WBBSE Madhyamik English First Language key terms

The central idea or underlying message a text conveys, such as love, loss, freedom, or social injustice. Readers infer it from repeated images, characters' choices, and the ending rather than from a single sentence.

The writer's attitude toward the subject or reader, revealed through word choice and sentence rhythm. A poem may be nostalgic, bitter, mocking, or calm even when describing the same event.

The feeling a text creates in the reader, produced by setting, description, and sound patterns. Unlike tone, which belongs to the writer, mood describes the emotional atmosphere the reader experiences.

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses, letting readers see, hear, smell, taste, or feel what is described. Concrete images often carry a poem's emotional weight more than abstract statements do.

A direct comparison stating that one thing is another, without using 'like' or 'as'. Saying 'the classroom was a cage' transfers the qualities of confinement onto the classroom.

A comparison using 'like' or 'as' to link two unlike things. 'Her voice was like a bell' invites readers to carry the bell's clarity and ring into their picture of the voice.

Giving human qualities to an animal, object, or idea, as when a poem says the wind whispers or the road waits patiently. It makes abstract or lifeless things feel active and emotionally present.

Using a concrete object or action to stand for a larger idea, such as a lamp representing hope or a locked gate representing restriction. Symbols gain meaning from repetition and context, not from a fixed dictionary list.

Repetition of the same initial consonant sound in nearby words, as in 'slow, silent, shadowed streets'. It draws attention to a phrase and can create rhythm or a particular atmosphere.

A word that imitates the sound it names, such as buzz, crash, hiss, or murmur. Poets use it to make description audible and to quicken or slow the reading pace.

The pattern of end rhymes in a poem, usually labelled with letters so that abab means lines one and three rhyme and lines two and four rhyme. Changes in the pattern often mark a shift in thought.

A group of lines separated from other groups by a blank space, working like a paragraph in prose. Stanza breaks signal changes of time, speaker, argument, or mood.

A line or phrase repeated at intervals, often at the end of stanzas, as in a song's chorus. Repetition can build emphasis, create a ritual feeling, or show that nothing has changed.

The measured rhythm of a poem, produced by arranging stressed and unstressed syllables in recurring patterns. Scanning a line for its beat helps explain why a poem sounds hurried, solemn, or halting.

The continuation of a sentence past the end of a line without punctuation, so the sense runs on into the next line. It can create speed, suspense, or a feeling of thoughts tumbling forward.

A noticeable pause within a line of poetry, often marked by punctuation. It can isolate a word for emphasis or make a speaker sound hesitant, reflective, or out of breath.

Deliberate reuse of a word, phrase, or structure for emphasis or rhythm. In prose and poetry alike, repetition signals what the writer wants the reader to remember.

The prevailing emotional quality of a scene, built from setting, weather, lighting, and descriptive detail. A description of a cold, empty house can create an atmosphere of neglect before any character speaks.

A conclusion drawn from evidence in the text rather than from a directly stated fact. Unseen-passage questions often ask what a character felt, and the answer must be supported by clues in the wording.

The most important point a paragraph or passage makes about its topic, usually expressible in one sentence. Supporting details explain, illustrate, or prove it, and distractors are often true but secondary.

A brief restatement of a text's key points in your own words, omitting examples and minor detail. A good summary keeps the original order of ideas and does not add opinion.

Rewriting a passage's meaning in different words while keeping its sense intact. It is used to explain difficult lines and to answer comprehension questions without copying the original phrasing.

A word or phrase near an unfamiliar word that hints at its meaning, such as a definition, example, contrast, or cause-and-effect relationship. Using clues beats guessing from the word's shape alone.

A word with a meaning close to another word's, such as 'begin' and 'commence'. Synonyms rarely match perfectly in tone or collocation, so the correct choice must fit the sentence's register.

A word opposite in meaning to another, such as 'generous' and 'stingy'. Some antonyms are formed with prefixes like un-, dis-, or in-, which is a common vocabulary question pattern.

A meaningful unit attached to the front of a word to change its sense, as re- in 'rewrite' or mis- in 'misjudge'. Knowing common prefixes lets you decode unfamiliar words without a dictionary.

A meaningful unit added to the end of a word, often changing its part of speech, as -ness turns 'kind' into 'kindness' and -less turns 'hope' into 'hopeless'. It is central to word-formation exercises.

A verb combined with an adverb or preposition to create a new meaning, such as 'give up', 'put off', or 'look into'. The particle cannot be understood literally, so these must be learnt as units.

A fixed expression whose meaning cannot be worked out from its individual words, such as 'a blessing in disguise' or 'to break the ice'. Idioms are tested through completion and matching exercises.

The habitual pairing of words that native users expect together, such as 'make a decision' rather than 'do a decision'. Correct collocation matters more than literal synonym choice in usage questions.

A sentence construction in which the subject performs the action, as in 'The committee approved the plan'. It is usually clearer and more direct than the passive alternative.

A construction in which the object of the action becomes the subject, formed with a form of 'be' plus the past participle, as in 'The plan was approved'. It is used when the doer is unknown or unimportant.

Reporting a speaker's exact words inside quotation marks, as in 'She said, "I am tired."' The tense inside the quotes stays as originally spoken.

Reporting what someone said without quoting the exact words, usually shifting tense and pronouns, as in 'She said that she was tired.' Time and place words such as 'now' and 'here' also shift.

The grammatical form that locates an action in time and shows whether it is ongoing or complete, as in 'writes', 'wrote', 'has written'. Consistency of tense is a frequent error in narrative writing.

A verb form used as an adjective or in compound tenses, such as 'broken' in 'a broken promise' or 'running' in 'running water'. Past participles are essential for forming passive constructions.

A group of words containing its own subject and finite verb, such as 'when the rain stopped'. Clauses may be joined by conjunctions or turned into relative or participial phrases for variety.

A word that links words, phrases, or clauses, such as 'and', 'but', 'although', or 'because'. Choosing the right conjunction shows the logical relation between ideas, whether contrast, cause, or addition.

Rewriting a sentence into a required form without changing its meaning, for example changing degree, voice, or simple to complex. The examiner checks that the original sense survives the grammatical change.

A short formal announcement displayed for a group, giving what, when, where, and whom to contact. It is written in a box with a heading, no salutation, and a signature line naming the issuing authority.

A factual account of an event written for readers who were not present, usually with a headline, dateline, and byline. It answers what, when, where, who, and why in a formal, third-person style.

A letter written to an official or institution in a respectful, impersonal register, following a fixed layout of sender's address, date, receiver's address, salutation, body, and subscription. It raises one clear matter and requests action.

A personal letter to a relative or friend, written in a relaxed, conversational register with contractions and personal detail. It still follows a layout of address, date, salutation, body, and closing.