ENGL 102 Final Definitions

Part 1 of the ENGL 102 Final. With professor Dylan Calmes

Ekphrasis

Artwork describing another work of art

Lumpenproletariat/Odradek/Schwarz

Odradek represents a utopian possibility that is useless, immortal, and outside capitalist logic, analyzed through symptomatic reading.

Kantian schema for art

Art is self-contained and complete without external purpose, tied to beauty and the sublime.

Symptomatic Reading

A critical approach to analyzing texts by uncovering hidden meanings through signs of what the text cannot openly express.

Ex. Roberto Schwarz essay on “Cares of a Family Man” Kafka

Jameson’s Utopian Method

Seeing bad/capitalist systems as having utopian possibilities (e.g., Walmart’s efficiency).

MFA Style Short Story

Polished, metaphor-rich, often political stories shaped by MFA programs.

Ex. Ant of the Self (explores race, masculinity, alienation)

Wiindigo Infrastructure

Physical and systemic structures—such as pipelines, dams, roads, and prisons—that facilitate settler colonialism by exploiting and depleting natural resources, often at the expense of Indigenous lands and communities

Ex. Fleur by Louise Erdrich

Anaphora

Repetition at the beginning of lines or sentences.

Epistrophe

Repetition at the end of lines or sentences.

Assonance

Repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words.

Consonance

Repetition of consonant sounds, especially in the middle or end.

Alliteration

Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.

Enjambment

Line breaks without punctuation—adds momentum, surprise, or tension.

Ex. “I Know a Man” by Robert Kreely

English (Shakespearean) Sonnet

14 lines

• Has 3 quatrains (4 lines each)

  • ABAB

  • CDCD

  • EFEF

  • Volta (change is more drastic than petrarchan)

• 2 lines complet

  • GG

Petrarchan Sonnet

14 lines

• Presents 2 sides with different "arguments"

• In two sections (almost equal size)

  1. 8-line stanza (Octave) (Poetic paragraph)

     • ABBA ABBA

  • Volta (In between these 2 segments)

  2. 6-line sestet

  • CDCDCD or

  • CDECDE

Volta

The thematic or tonal 'turn' in a poem, especially sonnets.

Villanelle

19 lines

• 5 tercets (3-line stanzas)

  • ABA

• 1 quatrain (4-line stanza)

  • ABAA

• Uses only 2 rhyme sounds throughout

Explore obsession, grief, and emotional intensity through their cyclical, echoing structure.

Poem’s Speaker

The voice telling the poem—not necessarily the poet.

Medium Specificity

A concept that suggests a work of art is successful when it utilizes the unique properties of its specific medium

Ex. “The Singers” by Ivan Turgenev

Capitalist Realism

Belief that there is no alternative to capitalism; theme in 'Snowpiercer', 'Children of Men'.

Necrofuturity

Capitalism leads to death but continues anyway—'the future is dead, keep going.'

Theme in Children of Men by Alfonso Cuarón.

Epistolary Fiction

a narrative told through the medium of letters, journal entries, documents, or other forms of written communication

Magical Realism

Blends the magical with real life to expose deeper truths about reality

ex. 'Fleur' or 'A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings’ by Gabriel Márquez

1st Person Narration

Narration from the 'I' perspective; can be unreliable.

Catharsis

the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions.

Feudalism

Medieval hierarchy based on land and loyalty—context in 'King Lear' Ex. Edmund since he’s a bastard wont inheret Gloucester’s land.

Interregnum

Time between rulers or systems—used in 'King Lear' to show political chaos.

Metaphor/Simile/Implied Metaphor

Comparisons; simile uses 'like/as', metaphor doesn't, implied is subtle.

Lipogram

A text that omits a specific letter (e.g., no 'e').

Ex. “Ballad in A” by Cathy Park Hong

Gothic

Genre focused on the dark, supernatural, and emotional extremes

ex. 'Frankenstein' by Mary Shelley

Romanticism

A genre tha emphasizes nature, emotion, and individual experience over reason

ex. 'Frankenstein' by Mary Shelly

Novel – What it does

Condenses complex societal ideas and emotions into narrative form.

Sublime

Awe that overwhelms reason; beautiful but terrifying

ex. Vivid scenery in 'Frankenstein' by Mary Shelly

Posthumanism

challenges traditional human-centered views, emphasizing interconnectedness among organisms and complex systems, aiming to disrupt hierarchies and boundaries between humans and other entities

Ex. Bladerunner by Ridley Scott

Genre (Western, Gothic, Noir, Tragedy, Horror)

Each has recognizable features that shape audience expectations.

Frame Narrative

A story within a story

ex. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley consists of Walton's letters to his sister, which frame Victor Frankenstein's story, which in turn frames the Creature's narrative

Noir

A genre characterized by its cynical attitude, moral ambiguity, and crime, often featuring a detective or anti-hero in a dark, atmospheric setting.

Snowpiercer

A film directed by Bong Joon-ho centered around a climate catastrophe.

“The Cares of a Family Man”

A short story by Franz Kafka exploring familial responsibility.

“The Singers”

A work by Yuri Olesha that delves into artistic expression.

“Pierre Menard, Author of the Quixote”

A story by Jorge Luis Borges discussing authorship and interpretation.

“Fleur”

A story by Louise Erdrich that focuses on identity and heritage.

“Out on Bail”

A narrative by Denis Johnson about redemption.

“Ant of the Self”

A short story by ZZ Packer exploring personal identity.

“Bartleby, the Scrivener”

A classic tale by Herman Melville about passive resistance.

King Lear

A tragedy by William Shakespeare that addresses fate and family.

“White, White Collars”

A work by Denis Johnson that critiques modern life.

“One Art”

A poem by Elizabeth Bishop about loss.

“Clair de Lune”

A poem by Billy Collins that evokes nostalgia.

“The Veldt”

A short story by Ray Bradbury that addresses technology's impact.

“Barn Burning”

A story by William Faulkner focusing on justice and loyalty.

“Ballad in A”

A poem by Cathy Park Hong exploring cultural identity.

Children of Men

A film directed by Alfonso Cuarón depicting a dystopian future.

Frankenstein

A novel by Mary Shelley that explores creation and monstrosity.

Blade Runner

A film by Ridley Scott addressing themes of humanity and artificial intelligence.

Oil

A photographic work by Edward Burtynsky highlighting environmental issues.