ENGLISH 11 HONORS MIDTERM

archetype

a recurring plot, character type, setting, or symbol that appears in stories from cultures around the world and symbolizes something universal in the human experience.

examples:

archetypal plot: "The Hero's Journey" (and its subplots)
--archetypal character: the mentor, the trickster, the tempter/temptress
--archetypal setting: the underworld, valleys, mountaintops, rivers/oceans
--archetypal symbols: water (i.e. river-crossings, floods, cleansings), fire, wind, trees

genre

a category of literature identified by form, content, and style. For example: poetry, drama, short story, the novel.

epic

a long narrative poem in elevated style recounting the deeds of a legendary or historical hero(the odyssey)

myth

a classic or legendary story that usually focuses on a particular hero or event and explains mysteries of nature, existence, or the universe. (creations stories)

nonfiction

a broad genre of texts dealing with facts/real events

historical nonfiction

True accounts of historical eras and events. Some histories dwell purely in objective facts; other histories are refracted through the lens of the author’s personal beliefs.

Biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs

Focus on the life story of a particular subject. Biographies are written in the third person about someone other than the author. Autobiographies and memoirs are written by the subject.

epistolary texts

letters/correspondence between historical subjects
                              EPISTOLARY: in the form of letters

rhetoric

the art of effective, persuasive speaking or writing.

ethos

appeals to the credibility and authority of the author

pathos

appeals to the feelings of the audience

logos

appeals to the reason of the audience

avarice

noun

extreme greed for wealth or material gain

example sentence??

percolate

verb

to pass through a porous substance

the coffee percolated through the coffee filter

maudlin

adjective

self-pitying or tearfully sentimental

the drink made her maudlin, as she was crying.

foible

noun

a minor weakness or eccentricity in someone’s character

I must tolerate my sisters foibles because she has many weaknesses in her character.

recombobulate

verb

To cause to think clearly again, to reorient; to put back into working order

I recombobulated my thoughts before the test in order to get a good grade.

sacrosanct

adjective

most sacred or holy

my coffee is sacrosanct because I cannot live without it.

dearth

noun

a scarcity or lack of something.

there was a dearth of toliet paper during the pandemic.

muster

verb

to collect or assemble

she mustered up enough votes to become SCA president.

tentative

adj

not certain or fixed.

My homecoming plans are always tentative.

brouhaha

noun

a noisy or overexcited reaction or response to something.

My dog causes a brouhaha when I walk through the door.

mar

verb

impair the appearance of/to damage or spoil.

The scar was a mar on her face.

taciturn

adj

reserved or uncommunicative in speech, saying little.

People who are taciturn tend to sit in the back of the class and say little.

dregs

noun

the most worthless part or parts of something

the dregs of my coffee were left at the bottom of my cup, so I decided not to drink it.

Eviscerate

verb

deprive something of its essential content.

I eviscerated the pumpkin in order to carve it for halloween.

beguiling

adj

charming or enchaning, often in a deceptive way

the person had a beguiling smile, as I knew he was two faced.

retort

noun

a sharp, angry, or wittily incisive reply to a remark.

she opened her mouth to make a suitably cutting retort.

abate

verb

to become smaller or less intense

my hard work studying abated the difficulty of my exam.

gregarious

adj

fond of company, sociable

My dog is gregarious, as she is always excited to see people.

consternation

noun

feelings of anxiety or dismay, typically at something unexpected.

I went to the doctor and they told me I had to get a vaccination to my consternation.

flummox

verb

perplex someone greatly; bewilder

My chem teacher flummoxed me when he asked me to answer the question.

aloof

adj

not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant.

my dog was aloof that I did not give her a treat.

altruism

noun

the belief in or practice of disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others.

The father practiced altruism as he put his family before himself.

eschew

verb

deliberately avoid using, abstain from

the man in rehab is eschewing from alcohol and drugs.

arduous

adj

involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring.

I find cross country practice to be arduous.

Fahrenheit 451

Ray Bradbury

“The Iroquois Creation Story”

Native American Oral Literature

“Walking with My Delaware Grandfather”

Denise Low

“Reporting back to Queen Isabella”

Lorna Goodison

“Letter of Discovery”

Christopher Columbus

“A Model of Christian Charity”

John Winthrop

“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”

Jonathan Edwards