AP eng midterm

allegory

the representation of abstract ideas or principles by characters, figures, or events in narrative, dramatic, or pictorial form

ambiguity

When an author leaves out details/information or is unclear about an event so the reader will use his/her imagination to fill in the blanks.

anaphora

repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive lines in a poem

characterization

how an author makes the people in the story seem realistic

narration

how a story is told, which includes elements of point of view, voice, and time

ephemeral

lasting a very short time

esoteric

understood only by a small, specialized audience

felicity

joyfulness; happiness

hackneyed

lacking significance because of overuse

jettison

to toss away something that's no longer wanted

levity

humor or frivolity

paragon

a perfect example of something

prattle

to talk at length in a foolish way

savant

an especially intelligent person

spurn

to reject with hatred

anectode

a short story or joke, told at the beginning of an essay, to gain the audience's attention

anticlimactic

when the ending of the plot in poetry or prose is unfulfilling or lackluster

apostrophe

When a character speaks to a character or object that is not present or is unable to respond

metafiction

a literary style where a story draws attention to its own fictionality

metonymy

replaces the name of something with a related thing

eschew

to deliberately avoid using

heretic

a person who holds an opinion that is at odds with what is generally accepted

indolent

avoiding activity or exertion

pariah

someone who is or should be excluded

sequestor

to remove or hide away (someone or something)

what is oscar's passion that sets him apart from others?

science fiction and fantasy

what is one of oscar's major struggles throughout the novel?

his desire for love

what does the term "fuku" refer to in the novel?

a curse

how does oscar's family describe him in his youth?

a ladies' man

what was la inca's relationship to oscar?

adoptive grandmother

what nickname does lola have after she cuts her hair?

la fea

where does lola run away to?

her boyfriend's house down the shore

why does beli leave her aunt, la inca, in bai to move to the US?

she is escaping death threats

how does beli react to oscar's lack of success with women?

she yells at him to toughen up

who was beli's first great love?

jack pujols

who was the dictator that ruled the dominican republic and haunted oscar's family?

trujillo

what is beli's father, abelard, accused of?

speaking ill of trujillo

who does beli fall in love with in her youth, leadng to great danger?

the gangster

what secret does abelard try to keep from trujillo?

his daughter's beauty

why does abelard get arrested by trujillo's regime?

he fails to bring his daughter to a party

which college does oscar attend?

rutgers university

who becomes oscar's roommate and later serves as the novel's narrator?

yunior

what happens when oscar first tries to commit suicide?

he ends up hospitalized but survives

what does yunior do to try to help oscar?

encourages him to exercise and socialize

why is oscar often ridiculed by his peers?

he is socially awkward and obsessive

why does oscar travel to the dominican republic after graduation?

to accompany his mother on her visit

who does oscar fall in love with in the dominican republic?

ybon

what is ybon's occupation?

prostitute

why is oscar's relationship with ybon dangerous?

she is dating a violent police captain

how does oscar die?

he is murdered by the capitan's henchmen

what does "zafa" mean in the context of the novel?

a protective charm

what literary genre does oscar primarily enjoy and emulate in his life?

science fiction and fantasy

which author is heavily referenced throughout the novel as an influence on oscar?

J.R.R Tolkien

what does the "golden mongoose" symbolize for oscar and his family?

hope and survival

which theme is prominent in The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao?

the power of family curses and fate