Association Words (to describe characters and/or tone) Friendliness or Kindness Accommodating Amiable Approving Benevolent Caressing Comforting Compassionate Confiding Cordial Courteous Forgiving Friendly Giddy Gracious Helpful Indulgent Kindly Loving Obliging Pitying Polite Sociable Solicitous Soothing Sympathetic Tender Tolerant Pleasure Bright Cheerful Contented Dreamy Ecstatic Elated Enraptured Frivolous Joyful Jubilant Peaceful Playful Pleasant Satisfied Sprightly Animation Ardent Brisk Eager Earnest Ecstatic Energetic Euphoric Exalted Exuberant Feverish Hasty Hearty Hopeful Inspired Lively Passionate Rapturous Vigorous Passion Angry Childish Desperate Enraged Fierce Frantic Furious Greedy Hasty Hysterical Impetuous Impulsive Indignant Jealous Nervous Obsessive Outraged Passionate Reckless Revengeful Savage Seductive Sultry Wild Wrathful Zealous Self-control Calm Cautious Confident Cool Gentle Imperturbable Laconic Mild Nonchalant Quiet Remote Serene Serious Simple Solemn Stern Temperate Wary Logic or Persuasion Admonitory Argumentative Candid Coaxing Critical Cynical Deliberate Didactic Doubting Frank Guileless Incredulous Innocent Insinuating Instructive Inventive Pensive Persuading Persuasive Pleading Preoccupied Questioning Shrewd Sincere Studied Thoughtful Thoughtless Wistful Humor (sometimes biting)
These verbs will be especially effective when the subject is the author or a character. They are excellent replacements for “be” verbs. Careful use of these verbs can result in precise identification of an author’s purpose. VERBS FOR LITERARY ANALYSIS accentuates accepts advocates argues attacks attributes bases challenges characterizes chooses claims compares compels considers contrasts defines delineates depicts differentiates dissipates distorts downplays elicits emphasizes enumerates evokes expresses foreshadows heightens highlights illustrates implies juxtaposes maintains minimizes observes opposes personifies persuades ponders portrays presents presumes provides questions recapitulates reflects rejects reveals suggests symbolizes sympathizes THEME VOCABULARY Brendan Kenny’s List of Abstract Ideas for Forming Theme Statements: alienation ambition appearance v. reality betrayal bureaucracy chance/fate/luck children courage/cowardice cruelty/violence custom/tradition defeat/failure despair/discontent/disillusionment domination/suppression dreams/fantasies duty education escape exile faith/loss of faith falsity/pretence family/parenthood free will/willpower game/contests/sports greed guilt heart v. reason heaven/paradise/Utopia home identity illusion/innocence initiation instinct journey (literal or psychological) law/justice loneliness/solitude loyalty/disloyalty materialism memory/the past mob psychology music/dance patriotism persistence/perseverance poverty prejudice prophecy repentance revenge/retribution ritual/ceremony scapegoat/victim social status the supernatural time/eternity war Subject What is the work about? Provide a one to three word answer. See “Theme Vocabulary” above for ideas. Theme 2. What is the author’s message with regard to #1 as it pertains to the condition? In other words, what comment does the work make on human nature, the human condition, human motivation, or human ambition? 3. In identifying and stating be sure that the observation: (a) is not too terse to express the complexity of the human experience. (b) avoids moralizing words such as should and ought. (c) avoids specific reference to plot and characters. (d) avoids absolute such as anyone, all, none, everything, and everyone. 4. Using both dependent and independent clauses, write a complex sentence which fulfills the requirements above and which explains one of the major themes of the work. Sample for Anna Karenina – Subject: sacred versus profane love
Less vs. fewer Pizza has less calories than French fries. Pizza has fewer calories than French fries. Who vs. which or that Johnny is the one that made an “A.” Johnny is the one who made an “A.” Indefinite you When you read the poem, you notice the immediately. After reading the poem, the audience notices the theme immediately. Abbreviations Freebird’s originated in College Station, TX. Freebird’s originated in College Station, Texas. (YUM!!) Preposition at the end of the sentence Where is the library at? Who are you going with? Where is the library? With whom are you going? Expletive sentence beginnings are eight blocks in our schedule. Our schedule has eight blocks. Progressive verb tense The writer is stating that life is fragile. The writer states that life is fragile. Literary present tense The world portrayed in Fahrenheit 451 was one in which books were banned. The portrayed in Fahrenheit 451 is one in which books are banned. A lot I enjoyed reading the novel a lot. (A lot is a piece of land. Do not use is to describe a large amount of something.) I enjoyed reading the novel tremendously. Useful Transitions and Linking Expressions In the following chart, I’ve included a sample list of transition words and phrases. Keep in mind that each transition has a particular function and meaning; therefore, you need to carefully match any possible transition to the content of your writing. Remember that transitions are just as important within paragraphs as they are at the beginning of each one. Transitions can be used to show location: above across against along alongside amid among around away from back of behind below beneath beside between beyond by down in of inside into near off onto on top of outside over throughout to the right under Transitions can be used to show time: after at before during second third prior to till until meanwhile today tomorrow yesterday next week soon later afterward immediately finally then next in the meantime as soon as when Transitions which can be used to compare two things: