American Literature Unit 7 Exam 6 Vocan Griggs

in medias res

in or into the middle of a plot; into the middle of things

Plot device

An object, character, or event whose only reason for existing is to advance the story. Often breaks suspension of disbelief.

Flashback

A method of narration in which present action is temporarily interrupted so that the reader can witness past events

Foreshadowing

A narrative device that hints at coming events; often builds suspense or anxiety in the reader.

Characterization

the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character

free verse

Poetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme

end-stopped lines

lines in which both the grammatical structure and the sense reach completion at the end

emjambed lines

reflective essay

conveys the writer's thoughts and feelings about a personal experience or an idea.

theme

Central idea of a work of literature

biopsy

diagnostic examination of a piece of tissue from the living body

terminal

Causing or forming an end

demise

a death, especially of a person in a lofty position

insatiable

so great or demanding as not to be satisfied

Aphorisms

short sayings with a message

insidious

intended to deceive or entrap; sly, treacherous

deferments

an excuse, issued by the draft board, that lets a person be excused from military

envious

full of jealousy for another's possessions

efficient

being effective without wasting time or effort or expense

gingerly

with extreme care or caution

pathetic

arousing pity

serene

calm, peaceful

lamented

mourned or grieved for

Alienation

feeling isolated and separated from everyone else

atrophied

wasted away

cynical

doubtful or distrustful of the goodness or sincerity of human motives

anguish

severe mental or physical pain or suffering

agitated

feeling or appearing troubled or nervous

mimicking

imitating

hoisting

lifting or pulling up

clamoring

a loud uproar, as from a crowd of people

nostalgia

a longing for something past; homesickness

imminent

likely to happen; threatening

ambivalence

the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes

egotistical

Excessively self-absorbed; very conceited

grapple

struggle

opiate

a narcotic used to cause sleep or bring relief from pain

Synagogue

Jewish house of worship

murky

dark and gloomy

bocce

a game like bowling

antidote

a remedy that stops or controls the effects of a poison

indecipherable

not able to be read or understood

Solidarity

Support or sympathy; unity

agnostic

one who believes that the existence of a god can be neither proven nor disproven

transcend

to rise above or beyond, exceed

exuberance

overflowing abundance; joyful enthusiasm; flamboyance; lavishness

quivered

tremble or shake with a slight rapid motion

ambitious

having or showing a strong desire and determination to succeed

deficient

not having enough; lacking

Materialism

preoccupation with physical comforts and things

Lavaliere

jewelled pendant worn on a chain around the neck

responsive

answering or replying

laurel

tree whose leaves sometimes signify victory

lilting

Saying or doing something with a rise and fall in the voice, often cheerfully

impermanent

not lasting forever

vulnerability

susceptibility or tendency to develop a disorder

instinctively

acting on an inner feeling; done without thinking

deceptively

misleadingly

exploiting

taking advantage of

snarled

growled

levitate

to cause to hover or float above the ground

inclination

tendency

sultry

hot and humid

inadequacy

insufficiency

manipulating

adapting or changing to suit one's purpose

revel

to take great pleasure in; a wild celebration

mogul

a rich or powerful person

disillusioned

disappointed in someone or something that one discovers to be less good than one had believed

comradship

friendship

colleagues

co-workers, people who have the same career

inconsequential

trifling, unimportant

stagnated

stopped the progress of

Pilgrimage

A journey to a place considered sacred for religious purposes.

catheter

tube for injecting or removing fluids

gargle

To clean your throat and mouth with a liquid that you move around in your throat and then spit out.

fatigued

tired or worn out

ruddy

having a healthy red color

accosted

approached in a harsh manner; assaulted

corpses

dead bodies

intuitive

instinctive, untaught

Commodes

a chair or wheelchair with an opening for a container

supplements

nourishment

Solidifying

The process whereby the particles in a liquid lose energy and become a solid.

squemish

inclined to nausea

stoic

A person who can endure pain or hardship without showing their feelings or complaining.

patriarch

the male head of a family or tribe/church

reconcile

restore friendly relations between

raspy

hoarse or harsh-sounding

facade

a deceptive outward appearance; a misrepresentation

serenly

calmly, peacefully

puree

Foods that are blended to a smooth consistency

alabaster

A white or delicately tinted fine-grained gypsum.

innately

inborn; inherently

coaxed

To attempt to influence by gentle persuasion

estranged

separated; alienated

audible

able to be heard

observant

paying careful attention to; noticing much

scoffed

speak to someone or about something in a scornfully derisive or mocking way

crescent

any shape resembling the curved shape of the moon in its first or last quarters

calisthenics

light exercise designed to promote general fitness