Essay-Boosting Word Bank

1. TALKING ABOUT CONTRAST

Juxtapose – “Shakespeare juxtaposes love and violence in Romeo and Juliet.
Paradoxical – “It’s paradoxical that Othello, who loves Desdemona, is the one who kills her.”
Oxymoronic – “The phrase ‘bittersweet’ is oxymoronic, showing conflicting emotions.”
Contradictory – “Lady Macbeth’s character is full of contradictory traits, both ruthless and guilt-ridden.”
Antithetical – “The protagonist’s views are antithetical to those of his father.”
Dichotomous – “The novel presents a dichotomous view of good and evil.”
Incongruous – “The cheerful music was incongruous with the tragic events unfolding.”
Disparate – “The two settings in the novel are disparate, reflecting class division.”

2. DESCRIBING AN AUTHOR’S LANGUAGE CHOICES

Eloquent – “Shakespeare’s eloquent speeches make his characters seem powerful.”
Evocative – “The novel’s evocative descriptions make the reader feel the protagonist’s pain.”
Colloquial – “Steinbeck’s use of colloquial language makes Of Mice and Men feel realistic.”
Melodramatic – “The narrator’s melodramatic tone emphasises the tragedy of the story.”
Poignant – “The author’s poignant language conveys deep emotion.”
Succinct – “The poet’s succinct phrasing strengthens the impact of their message.”
Verbose – “The author’s verbose descriptions slow the pace of the narrative.”
Florid – “The writer’s florid prose adds richness to the imagery.”

3. SHOWING THE AUTHOR’S INTENT

Alludes to – “The poem alludes to Greek mythology to add depth to its meaning.”
Implies – “The writer implies that the character is struggling with self-doubt.”
Conveys – “Bronte conveys Jane’s strength through her independent actions.”
Critiques – “Orwell critiques totalitarianism through the oppressive world of 1984.”
Denounces – “The novel denounces social inequality.”
Exemplifies – “The character’s actions exemplify the theme of redemption.”
Undermines – “The ending undermines the idea of a conventional happy conclusion.”
Emphasises – “The repetition emphasises the character’s desperation.”

4. TALKING ABOUT EMOTIONS & MOOD

Foreboding – “The dark setting creates a foreboding sense of doom.”
Melancholy – “The poem’s melancholy tone highlights the speaker’s loneliness.”
Triumphant – “By the end, the protagonist feels triumphant after overcoming hardship”
Nostalgic – “The author uses nostalgic descriptions to reflect on childhood memories.”
Sombre – “The sombre atmosphere highlights the character’s grief.”
Ethereal – “The music had an ethereal quality, enhancing the dreamlike scene.”
Resonant – “The novel’s themes remain resonant for modern audiences.”
Disquieting – “The abrupt ending is disquieting, leaving the reader unsettled.”

5. TALKING ABOUT THEMES & DEEPER MEANING

Symbolic – “The green light in The Great Gatsby is symbolic of unattainable dreams”
Allegorical – “Animal Farm is an allegorical tale about communism.”
Philosophical – “The novel raises philosophical questions about free will.”
Ambiguous – “The ending is ambiguous, leaving the reader to decide its meaning.”
Archetypal – “The character represents the archetypal tragic hero.”
Profound – “The poet’s message is deeply profound, urging self-reflection.”
Didactic – The fable has a didactic purpose, teaching a moral lesson.”
Subversive – “The novel takes a subversive stance against traditional gender roles.”