English Language and Literary Analysis Concepts

Vocabulary flashcards covering register, tone, structure, narrative devices, and punctuation rules from the lecture notes.

Formal register

Language associated with professional, serious or official situations.

Informal register

Casual language associated with everyday conversation.

Tone

The attitude or emotional quality conveyed by the writer's language.

Mood

The emotional atmosphere experienced by the reader.

Atmosphere

The overall emotional feeling created by the text or setting.

Lexical choice

The writer's deliberate selection of a particular word rather than another.

Semantic ambiguity

When a word or phrase can have more than one possible meaning.

Ambiguity

When something has multiple possible interpretations.

Implied meaning

An idea suggested indirectly rather than stated explicitly.

Explicit meaning

An idea stated clearly and directly.

Semantic field shift

When the dominant vocabulary changes from one subject/idea to another.

Structural juxtaposition

Placing two contrasting scenes, moments or characters close together in the text.

Narrative pace

The speed at which events and information are presented.

Narrative tension

A sense of uncertainty or anticipation about what will happen.

Reader positioning

How the writer encourages the reader to think or feel about a character, event or idea.

Narrative hook

An opening feature designed to immediately capture the reader's interest.

Cliffhanger

Ending a section at a moment of uncertainty or suspense.

Information gap

A deliberate lack of information that makes the reader ask questions.

Comma

Used to separate ideas/items, create pauses or control sentence rhythm.

Full stop

Used to end a sentence and create a clear pause.

Dash

Used to create a break, interruption or additional emphasis.

Ellipsis (…)

Used to suggest hesitation, uncertainty, a pause, omission or an unfinished thought.

Colon

Used to introduce an explanation, elaboration or list.

Semicolon

Used to link closely related independent clauses.

Brackets

Used to add additional information or an aside.

Quotation marks

Used to indicate direct speech, quotations or sometimes highlight a particular word/phrase.

Question mark

Used to signal a question and potentially create uncertainty or challenge.

Exclamation mark

Used to emphasise strong emotion, urgency or intensity.