First things first, we need to know how to analyze the major literary and visual techniques (visual for Lang Lit), so that we can quickly find and analyze them under exam stress.
We have already learned
SQUEEL or PEEL
If you're cramming for Paper 1, here are the 7 most important techniques and concepts that you should know for IB English Paper 1. They apply to all text types in Lang Lit as well as Literature:
Tone, atmosphere and mood
Diction and voice
Metaphor, simile, and personification
The 4 main types of imagery
The 3 types of irony
Juxtaposition and contrast
Grammatical and structural techniques
Of course, memorizing isn't enough. We also need to know the common effects and purposes behind each of these core techniques, so that we can build a mental library of the most common ways to deeply analyze each technique. If you don't study each technique in detail, it's much harder to invent deep analysis on-the-spot during an exam.
Let's quickly recap what you need to do in a Paper 1.
You need to discuss the characters, themes and plot of a chosen literary text, OR the visual and stylistic elements (diagrams, headings, titles, images) for a non-literary text.
You then need to explain how and why these aspects were achieved by the writer or artist.