IB Lit Unit 1 Terms to Know

Allusion

A reference to a person, place, event, or literary work outside of the text itself. Allusions are often used to deepen meaning or add context.

Anaphora

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences, often used for emphasis and rhythm.

Apostrophe

A figure of speech in which a speaker addresses an absent person, an abstract idea, or a thing directly, often as if it is capable of response.

Characterization (Direct & Indirect)

The method by which an author reveals the personality and traits of a character in a story, either through direct statements (direct characterization) or through actions, dialogue, and thoughts (indirect characterization).

Diction (Connotation)

A writer’s unique style of expression, especially their choice and arrangement of words.

Detail vs. Sensory Detail (Imagery)

The distinction between general descriptive details (details) and vivid descriptions that evoke the senses (sensory detail or imagery), enhancing the reader's experience through sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell.

Enjambment

A poetic device in which a sentence or phrase runs across a line break without a pause, creating a sense of urgency and flow.

Figurative Language (simile, metaphor, personification, conceit)

A literary device that employs imaginative comparisons, often to create vivid imagery or convey complex ideas, including techniques such as similes, metaphors, and personification.

Motif vs. Theme

Motif refers to a recurring element that has symbolic significance in a story (can be a single word), while a theme is the central idea or underlying message conveyed by the narrative (can’t be a single word)

Paradox/Oxymoron

A rhetorical device that juxtaposes contradictory terms or ideas to reveal a deeper meaning or insight, often highlighting complexities in a situation.

Point of View

The perspective from which a story is narrated, influencing how readers perceive characters and events, including first-person, second-person, and third-person viewpoints.

Plot Structure vs. Narrative Structure

Plot structure refers to the sequence of events in a story, typically including exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution, while narrative structure focuses on how these events are organized and presented to the reader, including techniques such as flashbacks and foreshadowing.

Pun

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

Setting

The time and place in which a story occurs, influencing the mood, characters, and plot.

Symbol

A concrete object, character, or event that represents abstract ideas or concepts, adding deeper meaning to the narrative.

Synecdoche vs. Metonymy

Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which, most often, a part of something is used to refer to its whole. Metonymy is a type of figurative language in which an object or concept is referred to not by its own name, but instead by the name of something closely associated.

Syntax

The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language. It plays a crucial role in conveying meaning and structure in writing.

Tone vs. Mood

Tone refers to the author's attitude toward the subject matter, while mood describes the emotional atmosphere experienced by the reader.

Tools of humor (irony, understatement, hyperbole)

Tools used to create comedic effects, including exaggeration, deliberate restraint, and expressions that convey the opposite of their literal meaning.

Zeugma

A figure of speech in which a word applies to multiple parts of the sentence, linking them in a surprising way.

Medium/Materials

The materials and methods used by an artist or writer to create work, such as paint, clay, or digital tools.

Technique (additive/subtractive, modeling, carving,etc)

Various methods used by artists to shape or manipulate materials in creating artwork, including techniques that add material or remove it.

Shape (organic, geometric, open form, closed form etc)

Shape refers to the two-dimensional area defined by boundaries, which can be organic (irregular forms resembling nature), geometric (precise and regular shapes like squares and circles), open form (forms with gaps or spaces), or closed form (solid, continuous shapes).

Scale (size, proportions)

Scale refers to the size of an object in relation to other elements in artwork, often emphasizing proportions, relationships, and spatial composition.

Space (negative/positive, and in relation to environment)

Space refers to the area around, between, or within objects in artwork. It can be categorized into positive space (the actual objects) and negative space (the background or areas around the objects), and is important for understanding composition and environmental context.

Movement

Movement refers to the way the viewer's eye travels throughout a piece of artwork, often guided by lines, shapes, and colors. It creates a sense of action or direction, enhancing the narrative and emotional impact.

Texture

Texture refers to the surface quality of an artwork, which can be perceived visually or through tactile sensations. It includes the use of various materials and techniques to create a sense of depth and dimension.

Color and lighting

They are essential elements in artwork that influence mood, create depth, and highlight specific areas. Color can convey emotions, while lighting affects the perception of form and space.

Comics

Comics are a visual medium that combines illustrations and text to tell a story, often employing sequential art to guide the narrative. They can encompass various genres and styles, engaging readers through a unique blend of imagery and dialogue.

Panel

A distinct frame within a comic that contains a single scene or moment, helping to structure the narrative flow by guiding the reader's eye from one moment to the next.

Border

A border is a defined edge or frame surrounding a visual element, often used in comics and artwork to separate scenes, enhance composition, or focus attention. It can vary in style and thickness, contributing to the overall aesthetic of the piece.

Gutter

The space between panels in a comic that serves to separate scenes and moments, allowing readers to perceive the passage of time and movement in the narrative.

Speech balloon

A graphic element in comics that encloses a character's dialogue or thoughts, often using a tail to point to the speaker. They help convey conversations and inner monologues.

Text box

A text box is a graphical element in comics used to contain dialogue, narration, or information, typically featuring a rectangular shape that helps to organize and convey written content within the visual narrative.

Page layout

The arrangement of visual elements on a comic page, including panels, gutters, text boxes, and speech balloons, which guides the reader's experience and influences the pacing of the narrative.

Art style

Art style refers to the distinctive visual appearance and techniques used in the creation of comics or graphic narratives, influencing the overall mood and tone of the work.

Text & image

The combination of visual art and written content in comics, where images complement and enhance the narrative provided by the text.

Mise-en-scene

Refers to the arrangement of everything that appears in the frame, including settings, props, actors, and their movements, which collectively create a visual narrative and contribute to the storytelling within graphic narratives.

Placement of shots (High angle, eye level, etc.)

Refers to the positioning and perspective from which a scene is filmed or illustrated, impacting how the viewer perceives characters and actions within the narrative.

Types of Editing

Includes cuts, fades, and transitions used to control the pacing and flow of a narrative in film and graphic storytelling.

Types of Sound

Includes diegetic, non-diegetic, and ambient sound, which enhance the auditory experience and contribute to the mood and atmosphere of the narrative.

Line

Refers to the visual element that guides the viewer's eye and creates structure within a composition or narrative, often influencing the emotional tone.

Shape

Refers to the two-dimensional outline or external form of an object, which plays a crucial role in visual composition and design.

Color

Refers to the visual property of objects that is determined by the way they reflect or emit light, influencing mood and emotional response within a composition.

Value

Refers to the lightness or darkness of a color, which helps to create depth and contrast in visual art and contributes to the overall mood and atmosphere of a piece.

Form

Refers to the three-dimensional structure of an object, encompassing volume and mass, and influences perception and space in art and design.

Texture

Refers to the surface quality of an object, either tactile or visual, which can evoke sensations and add richness to a composition.