English
IB English Literary Word Bank
Poetry
Textual Techniques
Metaphor & Simile
Comparisons to evoke imagery and deeper meaning.
Alliteration & Assonance
Repetition of consonant or vowel sounds for rhythm and emphasis.
Imagery
Vivid descriptions appealing to the senses.
Symbolism
Objects, characters, or colors representing larger concepts.
Enjambment
Continuing a sentence across lines to create flow or tension.
Rhyme & Rhythm
Patterns of sounds to create musicality.
Personification
Giving human qualities to inanimate objects or abstract ideas.
Tone & Mood
The attitude or atmosphere conveyed by word choice and syntax.
Stanzas
Groups of lines forming a division of the poem.
Couplet
Two consecutive lines of verse that typically rhyme and have the same meter.
Political Cartoons
Textual Techniques
Labels
Text identifying people, objects, or concepts within the cartoon.
Speech Balloons
Dialogue or thoughts expressed by characters.
Captions
Providing context or summarizing the message.
Irony & Satire
Criticizing or mocking through contrast or exaggeration.
Slogans
Short, impactful phrases encapsulating a political stance.
Visual Techniques
Caricature
Exaggerated features to emphasize or ridicule.
Symbolism
Objects or characters representing larger ideas or groups.
Exaggeration
Overstating physical features or situations for emphasis.
Juxtaposition
Placing contrasting elements side by side to highlight differences.
Shading & Lines
Techniques to create mood, depth, or focus.
Photograph
Textual Techniques
Captions
Explaining the context, subject, or background of the photograph.
Titles
Providing an overarching theme or message of the photograph.
Credits
Attributing the photographer and sometimes the context or purpose.
Visual Techniques
Framing
How subjects are positioned within the boundaries of the photograph.
Lighting
Use of natural or artificial light to highlight features.
Contrast
The difference between light and dark areas to create visual interest.
Focus
The clarity of the subject in contrast to the background (foreground, background).
Angles
The position from which the photograph is taken (e.g., bird's eye).
Rule of Thirds
Dividing the image into thirds to balance the composition.
Article
Textual Techniques
Thesis Statement
A clear, concise argument or main point.
Evidence & Examples
Supporting points with data, quotes, or anecdotes.
Rhetorical Questions
Engaging the reader by posing questions.
Tone
The author’s attitude toward the subject (formal, informal, critical, persuasive).
Ethos, Pathos, Logos
Appeals to credibility, emotion, and logic.
Counterarguments
Addressing and refuting opposing views.
Context
Persuasive, Informative, Opinion Article
Visual Techniques
Headings & Subheadings
Organizing content for clarity and ease of navigation.
Infographics
Visual representations of data or concepts.
Pull Quotes
Highlighted quotes to emphasize key points.
Images & Diagrams
Supporting visuals to enhance understanding.
Bold & Italics
Emphasizing important terms or concepts.
News
Textual Techniques
Inverted Pyramid Structure
Presenting the most important information first.
Lead
A strong opening sentence or paragraph summarizing the key facts.
Direct Quotes
Verbatim statements from sources to add credibility.
Attribution
Citing sources of information.
Objectivity
Neutral and unbiased language.
Timeliness
Focusing on current events and recent developments.
Visual Techniques
Headlines
Grabbing attention with concise, impactful titles.
Subheadings
Breaking down the story into digestible sections.
Photographs
Supporting images to provide context and engagement.
Charts & Graphs
Visualizing data or trends.
Bylines
Crediting the author and sometimes the photographer or source.
Bullet Points
Listing key facts or points for quick reading.
Comics
Textual Techniques
Dialogue
Speech bubbles containing character conversations.
Narration
Text boxes providing background or commentary.
Onomatopoeia
Words that imitate sounds (e.g., "bang," "wham").
Catchphrases
Repeated phrases associated with characters.
Plot Structure
Organization of the storyline into panels or episodes.
Visual Techniques
Panels
The individual frames that contain scenes of the story.
Gutters
The spaces between panels, controlling pacing and transitions.
Character Design
Visual style and features that define characters.
Color Palette
Use of colors to set the tone or distinguish characters.
Motion Lines
Visual cues indicating movement or speed.
Facial Expressions
Conveying emotion through character’s faces.
