decorated whimsical realistic distinguished journalistic elegant stream of consciousness pornpous hackneyed sardonic fresh lyrical bare Symbols and symbolism ‘This isthe use of expressions which represent or recal certain ideas. For example, the flag has come to symbolise patriotism, the dove, peace: the cross suffering and sacrifice: the lion, courage: the whip, authority or control Symbolic language in the finest writing appeals to our understanding and our imagination, opening neve ideas and feelings by this imagery of association, using finely crafted picturesque language Tone btu TTone is the way a writer sounds through the veriting, It might be angry. comic, ironic or sarcastic, A letter to a very good friend might have a warm, relaxed and conversational tone. Here are some words you can use to describe the tone of a piece of writing, If you aren't sure what any of them mean, use a dictionary and class discussion to find out their meaning. Look through some of the antics in this book and identify their tone scathing vague abusive hearty sarcastic genial arrogant friendly ironic warm suspicious gentle firm respectful blunt humble precise apotogetic ornate flattening neutrat ingratiating