IB English A: Language and Literature (Literary Terms)

All literary terms for IB English A: Language & Literature. Terms from thinkib.net. Definitions by ChatGPT 4o.

Accent

A distinctive way of pronouncing a language, typically associated with a specific region or social group.

Actual reader

The real person reading a text, as opposed to the implied or ideal reader.

Actual writer

The real person who writes a text, as opposed to the implied writer or narrator.

Adjective

A word that describes or modifies a noun.

Adverb

A word that modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb, often indicating how, when, where, or to what extent something happens.

Alliteration

The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words in close proximity.

Allusion

A brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance.

Analogy

A comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification.

Anti-advertising

A technique where advertisements deliberately parody or critique the conventions of advertising itself.

Antithesis

A rhetorical device in which two opposite ideas are put together in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect.

Appeal to authority

A fallacy in which an argument is deemed true because it is supported by an authority figure, regardless of evidence.

Appeal to fear

A persuasive technique that attempts to gain agreement by arousing fear or concern in the audience.

Audience

The group of people a text is intended for or is trying to communicate with.

Bandwagon effect

A psychological phenomenon where people do something primarily because others are doing it.

Bias

An unfair preference or prejudice for or against something or someone.

Cacophony

A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds, often used in poetry for dramatic effect.

Caesura

A pause in a line of poetry, often marked by punctuation or a natural break in speech.

Characterisation

The process by which a writer reveals the personality of a character in a narrative.

Clause

A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a predicate.

Cliché (cliche)

An overused expression or idea that has lost its originality or impact.

Coherence

The logical connections that readers or listeners perceive in a written or spoken text.

Colloquialism

Informal language or slang used in everyday conversation but not typically used in formal writing.

Complex sentence

A sentence that contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

Conflict in advertising

A technique where advertisements present a problem or tension that is resolved by the product being advertised.

Conjunctions

Words that connect clauses, sentences, or words (e.g., and, but, or).

Connotation

The implied or emotional meaning associated with a word, beyond its literal definition.

Context of production

The circumstances in which a text is produced, including the creator's background, the cultural setting, and the purpose.

Context of reception

The circumstances in which a text is received and interpreted, including the audience's perspective, time, and cultural setting.

Core vocabulary

The most basic and frequently used words in a language.

Couplet

Two consecutive lines of poetry that typically rhyme and have the same meter.

Crowdsourcing

The practice of obtaining input, services, or content from a large group of people, typically from the online community.

Deictic

Words or phrases (e.g., here, now, you) that require contextual information to be fully understood.

Denotation

The literal or primary meaning of a word, without its connotations.

Denouement

The final resolution of the plot in a narrative, typically following the climax.

Dialect

A particular form of a language specific to a region or social group.

Diatribe

A forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something.

Direct narration

A style where the narrator explicitly tells the story, without filtering it through a character's perspective.

Direct speech

A way of reporting speech by quoting the speaker's exact words.

Dramatic Irony

A situation in which the audience knows something that the characters do not.

Ellipsis

The omission of words that are understood from context but necessary for grammatical completeness, often represented by three dots (...).

End-stopped line

A line of poetry that ends with a punctuation mark, creating a pause.

Enjambement

The continuation of a sentence or clause across a line break in poetry, without a pause.

Eponymous

Referring to a character or work that gives its name to the title of the piece.

Equivocation

The use of ambiguous language to conceal the truth or mislead.

Ethos

A rhetorical appeal to credibility or character to persuade an audience.

Euphemism

A mild or indirect word or expression used in place of one that may be considered harsh or unpleasant.

First-person point-of-view

A narrative perspective where the story is told from the "I" or "we" viewpoint of the narrator.

Formalism

A method of analyzing texts focusing on their structure, style, and use of language rather than external context.

Free indirect speech

A method of narrating that blends direct speech with third-person narration, often reflecting a character's thoughts.

Free verse

Poetry that does not rhyme or have a regular meter.

Function

The purpose something serves within a system or context.

Gatekeeper

A person or organization that controls access to information, often shaping how it is presented or received.

Generalizations

Broad statements or claims based on limited evidence, often lacking nuance or specificity.

Genre

A category of artistic composition characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter.

Graphology

The study of the visual aspects of language, such as handwriting or the layout of text.

Haiku

A traditional Japanese form of poetry with a 5-7-5 syllable structure.

Hyperbole

Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.

Idiolect

The unique language use of an individual speaker.

Imagery

Descriptive or figurative language that appeals to the senses and creates mental pictures.

Indirect narration

A form of storytelling where the narrator tells the story, but not in the direct words of the character.

Intertextuality

The relationship between texts and how they refer to or influence each other.

Irony

A situation or statement where the intended meaning is opposite to what is expressed.

Jargon

Specialized language used by a particular group or profession that may be difficult for outsiders to understand.

Juxtaposition

Placing two elements close together for contrasting effect.

Language

A system of communication using symbols, sounds, or gestures.

Logos

A rhetorical appeal to logic and reason.

Long tail marketing

A strategy that focuses on selling a large number of niche products in small quantities rather than a few mass-market items.

Mash-up

A combination or mixing of different elements from various sources to create something new.

Metaphor

A figure of speech that compares two unlike things without using "like" or "as."

Metonymy

A figure of speech in which one thing is represented by something closely associated with it.

Modality

The aspect of language that expresses the speaker's attitude toward the possibility, necessity, or reality of a situation.

Multivocal

Involving multiple voices or perspectives in a text or discourse.

Newsworthiness

The quality of being important or interesting enough to be reported in the news.

Nominalisation

The process of turning a verb or adjective into a noun.

Notifications

Alerts or messages typically from apps or devices informing users of updates or events.

Noun Phrase

A group of words that functions as a noun in a sentence.

Onomatopoeia

A word that phonetically imitates the sound it represents.

Paralanguage

The non-verbal elements of communication used to modify meaning and convey emotion, such as tone, pitch, and facial expressions.

Pathos

A rhetorical appeal to emotion, aiming to evoke sympathy or feeling.

Pay-per-click

An internet advertising model in which advertisers pay a fee each time their ad is clicked.

Personalization

The process of tailoring something to an individual’s preferences or needs.

Personification

A figure of speech where human qualities are attributed to animals, inanimate objects, or abstract concepts.

Phonological

Relating to the sound system of a language.

Phrase

A group of words that work together as a unit but do not form a complete sentence.

Problem / solution technique

A strategy often used in advertising, where a problem is presented and the product is offered as the solution.

Pun

A form of wordplay that exploits multiple meanings of a term or similar-sounding words for humorous effect.

Reported speech

Speech or statements conveyed indirectly, not quoted verbatim.

Sensationalism

The use of exciting or shocking language at the expense of accuracy to provoke public interest.

Setting

The time, place, and environment in which the events of a narrative occur.

Shock advertising

A marketing technique that deliberately uses provocative or controversial content to attract attention.

Simile

A figure of speech that compares two different things using "like" or "as."

Slang

Informal language that is often specific to a particular group or culture.

Slogan

A short, memorable phrase used in advertising or politics to express an idea.

Social networking

The use of internet platforms to interact with others, build connections, and share information.

Stereotyping

Generalizing about a group of people based on oversimplified and often prejudiced ideas.

Super crunching

The analysis of vast amounts of data to make predictions and decisions.

Synecdoche

A figure of speech in which a part is used to represent the whole, or the whole for a part.

Testimonial

A statement endorsing a product, often by someone famous or well-known.

Textuality

The characteristics that make something a written text, including language, structure, and form.

Use of celebrities

The practice of featuring famous individuals in advertising to enhance brand image or product appeal.