Literature & Writing — B2 English Vocabulary
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This B2 vocabulary list gathers 50 upper-intermediate English words about literature & writing — narrative, style and the written word. Every word comes with its British-English pronunciation and a natural example sentence, so you learn each one in real context. When you are ready, open the flashcards to practise and remember them for good.
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narrator/nəˈreɪ.tə/
“The narrator tells the story.”
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protagonist/prəˈtæɡ.ən.ɪst/
“The protagonist faces a hard choice.”
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antagonist/ænˈtæɡ.ən.ɪst/
“The antagonist wants revenge.”
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metaphor/ˈmet.ə.fɔː/
“The poem uses a striking metaphor.”
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simile/ˈsɪm.ɪ.li/
“‘As brave as a lion’ is a simile.”
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genre/ˈʒɒn.rə/
“Crime is her favourite genre.”
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prose/prəʊz/
“His prose is clear and simple.”
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verse/vɜːs/
“She wrote the song in verse.”
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stanza/ˈstæn.zə/
“She read the first stanza aloud.”
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rhyme/raɪm/
“The lines rhyme neatly.”
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imagery/ˈɪm.ɪdʒ.ri/
“The novel is full of vivid imagery.”
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symbolism/ˈsɪm.bəl.ɪ.zəm/
“The river is rich in symbolism.”
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theme/θiːm/
“Love is the main theme.”
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subplot/ˈsʌb.plɒt/
“A romantic subplot runs through it.”
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climax/ˈklaɪ.mæks/
“The climax is truly shocking.”
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setting/ˈset.ɪŋ/
“The setting is a small village.”
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chapter/ˈtʃæp.tə/
“I finished the last chapter.”
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excerpt/ˈek.sɜːpt/
“She read an excerpt aloud.”
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memoir/ˈmem.wɑː/
“He published his memoir.”
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biography/baɪˈɒɡ.rə.fi/
“I am reading a biography of Lincoln.”
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autobiography/ˌɔː.tə.baɪˈɒɡ.rə.fi/
“Her autobiography became a bestseller.”
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manuscript/ˈmæn.jə.skrɪpt/
“He sent the manuscript to a publisher.”
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publisher/ˈpʌb.lɪ.ʃə/
“The publisher accepted the book.”
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novelist/ˈnɒv.əl.ɪst/
“The novelist won a literary prize.”
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poet/ˈpəʊ.ɪt/
“The poet read her latest work.”
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nonfiction/ˌnɒnˈfɪk.ʃən/
“He mostly reads nonfiction.”
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tragedy/ˈtrædʒ.ə.di/
“The play is a classic tragedy.”
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satire/ˈsæt.aɪə/
“The novel is a sharp satire.”
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characterisation/ˌkær.ək.tər.aɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/
“The characterisation is brilliant.”
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narrate/nəˈreɪt/
“She will narrate the story.”
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allegory/ˈæl.ə.ɡər.i/
“The story is an allegory of power.”
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literary/ˈlɪt.ər.ər.i/
“She has a literary style.”
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passage/ˈpæs.ɪdʒ/
“Read the passage carefully.”
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foreshadow/fɔːˈʃæd.əʊ/
“The opening lines foreshadow the ending.”
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ghostwriter/ˈɡəʊstˌraɪ.tə/
“A ghostwriter wrote the memoir.”
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anthology/ænˈθɒl.ə.dʒi/
“Her poem is in an anthology.”
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epilogue/ˈep.ɪ.lɒɡ/
“The epilogue is set ten years later.”
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prologue/ˈprəʊ.lɒɡ/
“The prologue introduces the hero.”
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twist/twɪst/
“The story has a clever twist.”
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classic/ˈklæs.ɪk/
“It is a classic of English literature.”
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draft/drɑːft/
“She wrote a first draft.”
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proofread/ˈpruːf.riːd/
“Please proofread my essay.”
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readable/ˈriː.də.bəl/
“The book is very readable.”
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fable/ˈfeɪ.bəl/
“The fable teaches a lesson.”
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poetic/pəʊˈet.ɪk/
“He used poetic language.”
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monologue/ˈmɒn.ə.lɒɡ/
“The actor performed a long monologue.”
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irony/ˈaɪ.rə.ni/
“The ending is full of irony.”
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vivid/ˈvɪv.ɪd/
“She writes vivid descriptions.”
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synopsis/sɪˈnɒp.sɪs/
“Write a short synopsis of the plot.”
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bestseller/ˌbestˈsel.ə/
“Her novel became a bestseller.”