Can any English teachers help with a quick question?

[Englishhelpneeded]

DS has GCSE English homework. Needs to say what language technique is being used in the following two sentences. I have English A Level but the only thing I can think of is a triple but I can’t remember if that’s the right term. So…

1. It’s like standing on a bridge. A bridge that’s on fire. A bridge that’s on fire and it’s burning from both ends.
2. You’re sailing a ship alone. A ship that’s enormous, and on fire, and no one has taught you how to sail.

DS says he vaguely remembers doing this but has never heard of a triple and cannot remember. Google is no help do MN it is!

Similes. Metaphors. Emotive language.
Maybe check his CGP revision guides. Or his exercise books. Or if the school uses tablets or iPads ,prior learning.

1. Simile - it uses like. Also anaphora- sentences beginning the same way
2. Metaphor - the writer is not actually on a ship. Also a triplet - the second sentence has 3 parts.

This is from a very familiar GCSE past paper 😅

The language device being used for both sentences is repetition. It also uses simile and metaphor.

English language tutorials on YouTube.
Have you not had details of websites to support revision or studying?
My school is constantly emailing and texting parents with information on how to support our pupils.
Maybe links on the school website?
Does he have a student planner?
There might be knowledge organisers in there for each subject.

Tricolon is probably what you're trying to recall

DS is convinced that it’s not simile or metaphor that they’re looking for. He says it’s a technique where something is referred to then referred to again with hyperbole then referred to again in the extreme. But he can’t remember what it’s called! 😆🤷‍♀️

Yes, lots, but cannot find what this technique is called.

Meant to also say, it may have been taken from a past paper but it’s on a compilation type sheet prepared by the teacher.

I was going to say anaphora

Hmm, maybe. I thought anaphora was repeating the same phrase. I’ll ask him,

It last summer's AQA paper 2.

Any of the things posted in this conversation would get marks

Thank you. I’ll pass that on. Maybe what he’s thinking of is something else but he seems sure there’s a term for it. Interesting that it’s from last year’s paper.

DS says tricolon too, but he’s only six months into GCSE so a long way to go!

There's a great deal of overthinking goes on... the effect is way more important than the perfect term.

I knew I recognised it! Now I’m trying to remember the line about Disney!

Noooooo. Stop! I've just about managed to forget it in time to go again...

Night shift makes hell look like Disneyland

I’m an English teacher and I’ve never heard of this. So either it’s incredibly niche or he’s misunderstood!

It’s a trilcolon crescens or ascending tricolon if he finds that phrase hard to remember.

Edited to add that it’s really not a necessary device to know- the explanation is far more important so he could also talk about it being anaphoric / extended metaphor etc

In primary we call it power of 3. Not helpful but I'm interested to see what they call it in big school!

Was also going to mention…. Power of three

It’s hyper-bowl, innit?

Repetition and maybe hyperbole.

It's rhetorical, although that might not be the exact word they're looking for as it doesn't encompass the triple aspect. But it's definitely rhetoric of some sort.

Climactic tricolon?

Triplication/rule of three. Also, anaphora, simile, metaphor, hyperbole and repetition.

To get the highest marks, he needs to talk about the effect of these techniques on the reader, so if he’s ever in a position where he can’t remember the name, tell him it’s more important to quote and then talk about the effects achieved. Exam boards have mentioned an over-reliance on ‘name the technique’ without any analysis.