Tone & Mood Wordbank
Tones
Tone | Definition |
|---|---|
Informal | Casual, conversational, and often personal; reflects everyday speech. |
Serious | Grave and focused, often used to discuss important or heavy topics. |
Humorous | Light-hearted, funny, or playful; intended to entertain or amuse. |
Sarcastic | Mocking or ironic, often with a biting or cutting edge. |
Optimistic | Hopeful and positive, focusing on the potential for good outcomes. |
Pessimistic | Negative and doubtful, focusing on the likelihood of bad outcomes. |
Ironic | Conveying a meaning opposite to what is actually said, often to emphasize a point. |
Objective | Neutral and unbiased, presenting facts without personal judgment or emotion. |
Subjective | Personal and biased, reflecting the author’s opinions and feelings. |
Reverent | Deeply respectful, often towards something considered sacred or important. |
Critical | Evaluative and judgmental, pointing out faults or shortcomings. |
Cynical | Distrustful of motives, often believing people are selfish or dishonest. |
Nostalgic | Longing for the past, often with a sentimental or wistful tone. |
Condescending | Patronizing and superior, treating others as if they are inferior. |
Reflective | Thoughtful and contemplative, often considering deeper meanings or implications. |
Enthusiastic | Excited and eager, showing strong interest or passion. |
Sympathetic | Understanding and compassionate, showing concern for others' feelings. |
Melancholic | Sad, reflective, and often filled with a sense of longing or sorrow. |
Aggressive | Forceful and confrontational, often with a sense of urgency or anger. |
Formal | Professional, respectful, and often impersonal; used in academic or official writing. |
Moods
Term | Definition |
|---|---|
Tense | Filled with suspense, anxiety, or anticipation; often stressful or uneasy. |
Somber | Dark, serious, and gloomy; often creating a solemn or grave atmosphere. |
Romantic | Full of love, passion, or idealized emotions; often dreamy or sentimental. |
Mysterious | Enigmatic and secretive, creating curiosity or suspense. |
Peaceful | Calm, serene, and tranquil; often soothing and relaxing. |
Depressing | Sad, hopeless, and discouraging; often heavy and melancholic. |
Angry | Filled with rage, frustration, or resentment; often intense and heated. |
Suspenseful | Creating a feeling of anticipation or uncertainty; keeping the reader on edge. |
Hopeful | Filled with optimism and positive expectation for the future. |
Eerie | Unsettling and strange, often with a sense of danger or the supernatural. |
Triumphant | Celebratory and victorious, often with a sense of achievement or success. |
Fearful | Filled with dread or apprehension, often creating a sense of panic or terror. |
Gloomy | Dark, depressing, and bleak; often creating a sense of despair. |
Whimsical | Playful, fanciful, and imaginative; often lighthearted and quirky. |
Anxious | Nervous and uneasy, often with a sense of impending danger or worry. |
Inspirational | Uplifting and motivating, encouraging positive action or thought. |
Regretful | Filled with remorse or sorrow for past actions; often reflective and sorrowful. |
Confident | Self-assured and certain, often projecting strength and assertiveness. |
Desolate | Lonely, barren, and empty; often evoking a sense of abandonment or isolation. |
Joyful | A state of happiness and contentment, often uplifting and cheerful. |
For your Paper 2, you can prepare literary terms prior to the exam. To impress the IB examiners, make a word bank of uncommon and advanced literary terms specific to the works you will use in your Paper 2 exam.
