English S1 Study guide

amiably

in a friendly and pleasant mannner

muffled

not loud because of being obstructed in some way; muted

vestibule

an antechamber, hall, or lobby next to the outer door of a building

gregarious

found of company; sociable

spacious

having ample space

gothic literature

a genre that places strong emphasis on intense emotion pairing terror with pleasure, death with romance

magical realism

a literary or artistic genre in which realistic narrative and naturalistic techniques are combined with surreal elements of dream or fantasy

recessed

set or built in a recess in the surrounding wall or surface

unvoiced

not expressed in words; unuttered

obscure

not discovered or known about; uncertain

appeasement

relieve or satisfy

tyranny

a government in which all power is in the hands of a single ruler

propaganda

information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view

treachery

betrayal of trust; deceptive action or nature

revolution

a forcible overthrow of a government or social order, in favor of a new system

disarmament

the reduction or withdrawal of military forces and weapons

asunder

apart; divided

invoke

cite or appeal to (someone or something) as an authority for an action or in support of an argument

pacification

an attempt to create or maintain peace

invective

insulting, abusive or highly critical language

the alchemist (character)

A 200-year-old, extremely powerful alchemist residing in the Al-Fayoum Oasis. He dresses in black, rides a white horse, and carries a scimitar, the Philosopher’s Stone, and the Elixir of Life. He often speaks cryptically, but he understands the Soul of the World and the importance of Personal Legends.

the englishman

A well-educated science student determined to learn the secrets of alchemy by learning from a true alchemist. He is a skeptic and loves reading his books.

santiago

An adventurous young Andalusian shepherd determined to fulfill his Personal Legend, which is to find a treasure at the foot of the Egyptian pyramids. He is the book's protagonist.

king melchizadek

The King of Salem. He appears to possess magical powers and helps those pursuing their Personal Legends.

fatima

A beautiful and chaste young "desert woman" who lives at the Al-Fayoum Oasis. She understands that she must allow Santiago to travel in pursuit of his dream.

the gypsy woman

An old woman living in Tarifa who interprets dreams. She reads palms and uses black-magic iconography, but she also keeps images of Christ.

mollie

The vain, flighty mare who pulls Mr. Jones’s carriage. She craves the attention of human beings and loves being groomed and pampered. She has a difficult time with her new life on Animal Farm, as she misses wearing ribbons in her mane and eating sugar cubes. She represents the petit bourgeoisie that fled from Russia a few years after the Russian Revolution.

snowball

The pig who challenges Napoleon for control of Animal Farm after the Rebellion. Based on Leon Trotsky, he is intelligent, passionate, eloquent, and less subtle and devious than his counterpart, Napoleon. He seems to win the loyalty of the other animals and cement his power.

Mr. Whymper

The human solicitor whom Napoleon hires to represent Animal Farm in human society. His entry into the Animal Farm community initiates contact between Animal Farm and human society, alarming the common animals.

Napoleon

The pig who emerges as the leader of Animal Farm after the Rebellion. Based on Joseph Stalin, He uses military force (his nine loyal attack dogs) to intimidate the other animals and consolidate his power. In his supreme craftiness, this pig proves more treacherous than his counterpart, Snowball.

squealer

The pig who spreads Napoleon’s propaganda among the other animals. He justifies the pigs’ monopolization of resources and spreads false statistics pointing to the farm’s success. Orwell uses this pig to explore the ways in which those in power often use rhetoric and language to twist the truth and gain and maintain social and political control.

Moses

The tame raven who spreads stories of Sugarcandy Mountain, the paradise to which animals supposedly go when they die. He plays only a small role in Animal Farm, but Orwell uses him to explore how communism exploits religion as something with which to pacify the oppressed.

benjamin

The long-lived donkey who refuses to feel inspired by the Rebellion. He firmly believes that life will remain unpleasant no matter who is in charge. Of all of the animals on the farm, he alone comprehends the changes that take place, but he seems either unwilling or unable to oppose the pigs.

boxer

The cart-horse whose incredible strength, dedication, and loyalty play a key role in the early prosperity of Animal Farm and the later completion of the windmill. Quick to help but rather slow-witted, he shows much devotion to Animal Farm’s ideals but little ability to think about them independently. He naïvely trusts the pigs to make all his decisions for him. His two mottoes are “I will work harder” and “Napoleon is always right.”

the dogs

These animals provide the pigs with the brute force necessary to terrorize the other animals. In return, the dogs receive special privileges and often sit close to the pigs. They don’t rule, but they live comfortably and get enough to eat because they support the pigs. They symbolize the Soviet secret police.

the sheep

Represents the part of society that allows others to manipulate them. This type of animal is the representation of those followers who do not know what they are supporting but do it anyway. They must belong to something and because they do not have a deep intelligence.

old major

The prize-winning boar whose vision of a socialist utopia serves as the inspiration for the Rebellion. Three days after describing the vision and teaching the animals the song “Beasts of England,” he dies, leaving Snowball and Napoleon to struggle for control of his legacy. Orwell based him on both the German political economist Karl Marx and the Russian revolutionary leader Vladimir Ilych Lenin.

Mr. Jones

The often drunk farmer who runs the Manor Farm before the animals stage their Rebellion and establish Animal Farm. He is an unkind master who indulges himself while his animals lack food; he thus represents Tsar Nicholas II, whom the Russian Revolution ousted.

The Tell-Tale Heart

Detectives capture a man who admits to the killing of the old man with a strange eye. The murder is carefully planned, and the killer killed the old man by pulling his bed on top of the man and hiding the body under the floor.

House Taken Over

 an unknown and seemingly supernatural force is slowly taking over portions of the house in which the narrator and his sister reside. Eventually, the unknown takes over all living quarters, and the narrator and his sister are forced out into the street.

Where is Here

The story is sort of eerie and tells the tale of a grown-up man who goes back to visit his childhood home. While visiting he displays several strange characteristics where he appears to regress into a child.

The Raven

It tells of a distraught lover who is paid a mysterious visit by a talking raven. The lover, often identified as a student, is lamenting the loss of his love, Lenore. Sitting on a bust of Pallas, the raven seems to further antagonize the protagonist with its constant repetition of the word "Nevermore".

Beware: Do not read this poem

 the power of love can cause a person to feel deeply trapped to a point where they are afraid to face people and isolate themselves from others.

The Alchemist (book)

a shepherd boy from Spain who discovers his Personal Legend, sets out on a journey to fulfill it, and learns valuable lessons about himself and the world along the way. (book)

Harrison Bergeron

a story based on a society whose attempt to achieve perfection goes horribly wrong. The society in the story focuses on the ideal of equality where intelligence and strength have been destroyed in the process.