English Glossary of Key Words

Question 1

Analyse

Answer 1

Consider in detail for the purpose of finding meaning or relationships, and identifying patterns, similarities
and differences.

Question 2

Evaluate

Answer 2

Evaluation of an issue or information that includes considering important factors and available evidence in
making judgement that can be justified.

Question 3

Genre

Answer 3

The categories into which texts are grouped.

The term has a complex history within literary theory and is
often used to distinguish texts on the basis of their subject matter (for example, detective fiction, romance,
science fiction, fantasy fiction), form and structure (for example, poetry, novels, biography, short stories).

Question 4

Metalangauage

Answer 4

Language used to discuss language (for example, language used to discuss film or literary study, such as
mise-en-scène, symbolism, characterisation, or language used to talk about grammatical terms, such as
‘sentence’, ‘clause’, ‘conjunction’).

Question 5

Perspective(s)

Answer 5

Language used to discuss language (for example, language used to discuss film or literary study, such as
mise-en-scène, symbolism, characterisation, or language used to talk about grammatical terms, such as
‘sentence’, ‘clause’, ‘conjunction’).

Question 6

Tone

Answer 6

Tone describes the way the ‘voice’ is delivered. For example, the tone of a voice or the tone in a passage of
writing could be friendly or angry or persuasive.

Question 7

Voice

Answer 7

Voice, in a literary sense, is the distinct personality of a piece of writing. Voice can be created through the
use of syntax, punctuation, vocabulary choices, persona and dialogue. Texts often contain ‘multiple voices’.
These are the views, positions, ideas and perspectives of individuals or groups. It is important to recognise
the various voices in a text, how they relate to one another, and how the creator of a text uses these to
shape audience response.