Bad Dreams vocab

word bank + definitions + analytical verbs

moral grey area

complex, complicated, intricate

revenge

vengeance, retaliation, retribution, satisfaction, bitterness

when they like unprompted

unprovoked, unsolicited, unwarranted

innocence/joy

naïve, gullible, trusting, carefree, bliss, harmony, contentment, innocent, serenity, harmony

consume someone

obsession, fixation

testament

proof, demonstration, attestation, exemplification

commonize

normalise, popularise

double sided nature

dual, duality of a character, ambivalent, contradictory, paradoxical

reveals

display, admit, publicise

violence

brutality, cruelty, inhumanity, barbarity, savageness

power

control, sovereignty, authority, influence, strength

highlighting

foreground, illuminating, underscoring, emphasises, draws attention to, reinforces,

utilised

make use of, employ

emphasising

indicate, underscore, highlighting

this is evident in

This is demonstrated in, This is shown in, This is revealed through, This is reflected in, This is exemplified by, This is conveyed in, This is illustrated through, This becomes clear in, This can be seen in, This is made apparent in, This is underscored by, This is encapsulated in, This is articulated through, This manifests in, This is expressed in, This emerges in

lack of

absence of, deprivation of, devoid of

create

construct, frame, develop

loss of

erosion of, deprivation of, dispossession of, removal of

warning synonym

cautions, alerts, forewarns, admonishes, signals danger, raises alarm, delivers a cautionary message, issues a warning, cautions against, underscores the dangers of

emotional resonance

lasting emotional impact, lingering emotional effect, enduring emotional response, enduring emotional weight

warn

forewarn, caution

ultimate

subsequently, overall, in conclusion, nevertheless

words for like apathy to the people I guess

anaesthetising desensitising dehumanising alienating

apathy!!

lack of sympathy, indifference, passivity, detachment

lay bare

expose, reveal, unveil

embody

epitomise, represent, encapsulate, exemplify, express

paired with

coupled with, reinforced by, combined with, juxtaposed with

sorry

regretful, remorseful, ashamed

short fuse

short-tempered, quick-tempered

dependent

rely on, vulnerable, rendered contingent, imposed structural dependence

allowing Johnson to…

enabling, facilitating Johnson's…

unbalanced

unequal, disproportionate, skewed

represent

embodies, signifies, conveys, exemplifies, illustrates, encapsulates

symbol

representation, metaphor, image, token, motif

serving as a vessel for

• providing a lens into • offering insight into • representing the perspective of • framing the audience’s understanding of • channelling the experiences of • standing in for • reflecting the viewpoint of • operating as a narrative proxy for

genre conventions

established patterns, elements, and rules (like character types, themes, settings, plot devices) that define a particular category of media (book, film, etc.), setting audience expectations for what they'll experience.

conform

comply with rules, standards, or laws

subvert

deliberate manipulation or inversion of conventions (of a genre)

revisionist

challenging the orthodox/traditional interpretation of historical events

subverts

undermines

amoral

without morals

retribution

payback: punishment for someone as revenge

allegory

extended metaphor

colony

a country or area under the full or partial political control of another country and occupied by settlers from that country

colonisation

establishing control over the indigenous people of an area as well as the land

postcolonial

period that represents the aftermath of Western colonialism/occuring or existing after the end of colonial rule

eurocentric

point of view of europeans

ceded

give up power

Writing about implied meaning: (analytical verbs)

• suggests

• conveys

• indicates

• alludes

• implies

Writing about what is being emphasised (theme, character, world of the text): (analytical verbs)

• emphasises

• reinforces

• explores

• examines

• represents

• questions

• creates

• considers

• explains

• contradicts

• conveys

• determines

• investigates

• clarifies

• proposes

• reflects

• highlights

Writing about how something is presented: (analytical verbs)

• depicts

• portrays

• illustrates

• expresses

• reveals

• exposes

• demonstrates

• presents

• exhibits

• highlights

• reinforces

• emphasises

Writing about literary techniques: (analytical verbs)

• symbolises

• deploys

Writing about the authorial views and values (POSITIVE): (analytical verbs)

• encourages

• advocates for

• applauds

• supports

• promotes

• demands

• urges

• endorses

• condones

• upholds

• validates

• argues

• affirms

• celebrates

• embraces

• fosters

• honours

• inspires

• magnifies

• praises

• recognises

• uplifts

Writing about the authorial views and values (NEGATIVE): (analytical verbs)

• criticises

• condemns

• reprimands

• denounces

• challenges

• refutes

• opposes

• rejects

• rebukes

• exposes

• laments

• critiques

• lambasts

• undermines

• cautions

• warns

• alerts

• discredits

• portends

• mourns

• diminishes

conflict

hostility, friction, discord

trauma

psychological harm, emotional harm, internal distress, psychological burden, lasting distress, enduring grief

military tactics

military strategy, strategic positioning

however

nevertheless, although, nonetheless, in spite of that

winning the battle

achieving dominance, securing control, asserting authority, maintaining power

morality

moral principles; standards of right and wrong behaviour; ethical code guiding actions

arbiter

a person who settles a dispute or has ultimate authority in a matter

laconic

using very few words; brief and concise in speech

indifferent

showing no concern, interest, or sympathy; emotionally detached

corrupt

morally depraved; dishonest; abusing power for personal gain

amoral

lacking a moral sense; neither concerned with nor guided by moral principles

perpetuate

to cause something to continue indefinitely; sustain or prolong

deformed morals

distorted, corrupted, skewed moral compass

acknowledge

address, recognise, admit the truth of something

wrongdoing

moral or legal offence; unethical or harmful actions

colonial period

the historical era of European settlement and expansion marked by colonial rule and power over Indigenous populations

unquestioned

accepted without doubt, challenge, or criticism; blindly accepted

not complacent

not self-satisfied or passive; aware and responsive to problems or injustice

symbolises

represents or stands for an idea, value, or concept

serves as a symbol for

functions as a representation of a broader idea, belief, or theme

urges

strongly encourages or advocates for a particular action or viewpoint

hence, thus

consequently, therefore, as a result

loyalty

strong allegiance, faithfulness, or commitment to a person, group, or cause

all the other theme words

power, justice, revenge, morality, religion, spirituality, loyalty, trust, family, relationships, gender roles, violence, trauma, conflict, memory, identity

natural environment

wilderness, bushland, rugged terrain, open land, amongst trees and rocks