British Lit Vocab

What is Romanticism?

A movement emphasizing imagination, nature, emotion, and individualism, reacting against Enlightenment rationalism.

What does Ecocriticism study?

An interdisciplinary field studying literature's relation to the environment and critiquing cultural views on nature.

Define Pantisocracy.

A utopian theory advocating for an equal, non-hierarchical society.

What is imagination in the context of Romanticism?

The creative mental power central to perception and artistic expression, seen as divine.

What is fancy?

A lesser, more superficial form of imagination focused on trivial ideas.

What is an interpretive gloss?

Marginal notes added to texts to explain or clarify meaning.

What is a ballad?

A narrative poem in quatrains, often telling dramatic stories.

Define lyric poetry.

A short poem expressing personal feelings or thoughts, usually in first-person.

What is apostrophe in poetry?

Addressing a person, object, or concept directly in a poem.

What are contraries in the context of Romanticism?

The idea that opposites are necessary for understanding and growth.

What is imperfect rhyme?

A rhyme with similar but not identical sounds.

What is anaphora?

Repetition of a phrase at the beginning of successive lines for emphasis.

Define polyptoton.

Repetition of a word in different grammatical forms.

What is internal rhyme?

A rhyme within a single line of poetry.

What is a stanza?

A grouped set of lines in a poem, often with a fixed rhyme scheme.

What does feminist criticism examine?

A critical approach that examines women’s roles and contributions in literature.

What is meant by nature’s fragility?

The theme of nature’s vulnerability to harm.

Describe the sublime in literature.

An overwhelming experience of awe or terror inspired by nature.

What is The Marriage of Heaven and Hell about?

Blake’s work arguing that opposites are essential for understanding.

What critique did Romantics have regarding the Industrial Revolution?

They critiqued the period of industrialization for its harm to nature.

Negative Capability

The ability to embrace uncertainty and doubt without seeking definite answers.

The Ode:

 A formal, lyrical poem that praises a person, event, or idea.

Sonnet:

A 14-line poem in iambic pentameter with a set rhyme scheme.

Volta:

A shift in tone or argument within a sonnet.

The Romantic Sublime:

An overwhelming mix of awe and fear, often inspired by nature.

Encomiastic Poetry:

Poetry written to praise or glorify someone or something.

Cyclical Movement:

Recurring patterns in poetry reflecting natural cycles.

Iambic Pentameter:

A metrical pattern of five unstressed-stressed syllables per line.

Interpretive Structure:

How a poem’s form shapes its meaning.