IELTS Académique (Band 6-7) - Literature

a figure of speech that compares two unrelated things to highlight their similarities and convey a deeper meaning

métaphore

a word or phrase that compares two things or people, highlighting the similarities, often introduced by 'like' or 'as'

comparaison

the figurative language in literature by which the audience can form vivid mental images

imagerie

a form of humor in which the words that someone says mean the opposite, producing an emphatic effect

ironie

a collection of selected writings by various authors, often on a similar theme or subject

anthologie

an extra piece of information that is placed at the bottom of a printed page

note de bas de page

the specific form or version that a book, magazine, or similar publication is in

édition

a person or firm that manages the preparation and public distribution of printed material such as books, newspapers, etc.

éditeur, éditrice

a textbook or workbook designed to teach and develop reading skills

livre de lecture, manuel de lecture

a book or other publication that is part of a series of works

ouvrage

novels that are aimed at young women, usually with a single woman as the main character

chick lit, chick literature

a genre of science fiction set in a future dystopian society dominated by computer technology

cyberpunk

books, movies, etc. about imaginary things based on science

science fiction

a recurring element that is the main idea or subject in a literary or artistic piece

thème

a person who writes books, articles, etc., often as a job

auteur, écrivain

a plotline or a story element that runs throughout a larger narrative, connecting different events and characters together, often with a unifying theme or motif

fil narratif, trame narrative

a novel that focuses on the psychological and moral growth of its main character from youth to adulthood

roman d'apprentissage, roman de formation

a genre of literature, film, and other forms of media that focuses on the growth and development of a protagonist from youth to adulthood

a literary genre that uses self-reflexive techniques to draw attention to its status as a work of fiction, blurring the lines between reality and fiction

métafiction

a genre of prose fiction that depicts the adventures of a roguish hero or heroine, typically one of low social status, who lives by their wits in a corrupt society

roman picaresque, narration picaresque

a verse without rhyme, especially one with ten syllables and five stresses, known as an iambic pentameter

vers non rimés

a lyric poem, written in varied or irregular metrical form, for a particular object, person, or concept

ode

a verse of Italian origin that has 14 lines, usually in an iambic pentameter and a prescribed rhyme scheme

sonnet

a Japanese poem with three unrhymed lines that have five, seven and five syllables each

haiku

a long movie full of adventure that could be about a historical event

épopée

a tale that is narrated in the form of a song or poem

ballade

a series of lines in a poem, usually with recurring rhyme scheme and meter

strophe

a subject, idea, or phrase that is repeatedly used in a literary work

thème

the general manner or attitude of the author in a literary work

registre

the emotional atmosphere or feeling created by a piece of writing

ambiance, mood