Literature: English Vocabulary List

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

"The book became a bestseller."

"The bestseller sold quickly because many readers loved it."

the story of someone's life that is written by another person

"I read a biography of Abraham Lincoln."

"An authorized biography is written with the cooperation and approval of its subject"

a type of folktale that typically features mythical creatures, magical events, and enchanted settings, often with a moral lesson or a happy ending

"The fairy tale was magical."

"The children loved hearing the fairy tale about the princess who kissed a frog and broke a wicked witch's curse."

a type of literature about real people, or events, etc.

"She prefers non-fiction books about real events."

"She prefers reading non fiction books because she enjoys learning about real events and historical figures."

the part of a book or speech that provides a brief explanation of what it is about

"The introduction was short."

"The introduction explained the topic clearly before the main discussion began."

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

"'The world is a stage' is a famous metaphor by Shakespeare."

"The poet used the metaphor of a "iron cage" to describe how the character felt trapped by the strict rules and expectations of society, unable to escape despite wanting to live a more free and authentic life."

a written piece with particularly arranged words in a way that, usually rhyme, conveys a lot of emotion and style

"He wrote a poem."

"The poet's latest poem beautifully captured the essence of longing and lost love."

a type of writing that uses special language, rhythm, and imagery to express emotions and ideas

"She writes beautiful poetry."

"Her poetry often explores themes of nature and the human condition with vivid imagery."

a complete story that is not long and can be read in a short time

"He won an award for his poignant short story."

"This collection features a variety of engaging short stories by new authors."

the plot of a movie, play, novel, etc.

"The storyline is simple."

"The storyline became more exciting as the characters faced new problems."

someone who creates and shares stories

"The storyteller was skilled."

"The storyteller kept the audience interested from beginning to end."

a true or imaginary story, particularly one that is full of exciting events

"The tale was interesting."

"She told a tale about a brave child and a hidden treasure."

(of a novel, etc.) written or made in a spooky and mysterious way and often focus on creepy places like old castles or haunted houses, with themes of darkness and the supernatural

"The novel was Gothic."

"The Gothic novel created a chilling atmosphere with its ancient castle and supernatural occurrences."

relating to poetry as a form of expression or literature

"Her language is poetic."

"The poetic language of the book made it beautiful but sometimes hard to understand for young readers."

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

"The author signed copies of his book."

"The author signed copies of her new book for a long line of eager fans at the bookstore."

a type of literature about unreal people, events, etc.

"I mostly read historical fiction in my spare time."

"She prefers reading fiction novels because they allow her to escape into imaginary worlds."

a movie, novel, or play in which a crime takes place, especially a murder, and the story starts unraveling as it goes on

"I love a good mystery."

"The thrilling mystery novel kept me guessing until the very last page with its intricate plot."

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

"The story of King Arthur is a famous myth."

"The persistent myth that humans only use ten percent of their brains has been thoroughly and completely debunked by modern neuroscience time and time again."

the events that are crucial to the formation and continuity of a story in a movie, play, novel, etc.

"The plot of the movie was too complicated to follow."

"The plot of the novel kept readers guessing until the very last chapter."

a sentence or group of words from a movie, book, etc. that someone else repeats

"The quotation was inspiring."

"She used a quotation from the speech in her essay."

to say the exact sentence or group of words someone else used in a movie, book, etc.

"She quotes a famous line correctly."

"The journalist decided to quote the president's exact words to avoid any misunderstandings or misrepresentations."

to share personal opinions about a book, movie, or media to inform and provide insights into its strengths and weaknesses

"I will review the movie."

"The critic will review the latest theatre production, offering a nuanced perspective on its artistic merit."

the time and place in which the story of a movie, play, etc. is taking place

"The story's setting is a futuristic"

"The setting of the film was a small coastal village in southern Italy."

the name given to a movie, book, etc.

"What is the title?"

"The book's title, 'Whispers of the Forgotten,' perfectly captured its mysterious and intriguing atmosphere."

a set of words that usually have a rhythmic pattern

"Sing this verse."

"The poet's final verse eloquently summarized the profound themes explored throughout the entire collection."

(plural) written works particularly those belonging to an author or covering a specific topic

"Her writing is good."

"The author's early writings explored themes of social injustice and the struggles of ordinary people in a rapidly changing society."

(of a novel, etc.) written or made in a spooky and mysterious way and often focus on creepy places like old castles or haunted houses, with themes of darkness and the supernatural

"It was a gothic story."

"The gothic novel featured a dilapidated mansion filled with dark secrets and an unsettling supernatural presence."

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

"She has a literary style."

"The literary award is given every year to the best novel written by a new author."

relating to movies or programs that are suitable or made for adolescents

"This movie is young adult."

"The young adult film explored themes of friendship and self-discovery for teenagers."

a written story that is meant to be performed on a stage, radio, or television

"We saw a brilliant play at the local theater."

"The local theater group will perform a new play written by a famous contemporary dramatist."