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Semester 1 Vocabulary
Short Stories, "Of Mice and Men" and Poetry Devices Vocabulary
124
English
9th Grade
01/23/2011

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Term
Allusion
Definition
a figure of speech, involving a reference to a person, place or thing taken from a mythological, historical, biblical or literary source
Term
Antagonist
Definition
any force or forces working against the protagonist
Term
Connotation
Definition
the denotation or denotative meaning of a word, plus suggested meanings which arise from one's own experiences and attitudes.
Term
Denotation
Definition
the exact, literal, dictionary meaning of a word
Term
Diction
Definition
an element of style, which indicates the types of words used by the author to express his ideas
Term
Imagery
Definition
descriptive expressions, such as figures of speech, that appeal to the senses
Term
Irony
Definition
a literary device based on contrast
Term
Symbol
Definition
something concrete standing for something abstract. e.g. a flag standing for patriotism
Term
Theme
Definition
the theme makes a general comment about life. a theme is written in the reader's own words and is not written as a familiar moral or a cliche. a theme is an expression of why the story was written.
Term
Circular Structure
Definition
A type of structure in which the beginning is the same as the end, and the literature comes to a complete circle by the end.
Term
Motif
Definition
a recurring idea, object, or literary device that helps develop the book's major themes.
Term
Accent
Definition
the prominence or emphasis given to a syllable or word.
Term
Alliteration
Definition
the repetition of the same or similar sounds at the beginning of words.
Term
Antithesis
Definition
a figure of speech in which words and phrases with opposite meanings are balanced against each other.
Term
Anaphora
Definition
the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or lines
Term
Apostrophe
Definition
words that are spoken to a person who is absent or imaginary, or to an object or abstract idea.
Term
Assonance
Definition
the repetition or a pattern of similar sounds, especially vowel sounds.
Term
Ballad
Definition
A poem that tells a story similar to a folk tale or legend and often has a repeated refrain.
Term
Blank Verse
Definition
poetry that is written in unrhymed iambic pentameter.
Term
Caesura
Definition
A natural pause or break in a line of poetry, usually near the middle of a line.
Term
Carpe Diem
Definition
A latin expression that means "seize the day."
Term
Classicism
Definition
The principles and ideals of beauty that are characteristics of greek and roman art, architecture, and literature.
Term
Consonance
Definition
The repetition of similar consonant sounds, especially at the ends of words.
Term
Couplet
Definition
In a poem, a pair of lines that are the same length and usually rhyme and form a complete thought.
Term
Epic
Definition
A long, serious poem that tells the story of a heroic figure.
Term
Figure of Speech
Definition
a verbal expression in which words or sounds are arranged in a particular way to achieve a particular effect.
Term
Foot
Definition
two or more syllables that together make up the smallest unit of rhythm in a poem
Term
Free Verse (vers libre)
Definition
poetry composed of either rhymed or unrhymed lines that have no set meter
Term
Hyperbole
Definition
a figure of speech in which deliberate exaggeration is used for emphasis.
Term
Iamb
Definition
a metrical foot of two syllables, one short (or unstressed) and one long (or stressed).
Term
Iambic Pentameter
Definition
A type of meter in poetry, in which there are five iambs to a line.
Term
Idyll
Definition
Either a short poem depicting a peaceful, idealized country scene, or a long poem that tells a story about heroic deeds or extraordinary events set in the distant past
Term
Lyric
Definition
A poem, such as a sonnet or an ode, that expresses the thoughts and feeligns of the poet.
Term
Metaphor
Definition
A figure of speech in which two things are compared, usually by saying one things is another, or by substitutiong a more descriptive word for the more common or usual word that would be expected

Term
Meter
Definition
The arrangement of a line in poetry by the number of syllables and the rhythm of accented (or stressed) syllables.
Term
Narrative
Definition
Telling a story.
Term
Onamotopoeia
Definition
A figure of speech in which words are used to imitate sounds.
Term
Pentameter
Definition
A line of poetry that has five metrical feet
Term
Personification
Definition
A figure of speech in which nonhuman things or abstract ideas are given human attributes
Term
Quatrain
Definition
A stanza or poem of four lines
Term
Refrain
Definition
A phrase, line, or group of lines that is repeated throughout a poem, usually after every stanza
Term
Rhyme
Definition
The occurrence of the same or similar sounds at the end of two or more words.
Term
Romanticism
Definition
The principles and ideas of the romantic movement in literature and the arts during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Term
Simile
Definition
A figure of speech in which two things are compared using the word "like" or "as".
Term
Sonnet
Definition
A lyric poem that is 14 lines long.
Term
Stanza
Definition
Two or more lines of poetry that together form one of the divisions of a poem.
Term
Stress
Definition
The prominence or emphasis given to particular syllables.
Term
Verse
Definition
A single metrical line of poetry, or poetry in general (as opposed to prose).
