Literature and Language Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards from lecture notes on literature and language.

Audiobook

A recorded book to listen to.

Autobiography

An account of a person's life written by that person.

Blurb

A short description of a book on its cover to promote it.

Can't put it down

Unable to stop reading a book; captivated.

Back out

To withdraw from an agreement or commitment.

Book fair

Exhibition where publishers promote and sell books.

Make one's case

To present an argument or defend a position.

Come away from a book

To distract or remove (oneself) from a book.

Chapter

A section of a book.

Compelling

Captivating or irresistible.

Convincing

Inspiring belief; believable.

Cookbook

A book containing recipes and cooking instructions.

Cover art

The visual design and imagery of a book's cover.

Crime fiction

A genre of fiction dealing with crime and investigation.

Drama/Play

A literary work intended for performance, typically involving conflict and emotion

Dust jacket

The protective outer covering of a book.

E-book

A book in electronic format.

Engaging

Charming and attractive.

Engrossing

Completely absorbing or fascinating.

Fantasy

A genre of fiction involving magical or imaginary elements.

Fascinating

Extremely interesting or attractive.

Fast-paced

Moving at a rapid pace.

Front cover

The obverse side of something, especially a book cover.

Genre

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

Get one's hands on sth

To obtain or secure something.

Hardback

A book with a rigid cover.

Humorous

Funny or amusing.

Identify with sb

To feel empathy or understanding for someone.

Illustration

A picture or diagram that helps clarify or visually represent something.

Imaginative

Having or showing creativity or inventiveness.

Instalment

A part of a story or series published at intervals.

Knock sb off their feet

To overwhelm or astonish someone.

Magazine

A periodical publication containing articles, stories, and advertisements.

Non-fiction

Books and writing based on facts.

Page-turner

A book that is so exciting that the reader wants to read it very quickly.

Paperback

A book with a flexible paper cover.

Pick up (a book)

To select or acquire a book.

Poetry

Literary work in which special intensity is given to the expression

Romance

A story about love and relationships.

Science fiction

Fiction based on imagined future scientific or technological advances.

Self-help book

A book offering advice on personal problems.

Series

A set of related books or programs.

Set book

A book prescribed for study.

Short story

A story with a fully developed theme but significantly shorter and less elaborate than a novel.

Slow-going

Progressing slowly.

Steer clear of sth

To avoid something.

Struggle

Difficulty or effort.

Suspense

A state of excitement or uncertainty about what may happen.

Assign

To designate or delegate responsibility.

Avid reader

A person who reads a lot.

Come to sb's mind

When an idea suddenly enters your mind.

Dependable

Trustworthy or reliable.

Leave sb cold

To fail to impress or excite someone.

Make a difference

To have an effect.

Ping

To send message to someone using electronic device.

See the point of sth

To underestand or valuate.

Shrug

Raise (one's shoulders) slightly and momentarily to express doubt, ignorance, or indifference.

Take sb by surprise

To surprise someone.

Exact revenge

To get revenge.

Out of place

Not suitable or appropriate.

Startle

To feel sudden shock.

Testify

Give evidence as a witness in a law court.

Apart from sth

Besides something.

Appeal to emotions

To stir emotions.

Be engaged/engrossed in a story

Having one's attention wholly engaged.

Budding

Just starting to develop.

Capture/grab attention

To attract and hold someone's interest.

Connect with/captivate an audience

Establish a link with.

Convincing character

A character that is believable or credible.

Engage/stimulate imagination

To stimulate imagination.

Grow in sth

Increase into something.

Humor

The quality of being amusing or comic.

Inspiring

Having the effect of inspiring someone.

Intriguing plot

Interesting plot.

Lose oneself in sth

To immerse oneself in something.

Make up/pass on/invent a story

To create a story.

Moral lesson

A principle to understanding the story.

Narrative story

A story.

Persuasive

Good at persuading someone to do or believe something through reasoning or the use of temptation.

Popular with sb

Well liked by sb.

Provide sb with sth

Give the things that sb needs.

Thrive on sth

Growing stronger or more successful.

Twists in the story

The turning point of story.

Unexpected ending

Ending that's not expected.

Unusual setting

Setting that is unique.

Vivid language

Language that is bright.

Vividly told

Told in a colourful way

As blind as a bat

A blind person.

As busy as a bee

Being very active.

As good as gold

Nice and polite

As tough as old boots

Hard.

Crawl

Move someone's body close to the ground.

Donation

A donation that's given.

Flyer

A paper that can be discarded.

Proceeds

Earnings.

Staff

Group of colleagues.

Eat like a horse

Consuming a lot of food.

Equipped with

Fitted.

Manufacture

Produce goods on a large scale.

Despair

Desperation.