Essay

Vocabulary Words for the English Midterm Collected and Typed By Julia Sullivan Part One: Vocabulary Form Literature “The Most Dangerous Game” Amenity = (noun) something that adds to one’s comfort or convenience; something that is nice to have but isn’t necessary Scruple = (noun) an uneasy feeling arising from one’s conscience or principals Solicitously = (adverb) with an expression of care or concern Tangible = (adj.) capable of being touched or felt; having actual form and substance. Note: can be used both figuratively and literally. Ex. Figurative: The evil in the air was tangible. Literal: This book is tangible. Quarry = (noun) the object of hunt; prey Disarming = (adj.) removing or overcoming suspicion; inspiring confidence Imperative = (adj.) absolutely necessary Zealous = (adj.) intensely devoted and enthusiastic Deplorable = (deeply regrettable; unfortunate *also: deplore = (verb) to regret or disapprove of someone else’s actions Affable = (adj.) friendly, pleasant, and easy to talk to Condone = (verb) to overlook, forgive, or disregard Droll = (adj.) amusingly odd or comical Elude = (verb) to escape, especially by means of daring, cleverness, or skill Stamina = (noun) physical or moral strength; endurance Uncanny = (adj.) so remarkable as to seem supernatural “Where Have You Gone, Charming Billy'” Primitive = (adj.) existing in or from the times of the earliest humans Silhouetted = (adj.) outlined as a dark shape against a lighter background Diffuse = (adj.) unfocused; scattered and widespread. Note: Can be used both figuratively and literally. Ex. His fear was diffuse (figurative). Conical = (adj.) like a cone Inertia = (noun) the tendency of an object to keep moving once it has started moving; also the tendency of objects at rest to stay at rest Casually = (adverb) in an unconcerned or informal manner Consolation = (noun) an act of comforting *also: console = (verb) to comfort emotionally Transparent = (adj.) capable of being seen through Execute = (verb) to perform; carry out Elegantly = (adv.) with grace and style The Nathaniel Abramson Article Parole = (noun) an early release from prison under certain circumstances Appeal = (noun) a serious or urgent request for aid, support, sympathy, mercy, etc; entreaty; petition; plea Prankster = (noun) a practical joker Amnesty = (noun) a general pardon for offenses, especially political offenses against a government, often granted before a trial or conviction Prosecute = (verb) to institute legal proceedings against (a person) Waive = (verb) to refrain from claiming or insisting on a right you’ve been given Coerce = (verb) to force someone to do something through threats (Mr. Kalin’s simplified version) Interrogate = (verb) to formally ask questions of (a person) Severity = (noun) harshness, sternness, toughness, extreme seriousness, or rigor Counsel = (noun) advice or guidance on conduct, behavior, etc Taunt = (verb) to reproach in a sarcastic, insulting, or jeering manner; mock Boast = (verb) to speak with exaggeration and excessive pride, especially about oneself (to brag) Heinous = (adj., pronounced hay-nuss) someone/something deserving of hate Statute = (noun) an enactment made by a legislature and explained in a formal document (a law) Hybrid = (noun) something that is a mixture or combination of two other things Prospective = (adj.) likely to become; possible in the future The Giver Note: Almost all definitions in this section are Mr. Kalin’s simplified version Aptitude = (noun) an ability you are born with Turbulent = (adj.) violently agitated; stormy. Ex. A storm at sea Transgression = (noun) an act of transgressing; violation of a law, command, etc; sin Apprehension = fear of something that might happen in the future Murky = (adj.) obscure, vague, unclear Transgress = (verb) to violate a law, command, moral code, etc; offend; sin Indulge = (verb) to give free reign to someone else Apprehensive = (adj.) uneasy, worried, fearful, or nervous about something that might happen in the future Remorseful = (adj.) full of regret for some wrongdoing you committed Nuisance = (noun) an obnoxious or annoying person, thing, condition, practice, etc. Remorse = (noun) deep and painful regret for wrongdoing; sorrow and regret for something you did Distraught = (adj.) deeply agitated, upset, sad, anxious, full of sorrow Defiant = (adj.) rudely resisting someone else’s orders, rudely refusing to do something. Key word: Rude Defy = (verb) to challenge the power of; resist boldly, openly, or rudely Indulgent = (adj.) characterized by showing indulgence, being lenient or permissive Indulge = (verb) to yield to the wishes or whims of; be lenient or permissive with Indulgence = (noun) the act or practice of indulging; gratification of desire. Admonish = (v.) 1. to caution, advise, or counsel against something. 