Frankenstein Vocabulary

Allusion

Reference to a person, place, thing, event, or artistic work outside of the text

Epistolary

Novel or literary work structured in the form of letters

Foil

Character who contrasts with another character, highlighting their contrasting traits

Foreshadowing

Details that hint at an event that will happen later in the story

Frame Narrative

Story that frames, or surrounds, another story; the outer narrative usually ties together, comments on, or further develops the themes of the inner narrative(s)

Imagery

Vivid description of how something looks, sounds, smells, tastes, or feels

Irony

Absurd or extreme difference between the way things are and the way they are expected to be; or a statement that means the opposite of what it appears to mean

Mood

Emotional atmosphere of a narrative; how the author makes the reader feel

Setting

Time and place in which a narrative takes place

Symbolism

Use of signs, shapes, or objects to represent ideas or emotions

Theme

Commentary on society or human life expressed through a work of literature

Tone

Writer or speaker’s attitude towards the subject

Cadaverous

(adj.) of or like a corpse; pale, gaunt, thin

Commiserate

(v.) to sympathize with, have pity or sorrow for, share a feeling of distress

Pretentious

(adj.) attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually possessed

Restitution

(n) payment for an injury; compensation

Prosaic

(adj.) dull, lacking in distinction and originality; matter-of-fact, straightforward

Precipitous

(adj.) very steep

Heinous

(adj.) very wicked, offensive, hateful

Definitive

(adj.) conclusive, final, representing the limit of what can be done

Flagrant

adj. highly offensive

Pensive

adj. deeply or dreamily thoughtful

Venerable

adj. worthy of respect or reverance

Vengeance

n. punishment inflicted in return for a wrong

Wantonly

adv. maliciously; without restraint

Base

adj. mean-spirited

Exasperated

adj. irritated intensely; infuriated

Inexorable

adj. unyielding

Insurmountable

adj. impossible to overcome

Irksome

adj. annoying

Listless

adj. lacking energy

Machinations

n. crafty schemes; plots; intrigues

Malicious

adj. deliberately harmful

Torpor

n. state of inactivity or apathy

Traverse

v. to travel across

Adversary

n. enemy; opponent

Consternation

n. state of confusion

Evaded

v. to escape by trickery or cleverness

Formidable

adj. of discouraging strength, size, difficulty, etc; intimidating

Illustrious

adj. very distinguished

Incredulous

adj. discinclined or indisposed to believe; skeptical

Malignity

n. ill-will, hatred, malice

Omnipotence

adj. all-powerful

Pilgrimage

n. long journey for a spiritual purpose

Prophetic

adj. predictive; presageful or portentous; ominous