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IB Lang + lit vocab
terms and definitions of things from lang and lit
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Conflict | A plot device that creates tension and drives the narrative forward. |
| Opposing forces | Conflicting characters, values, or powers driving the tension in the story. |
| Internal conflict | A struggle within a character (emotions, desires, values). |
| External conflict | A struggle between a character and an outside force (other characters, society, nature, fate). |
| Personal conflict | Struggle with oneself (self-doubt, morality). |
| Societal conflict | Struggle with laws, traditions, or cultural expectations. |
| Natural conflict | Struggle against natural forces (weather, animals, illness). |
| Tension | The sense of growing uncertainty or excitement as the story moves forward. |
| Exposition | The introduction of a story, where background details like setting, characters, and initial conflict are presented. |
| Rising action | Events that build suspense and develop the conflict. |
| Climax | The turning point or most intense moment of the story. |
| Falling action | De-escalation of tension while action continues towards the resolution |
| Resolution (theme) | How the conflict is resolved and what larger message or theme is revealed. |
| First person | The narrator is a character in the story (uses "I," "we"). |
| Third person limited | The narrator tells the story from the perspective of one character's thoughts/feelings. |
| Third person omniscient | The narrator knows the thoughts/feelings of all characters. |
| Second person | The narrator speaks directly to "you," placing the reader inside the story. |
| Focalization | The perspective through which the story is told (whose eyes we "see" through). |
| Integral setting | The setting is essential to the story; it shapes events and characters. |
| Background/backdrop | The setting is less important; the story could happen anywhere. |
| Political setting | The influence of government, power, or laws on the story. |
| Social setting | The influence of culture, traditions, or social expectations. |
| Economic setting | The role of wealth, poverty, or class in the story. |
| Technological setting | The role of tools, inventions, or futuristic technology. |
| Physical setting | The description of natural or built environments that shape the atmosphere. |
| Hyperbole | Exaggeration for emphasis or effect. |
| Metaphor | A direct comparison between two unlike things ("time is a thief"). |
| Oxymoron | A phrase combining contradictory terms ("deafening silence"). |
| Personification | Giving human qualities to non-human things. |
| Simile | A comparison using "like" or "as." |
| Symbol | Something that stands for something else (a dove = peace). |
| Synecdoche | Using a part to represent the whole ("all hands on deck"). |
| Conceit | An extended or complex metaphor that drives a passage or poem. |
| Understatement | Downplaying something's importance. |
| Tone | The author's attitude toward the subject. |
| Connotation | The emotional or cultural meaning of a word. |
| Denotation | The literal dictionary definition of a word. |
| Diction | Word choice (patterns) that shapes style and meaning. |
| Imagery | Descriptive language that appeals to the senses (visual, olfactory, auditory, tactile, gustatory, kinesthetic) |
| Juxtaposition | Using stark contrast for emphasis |
| Focalization | The perspective through which the story is told (whose eyes we "see" through). |
| Minor character | A supporting character with a smaller role. |
| Stereotype | An oversimplified, predictable character type. |
| Archetype | A universal character pattern (the hero, the mentor, the trickster). |
| Hero | The main character who usually embodies noble qualities. |
| Antagonist | The character or force opposing the protagonist. |
| Protagonist | The central character of the story. |
| Reader | The person engaging with the text. |
| Personae | The voice or role a writer takes on in the text. |
| Narrator | The voice telling the story. |
| Audience | The intended readers/listeners of the story. |
| Voice | The unique style of expression in the writing. |
| Foil Characterization | Characters used to highlight another character's qualities through contrast. |
| Dynamic character | A character who changes significantly. |
| Static character | A character who remains the same. |
| Flat character | A simple, one-dimensional character. |
| Round character | A complex, well-developed character. |
| Direct characterization | The narrator directly describes a character's traits. |
| Indirect characterization | The narrator reveals traits through actions, dialogue, or others' reactions. |
| Motif | A recurring symbol, image, or idea that supports the theme. |
| Genre | A category of literature (novel, play, poem). |
| Subgenre | A smaller category within a genre (sci-fi within fiction). |
| Historical allusion | A reference to real historical events or figures. |
| Personal context | Connections to the author's or reader's personal experiences. |
| Resolution of conflict | How a story resolves struggles between opposing forces. |
| Irony | When a situation or statement is in contrast to what is expected or what actually occurs. |
| Verbal Irony | When a speaker says one thing but means the opposite. Often used for sarcasm or humor. |
| Dramatic irony | When the audience or reader knows more about the character’s situation than the character = tension, suspense |
| Situational Irony | When the outcome of a situation is the opposite of what is expected |
| Realistic setting | authentic or ‘real’ world setting |
| Fantastic setting | unrealistic, magical or impossible; otherworldly |
| Narrative structure | The framework for a story/plot that organizes the information being presented. |
| Foreshadow | a device to directly or indirectly suggest an outcome |
| Flashback | Interrupts the chronological order of the narrative to introduce something that happened in the past |
| Time lapse | the author condenses a significant amount of time to make something more manageable/interesting |
| Pacing | speed at which a story unfolds--can influence the reader’s emotions, connections, tension |
| Embedded narration | when a character tells a secondary story within the central narrative |
| Framed narrative | framework to contextualize internal narrative (Princess Bride) |
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Popular English Vocabulary sets