SUGGESTED
WORDS AND PHRASES FOR INTERPRETING A LITERARY TEXT
(taken from «Методичні вказівки до семінарських та практичних
занять з стилістики англійської мови для студентів IV курсу. (Видання 2)» / Уклад.
Воробйова О.П., Бойцан Л.Ф., Ганецька Л.В. та інш. – К.: Вид. центр КНЛУ, 2001.
– С. 60-64.)
1. Defining
the message
message
to convey /
render / accomplish ~ (effectively, vividly)
to impress
the ~ upon the reader
to identify
the ~ (by scanning the text for specific details)
to be
relevant for / related to the ~ of the story
the ~ is
primarily conveyed by (the protagonist, narrator etc.)
the ~ is
intensified / accentuated / reinforced by (setting the action in / the contrast
in the exposition / the minor characters etc.)
to collate
the meaning of each word with the ~
to affect
the understanding of the ~
the ~ is
inferred from / embodied in
to
determine the ~ retrospectively
to represent
the ~ by suggestive rather than by direct expression
to probe
into the ~
theme
to identify
the ~ (by skimming the text)
to develop
the ~
thematic
planes
problem
to raise /pose
the ~ of
to recall
the reader to the main ~
to reveal
the relevance of the ~
response
to give an
immediate personal ~
to give a
more considered ~
to give
rise to / evoke / arouse / elicit the reader’s intellectual and emotional ~
to stir
one’s ~
conflict
external /internal
~s
a ~between
a man and the established order / between one set of values against another set
of values
detail
artistic ~s
are suggestive of / suggest a whole life story
to linger
on certain ~s
2.
Composition and plot
plot
to form the
~ of the story
the ~ is
comprised of the exposition, complications, climax, denouement, and ending
the ~
involves (repetitions etc.)
the ~
unfolds / moves towards / returns to
the ~ is
based on / is built around (several conflicts etc.)
the ~ is
conventionally structured / is constructed in a circular pattern
to increase
the credibility of the ~
to arrange
the components of the ~ structure
the ~ is
simple / complex / intricate
structure
the over-all
~ of the story
plot ~
techniques:
a straight
line narrative ~ (in chronological order)
a complex
narrative ~ (with flashbacks)
a circular
pattern narrative ~ (the closing event returns the reader to the introductory
part)
a frame
narrative ~ (a story within a story)
a tightly
knit ~
the
underlying compositional ~ (сюжет) vs presentational sequencing (фабула)
story
to set the
~ in
to advance
the actions of the ~
the span of
time covered by the ~ is
a one-scene
~
the impact
of the ~
the pivotal
elements of the ~
the reader
receives the ~ through the eyes of ~
-teller
the opening
/ closing sentence / paragraph of the ~
narrative
techniques
retardation
flashbacks
(to the past)
foreshadowing
(towards the future)
direct
address to the reader
to
establish a personal relationship with the reader
suspense
to heighten
/ intensify / increase ~
event
to arrange
the ~s in a chronological /non-chronological order
unexpected
turns of ~s
to give a
biased understanding of ~s
to
misinterpret the ~s
setting
to
establish / devise the ~ of the story
the
description of the ~ is scattered all over the text
domestic
interior, realistic, historical, fantastic, exotic, rural ~
digression
to
interrupt the narrative with ~s
to make a ~
to be
disrupted by ~s
to resort
to ~s
denouement
to leave
out the ~
to place
the ~ at the beginning of the story
exposition
extended ~
the ~ tunes
the reader to
ending
surprise ~
outcome
to
foreshadow the ~ of the story
cohesion
means of ~
3. Narrative method
narrator
a reliable / unreliable ~
the
omniscient (analytic) author
the
observer-author, on-looker
first
person / third person
the ~
enters into the mind / reveals the personality of /shares the viewpoint of / gives
a biased view of
narrative
method
to adopt a
certain ~
standpoint
to view the
events from somebody’s ~
to support
one’s ~ with reference to the text
viewpoint
the
sequencing of ~s
to express
the author’s ~ directly
to reveal
the author’s ~ standing
to adopt
one’s ~
shifts in
the ~
the
dominant ~
polyphonic
story
4. Characters and Means of Characterization
character
means to
bring ~s to life
to reveal
the dynamics in the psychological state of a ~
to reveal
certain features of the ~ , their motive and morals
to place
the ~ in a recognizable environment
protagonist
(main / central / major ~) vs antagonist and minor ~s
to use
dialogue to create reality in ~ and episode
simple
(flat) / complex (well-rounded / well-conceived) ~s
to
visualize / depict / portray / describe the ~
to
structure the ~ round one key quality
to define
the ~ closely
to contribute to ~
development
clearly
outlined ~ s
the
contrast typifies the ~ (protagonist) as
to evaluate
/ assess / rate / judge ~ ‘s actions
characterization
direct / indirect
~
means
of ~
-
presentation
of the ~ through action
-
speech
characteristics
-
psychological
portrayal
-
the
portrayal of a ~ (through appearance)
to
reinforce ~
to
contribute to ~
foil
to serve / act
as a ~ to (for)
5. Tonal System
tone (slant, vein)
formal,
semi-formal, informal, conversational, casual, sympathetic, cheerful, vigorous,
serious, humorous, mock-serious, lyrical, dramatic, exciting, agitated,
passionate, dispassionate, impassive, detached, matter-of-fact, dry, impartial,
melancholy, moralizing, unemotional, pathetic, sarcastic, ironical, bitter,
reproachful etc. –
to assume /
set up / establish a formal etc. ~
the ~ is
maintained by / to give a melancholy (ironic) ring to the story
~ -shift
atmosphere
(mood)
peaceful,
cheerful, mysterious, cheerless, gloomy, pensive etc. ~
to create /
convey / evoke the ~ of
humor
~ is
attained / achieved by / developed through
attitude
agreeable,
optimistic, involved, detached, impassive, indifferent, critical, contemptuous,
ironical, cynical ~
to evoke /
share a certain ~
to assume a
detached ~
effect
humorous,
satirical etc. ~
to
contribute to the total ~
interest
to catch
and hold the reader’s ~
to sharpen
the reader’s ~
to puzzle
the reader
to awaken /
arouse / retain ~
overtone
emotional
~s vs the prevailing to
6. Imagery. System of Images
imagery
to use ~ to
excess
extensive
use of ~
image
micro-
~, extended ~s, synthetic ~s,
hierarchy
of ~s:
character ~s, landscape ~s, animal
~s
the story abounds in certain ~s
association
to bring ~s
into play
insight
to give ~
into (one’s value system or view of life)
impression
to increase
the immediacy and freshness of the ~
connotation
to acquire
/ lose specific ~s in the specific context emotionally colored / charged words
charge
to acquire
expressive / emotional ~ and become a key-word
symbol
traditional
/ personal ~
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