Essential Literary Vocabulary for IB English Analysis
- So… what’s the big deal with "essential vocabulary"?
- Okay, lets say you’re trying to describe a movie to a friend.
- You could say, “It was good. The main guy was sad. And it looked cool.”
Sure, that gets the idea across. But does it really say anything? Not really.
- You could say, “It was good. The main guy was sad. And it looked cool.”
- Now swap that for:
- “The cinematography was haunting, and the protagonist’s internal conflict was mirrored in the bleak colour palette.”
- Boom. Now you sound like someone who actually knows what they’re talking about.
- That’s what essential vocab does in IB English.
Exam technique
- Why vocabulary matters:
- Criterion D: Language
- This criterion evaluates the accuracy, variety, and sophistication of your writing.
- Varied, precise, and subject-specific vocabulary boosts your mark here.
- Avoid overly informal or repetitive phrasing. Instead of “the author makes the reader feel sad,” write:
- Criterion D: Language
Verbs for Analytical Precision
Use these when explaining the writer’s techniques and purpose.
| Analytical Verb | Definition |
|---|---|
| Signals | Indicates or subtly hints at an idea or emotion. |
| Elicits | Draws out or evokes a reader’s reaction or feeling. |
| Underscores | Emphasizes or highlights a significant theme or message. |
| Contrasts with | Shows clear difference between two elements |
| Reinforces | Supports or strengthens a theme or effect |
| Foregrounds | Brings something to prominence or central focus. |
| Juxtaposes | Places two elements side by side to highlight contrast or similarity |
| Encapsulates | Summarises or represents the essence of an idea |
| Conveys | Communicates a message or feeling effectively |
| Establishes | Sets up mood, tone, character, or theme |
| Highlights | Draws attention to a specific feature or technique |
| Constructs | Builds a character, idea, or atmosphere over time |
| Depicts | Vividly portrays a scene, character, or emotion |
| Suggests | Implies something subtly, without stating it directly |
Describing Character Traits
Use precise adjectives to describe how characters are constructed.
| Trait | Adjectives |
|---|---|
| Cold/detached | analytical, emotionless, indifferent, distant, reserved |
| Confident/assertive | self-assured, commanding, bold, poised, decisive |
| Arrogant/superior | boastful, pompous, dismissive, condescending, overconfident |
| Vulnerable/anxious | distraught, fearful, insecure, timid, apprehensive |
| Optimistic/hopeful | cheerful, optimistic, light-hearted, idealistic, exuberant |
| Creative/fanciful | imaginative, dreamy, whimsical, introspective, inventive |
| Caring/sincere | compassionate, nurturing, thoughtful, empathetic, genuine |
| Morally ambiguous | conflicted, manipulative, hypocritical, ambiguous, torn |
Common Reader Effects
Useful for describing the intended impact on the audience.
| Reader Effect | Examples |
|---|---|
| Emotional effects | sympathy, empathy, admiration, guilt, fear, grief |
| Cognitive effects | reflection, recognition, realisation, awareness, understanding |
| Tension/urgency | suspense, anxiety, unease, discomfort, pressure |
| Entertainment/surprise | humour, wit, irony, amusement, shock |
| Challenge/view shift | doubt, disillusionment, reconsideration, skepticism |
Common Writer’s Purposes
Key verbs and phrases to describe the writer’s intention.
| Verbs | Purpose |
|---|---|
| To influence | persuade, convince, provoke, appeal to |
| To inform | educate, clarify, explain, expose, demystify |
| To critique | satirise, undermine, challenge, question, subvert |
| To explore | reflect on, examine, delve into, express |
| To entertain | engage, amuse, captivate, enthral |
Descriptive Adjectives for Tone, Mood, and Imagery
Use these to describe how the text feels and the effect it creates.
| Tone | Effect |
|---|---|
| Positive tone | jubilant, serene, optimistic, affectionate, effusive |
| Negative tone | bleak, hopeless, melancholic, bitter, oppressive |
| Unsettling tone | eerie, jarring, uncanny, discomforting, disorienting |
| Powerful imagery | vivid, graphic, haunting, immersive, visceral |
| Ambiguous tone | muted, subdued, contemplative, restrained, enigmatic |
Example
- Signals + Vulnerable Character + Emotional Effect
- The writer subtly signals the character’s vulnerability through fragmented syntax and repeated imagery of silence, which draws the reader into their emotional state and encourages sympathy for their isolation.
- Juxtaposes + Cold Character + Cognitive Effect
- By juxtaposing the protagonist’s emotionally detached narration with memories of human connection, the author forces the reader to reflect on how repression can become a survival mechanism.
- Highlights + Morally Ambiguous Character + Challenge
- The author highlights the moral ambiguity of the central figure through their contradictory decisions, prompting readers to question whether ethical clarity is even possible in the world of the text.
- Foregrounds + Assertive Character + Entertainment
- Through dynamic dialogue and strategic pacing, the writer foregrounds the protagonist’s bold, self-assured voice, making the speech both entertaining and a vehicle for exposing deeper themes of injustice.
- Constructs + Caring Character + Emotional Effect
- The author carefully constructs a nurturing character through gentle diction and compassionate actions, generating a sense of emotional warmth that starkly contrasts the harshness of their surroundings.
- Depicts + Anxious Character + Tension
- The character’s anxious state is vividly depicted through staccato rhythm and sensory overload, building a sustained tension that mirrors their psychological unraveling.
- Contrasts With + Arrogant Character + Cognitive Shift
- The writer contrasts the protagonist’s boastful self-perception with how other characters view them, encouraging the reader to reassess who truly holds power or integrity in the text.
- Conveys + Bleak Tone + Emotional Effect
- A bleak, almost resigned tone is conveyed through lifeless imagery and repetition, leaving the reader with a powerful sense of despair and the emotional weight of inescapable systems.
- Suggests + Creative Character + Ambiguous Tone
- The author suggests the protagonist’s whimsical nature through surreal metaphors and inconsistent narrative logic, producing a tone that feels deliberately ambiguous and dreamlike.
- Encapsulates + Conflicted Character + View Shift
- The final paragraph encapsulates the protagonist’s internal conflict using fragmented flashbacks, nudging the reader toward a realisation that their moral journey is far more nuanced than it initially appeared.
Tip
- Be precise: Use vocabulary that directly matches the tone, technique, or effect. Don’t describe something as “emotional” if it’s better described as “melancholic” or “nostalgic”.
- Avoid repetition: Instead of repeating “shows” or “emphasises,” rotate through a list of varied analytical verbs (e.g., reinforces, suggests, highlights, conveys).
- Blend technique + effect: Don’t just state the technique. Pair it with an effect or intention:
- “The writer uses imagery.”
- “The vivid imagery evokes a sense of isolation.”
