313 Vocab

Mimesis

Limitation or imitation in art and literature, often serving to reflect reality and explore the relationship between representation and authenticity.

Dialect

A specific form of language or speech pattern unique to a particular region or social group, reflecting cultural heritage, historical background, and social identity.

Angel in the House by Coventry Patmore

Explores marriage to an idealized woman characterized as submissive and domestic, critiquing societal expectations placed on women.

Bootstrap Philosophy

Individuals can succeed through hard work, perseverance, and a strong moral compass, despite starting from humble beginnings.

Naturalism (American Literature)

Depicts characters in situations they cannot control illustrating that nature shapes human experience.

Color Lines

Highlights modern racial discrimination and legalized segregation, addressing the struggle against systemic inequality.

Cult of True Womanhood

Set of social constructs defining a woman’s life according to four virtues: piety, purity, submissiveness, and domesticity.

Matthew Arnold's Perspective

Believed in using all branches of knowledge to explain things, advocating for a holistic understanding of cultural and societal issues.

Enlightenment Feminism

Women began demanding that liberty, equality, and natural rights be applied to both sexes, advocating for social reforms.

Orientalism

Concept developed by Edward Said, critiquing Western misconceptions and depictions of Eastern cultures.

Struggle for Existence

The social and economic challenges individuals face in a rapidly changing society, reflecting themes of social Darwinism.

Eurocentrism

The dominance of European cultural patterns, often leading to the marginalization of non-European cultures.

Evolution

Gradual change in a species over time, explaining the development of diversity in life through natural selection.

Talented Tenth

Refers to the top 10% of educated African American men who can lead the black community, coined by W.E.B. Du Bois.

Feudal Economy

An economic system where peasants work land owned by nobles in exchange for protection and sustenance.

Proverbs

Short, concrete aphorisms expressing truths, reflecting societal attitudes and binding communities.

The Woman Question

Debate surrounding the role of unmarried women, autonomy, rights, and social expectations.

First Wave Feminism

Began in the mid-1800s focusing on women's suffrage and legal rights.

Progeny

Offspring; descendants produced by organisms, often highlighting themes of legacy.

"War of all against all" (Thomas Hobbes)

Concept illustrating human nature as self-interested without a governing authority.

Progress

Movement towards improvement, reflecting the ideal of gradual betterment in societal norms.

"World of Ideas" (Edmund Burke)

Intellectual world where concepts influence political and social realities.

French Revolution

The 1789 rebellion against the French monarchy due to economic hardships and social inequality.

Aesthetic

Concerned with the appreciation of beauty and art, often challenging societal norms.

Race as a Social Construct

Racial classifications defined by social perceptions, highlighting societal beliefs about race.

Anarchy

A state of disorder resulting from the absence of authority or government.

Realism (American & British)

A literary style emphasizing the depiction of real-life events and characters.

Artifice

Clever tricks used in literature to create effects, prompting readers to engage with the text.

Hegemony

Refers to dominance of certain states over others, examining how ideologies maintain authority.

Barbarians

Term used to denote uncivilized cultures, reflecting biased Eurocentric views.

Hellenism

Principles associated with classical Greek civilization, influencing Western thought.

Regionalism (American Literature)

A subset of realism focusing on specific local features within literature.

Black Vernacular English (BVE)

A language established within black communities, noted for unique grammatical structures.

Hybrid Identity

An identity blending multiple cultural identities, often arising from globalization.

Romanticism

19th-century movement emphasizing emotion over reason and individual expression.

Ideology

A system of ideas that shapes perceptions and policies within societies.

Bourgeoisie

The middle to upper class in capitalist societies, often characterized by materialism.

Calvinism

Religious doctrine emphasizing predestination and the sovereignty of God.

Stream of Consciousness

A literary technique depicting character's inner thoughts in a fluid narrative.

Child Labor

Common practice in the 19th century where children worked under poor conditions.

Indian Boarding School (Carlisle School)

Institutions aimed at assimilating Native American children into Euro-American culture.

City Planning

The organization and design of urban space and infrastructure.

Individualism

Emphasis on the unique importance of each individual in society.

Utilitarianism

Belief that society should promote the greatest happiness for the greatest number.

Classic Slave Narrative

An autobiography detailing personal hardships of slavery, advocating for its end.

Industrial Revolution (British & American)

Period marked by industrial growth and exploitation of child labor.

Classical Literature

Comprises works regarded as masterpieces from ancient civilizations.

Liberty

Freedom associated with civil rights and individual autonomy.

Literary Impressionism

An aesthetic movement emphasizing fleeting moments and subjective experiences.

Criticism

Literature offering analysis and evaluation of societal norms.

Manifesto

Public declaration of policies or intentions, often rallying collective action.

Culture

Collective beliefs and traditions of specific groups.

Second Wave Feminism

Focused on achieving broader equality for women in various spheres.

Metafiction

Fiction emphasizing its own fictional status, questioning the nature of storytelling.

Middle-Class Confessional Poets

Poets exploring personal issues through intimate expressions.

Confessional Poetry

A personal form of poetry revealing the poet's inner self.

Machine Age

Period marked by changes due to technological advancements.

Universalism

Idea that certain themes in stories resonate universally.

Veil Metaphor

A metaphor signifying obfuscation or partial revelation.

Language of White Supremacism

Terms reflecting racist ideologies of racial purity.

Vorticism

An early 20th-century movement emphasizing abstract art and modern life.

Imagism

A literary movement advocating for clarity in imagery and language.

Imperialism

Utilizing military power to impose dominance, often leading to economic exploitation.

Fragmentation

Refers to non-linear narrative styles in literature reflecting contemporary life.

Postmodernism

An intellectual movement characterized by skepticism towards grand narratives.

Abolitionist Movement

Literary movement aimed at exposing slavery's horrors and advocating for its end.

Futurism

Artistic movement celebrating technology and modernity while rejecting traditional constraints.

Harlem Renaissance

Cultural movement celebrating African American identity and heritage in the 1920s.