Pre-AP ELA Semester 2 Final

Stupor (Noun)

A dazed state brought on by shock or lack of sleep

Savvy (Adjective)

Intelligent and well-informed

Nonchalant (Adjective)

Calm and unconcerned about things

Skeptical (Adjective)

Doubtful and unbelieving

Noxious (Adjective)

Physically harmful, poisonous

Covert (Adjective)

Secret, not intended to be known

Labyrinth (Noun)

A confusing maze, or something very complicated

Nuzzle (Verb)

Rub something with the nose or face

Plethora (Noun)

A very large amount or number

Qualm (Noun)

A sudden feeling of uncertainty or anxiety.

Elusive (Adjective)

Hard to find or catch.

Phenomenon (Noun)

Somebody or something truly extraordinary or marvelous

Accolade (Noun)

Sign or expression of high praise.

Oblivious (Adjective)

Unaware of or paying no attention to somebody or something

Cryptic (Adjective)

Mysterious and secret

Lamented (Verb)

To be sad about something

Heed (Verb)

Pay attention to advice

Renegade (Noun)

An outlaw

Hiatus (Noun)

A break or interruption in time

Staunch (Adjective)

Showing loyalty, dependability, and enthusiasm

Vortex (Noun)

A whirling mass of water or air, such as a whirlpool or tornado.

Menacing (Adjective)

Showing intention to harm, threatening

Calamity (Noun)

A disastrous situation or event

Treachery (Noun)

Betrayal or deceit

Wrench (Verb)

To pull something away forcefully, often using a twisting movement.

Primordial (Adjective)

Primitive, from the ancient, original stages in the development of something.

Trounce (Verb)

To defeat an opponent or team convincingly

Ravenous (Adjective)

Extremely hungry

Articulate (Adjective)

Able to express thoughts, ideas, and feelings clearly

Flounder (Verb)

To make clumsy uncontrolled movements.

Conspicuous (Adjective)

Easily or clearly visible

Scorched (Adjective)

Dried and shriveled from intense heat

Cornucopia (Noun)

A great abundance of something

Tempest (Noun)

A severe storm

Decoy (Noun)

A realistic replica

Lethargic (Adjective)

Physically slow and mentally dull as a result of tiredness.

Churlish (Adjective)

Gloomy, grumpy, and rude

Comrade (Noun)

Somebody who is either a close friend or companion.

Livid (Adjective)

Very angry, enraged

Opulent (Adjective)

Rich and wealthy

Exemplary (Adjective)

So good or admirable that others would do well to copy it.

Trivial (Adjective)

Lacking in seriousness, importance, significance, or value.

Precocious (Adjective)

Exceptionally smart, ahead of age in understanding.

Lummox (Noun)

Somebody who is clumsy or unintelligent.

Oust (Verb)

To use force to remove somebody from a place.

Succulent (Adjective)

Juicy and pleasant to the taste

Incessant (Adjective)

Continuing for a long time without stopping.

Caustic (Adjective)

Very sarcastic, in a way that is bitter or hurtful.

Animosity (Noun)

A feeling or spirit of hostility and resentment.

Scrutinize (Verb)

To examine something closely and carefully.

Anomaly (Noun)

Something that is different than what is normal or expected.

Charlatan (Noun)

Somebody who falsely claims a special skill or expertise.

Indigenous (Adjective)

Native to a region or country.

Epiphany (Noun)

A sudden and enlightening discovery, realization, or revelation.

Serene (Adjective)

Without worry, stress, or disturbance.

Feasible (Adjective)

Capable of being accomplished

Usurp (Verb)

To seize, often by force

Jest (Verb)

To act, write, or speak cleverly or humorously about something.

Fickle (Adjective)

Picky, likely to change in preferences.

Finesse (Noun)

An elegant ability and skill

(1837-1901)

The Victorian Era

1859

A Tale of Two Cities

July 14 1789

Taking the Bastille

Anaphora

the repetition of a word phrase

Paradox

A statement that appears contradictory but reveals a deeper truth upon closer examination.

drama

a play written for stage or radio

tragedy

a dramatic play that tells the story of a main character usually of a noble class

foil

a character whose actions or thoughts are contrasted against those of a major character to highlight key attributes of the major character.

Subtext

the underlying or implied meaning in dialogue or the implied relationship between characters in a book

monologue

a dramatic speech delivered by a character.

soliloquy

a long speech delivered by an actor alone on the stage, usually representing his or her internal thoughts.

iambic pentameter

a pattern of ten syllables (NOT words) per line in which every other syllable is stressed

Tragic Flaw

a character flaw that brings about the downfall of a tragic hero.

Oxymoron

a figure of speech that puts together opposite elements. The combination of these contradicting elements serves to reveal a paradox, confuse, or give the reader a laugh.