Lit Terms Test 3

Scapegoat

one who bears the blame for others

syn- patsy; sucker

Peremptory

not allowing refusal or delay; imperative

     syn- authoritative; unconditional

Atelier

an artist's or a designer's workshop

Axiom

a universal truth; an established rule

     syn- fundamental; theorem

Dulcet

melodious; pleasing to the ear

     syn- harmonic; melodic

Usurp

to take over; to seize power

     syn- commandeer; seize; co-opt

Patronizing

treating with condescension; acting superior

     syn- lofty; arrogant

Iniquity

an evil or wicked act

     syn- abomination; injustice; sin

Archaic

no longer current or applicable; antiquated

     syn- obsolete; outmoded

Vacillate

to waver; to sway indecisively

     syn- fluctuate; swing; waffle

Perspicacious

keen; mentally sharp

     syn- shrewd; keen; clever

Abstemious

using or consuming sparingly

     syn- frugal; moderate

Talisman

a magic charm or superstitious object for protection or luck

Expurgate

to remove vulgar or objectionable material

     syn- censor; bowdlerize; sanitize

Pellucid

transparent; clear

     syn- limpid

Diction

an author's choice of words, often instrumental in affecting the tone of the piece

Drama

a piece of writing that tells a story and is performed by actors on a stage

Dramatic monologue

a poem in the form of a speech or narrative that reveals a "soul in action" through the speech of one character in a dramatic situation

Epiphany

an awakening; a sudden understanding or burst of insight; key moment in Greek plays

Exposition

the introductory material which sets the tone, gives the setting, introduces the characters, and supplies necessary facts; may be the first section of the typical plot, in which characters are introduced, the setting is described, and any necessary background information is given. Sometimes there is a lot, and the exposition stretches out; sometimes the expository information is tucked in unobtrusively as people talk to each other or inside the narrator's descriptions.

Figurative language

writing or speech not meant to be taken literally; figure of speech. It states something that is not literally true in order to create an effect. Similes, metaphors and personification are figures of speech based on comparisons. Metonymy, synecdoche, synesthesia, apostrophe, oxymoron, and hyperbole are other figures of speech.

Flashback

a device by which an author can present action or scenes that occurred before the opening scene in a work

Foil

character who provides a contrast to another character, thus emphasizing the other's traits; a character in a play who sets off the main character or other characters by comparison.