IBDP English Language and Literature (SL) English Journal of Literary and Non-Literary Terms and Devices Allegory A story, play, poem, picture, or other work in which the characters and events represent particular moral, religious, or political qualities or ideas E.g.: The race between the tortoise and the hare becomes an allegory for the importance of consistent effort and humility Alliteration The repetition of two or more words that start with the same sound in a phrase/ sentence E.g.: She sells seashells by the seashore Allusion An indirect reference to an idea/ person/ event/ place/ other text outside the poem Anachronism Placing an event, person, or thing outside its proper historical time. E.g.: A character in a historical novel using a smartphone. Analogy A comparison that aims to explain a thing or idea by likening it to something else (closely related to metaphors and similes) E.g.: Ogres are like onions... Onions have layers. Ogres have layers. You get it? We both have layers. Anaphora The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses E.g.: I have a dream" speech by Martin Luther King Jr. Assonance The repetition of vowel sounds in words that are close together E.g.: The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain Asyndeton Excluding coordinating conjunctions (and, or, but) E.g.: I came, I saw, and I conquered Atmosphere The environment created by the author in the text E.g.: Eerie, vibrant, gloomy atmosphere Authorial Voice Refers to the unique tone, style, perspective, and values expressed by an author in their writing, shaping the reader's emotional connection and interpretation of the text Bildungsroman A novel depicting the moral and psychological growth of a character. E.g.: To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee. IBDP English Language & Literature English Journal of Literary & Non-Literary Terms and Devices Blank Space Areas in a visual text that are intentionally left empty, without any significant visual elements Call to Action A persuasive statement that urges the listener or reader to take immediate action for a specific cause, often aiming to inspire change or support for a particular idea, movement, or initiative E.g.: "Act now to fight climate change!", "Donate for a better world!", "Vote for change!" Caesura A pause that occurs within a line of poetry, usually marked by some form of punctuation E.g.: A full stop, comma, ellipsis, dash Who said —“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone Stand in the desert. . . . Near them, on the sand, Chiasmus A figure of speech in which the grammar of one phrase is inverted in the following phrase, such that two key concepts from the original phrase E.g.: When the going gets tough, the tough get going Cliché An overused phrase or idea. E.g.: As brave as a lion Consonance The repetition of consonant sounds in close proximity. E.g.: All mammals named Sam are clammy Connotation The emotional or cultural associations surrounding a word E.g.: "Home" may evoke feelings of warmth and comfort. Chroma The purity, intensity, or saturation of a color. It indicates how vibrant or dull a color appears in comparison to a neutral gray of the same brightness. E.g.: High chroma means the color is vivid and intense, while low chroma indicates a more muted or desaturated color. Diction Author’s word choice Deus ex Machina An unexpected event or character saving a seemingly hopeless situation. E.g.: As the hero faced certain doom, a magical bird swooped down to save the day. Colloquialism The use of informal language or slang in writing. E.g.: gonna" instead of "going to. Dramatic Irony When the audience knows something important that the characters in the story do not. E.g.: It's like a scene from a horror movie where the audience knows something bad is going to happen, and they want to warn the character, 'Don't go in there!' but the character is unaware of the danger IBDP English Language & Literature English Journal of Literary & Non-Literary Terms and Devices Dichotomy A division or contrast between two opposing elements or concepts Dichotomies can exist on various levels in literature, including: 1. Character Dichotomies: When two characters embody contrasting traits, values, or beliefs. For example, the classic "good vs. evil" conflict often involves a protagonist and an antagonist who represent opposite moral qualities. 2. Theme Dichotomies: When a work explores two conflicting themes or ideas. These themes might be used to present different perspectives on a particular issue, such as freedom vs. confinement, love vs. hate, or nature vs. civilization. 3. Setting Dichotomies: When contrasting settings are used to highlight differences in mood, atmosphere, or the experiences of characters. This can involve urban vs. rural settings, natural vs. artificial environments, or real vs. imagined spaces. 4. Narrative Dichotomies: When different narrative techniques, perspectives, or styles are employed to create contrasting viewpoints or effects. For instance, a story might alternate between first-person and third-person narration to provide different insights into the events. 