May Vocab Quiz

Alliteration

The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.

Antagonist

A person who is opposed to, struggles against, or competes with another; opponent; adversary.

Connotation

The associated or secondary meaning of a word or expression in addition to its explicit or primary meaning.

Dialogue

Conversation between two or more people as a feature of a book, play, or movie.

Diction

The choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing.

Irony

The expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.

Flashback

A scene in a movie, novel, etc., set in a time earlier than the main story.

Foreshadow

Be a warning or indication of (a future event).

Hyperbole

Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.

Imagery

Visually descriptive or figurative language, especially in a literary work.

Juxtaposition

The fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect.

Metaphor/Simile

A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable; a simile is a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind (e.g., as brave as a lion).

Personification

The attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something nonhuman, or the representation of an abstract quality in human form.

Protagonist

The leading character or one of the major characters in a drama, movie, novel, or other fictional text.

Symbol

A thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract.

Syntax

The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language.

Theme

The subject of a talk, a piece of writing, a person's thoughts, or an exhibition; a unifying or dominant idea or motif.

Tone

The general character or attitude of a place, piece of writing, situation, etc.

Idealistic

Characterized by idealism; unrealistically aiming for perfection.

Martyr

A person who is killed because of their religious or other beliefs.

Omniscient

Knowing everything.

Reminisce

Indulge in enjoyable recollection of past events.

Nostalgic

Characterized by or exhibiting feelings of nostalgia.

Redundant

Not or no longer needed or useful; superfluous.

Superficial

Appearing to be true or real only until examined more closely.

Transcend

Be or go beyond the range or limits of (a field of activity or conceptual sphere).

Vacuous

Having or showing a lack of thought or intelligence; mindless.

Admonish

Reprimand or warn someone gently but firmly.

Ambiguous

Open to more than one interpretation; having a double meaning.

Subtle

So delicate or precise as to be difficult to describe or analyze.

Nuance

A subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound.

Plight

A dangerous, difficult, or otherwise unfortunate situation.