Notes for Essential English Lit Vocabulary - IB | RevisionDojo
Essential English Lit Vocabulary Notes
Essential Literary Vocabulary for IB English Analysis
So… what’s the big deal with "essential vocabulary"?
Okay, imagine 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.
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.
You need the right vocab to make anything you say count!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:
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
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Questions
Recap questions
1 of 5
Question 1
Recap question
If a writer aims to create a powerful sensory experience—one that feels vividly physical and deeply felt—which descriptive adjective for imagery is most precise?
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