Exam Tip
Advanced Literary Wordbank
Term | Definition | Example/Usage |
|---|---|---|
Allegory | A narrative in which characters, events, or settings symbolize broader concepts, often conveying a moral, political, or philosophical message. | George Orwell's Animal Farm is an allegory for the Russian Revolution and the rise of totalitarianism. |
Allusion | A reference to another text, event, or figure, often to enrich the meaning by association. | T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land alludes to the Bible, Greek mythology, and other literary works to deepen the poem’s themes. |
Anaphora | The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences, often for emphasis or rhetorical effect. | Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech: "I have a dream that... I have a dream that..." |
Antithesis | The juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in balanced or parallel structures. | "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..." (Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities). |
Apostrophe | A figure of speech in which the speaker addresses an absent person, an abstract idea, or an inanimate object. | "O Death, where is thy sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:55). |
Bildungsroman | A literary genre focusing on the psychological and moral growth of the protagonist from youth to adulthood. | James Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is a classic example of a Bildungsroman. |
Caesura | A pause in a line of poetry, typically marked by punctuation, which can alter the rhythm or create emphasis. | "To be, or not to be—that is the question:" (William Shakespeare, Hamlet). |
Chiasmus | A rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures. | "Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country" (John F. Kennedy). |
Conceit | An extended metaphor with a complex logic that governs a poetic passage or entire poem. | John Donne’s The Flea uses the conceit of a flea to explore themes of love and physical union. |
Ekphrasis | A vivid description of a work of art within a text, often used to convey deeper meaning or commentary. | Keats’ Ode on a Grecian Urn describes and interprets the scenes depicted on an ancient urn. |
Epistolary | A narrative constructed through letters, diary entries, or other personal documents. | Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is partly told through letters written by the protagonist. |
Foil | A character who contrasts with another character, often the protagonist, to highlight particular qualities of the other character. | In Hamlet, Laertes acts as a foil to Hamlet, highlighting Hamlet's indecision and contemplative nature. |
Frame Narrative | A story within a story, where the outer story provides context or a different perspective on the inner narrative. | Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights uses a frame narrative, with Mr. Lockwood’s account framing Nelly Dean's story of Heathcliff and Catherine. |
Free Indirect Discourse | A narrative technique that blends the thoughts and speech of a character with the voice of the third-person narrator. | Used frequently in Jane Austen’s novels, this technique allows insight into characters’ thoughts while maintaining a third-person perspective. |
Hubris | Excessive pride or self-confidence, often leading to the downfall of a character in tragedy. | In Greek tragedies, characters like Oedipus exhibit hubris, which leads to their tragic downfall. |
Hyperbaton | A rhetorical device involving a departure from normal word order for emphasis or effect. | "Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall" (William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure). |
Intertextuality | The shaping of a text's meaning by other texts, through direct or indirect references, quotations, or the adoption of a genre or style. | James Joyce’s Ulysses is rich in intertextual references to The Odyssey and other literary works. |
Metonymy | A figure of speech in which something is referred to by the name of something closely associated with it. | "The White House issued a statement" (where "The White House" stands for the U.S. President or administration). |
Motif | A recurring element (such as an image, theme, or symbol) in a literary work, contributing to the development of the theme. | The green light in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby serves as a motif representing Gatsby’s hopes and dreams. |
Paradox | A seemingly contradictory statement that, upon closer examination, reveals a deeper truth. | "I must be cruel to be kind" (William Shakespeare, Hamlet). |
Pathetic Fallacy | The attribution of human emotions or characteristics to nature or inanimate objects, often reflecting the mood of the characters. | The storm in King Lear reflects Lear’s inner turmoil and madness. |
Polyptoton | The repetition of a word in different forms or cases, often to emphasize a theme or concept. | "Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds" (William Shakespeare, Sonnet 116). |
Polysyndeton | The use of multiple conjunctions in close succession, often to create a sense of overwhelm or intensity. | "We have ships and men and money and stores" (Julius Caesar, The Gallic Wars). |
Soliloquy | A speech given by a character alone on stage, revealing their inner thoughts and feelings to the audience. | Hamlet’s "To be, or not to be" soliloquy in Hamlet reveals his existential crisis. |
Stream of Consciousness | A narrative technique that attempts to capture the flow of thoughts and feelings passing through a character's mind. | James Joyce’s Ulysses and Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway are known for their use of stream of consciousness. |
Synecdoche | A figure of speech in which a part of something represents the whole, or the whole represents a part. | "All hands on deck" (where "hands" represents the sailors). |
Synesthesia | A technique in which one sense is described using terms from another, often to create a vivid or unusual effect. | "A loud color" or "a sweet sound" are examples of synesthesia. |
Trope | A figurative or metaphorical use of a word or expression; can also refer to a common or overused theme or device in literature. | The "hero’s journey" is a common trope in epic literature. |
Verisimilitude | The appearance or semblance of truth and reality in a literary work; the degree to which a work seems believable or realistic. | The detailed description of settings and characters in realist novels like those of Charles Dickens adds to the verisimilitude of the story. |
Zeugma | A figure of speech in which a word applies to multiple parts of the sentence, often in a surprising or contrasting way. | "He stole both her car and her heart that fateful night." |