Literary Text Academic Vocabulary (1-52) ALL - DEFINITIONS ONLY

affect (verb)

To have an influence on something; to make a difference to.

analyze / analysis

To examine or look at something closely to understand it better. Analysis is the process of doing this.

aspect

A particular part or feature of something.

author's purpose / intent

The reason or goal an author has for writing a text. Common purposes include to inform, persuade, entertain, or describe.

author's structure

The way an author organizes and arranges the ideas and information in a text. Common structures include chronological order, cause and effect, problem and solution, compare and contrast.

central idea

The main point, message, or argument that an author wants to convey in a text. It's what the text is primarily about.

cite

To quote or refer to a source (book, article, website) as evidence for an argument or statement.

compare

To identify and discuss the similarities between two or more things.

conclusion

The end or summing up of a piece of writing; it typically restates the main ideas and provides a final thought or resolution.

connections

The relationships, links, or patterns between ideas, events, characters, or parts within a text or between a text and other knowledge/experiences.

contrast

To identify and discuss the differences between two or more things.

contribute

To add to or provide something.

describes

To tell or write about something in detail, explaining what it looks like, what it does, or what it is like.

details

Small pieces of information, facts, or descriptions that support or elaborate on a main idea.

determine

To find out or decide something, often after careful thought or investigation.

develop / development

To grow, elaborate, or expand upon an idea. Development is the process of this growth or expansion.

dialogue

Conversation between two or more characters in a literary work.

draw / drawn

To infer or deduce; to reach a conclusion based on evidence and reasoning.

effect (noun)

A result or consequence of an action or other cause.

evidence

Facts, figures, details, or quotes used to support a claim, idea, or argument.

explicit

Stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion or doubt.

impact

The strong effect or influence that something has on a person or thing.

indicates

Points out, shows, or suggests something.

inference / infer

An educated guess or conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning. To infer is to make such a guess.

interpret

To explain the meaning of (information, words, or actions).

key event

A significant or important occurrence in a story or historical account that often drives the plot or development.

meaning

What something is trying to say or show, or what it stands for. It's the idea behind a work, a picture, or even an action.

mood

The atmosphere or feeling created in a piece of writing, often evoked through setting, word choice, and tone. It's how the text makes the reader feel.

narrator

The person or character who tells the story.

objective

Based on facts and not influenced by personal feelings, interpretations, or prejudice; unbiased.

option

A choice or alternative.

phrase

A small group of words that work together to say something, but it's not a full sentence.

point of view

How someone sees or thinks about something. The perspective from which a story is told.

propel

To drive, push, or cause to move onward or forward.

provoke

To stimulate or give rise to (a reaction or emotion, typically a strong or unwelcome one) in someone.

reveal

To make known to others (a secret or something previously hidden).

specific

Clearly defined or identified; precise and exact.

states

To clearly say or write something.

suggest

To give someone an idea or offer a possible plan for them to consider; to imply or hint at something without stating it directly.

summarize

To give a brief statement of the main points of something.

supports

Provides evidence for or helps to prove something.

synonym

A word or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word or phrase in the same language.

theme

The underlying message, big idea, or moral of a story or text. It's often a universal truth about life, society, or human nature.

tone

The author's attitude toward their subject, audience, or characters. It is conveyed through word choice, sentence structure, and literary devices. It's how the *author* feels.

word choice

The specific selection of words an author uses to create a particular effect, meaning, or tone. Also known as diction.

vivid

Producing powerful feelings or strong, clear images in the mind.

revision

The process of re-examining and making changes to improve a piece of writing, focusing on content, organization, clarity, and effectiveness.

excerpt

A short part or passage taken from a book, article, film, or other work.

examine

To look at something carefully and in detail to learn more about it.

identify / identifies

To recognize or establish who or what something is; to point out.

foreshadowing

A literary device in which a writer gives an advance hint of what is to come later in the story.

implied

Suggested or hinted at without being directly stated.