2. to reprove or scold, especially in a mild and good-willed manner: The teacher admonished him about excessive noise. Confirm = (verb) to establish the truth, accuracy, validity, or genuineness of; corroborate; verify Deft = (adj.) dexterous; nimble; skillful; clever Fretful = (adj.) disposed or quick to fret; irritable or peevish. Vast = (adj.) of very great area or extent; immense Sparse = (adj.) thinly scattered or distributed Sinuous = (adj.) having many curves, bends, or turns; winding Placid = (adj.) pleasantly calm or peaceful; unruffled; tranquil; serenely quiet or undisturbed Assuage = (verb) to make milder or less severe; relieve; ease; mitigate Irrational = (adj.) without the faculty of reason; deprived of reason Ominous = (adj.) portending evil or harm; foreboding; threatening; inauspicious Alien = (adj.) unlike one's own; strange; not belonging to one “Marigolds” Bravado = (noun) false show of courage or defiance Impoverished = (adj.) poor Poignantly = (adv.) in a profoundly moving manner Stoicism = (noun) indifference to pleasure or pain; not showing emotion Compassion = (noun) deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it Futile = (adj.) having no useful result; without effect Squalor = (noun) a filthy and wretched condition Impotent = (adj.) powerless, lacking strength or vigor Degradation = (noun) a decline to a lower condition with loss of dignity Perverse = (adj.) stubbornly contrary; wrong; harmful (you know its wrong, but you do it anyway) The Odyssey Siren = (noun) a beautiful but dangerous woman Siren Song = (noun) something that sounds good but actually isn’t (ex. propaganda) Achilles heel = (noun) a seemingly small but actually crucial weakness Harpy = (noun) a mean and scolding woman Gorgon = (noun) an ugly woman Herculean = (adj.) extremely difficult to perform Marathon = (adj.) very long-lasting Epic = (adj.) majestic and impressive Pyrrhic Victory = a victory achieved at such a great cost that you would have been better off if you had you lost Odyssey = (noun) a very long journey or quest Oracle = (noun) a wise person you go to for advice Spartan = (adj.) very stern, simple and plain, and brutal Narcissistic = (adj.) having an undue fascination with oneself; vain, being in love with yourself Mentor = (noun) a wise and trusted advisor or teacher Philippic = (noun) a bitter speech attacking someone else Lyric = (adj.) poetic Homer = (noun) a blind poet of ancient Greece credited with writing the Iliad and the Odyssey. Note: it is unclear if Homer actually existed The Iliad = (noun) an epic poem that tells the story of the Trojan War. The Trojan War = (noun) a war that began with Helen, the most beautiful woman and wife of Menelaus, being kidnapped by Paris, prince of Troy. The Greeks go to war with Troy to get Helen back. Epic = (noun) a long, narrative poem that tells about the adventures of a hero who reflects the ideals and values of a nation or race Epic hero = (noun) a larger-than-life figure, usually male, who embodies the ideas of a nation or race Part Two: Literary Terms Parts of Speech Noun = person, place, thing, or idea Adjective = describes a noun Adverb = describes a verb, adjective, or another adverb. (ex. He ran swiftly) Verb = an action Preposition = of, by, against, over, under, etc. Interjection = exclamations (Gosh! Wow!) Pronoun = a word that replaces a noun (her, his) Plot-Line Terms Plot = the events in a story Exposition = beginning of the story, background information Complicating Incident = event that changes the protagonist’s routine Rising Action = things that happen because of the complicating incident Climax = event that determines how that story will end, turning point, point of highest suspense/tension Falling Action = events after climax Resolution = solution Theme = a point the author wants to make, something you can learn, an idea to think about (message, moral, main idea) Characterization Indirect Characterization = readers infer character traits; learn through words, actions of the character, how the other characters react to him or her Direct Characterization = narrator tells what the character is like ***Characterization is often misleading. Point of View 1st Person – Narrator is a character in the book • Uses “I”, “me”, “we”, and other first person pronouns • Reader only knows what the narrator knows 3rd Person – Narrator is a character outside the story • 3rd person pronouns • Limited o Doesn’t know personal thoughts or feelings o Can only describe what he or she sees • Omniscient o All-knowing – knows the feelings and thoughts of characters Reminiscent • Typically 1st person • Tells of something that happened to him or her long ago in the past Conflict Internal Conflict = conflict that goes on within a character; a decision (man vs. self) External = conflict with another character or force • Man vs. man • Man vs. nature • Man vs. society • Man vs. supernatural • Man vs. technology Other Alliteration = repeating consonant sounds (repetition of similar consonant sounds) (She sells sea shells by the sea shore) Assonance = repetition of similar vowel sounds (The rain in Spain stays mainly on the plain) Protagonist = the main character of the story Setting = time and place when and where the story takes place Antagonist = character who works against the protagonist