civ lit test

In Medias Res

A narrative technique where the story begins in the middle of the action, commonly used by Homer in The Iliad.

Penelope

The faithful wife of Odysseus in The Odyssey, symbolizing loyalty and intelligence.

Argus

Odysseus’s loyal dog in The Odyssey, representing fidelity and the passage of time.

Epic Invocation

A formal plea to a muse for inspiration at the beginning of an epic poem, as seen in The Iliad and The Odyssey.

Creon

A character in Sophocles's plays, representing themes of power, law, and moral conflict, particularly in Antigone.

Tragedy

A dramatic genre involving serious themes and the downfall of the protagonist, exemplified in works by Sophocles and Euripides.

Divine Comedy

Dante Alighieri’s epic poem detailing the journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven.

Terza Rima

A poetic form consisting of tercets with an interlocking rhyme scheme, used in Divine Comedy.

Paolo and Francesca

Characters from Divine Comedy, representing tragic love and the consequences of desire.

Virgil

The Roman poet who authored The Aeneid, influencing Dante and embodying the ideals of Roman virtue.

Nostoi

Greek term referring to the theme of homecoming, particularly in The Odyssey.

Sophocles

An ancient Greek playwright known for his tragedies, notably Oedipus Rex.

Homer

The legendary ancient Greek poet traditionally said to be the author of The Iliad and The Odyssey.

Tragic Flaw

A character trait that leads to the protagonist's downfall, such as hubris in Greek tragedies.

Contrapasso

A term used in Divine Comedy describing the punishment of souls in Hell as a reflection of their sins.

Dramatic Irony

A literary device where the audience knows more than the characters, heightening the tension, as seen in Oedipus Rex.

Tiresias

A blind prophet in Greek mythology, notably featured in Oedipus Rex and The Odyssey, symbolizing insight and foresight.

Epic Simile

An extended simile often used in epic poetry to create vivid imagery, found in works like The Iliad.

Beatrice

A central figure in Divine Comedy, representing divine love and the ideal woman.

Oresteia

A trilogy by Aeschylus dealing with themes of justice, revenge, and the evolution of society.

Catharsis

The emotional release experienced by the audience through the unfolding of tragedy, particularly in Aristotle’s analysis of Greek drama.

Limbo

The first circle of Hell in Divine Comedy, where virtuous non-Christians reside.

Soliloquy

A device where a character speaks their thoughts aloud, revealing inner conflicts; famously used in Shakespeare’s plays.

Blank Verse

Unrhymed iambic pentameter used in English poetry, including works by Shakespeare.

Globe Theatre

The famous playhouse in London associated with Shakespeare and his works.

Brutus

A key figure in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, known for his moral conflict and tragic flaws.

Machiavellian

Referring to political deceit and cunning, inspired by Machiavelli's writings, often associated with characters like Iago in Othello.

“Et tu, Brute”

A line from Julius Caesar reflecting betrayal by a close friend.

Ekphrasis

A literary description of a visual work of art, used to explore themes and emotions in literature.

Battle of Philippi

The pivotal battle in Julius Caesar, marking the end of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Empire.