5. Symbolic Dichotomies: When symbols or motifs that represent opposing concepts are used throughout a work. These symbols can help reinforce the theme and create depth in the text. 6. Plot Dichotomies: When the plot presents a series of choices or events that force characters to make decisions between two opposing options, leading to different outcomes. Epiphany A sudden realization or comprehension. E.g.: In a moment of epiphany, she realized her true purpose in life Enjambement The continuation of a sentence/clause (group of words) across a line break E.g.: IBDP English Language & Literature English Journal of Literary & Non-Literary Terms and Devices Enumeration when a writer chooses to list out items, events, ideas, or other parts of a story/setting e.g. At the store, I bought flour, sugar, baking soda, and cinnamon. Euphemism the use of a word or phrase to avoid saying another word or phrase that may be unpleasant or offensive e.g.: The phrase “left to pursue other interests” is a euphemism for “fired” Ethos Refers to the credibility, trustworthiness, and authority of the speaker or writer involves convincing the audience that the speaker is knowledgeable, honest, and has expertise in the subject E.g: A doctor discussing the benefits of a particular medication based on their medical expertise and experience would use ethos to gain the audience's trust Extended Metaphor a version of metaphor that extends over the course of multiple lines, paragraphs, or stanzas of prose or poetry Foreshadowing A warning or indication of a future event. E.g.: The ominous dark clouds foreshadowed the storm that would soon engulf the town. Flashback A scene set in a time earlier than the main story. E.g.: As he stared at the old photograph, memories flooded back, transporting him to his childhood. Free Verse Poetry without a regular rhyme or meter. IBDP English Language & Literature English Journal of Literary & Non-Literary Terms and Devices E.g.: Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself" is written in free verse. Graphics Visual elements such as images, illustrations, icons, charts, graphs and other visual representations used to convey information and enhance understanding, and create visual appeal Gutter Refers to the space between panels on a comic book page Hyperbole Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally. E.g.: "I've told you a million times." Hubris Excessive pride or self-confidence leading to a character's downfall. E.g.: His pride and arrogance led to his ultimate downfall. Imagery The use of vivid or figurative language to represent objects, actions, or ideas Can be categorized in 7 ways, relating to one’s senses: 1) Visual (Sight): The reader can visualize the picture being described 2) Auditory/ Aural (Hearing): The reader can imagine the sound of what is being described 3) Gustatory (Taste): The reader can imagine the taste being described 4) Olfactory (Smell): The reader can imagine the smell being described 5) Tactile (Touch): The reader can imagine how the item feels to touch 6) Kinesthetic (Movement): The reader can sense the movement being described 7) Thermal (Temperature): The reader can imagine how hot/cold something is E.g.: The autumn leaves danced in the wind like golden butterflies In medias res a Latin expression (In the middle of action) that refers to a story, or the action of a play, etc. starting without any introduction E.g.: The story begins in medias res, with the antagonist dead and the protagonist on the run. Irony A contrast between expectation and reality. E.g.: Verbal irony - saying "What a great day!" during a thunderstorm. Juxtaposition Placing two elements side by side to present a contrast. E.g.: The peaceful meadow by the chaotic city skyline Kairos The opportune moment for decision or action. E.g.: In the climax of the suspense novel, the protagonist had to either surrender or escape Kenning A metaphorical compound word or phrase used in Old English and Old Norse poetry. E.g.: The ancient poem used 'whale-road' to describe the sea. Litotes A figure of speech using understatement for emphasis. E.g.: The task at hand was not easy; it was quite challenging. IBDP English Language & Literature English Journal of Literary & Non-Literary Terms and Devices Logos Involves using logical reasoning, facts, data, and evidence to persuade an audience focuses on presenting a well-structured and reasoned argument to support a claim E.g.: A scientist presenting research data to show the effectiveness of a new invention would rely on logos to convince the audience of its practical value Metaphor Makes an indirect comparison by using words such as “is” E.g.: My pillow is a cloud Mood The reader’s emotional reaction to the atmosphere E.g.: Tense, suspenseful, melancholic mood Motif Recurring images, quotes, or concepts that take on a figurative or symbolic meaning throughout the story E.g.: Shakespeare repeatedly uses images of light and darkness throughout Romeo and Juliet to illustrate two things that cannot coexist (much like the doomed lovers) Metonymy Substituting the name of one thing with something closely associated with it E.g.: "The White House issued a statement. Onomatopoeia The use of words that imitate sounds. E.g.: The buzzing bees and chirping crickets created a symphony of sounds. Oxymoron A figure of speech in which contradictory terms are combined. E.g.: The jumbo shrimp were a hit at the party. Paradox A figure of speech that appears to contradict itself, but upon closer examination, it reveals a hidden truth or logic E.g: Life is much too important to be taken seriously (the more important something is, the more important it is not to take it seriously) Parallels Similarities or connections between different elements within a text These elements could include characters, events, themes, settings, narrative structures, or even symbolic representations. E.g.: The land of Narnia and the real world are parallel worlds in the story. The experiences of the children in Narnia mirror their growth and development in the real world. This parallel structure serves to contrast the mundane with the fantastical and highlights the transformative power of imagination Parallelism When two or more elements of a sentence (or series of sentences) have the same grammatical structure to intensify the rhythm of language, or to draw a comparison, emphasize or elaborate on an idea E.g.: “You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time but you cannot fool all the people all the time” IBDP English Language & Literature English Journal of Literary & Non-Literary Terms and Devices Pathos Appeals to the emotions and feelings of the audience. It aims to evoke empathy, sympathy, or other emotional