Essential Literary Devices, Language Registers, and Poetic Meter

Literary Devices and Language Registers

Figures of Speech: Definitions and Examples

• Simile (Comparison)

  The comparison of two distinct elements based on a shared feature, often using connecting words like "as" or "like."

  Example: His life was as short as one minute.

• Metaphor

  The replacement of one element (noun) with another by virtue of their shared properties, implying a direct equivalence.

  Example: His life was one minute.

• Extended Metaphor (Image)

  A metaphor that is sustained or developed across two or more lines or throughout a passage.

  Example: His life was blessed one minute
  Among so many dead hours.

• Anaphora

  The repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of successive verses or similar clauses.

• Antithesis (Contrast)

  The juxtaposition of two contrasting ideas or thoughts, associating concepts through opposition (e.g., antonyms or logical contrast).

  Example: When the flowers bloom up early
  And for aging flourished;
  Cradle and found the tomb of a button.

• Oxymoron

  The illogical opposition or combination of two contradictory ideas or concepts in a single phrase.

  Examples: "Frozen fire," "Burning cold."

• Ellipsis

  The deliberate omission of sentence elements (such as the subject or verb) where clarity is maintained, providing brevity, energy, speed, and suggestive power. The omission is sometimes indicated by a comma.

  Example: For a look, a world;
  For a smile, a sky;
  For a kiss... I do not know
  What I would give you for a kiss!

• Epithet

  An adjective placed before the noun that expresses an inherent or obvious attribute of that person or thing.

  Examples: "Green grass," "snow white," "moist sea," "new dawn."

  When the adjectival epithet strongly insists on a noun with adjectives: "Red, sweet, juicy apple."

• Asyndeton

  The omission or elimination of conjunctions between coordinate phrases or clauses to give the sentence greater dynamism and speed.

  Example: Come, run, fly.
  Cross high mountain passes, take the plain,
  Do not spare the spur.

• Polysyndeton

  The use of more conjunctions than necessary, often repeating them, to give the text greater solemnity or emphasis.

  Example: Nor nard, nor shells
  Are of such fine complexion,
  Nor moon crystals
  Shine with such brilliance.

• Alliteration

  The repetition of initial consonant sounds in words within a verse, phrase, or sentence.

  Example: Pablito nailed a little nail, what little nail did Pablito nail?

• Allegory

  An extended metaphor where characters, events, or settings represent abstract ideas or moral qualities throughout a text.

  Example: All parables, fables, and similar narratives.

Types of Language Registers

Language registers classify usage based on adherence to grammatical rules and formality.

• Cultured Formal Register

  The speaker knows and strictly applies grammatical rules.

  Example: Words carry different semantic loads.

• Cultured Informal Register

  The speaker knows the rules but adheres to them selectively, depending on the context.

  Example: Words can be terribly significant.

• Uncultured Formal Register

  The speaker does not know the rules but attempts to use formal language, often resulting in errors (hypercorrection).

  Example: If I slip again, my hand will hurt again.

• Uncultured Informal Register

  The speaker neither knows the rules nor intends to use standard language, often relying on slang or non-standard vocabulary.

  Example: He took the... (expletive) chicken, which is appalling and low-class.

Poetic Meter: Syllable Counting Rules

Rules for determining the metric syllable count in Spanish poetry based on the stress of the final word in the verse (Ley del Acento Final).

• Paroxytonic Ending (Grave/Llana)

  The final word is stressed on the penultimate syllable. The metric syllable count remains the same.

  Example: Pas-tor-to-ca-un-a-i-re-vie-jo = 8 Syllables.

• Oxytonic Ending (Acute/Aguda)

  The final word is stressed on the last syllable. One syllable is added to the count.

  Example: mien-tra-el-in-sue-ño-el-sol = 7 syllables + 1 = 8.

• Proparoxytonic Ending (Esdrújula)

  The final word is stressed on the antepenultimate syllable. One syllable is subtracted from the count.

  Example: de-sus-es-qui-las-con-lá-gri-mas = 9 syllables - 1 = 8.