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Vocabulary for IELTS (General) - Literature

Here you will learn some English words about literature, such as "adapt", "caption", "myth", etc. that are needed for the IELTS exam.

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Words for General IELTS
to adapt
to adapt
[Verb]

to change a book or play in a way that can be made into a movie, TV series, etc.

Ex: The screenwriter adapted the bestselling novel into a screenplay. 
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anecdote
anecdote
[noun]

a short interesting story about a real event or person, often biographical

Ex: She shared a funny anecdote about her first day at work. 
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to author
to author
[Verb]

to be the writer of a book, article, etc.

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autobiography

the story of the life of a person, written by the same person

Ex: He wrote an autobiography to share his life story with the world. 
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bestseller

an item, especially a book, that is bought by a large number of people

Ex: Her latest novel became a bestseller within weeks of its release. 
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caption
caption
[noun]

a short text accompanying an illustration, giving extra information

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commission

a formal request for an artist to paint, design or compose a piece of art

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to draft
to draft
[Verb]

to write something for the first time that needs corrections for the final presentation

Ex: The author spent hours drafting the opening chapter of his novel, knowing that revisions would follow. 
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critic
critic
[noun]

someone who evaluates and provides opinions or judgments about various forms of art, literature, performances, or other creative works

Ex: The film critic praised the director's innovative storytelling and powerful performances in her review. 
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edition
edition
[noun]

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

Ex: The digital edition of the journal offers convenient access to scholarly articles and research papers for academics and professionals. 
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to illustrate

to use pictures in a book, magazine, etc.

Ex: She illustrates her articles with hand-drawn sketches. 
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index
index
[noun]

an alphabetical listing of topics, names, or terms with references to their locations, typically in a book or document

Ex: The book includes an index for quick reference. 
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literary
literary
[Adjective]

related to literature, especially in terms of its style, structure, or content

Ex: The literary analysis focused on exploring themes and motifs within the novel. 
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metaphor
metaphor
[noun]

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

Ex: He used the metaphor of a journey to describe the process of personal growth. 
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myth
myth
[noun]

a story involving the ancient history of a people, usually about heroes and supernatural events that could be unreal

Ex: The myth of the phoenix tells of a bird that rises from its ashes. 
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narrator
narrator
[noun]

the person who tells the story in a novel, poem, etc.

Ex: The narrator of the novel had a unique and captivating voice. 
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to plot
to plot
[Verb]

to write the series of events forming a novel, movie, play, etc.

Ex: The author spent months plotting the intricate storyline of the mystery novel. 
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tragedy
tragedy
[noun]

a play with sad events, especially one that the main character dies at the end

Ex: Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' is a classic tragedy, depicting the tragic downfall of its title character. 
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twist
twist
[noun]

an unexpected turn in the course of events

Ex: The novel's plot contained a surprising twist that left readers stunned. 
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symbolic
symbolic
[Adjective]

consisting of or employing symbols

Ex: The dove is symbolic of peace and harmony across cultures and religions. 
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sequel
sequel
[noun]

a book, movie, play, etc. that continues and extends the story of an earlier one

Ex: The highly anticipated sequel to the bestselling novel was released to critical acclaim. 
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to depict
to depict
[Verb]

to describe a specific subject, scene, person, etc.

Ex: The artist’s work often depicts scenes from daily life in a vibrant style. 
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concise
concise
[Adjective]

giving a lot of information briefly and clearly

Ex: She gave a concise summary of the meeting's key points. 
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autobiographical
autobiographical
[Adjective]

(of a written work) relating to the author's own life

Ex: Her novel was an autobiographical account of her struggles and triumphs as a young artist. 
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appendix
appendix
[noun]

a separate part at the end of a book that gives further information

Ex: The appendix of the research paper contained supplementary tables and charts referenced in the main text. 
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to abridge

to make a book, play, etc. short by omitting the details and including the main parts

Ex: The play was abridged for the school performance, focusing on the key scenes. 
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foreword
foreword
[noun]

a short introductory section at the beginning of a book, usually written by someone other than the author

Ex: The book's foreword was written by a renowned scholar in the field. 
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afterword
afterword
[noun]

a part at the end of a book including some final words that may not be written by the author

Ex: The afterword offered insights from the editor about the book's impact. 
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edgy
edgy
[Adjective]

(of a movie, book, piece of music, etc.) characterized by sharpness, intensity, or boldness, often provoking strong reactions

Ex: Her novel is edgy, challenging conventional storytelling. 
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motif
motif
[noun]

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

Ex: The motif of the "hero's journey" is a common theme in many epic tales, symbolizing the protagonist's growth and transformation. 
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