english spring final 2026

William Shakespeare

English playwright and poet who wrote Romeo and Juliet; important because he shaped English literature and drama.

Iambic pentameter

A poetic rhythm with five pairs of unstressed/stressed syllables per line; commonly used by Shakespeare.

Sonnet

A 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme, often about love.

Setting of Romeo and Juliet

Renaissance Italy; important because the family feud and social rules drive the tragedy.

Verona

The main city where Romeo and Juliet takes place and the feud occurs.

Mantua

The city Romeo is banished to after killing Tybalt.

Foreshadowing

Hints or clues about future events in a story.

Imagery

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses. "The leaves rustled in the wind, whispering secrets through the trees"

Methaphor

A comparison without using “like” or “as.” "She’s a night owl."

Similie

A comparison using “like” or “as.” “as cold as ice”

Personification

Giving human qualities to nonhuman things. ”the wind whispered,"‘

Alliteration

Repetition of beginning consonant sounds. "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers"

Oxymoron

A phrase combining opposite ideas, like “sweet sorrow.”

Allusion

A reference to another person, event, or text. "Pandora’s box" for unexpected trouble

Onomatopoeia

A word that imitates a sound, like “buzz”

Ellipsis

Three dots (…) showing omitted words or a pause.

Plot

The sequence of events in a story: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution.

Foil

A character who contrasts another character to highlight differences.

Symbol

Something that represents a deeper meaning.

Hyperbole

Extreme exaggerations for emphasis. "starving" when just hungry.

Flashback

A scene that shows future events.

Aside

A short comment to the audience that other characters cannot hear.

Monologue

a longer speech by one character while other characters are in the scene- yet these characters do not respond.

Dramatic irony

When the audience knows something the characters do not.

Verbal irony

When someone says the opposite of what they mean.

Situational irony

When the opposite of what is expected happens

Characterization

The methods used to reveal a character’s personality.

Soliloquy

A speech expressing the thoughts and true feelings of a character alone on stage, or a character who thinks he or she is alone on stage.

Denonation

The literal dictionary meaning of a word.

Tone

The author’s attitude toward the subject.

Mood

The feeling the reader gets from the story.

Point of View

The perspective from which a story is told.

Connotation

The emotional or cultural meaning attached to a word.

Romeo

A young Montague who falls in love with Juliet and acts impulsively.

Juliet

A young Capulet who secretly marries Romeo and remains loyal to him.

Mercutio

Romeo’s witty friend whose death changes the play’s mood.

Benvolio

Romeo’s peaceful cousin who tries to avoid conflict, his name means goodwill.

Prince Escalus

Verona’s ruler who tries to stop the feud.

Paris

A nobleman who wants to marry Juliet.

Tybalt

Juliet’s aggressive cousin who hates the Montagues.

Friar Lawrence

The friar who secretly marries Romeo and Juliet.

Nurse

Juliet’s caretaker who advises and supports her.

Friar John

The friar who fails to deliver the important letter to Romeo because he is trapped in quarantine, explaining that Juliet’s death is a ruse.

Rosaline

The girl Romeo loves before meeting Juliet.

“One needs to put away all former and present hate…”

Theme showing that hatred destroys both individuals and communities.

“Passion can control a person to a point of tragedy.”

Theme showing how intense emotions lead Romeo and Juliet to disaster.

“I think it best you married with the County…”

The Nurse tells Juliet to marry Paris after Romeo is banished.

“Oh, look! Methinks I see my cousin's ghost…”

Romeo foreshadows his own death before drinking poison.

“Some shall be pardoned and some punished…”

Prince Escalus emphasizes the tragic lesson of the play.

“In one respect I'll thy assistant be…”

Friar Lawrence agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet hoping to end the feud.

“This is that banished haughty Montague…”

Paris confronts Romeo at Juliet’s tomb.

Setting of Great Expectations

19th-century England, including marshes and London; highlights class differences.

The Tickler

Mrs. Joe’s cane used to punish Pip.

Pip

The main character and narrator of Great Expectations, an orphan turns snobbish.

Biddy

Pip’s kind and intelligent friend who represents honesty.

Estella

Miss Havisham’s adopted daughter whom Pip loves.

Joe

Pip’s loyal and kind brother-in-law, the village blacksmith.

Mrs. Havisham

A wealthy old woman who raises Estella to break hearts.

Mrs. Jaggers

Pip’s powerful lawyer in London.

Wemmick

Jagger’s clerk who becomes Pip’s friend

Mrs. Joe

Pip’s harsh older sister.

Magwitch

The convict who secrely becomes Pip’s benenfactor.

Herbert

Pip’s loyal friend in London, loyal companion, and eventually his business partner.

Matthew

One of the Pockets, Pip’s tutor and Herbert’s father.

Compeyson

A cruel criminal and Magwitch’s enemy

Molly

Jagger’s housekeeper and Estella’s mother.

Miss Skiffins

Wemmick’s future wife.

Trabb’s Boy

A boy who mocks Pip after he becomes wealthy, mischievous.

Orlick

Joe’s bitter worker who later attacks Pip, represents unbridled resentment.

Drummle

A cruel, arrogant, wealthy man who marries Estella and serves as a rival to Pip.

Clarriker

The businessman Herbert eventually works for, Pip secretly pays this man establish a partnership for Herbert.

Clara

Herbert’s gentle fiancée.

Wopsle

A church clerk who later becomes an actor.

Mr. Pumplechook

Pip’s selfish uncle figure who takes credit for Pip’s success.

Provis

The name Magwitch uses in London.

Handel

Herbert’s nickname for Pip.

“Education, money, and social connections…”

Theme showing love and loyalty matter more than wealth or status.

“Just because someone appears…”

Theme showing appearances can be deceiving.

“I am going to Richmond…”

Estella shows how controlled her life is by Miss Havisham.

“For all these reasons…”

Pip explains why he wants to help Herbert financially.

“It seems that there are sentiments, fancies…”

Estella admits she cannot understand love.

“But as she grew…”“But as she grew…”

Miss Havisham confesses she raised Estella to break hearts.

“And then, dear boy…”

Magwitch explains why he worked to make Pip a gentleman.