alchemist vocab

foreword

foreword

a short introductory piece usually written by someone other than the author and is separate from the narrative itself. - meant to sell the book's overall importance - usually lauds the author

introduction

an introductory piece usually written by the author and is separate from the narrative itself - about the book's subject matter

prologue

an introductory scene written by the author and is part of the narrative - what happened before the plot - tantalizes with a scene that the narrative will return to - directly introduces the plot/theme

allegory

a story which the characters and events are symbols that stand for ideas about moral, societal, or political/historical situations - social: major characters represent a "type" in society - political: major characters represent a political ideology - moral: choices of major characters represent a basic

alchemy

form of chemistry and speculative philosophy practiced in the middle ages and renaissance and concerned principally with discovering methods for transmuting baser metals into gold with finding a universal solvent and an elixir of life

epochs

major moments in time

accord

be harmonious or consistent with. Idiom: of one's accord- with out being asked or told

abashed

ashamed or embarrassed; disconcerted

mused

say to oneself in a thoughtful manner; absorbed in thought

ruefully

in a sorrowful or regretful manner (Neville: “You will rue the day!”).

devout

religiously devoted; pious (a devout Catholic).

alchemist

one who practices a form of chemistry and speculative philosophy practiced in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance - concerned principally with discovering methods for transmuting baser metals into gold and with finding a universal solvent and an elixir of life.

capricious

given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior; impulsive; fickle

charges

a person or thing entrusted to the care of someone

incredulous

unwilling or unable to believe something (without credibility)

apprentice

a person who is learning a trade from a skilled employer (a master), usually having agreed to work for a fixed period at low wages.

incessantly

continuing without pause or interruption (unpleasant connotation - ceaseless; unending)

refuge

a place of shelter, protection, or safety

sentinels

a soldier or guard whose job is to stand and keep watch

clamored

shout loudly and insistently; expressing a desire vehemently (protestors clamored for change)

exultant

triumphantly happy; highly elated; jubilant; (ex = out)

prognostications

predictions of future based on present signs

preface

An introductory piece usually written by the author and is separate from the narrative, itself. (raison d’etre – how it came about)

epilogue

an extension that is added to the end of a literary work; part of the narrative (some time after the main action of the narrative – ties up loose ends)

anecdote

a short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person in order to emphasize a point

motif

a recurring subject, theme, idea, situation, symbol (within one work or throughout time)

theme

a MESSAGE (moral) insight about life the author, ultimately, is expressing

symbolism

a CONCRETE object/person/place/action meant to REPRESENT AN ABSTRACT idea

allusion

a REFERENCE to a well-known person/place/thing in order to emphasize a point

parable

a seemingly simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson

fable

• a short story, typically with humanized animals as characters, conveying a moral

situational irony

• a situation in which actions have an effect that is opposite from what was intended, so that the actual outcome is contrary to what was expected.

apropos

exceptionally appropriate to a particular situation (“almost too perfect”)

myth

A myth is a traditional story with roots in the folk-beliefs of a culture. They use the supernatural to explain natural phenomenon and the culture’s view of humanity.

legend

A legend is a traditional story, sometimes regarded as historical, but is unverified. They normally use very exaggerated details to emphasize cultural beliefs.