Term
Dialect
Definition
Socially distinct variety of a language
Term
Colloquialism
Definition
a word or words used in informal or formal speech or writing
Term
Aloof
Definition
stand-offish; not friendly or talkative
Term
Appraised
Definition
evaluated; made a judgement on something
Term
Bale
Definition
a bundle of straw or hay
Term
Belligerently
Definition
aggressively hostile
Term
Bewildered
Definition
confused
Term
Bindle
Definition
a bundle or backpack
Term
"Blow their Stake"
Definition
to spend all your money
Term
consoled
Definition
comforted
Term
contemplated
Definition
thought about something
Term
Contorted
Definition
twisted; bent into a different shape
Term
Crestfallen
Definition
disappointed; suddenly sad
Term
deliberate
Definition
on purpose; with careful, purposeful action
Term
Elaborate
Definition
very complicated and complex
Term
Laden
Definition
heavy with; full of; covered with
Term
Lumbered
Definition
walked awkwardly, clumsily
Term
Lynch
Definition
to kill/hang someone without a trial or guilty verdict
Term
Meager
Definition
not very much; a small amount
Term
Monotonous
Definition
having very little inflection, variety
Term
Morosely
Definition
sadly
Term
Mottled
Definition
an irregular pattern of light and dark
Term
Nuisance
Definition
a bother; a pain; something that causes trouble
Term
Profound
Definition
something that is intellectually deep; difficult to understand
Term
Pugnatious
Definition
having a combative personality; someone who likes to start fights
Term
Recumbent
Definition
to be in a relaxed or lying-down position
Term
Retorted
Definition
replied in a sharp or accusatory way
Term
Scoffed
Definition
to make fun of something; to tease someone
Term
Scourges
Definition
anything that is a pest or can cause disease
Term
Skittered
Definition
to glide lightly or rapidly
Term
Solemnly
Definition
seriously; with respect
Term
Sore
Definition
angry; upset
Term
Sycamore
Definition
a type of tree
Term
"the booby hatch"
Definition
a mental hospital
Term
Writhed
Definition
to twist the body about, squirm
Term
Oxymoron
Definition
two words with opposite meanings, put together for dramatic effect
Term
Plot
Definition
series of related events that make up a story or drama
Term
Exposition/Basic Situation
Definition
the opening of a story
Term
Setting
Definition
Time, place, atmosphere/mood
Term
Conflict
Definition
struggle between opposing forces
Term
Person vs. Person
Definition
between two or more characters
Term
Person vs. Nature
Definition
between the character and an element of nature
Term
Person vs. Society
Definition
Between a character and his/her society, customs, or laws
Term
Person vs. Fate
Definition
a struggle that is pre-determined from which the character cannot escape
Term
Internal Conflict
Definition
a struggle between opposing needs, or desires, or emotions and decisions
Term
Person vs. Self
Definition
Between a character and his/her emotions and decisions
Term
Complication(s)/Rising Action
Definition
the main character(s) take action to resolve the conflict and meet with complications along the way
Term
Climax
Definition
Turning point of the story; emotion or high-point; moment of decision of the main character(s) when we realize what the conflict is going to be
Term
Falling Action
Definition
Events that lead to the resolution
Term
Conclusion/Resolution/Denouement
Definition
outcome of the conflict involved with the main character(s)/end of the story
Term
Character
Definition
an individual in a story or play
Term
Protagonist
Definition
the main character of the story; the one who has to deal with the conflict(s)
Term
Antagonist
Definition
the force that works against the protagonist; does not have to be a person
Term
Foil
Definition
either one who is in most ways opposite to the main character or nearly the same as the main character. THe purpose of the foil character is to emphasize the traits of the main character by comparison or contrast
Term
Dynamic Character
Definition
Changes by the end of the story, learning something that changes him or her in a permanent way
Term
Static Character
Definition
does not change; he or she is the same person at the end of the story as he was at the begining
Term
Round Character
Definition
complex and have many different traits; readers may even be able to anticipate the actions of a round character if the characterization is well done and consistent
Term
Flat Character
Definition
have only one or two personality traits and can be summed up in a single phrase; we know very little about a flat character and are not meant to serve as main characters. They serve as necessary elements in plot or as elements of the setting
Term
Characterization
Definition
techniques the writer uses to develop the personality of a character.
Term
S.T.E.A.L.
Definition
SPEECH.THOUGHTS.EFFECT.ACTIONS.LOOKS
Term
Sensory Details
Definition
language that appeals specifically to the five senses
Term
Flashback
Definition
a scene that interrupts the normal chronological sequence of events in a story to depict something that happened at an earlier time
Term
Foreshadowing
Definition
The use of clues to hint at what is going to happen later in the plot
Term
Verbal Irony
Definition
a writer or speaker says one thing but really means something completely different
Term
Situational Irony
Definition
what we expect to happen is the opposite of what really does take place
Term
Dramatic Irony
Definition
the audience or the reader knows something important that a character in a play or story does not know
Term
Point of View
Definition
the vantage point from which the author tells the story
Term
First person
Definition
the narrator, a character in the story and usually the protagonist, tells the story from his/her perspective using I, me, we, etc.
Term
Second Person
Definition
a story told using "you" which places the reader immediately and personally into the story
Term
Third person omniscient
Definition
the narrater uses third person pronouns (he/she/they etc.) and knows everything that is going on in the story. this type of narrator is not limited by time or space
Term
Third person Limited
Definition
the narrator tells the story using third person pronouns but limits herself to what one character can sense; the limitations are the same as in first person.
Term
Tone
Definition
The attitude a writer takes toward the reader, a subject, or character
Term
Title
Definition
the title of a piece of literature generally suggests the subject or the theme of that piece
Term
Mood
Definition
the feeling a piece of literature arouses in the reader
Term
Prose
Definition
written or spoken language in its ordinary form, without metrical structure
Term
Pastoral
Definition
a work of literature portraying an idealized version of country life
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