What is Subject Terminology in Literature?
Subject terminology is the specific phrasing featured as part of AO2 and means the inclusion of
relevant literary and linguistic terms. These should be included but not at the cost of relevant
and perceptive explanation of the effect of the writer's craft.
Extract from an Examiner’s Report:
The majority of candidates were able to demonstrate some good AO2 analysis and evaluation
skills with relevant subject terminology, though there were also a large number of pupils still
forcing subject terminology (especially word class labelling) into their responses to the extract –
either incorrectly or very tenuously. Feature spotting does not gain marks and can be at the
detriment of the fluency of the overall response. However, there was also some exceptional AO2
analysis demonstrated across all texts, with more able pupils able to strike the right balance of
exploring the closer impact of key words and images, where relevant to the question. The less
successful responses overall, relied too heavily on tracking through the extract in excessive
detail. In extreme cases, unnecessary labelling and reference to the effect of every word and
unhelpful comments on the impact of punctuation marks, left insufficient time to demonstrate
their wider textual knowledge which would develop a more effective response and a higher
mark.
AS and A-level English Literature require students to analyse a range of ways in which meanings
are shaped in literary texts. Within this, English Literature A welcomes a particular focus on the
structures of texts as a form of constructing meaning.
Students should select those ways they think most relevant and appropriate to the discussion
of their chosen texts. It must be more than mere feature-spotting, and must be relevantly
integrated into students’ arguments and discussions, and grounded in understanding of the
whole text. Strong essay responses often demonstrate perceptive and assured overview as well
as provide analysis of detail.
In effect therefore subject terminology refers to ‘the language of the subject’ and there is
absolutely no specific hierarchy of terminology. Literary terminology is included under the
,broad umbrella of ‘the language of the subject’, which can refer to the following literary devices
(the list is not exhaustive):
Characterisation
Characterisation is a literary device that is used step-by-step in literature to highlight and
explain the details about a character in a story. It is in the initial stage in which the writer
introduces the character with noticeable emergence. After introducing the character, the writer
often talks about his behaviour; then, as the story progresses, the thought-processes of the
character.
Students will consider the range of strategies used by authors and readers to create and
develop characters such as:
how characters are presented: physical appearance; their actions and motives; what
they say and think; how they interact with others; what others say and think about
them; any direct or implicit revelation of author’s/narrator’s attitude to them
how realistic or unrealistic the presentation of character is
the effect of ‘gaps’ in the reader’s knowledge of a character
the focus given to different characters at particular points in the novel
use of symbolism
caricature
empathy or lack of towards a character
conflict associated with a character
pathos associated with a character
characters as a vehicle for the author’s views, through direct or indirect speech.
plot
In a literary work, film, or other narrative, the plot is the sequence of events where each affects
the next one through the principle of cause-and-effect. The causal events of a plot can be
thought of as a series of events linked by the connector "and so". ... Plot is similar in meaning to
the term storyline.
, theme
A literary theme is the main idea or underlying meaning a writer explores in a novel, short
story or other work of literature
Main themes of Shakespeare’s Macbeth:
ambition, kingship, fate and free will, good versus evil, appearances versus reality
Main themes of An Inspector Calls:
social responsibility, selfishness, guilt, secrets, Capitalism and Socialism, the status of women in
society
Main themes of Of Mice and Men:
Loneliness, isolation, man’s capacity for cruelty, dreams/ the American dream
Acrostic
A poem in which the beginning, middle or last letters of each line form a word when read
vertically however these are not mandatory rules for a poem to be considered acrostic.
“AN ACROSTIC”
By Edgar Allan Poe
Elizabeth it is in vain you say
"Love not" — thou sayest it in so sweet a way:
In vain those words from thee or L.E.L.
Zantippe's talents had enforced so well:
Ah! if that language from thy heart arise,
Subject terminology is the specific phrasing featured as part of AO2 and means the inclusion of
relevant literary and linguistic terms. These should be included but not at the cost of relevant
and perceptive explanation of the effect of the writer's craft.
Extract from an Examiner’s Report:
The majority of candidates were able to demonstrate some good AO2 analysis and evaluation
skills with relevant subject terminology, though there were also a large number of pupils still
forcing subject terminology (especially word class labelling) into their responses to the extract –
either incorrectly or very tenuously. Feature spotting does not gain marks and can be at the
detriment of the fluency of the overall response. However, there was also some exceptional AO2
analysis demonstrated across all texts, with more able pupils able to strike the right balance of
exploring the closer impact of key words and images, where relevant to the question. The less
successful responses overall, relied too heavily on tracking through the extract in excessive
detail. In extreme cases, unnecessary labelling and reference to the effect of every word and
unhelpful comments on the impact of punctuation marks, left insufficient time to demonstrate
their wider textual knowledge which would develop a more effective response and a higher
mark.
AS and A-level English Literature require students to analyse a range of ways in which meanings
are shaped in literary texts. Within this, English Literature A welcomes a particular focus on the
structures of texts as a form of constructing meaning.
Students should select those ways they think most relevant and appropriate to the discussion
of their chosen texts. It must be more than mere feature-spotting, and must be relevantly
integrated into students’ arguments and discussions, and grounded in understanding of the
whole text. Strong essay responses often demonstrate perceptive and assured overview as well
as provide analysis of detail.
In effect therefore subject terminology refers to ‘the language of the subject’ and there is
absolutely no specific hierarchy of terminology. Literary terminology is included under the
,broad umbrella of ‘the language of the subject’, which can refer to the following literary devices
(the list is not exhaustive):
Characterisation
Characterisation is a literary device that is used step-by-step in literature to highlight and
explain the details about a character in a story. It is in the initial stage in which the writer
introduces the character with noticeable emergence. After introducing the character, the writer
often talks about his behaviour; then, as the story progresses, the thought-processes of the
character.
Students will consider the range of strategies used by authors and readers to create and
develop characters such as:
how characters are presented: physical appearance; their actions and motives; what
they say and think; how they interact with others; what others say and think about
them; any direct or implicit revelation of author’s/narrator’s attitude to them
how realistic or unrealistic the presentation of character is
the effect of ‘gaps’ in the reader’s knowledge of a character
the focus given to different characters at particular points in the novel
use of symbolism
caricature
empathy or lack of towards a character
conflict associated with a character
pathos associated with a character
characters as a vehicle for the author’s views, through direct or indirect speech.
plot
In a literary work, film, or other narrative, the plot is the sequence of events where each affects
the next one through the principle of cause-and-effect. The causal events of a plot can be
thought of as a series of events linked by the connector "and so". ... Plot is similar in meaning to
the term storyline.
, theme
A literary theme is the main idea or underlying meaning a writer explores in a novel, short
story or other work of literature
Main themes of Shakespeare’s Macbeth:
ambition, kingship, fate and free will, good versus evil, appearances versus reality
Main themes of An Inspector Calls:
social responsibility, selfishness, guilt, secrets, Capitalism and Socialism, the status of women in
society
Main themes of Of Mice and Men:
Loneliness, isolation, man’s capacity for cruelty, dreams/ the American dream
Acrostic
A poem in which the beginning, middle or last letters of each line form a word when read
vertically however these are not mandatory rules for a poem to be considered acrostic.
“AN ACROSTIC”
By Edgar Allan Poe
Elizabeth it is in vain you say
"Love not" — thou sayest it in so sweet a way:
In vain those words from thee or L.E.L.
Zantippe's talents had enforced so well:
Ah! if that language from thy heart arise,