responses to make the argument more relatable and compelling E.g.: A charity organization using heart-wrenching stories of individuals in need to encourage donations is using pathos to trigger an emotional response from the audience Personification Giving human characteristics to nonhuman entities. E.g.: The wind whispered secrets through the ancient trees. Plot Twist An unexpected development or turn of events in a story. E.g.: The sudden revelation of the protagonist's true identity was a shocking plot twist. Point of View The perspective from which a story is told. E.g.: In the first-person point of view, the narrator shares personal experiences and emotions. Protagonist The main character in a story. Pun A humorous use of a word or phrase that has several meanings or that sounds like another word E.g: "I'm reading a book on anti-gravity. It's impossible to put down!" Quatrain A stanza or poem of four lines. E.g.: The Shakespearean sonnet typically consists of three quatrains and a rhymed couplet. Repetition The recurrence of a word or phrase for emphasis E.g.: Never, never, never give up. Register The level of formality in language that's determined by the context in which it is spoken or written Rhetoric The use of argumentative methods including ethos, logos and pathos Rhetorical Question A question is asked, but not to receive an answer, rather to make a persuasive point or to create a moment of reflection E.g.: Are you serious? Satire Using humor, irony, or ridicule to criticize or mock people's stupidity or vices. E.g.: Jonathan Swift's 'A Modest Proposal' satirizes social and political issues. Simile A figure of speech that compares two different things using "like" or "as." E.g.: Brave as a lion, she faced the challenges ahead. Soliloquy A speech delivered by a character alone on stage, expressing their thoughts and feelings. E.g.: Hamlet's soliloquy reveals his innermost thoughts and struggles. IBDP English Language & Literature English Journal of Literary & Non-Literary Terms and Devices Subject Positioning How the main focus or central element of a visual text is placed within the visual composition Symbolism The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. E.g.: The scarlet letter in Hawthorne's novel symbolizes both guilt and redemption. Synecdoche A figure of speech in which a part is used to represent the whole. E.g.: All hands on deck. Syntax The grammatical arrangement of words in a sentence E.g.: In Hemingway's short stories, his concise syntax mirrors his characters' straightforward personalities. Short, crisp sentences reflect the no-nonsense attitudes of his protagonists, conveying their thoughts and actions with economy and impact. Tension A sense of anticipation or conflict within characters or character relationships, or problems, surprise and mystery in stories and ideas to propel dramatic action and create audience engagement Theme A main idea or central message Tone The attitude of a writer toward a subject or an audience. E.g.: Edgar Allan Poe's tone is often dark and melancholic. Tragedy A form of drama based on human suffering, typically ending in disaster. E.g.: Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' is a classic tragedy with a tragic hero's downfall Understatement The presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is. E.g.: The scratch on the car was just a minor inconvenience Utopia An imagined place or state of things where everything is perfect E.g.: Thomas More's 'Utopia' envisions an ideal society. Verisimilitude The appearance of being true or real. E.g.: The paintings of Greeks and Romans birthed the eerily historical setting Villanelle A 19-line poetic form with a specific structure and repeating lines. E.g.: Dylan Thomas's 'Do not go gentle into that good night' is a famous example of a villanelle Wit The ability to use words in a clever and humorous way. E.g.: Oscar Wilde's plays are renowned for their wit and clever dialogue. Zeugma The use of a word to modify or govern two or more words, although its use may be grammatically or logically correct with only one. E.g.: He stole my heart and my wallet at the same time Devices specific to novels Antagonist A character or force that opposes the protagonist. IBDP English Language & Literature English Journal of Literary & Non-Literary Terms and Devices Archetype A recurring symbol, character, or theme in literature. Backstory The history or background of characters and events. Cliffhanger A suspenseful ending that leaves the reader wanting more. Character Foil A character who contrasts with another character to highlight their traits. Dynamic Character A character who undergoes significant internal changes. Epistolary Novel A novel written as a series of documents. Exposition The introduction of background information about events, settings, characters, etc. Hypocrisy A discrepancy between what is said or presented and what is actually done through portraying characters, situations, or themes in a way that highlights the contrast between appearance and reality E.g.: In George Orwell's "Animal Farm," the pigs initially advocate for equality among animals but eventually become the oppressive leaders. The pigs' hypocrisy mirrors the rise of totalitarianism and the distortion of revolutionary ideals. Motif Recurring images, quotes, or concepts that take on a figurative or symbolic meaning throughout the story E.g.: Shakespeare repeatedly uses images of light and darkness throughout Romeo and Juliet to illustrate two things that cannot coexist (much like the doomed lovers) Red Herring A misleading clue or distraction. Round Character A complex and fully developed character. Setting The time and place in which a story occurs. Theme A main idea or central message Third-Person Limited The narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of only one character. Voice The distinctive style or manner of expression of an author or narrator.
