Stylistic Features Checklist

Choice of words. Comment on unusual or striking words, such as vivid or emotive adjectives, adverbs and verbs. What does a particular word add to the passage? Does it give is a vivid picture of the scene? Convey a sound? Suggest approval or disapproval of a character? Take the English verb "to kill". Latin may simply use neco or interficio - straightforward verbs with no particular nuance. It may use, however, verbs like trucido (implies butchery) obtrunco (implies dismemberment), caedo (implies slaughter - root meaning is "to cut") and so on. Alliteration. Where the consonants in a passage sound similar. Always give the letters (e.g. s, t) and say what the sound effect adds (e.g. sound of water, sand...). Repeated s sounds = sibilance. Assonance. Where the vowels in a passage sound similar. Often creates a soft, gentle tone. Tricolon. Three phrases or clauses, often increasing in length. Creates a build up of emphasis, often adding drama and impact. Historic present. Where a present tense verb is used in describing past events. Makes actions vivid and immediate, as though they are happening now. Historic infinitive = use of an infinitive in place of a normal verb. This speeds the pace up and again adds to the impact and dramatic quality of the narrative. Repetition of a word or phrase (anaphora). Creates emphasis. Position of word. In Latin poetry, words at the start and end of a line have more emphasis, as do words at the start or end of a sentence/clause (especially if they have been moved from their normal position in the sentence). Note that you must look in context to see if the word order is relevant often the word order will reflect the meaning of the words. Sometimes a significant word may be delayed till the end of the sentence to create extra suspense and impact, or surprise. Enjambement: Look out for places where, in poetry, a sentence runs over one line onto the next (this is called enjambement) this may leave the last word of the sentence at the start of the line, a very emphatic placing. The opposite of enjambement is the end-stopping of lines (lines end with a comma or full-stop). Length of sentences/phrases. Are sentences short and dramatic or do they carry on for many lines? What effect does this create? Use of direct speech. This creates dramatic impact and emphasis. It is often also used to give insight into a characters feelings and thoughts, thus creating sympathy and heightened emotional impact. Ellipsis. Omission of a word, often part of esse (to be). This compresses the language, and makes the writing more vivid, since more action is packed into a short space.

Metaphor and Simile. Always comment on these - examiners love them! A simile is where one thing is illustrated by comparison with another (e.g. "Just as when a wolf ... in the same Apostrophe. An appeal to a person or thing e.g. o coniunx! (O wife!) Chiasmus. When a set of words (or other elements of a poem) is arranged in the following pattern: A B B A. The outer elements frame the inner ones. Personification. Where an inanimate entity (thing) is treated as though it were a person. Antithesis. A striking contrast e.g. odi et amo (I hate and I love). Asyndeton: the omission of conjunctions (e.g. and, also) where they would normally be used. This is usually done to convey a sense of excitement or urgency. Conversely, the over-use of conjunctions (polysyndeton) can help emphasise a large number of things being listed. Litotes. This is the expression of an idea by the negative of its opposite or a significant understatement. This normally serves to emphasise or reinforce the idea which the author is attempting to convey. Visual/aural imagery e.g. when poet evokes a sound or paints a very vivid picture of a scene. Look out for words implying smell and sensation as well! Surprise. Have we been expecting what is coming??