Aday Vocab Words

protagonist

the main character of a story around which the plot revolves

psalm

a sacred song or hymn, often used for Christian or Jewish worship

pun

a joke exploiting the double meaning of words

quatrain

four lines of poetry that form a unit

realism

the practice of accepting a situation, person, or thing as it actually is

refrain

words or lines that are repeated at regular intervals in a song or poem

resolution

the outcome of the plot where the plot is solved

rhyme

the repetition of vowel or consonant sounds in a work

rhythm

arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line

rising action

the events that build toward the climax and develop interest

romance

stories in an idealized world dealing with heroic adventures and battles between good and evil

satire

writing that ridicules the weaknesses and wrong-doings of society

scansion

the analysis of the meter in a poem

sestet

six lines of poetry or stanza

setting

the time and place in which a story occurs

simile

comparing two things using 'like' or 'as'

soliloquy

a long speech delivered alone on stage in a play

sonnet

a 14 lined poem

stereotype

an idea about a person, place, or thing that reflects its nature but not its true individual form

stream of consciousness

the natural flow of a character's thoughts and feelings as the character experiences them

style

the way in which the writer or artist creates material

suspense

the feeling of uncertainty the audience feels in a work

symbol

anything in a work that stands for something larger than itself

theme

the main point of a story or work expressed by the writer

tone

the attitude the writer takes towards the subject

tragedy

a work where the protagonist meets an unhappy ending

wit

the smart and clever expressions of someone, intelligence

synopsis

a short outline or review of main points

myopic

nearsighted; lacking vision or foresight

adumbrate

to briefly outline or describe

umbrage

anger caused by an insult or slight

discern

to see or make out clearly; to recognize

discretion

a carefulness in what one says or does; prudence

discrete

separate; distinct

apprise

to make aware of; to notify

comprise

to consist of; to contain

reprehensible

deserving condemnation; terribly wrong

vociferous

loud and noisy in making one's feelings known

avocation

something done for pleasure; a hobby

vocation

a profession; a trade

univocal

having a single, clear meaning

verbiage

an overabundance of words; excessive wordiness

verbatim

word-for-word

verbose

using too many words

reticent

not saying much; tight-lipped

tacit

understood as meant but not openly said; implied

taciturn

characterized by infrequent speech; silent

magniloquent

high-flown and elevated in speech

loquacious

very talkative

circumlocution

a roundabout or overly long way of saying something

colloquy

a formal conversation or dialogue

obloquy

a harsh criticism; an abuse

consign

to deliver, especially to a negative fate or outcome

resignation

an acceptance of something that cannot be changed; a patient submission

signatory

a party to a contract, treaty, or other legal document

proscribe

to forbid; to outlaw

ascribe

to think of as belonging to or coming from; to assign

circumscribe

to tightly limit or restrict

locus

a specific place; especially the center of an activity or event

in lieu of

in place of

allocate

to set aside for a special purpose

apposite

relevant or appropriate

interpose

to come between verbally; to insert a remark

composite

a combination; a blend

utopian

of an ideal nature; model

dystopian

nightmarish; grim

topical

dealing with current subject matter; relevant

anathema

something hated or strongly avoided

epithet

a phrase or term that describes something or someone