Studied by 3 people
Theme
an idea that recurs in or pervades a work of art or literature, controlling idea of a work and holds it together, ex R&J irrational hatred
Soliloquy
when a character is alone or believes themselves to be alone, and they begin to speak out loud expressing inner turmoil with lots of questions (R&J)
Verse
metrical language, not exactly rhyming, opposite of prose
Allegory
a story that can be read on two distinctly different levels, ex the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
Apostrophe
when a character addresses an inanimate object like they are human, used in drama or for a dramatic effect, ex to a mouse, Juliet talking to the knife/poison
Folk Ballad
song like poem to tell stories based on earlier legend/history, Ex Cyrano writing a ballad in the beginning of the play, the song of roland
Parody
presenting something that is usually serious in a comical way, not changing anything
Elizabethan Sonnet
formally known as an English sonnet or Shakespearean sonnet, written in iambic pentameter, fixed rhyme scheme, ends with a rhyming couplet, 9th line is “the turn” or shift in tone, ex“ but passion lends them power”
Syntax
the way a sentence is built, “read it out loud”
Free Verse
verse that doesn’t have a fixed rhyme scheme or beat, ex epigraph written in things fall apart
Epithet
term or label describing a character, ex long suffering Odysseus
Hyperbole
exaggeration with an effect, an over statement, not meant to be taken literally
Aside
stage secrets, R&J, Cyrano
Metaphor
comparing two things with out using like or as
Symbol
an object or idea that represents something bigger, ex lenny’s mouse, cyrano’s white plume
Metonymy
smaller idea or concept to explain something much bigger, a complex idea in a simple object, like symbolism but its an idea, ex. a pen is mightier than a sword, the white house called
Onomatopoeia
crackle, sizzle
Paradox
a complex statement that seems to contradict itself but after further look it is true, ex all men are destined yet free
Prose
opposite of verse, standard written language, non
Conceit
fanciful comparison of two fundamentally different objects, NOT a metaphor
Tone
speakers attitude to the event, not the same through the entire work, ex. Lenny, despair through Things Fall Apart
Connotation
emotionally baggage of a word, good or bad, authors use loaded language
Pun
“He’s been Christianized” (Cyrano) making a joke that Christian is like the religion, grave serious and hole in the ground
Caesura
to cut (
Motif
reoccurring object that adds to the plot of the work, Oedipus light and dark, R&J stars, Cyrano’s white plume
Denotation
dictionary definition of a word
Allusion
implicit reference to another work, religion, etc. that helps advance the story overall
Romantic Tale
literary tradition that was popular during the middle ages, French, knights and damsels, King Arther age
Romanticism
reaction to restrained idea of order and reason, importance is personal independence and divinity nature
Romantic Comedy
complexity of plot, tried of the unlikely hero, elements of satire, often contain monologues, everything is funny, ex Cyrano
Assonance
repetition of closely written vowel sounds
Blank Verse
unrhymed iambic pentameter, ex R&J
Couplet
two rhyming lines at the end of the poem or at the end of the scene (Shakespeare)
Didactic poetry
poetry in the intent to instruct, morality poems
Verbal Irony
not sarcasm, incongruity of what’s intended, R&J Juliet’s love sprung from her only hate
Meter
standard unit of poetry
Oxymoron
two fundamental different words used together that mean something totally different, simple, usually two words
Iambic Pentameter
a line consisting of 5 iambs, 10 beats, iamb is the beat, unstress stress
Personification
giving life like adjectives to an inanimate object,
Rhyme scheme
the pattern which poems can have, giving a line a letter
Satire
making fun or mocking something, funny but true, ex the simpsons, modest proposal Jonathan swift wrote many, promote social change
Line from Shakespeare
meter, iambic pentameter
Cyrano de Bergerac (character)
poet, musician, and member of the Cadets of Gascoyne, he has a large nose that embrasses him, in love with his cousin Roxane
Roxane
cyrano’s cousin, and the girl cyrano, christian, and de guiche are in love with
Christian
northerner that joins the cadets, handsome but does not have the intelligence that cyrano does, in love with roxane
De Guiche
married man in love with Roxane, doesn’t like cyrano, attempts to have him killed by 100 men
Ragueneau
pastry chef that wishes to be a poet, his wife Lise leaves him for a musketeer in the middle of the play
Le Bret
cyrano’s closest friend and fellow cadet
Lingniere
christian’s friend
The Duenna
roxane’s chaperone, similar to the nurse in R&J
Valvert
duels cyrano in act 1 after insulting his nose
Montfleury
actor who cyrano despises and bans from the stage
Carbon
cyrano’s friend and captain
Lise
ragueneau’s wife and leaves him because she doesn't approve of him being a poet
Mother Marguerite and Sisters
nuns at roxane’s convent, admire and respect cyrano when he visits
The Cardinal
de guiche’s uncle who is one of the most powerful men in france at the time
When was Cyrano written?
1890s
When does the play take place?
1600s
this character says “how can I talk to a woman when I have no wit”
christian
Why doesn’t Cyrano sign his letter to Roxane? (act 2)
He is going to give it to her face to face
Compte de Guiche offers to help Cyrano with his play, Agrippe. Whom does he know that could help?
his uncle, the cardinal
Who arrives unexpectedly at Roxane’s house and how is he delayed? Where does this distraction come from?
de guiche; he is delayed by cyrano and him talking about the moon
How does de Guiche punish Christian and Cyrano at the end of Act 3?
sending their regiment to the front
Uchendu
Okonkwo's uncle who receives him into Mbanta
Amikwu
Uchendu's youngest son, get's married, sees Nwoye with Christians
Mr. Kiaga
ibo missionary who is used as a translator, converts Nwoye
Okoli
Kills the sacred python (says he didn't), later dies mysteriously
Nwoye turns his name to
Isaac
Abame
A village destroyed by white men because they killed one white man.
Iron Horse
bicycle
Kite
falcon
Nneka
("mother is supreme") first child born to Okonkwo in exile
Allusion
A brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance.
Imperialism
Imperialism is the political control of a greater power over less powerful territories. This was usually done for economic and political gain.
Afrocentrism
emphasizing and promoting African cultural patterns
Eurocentrism
when you view the world from a European perspective. It is an implied belief that western culture is better than other cultures.
jingoism
belligerent patriotism (extreme nationalism)
interpreter for missionaries
Mr. Kiaga
He tells Okonkwo about Nwoye's conversion first
Amikwu
Uchendu's nephew
Okonkwo
a short quotation at the beginning
Epigraph
belligerent patriotism (extreme nationalism)
Jingoism
he is thrilled when Nwoye converts
Mr. Kiaga
a brief and indirect reference to...
Allusion
the practice of viewing...European
Eurocentric
First converts
efulefu's
he is accused of killing the sacred python (14)
Okoli
it is rumored here that christians have a fiery pit of hell (15)
Umuru
first female convert
Nneka
Where Mr. Kiaga is from
Umuru
school, church, and government building here
Umuofia
Mr. Kiaga never mentions
hell
Nwoye converts because
he wants a loving father
Who does Uchendu accuse of thinking they are the only one who suffers?
Okonkwo
As payback for killing the sacred python, Mbanta ...
doesn't let the church have access to the rivers
efulefu
titeless, worthless men, first coverts
osu
outcast
Okonkwo calls Mbanta a ___ clan
womanly
Okonkwo was going to chase after Nwoye but then
decided he wasn't worth it
When Nwoye was asked about his father (Okonkwo), he said
that he wasn't his father
Note 
Flashcard (50)