Constrained writing is a literary technique in which writers adhere to certain limits, patterns, or rules in their writing. For example, palindromes are sometimes used in poetry to create verses that can be read from the beginning to the end and vice versa.
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An example of consonance is the last line from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby in which the “t” sound is repeated: “And so we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”
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Consonance and assonance are both literary devices relying on the repetition of certain sounds. However, there is a difference between the two.
Whereas consonance involves the repetition of consonant sounds (like “b,” “d,” or “g”), assonance occurs when vowel sounds (like “a,” “i,” or “o”) are repeated within a series of words.
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An example of an oxymoron is the phrase “serious joke.” It combines two contradictory words that usually have different meanings.
The oxymoron “serious joke” combines these contrasting terms to create a paradoxical expression. This invites the audience to think about how seriousness and humor can be blended together in one concept.
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Juxtaposition and oxymorons are both literary devices that involve contrasting elements; however, they differ in scope and function.
In other words, juxtaposition is about placing elements so as to compare them, while an oxymoron involves the deliberate combination of contradictory terms.
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While an oxymoron is typically deliberate, in some cases it can be unintentional. These unintentional oxymorons often arise in everyday language.
For example, when someone says “act natural” without realizing that “natural” implies an unforced state. Although not created for rhetorical effect, unintentional oxymorons can still convey meaning in a way that captures attention or adds humor.
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A parachronism is when something is shown in a later time period than one would expect. It may be an unlikely or unusual inconsistency rather than an impossible one. For example, a character using a quill today is not entirely unlikely, but it would look peculiar.
Parachronism is a type of anachronism.
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An example of anachronism in literature is in William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar.
In Act 2, Scene 1, Brutus says, “Peace! Count the clock.” Cassius responds, “The clock hath stricken three.” In 44 BC, when Julius Caesar was alive, mechanical clocks were not yet invented, so mentioning a clock in the play is an anachronism because it didn’t exist at that time.
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Near rhyme describes words with similar (but not identical) sounds. This type of rhyme is also known as half rhyme or slant rhyme. Examples of near rhyme include “hand/lend” and “fate/save.”
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Although the word “orange” is generally regarded as having no perfect rhyme, there are words that nearly rhyme with orange, such as hinge, syringe, and four inch (two words).
QuillBot’s free Paraphraser can help you find creative word options for all your writing!
Continue reading: Which words rhyme with orange?
