HNRS 2100 Term Identification

Oracle at Delphi

The Oracle at Delphi is the sacred place where the gods speak through a priest to predict the future. In Oedipus Rex, the Oracle tells Oedipus that he will kill his father and marry his mother, a prophecy that drives the entire plot and shows how fate can control human lives.

Sophrosyne

“Nothing in Excess” - Sophrosyne means balance and moderation. In the play, it serves as a moral warning against Oedipus’s rashness and pride as he pushes too hard to uncover the truth.

Muthos

Muthos refers to the plot or story that shapes a tragedy. In Oedipus Rex, the tightly structured plot leads Oedipus from solving Laius’s murder to discovering that he himself is the killer, creating a perfect tragic design.

Catharsis

Catharsis is the emotional release the audience experiences—feeling pity for Oedipus’s suffering and fear of how fate can destroy even the most noble people.

Peripeteia

Reversal of Fortune – Peripeteia is the sudden change from success to failure. For Oedipus, it’s when he goes from a powerful king to a blind, exiled man, showing how life can turn in an instant.

Anagnorisis

Recognition – Anagnorisis is Oedipus’s moment of realization when he understands that he has killed his father and married his mother, completing his tragic fall.

Epiphany

In Oedipus Rex, an epiphany is Oedipus’s sudden realization that he is the murderer he has been searching for and has unknowingly fulfilled the prophecy of killing his father and marrying his mother. This moment transforms him from ignorance to self

Hamartia

Hamartia means “missing the mark” through action rather than character flaw. Oedipus’s hamartia is his relentless pursuit of the truth about Laius’s murder, done in ignorance but leading to his ruin.

Hubris

Hubris is excessive pride or arrogance. Oedipus’s belief that he can outsmart fate and uncover the truth on his own shows his hubris and contributes to his destruction.

Exordium

Socrates’ Introduction – The exordium is the opening of Socrates’s speech, where he introduces himself to the Athenian jury and sets the tone for his defense by emphasizing honesty and humility.

Peroration

Closing Statement – The peroration is the final part of Socrates’s speech, where he reminds the jury that living a good, examined life is more important than avoiding death, reinforcing his philosophy of moral truth.

Digression

A digression is a short detour from the main argument. Socrates uses digressions to explain his purpose as a philosopher and why he questions people to reveal their ignorance.

Gadfly

The gadfly metaphor compares Socrates to an insect that constantly irritates a horse. Socrates “bites” Athens out of moral laziness, awakening the people to think critically and question authority.

Maieutic (Midwife Method)

Socrates’s maieutic method means “midwifing” ideas. Instead of teaching directly, he helps others give birth to their own understanding through questioning, reflecting his belief in self-discovery through dialogue.

Talk Story

Talk story is the Chinese oral tradition of sharing history and legends through storytelling. Kingston uses it to connect with her heritage and shape her own identity by reclaiming the stories of her ancestors.

Gourd – Water Guord/Symbolic Gourd

A gourd, often used in Chinese culture for drinking or healing, symbolizes transformation, protection, and connection to tradition. In Kingston’s writing, it represents cultural continuity and personal strength.

Silence and Voice

Kingston explores how women are silenced in traditional culture and how speaking or storytelling allows them to claim identity and power.

Heroic Narrative / Reclamation

Kingston retells myths and family stories to show that women can be strong, brave, and independent, challenging cultural limits on female identity.

Epistolatory

Between the World and Me is written as an epistolary, or letter, from Coates to his son. This form makes the book intimate and personal, allowing Coates to teach about race, fear, and identity in America.

Epigraph

An epigraph is a quote placed at the beginning of a work to introduce its themes. Coates uses epigraphs from writers like Richard Wright to frame his discussion of racism, self-knowledge, and survival.

Identity and Vulnerability

Coates emphasizes that being Black in America shapes your identity and sense of danger. Understanding these realities is part of discovering who you are.

Brotberuf

Breadwinner Job – Gregor’s “breadwinner” job defines his identity and purpose. When he can no longer work after transforming into an insect, his family’s rejection shows how his worth was tied to labor, not love.

Nabokov

Struggle of the Artist – Shows how individuals can feel trapped by society. Gregor’s experience reflects the conflict between personal identity and societal or family expectations.

Anthropomorphism

Anthropomorphism is giving human feelings to non-human beings. Gregor still thinks and feels human emotions even after his transformation, which deepens readers’ sympathy for him.

“Unruhigen” Dreams

– Restless Dreams – Gregor’s dreams show his anxiety, fear, and dissatisfaction with life

Transformed into an “Ungeheueren Ungeziefer”

Gregor becomes a “giant, monstrous bug,” symbolizing alienation, identity loss, and rejection by society and family.

Metamorphosis

The change Gregor undergoes, both physically and socially, showing how sudden life changes can force self discovery or isolation.

Kafkaesque

Kafkaesque describes situations that feel absurd, oppressive, or hopeless. Gregor’s world becomes confusing and cruel, showing how individuals can feel powerless against life’s unfairness.