British Literature I Exam 2

Renaissance

a period (1500s–1600s) of rebirth in art and literature when writers returned to classical ideas, focused on human potential, and experimented with new forms of poetry, drama, and argument

Humanism

A Renaissance belief that humans have reason, dignity, and worth; it encouraged writers to focus on individual experience, education, and classical learning in their works

Petrarchan sonnet

A 14-line poem divided into an octave and a sestet, usually about love, using a problem-and-solution structure common in early Renaissance poetry

Shakespearean sonnet

A 14-line poem with three quatrains and a final couplet, using iambic pentameter and a set rhyme scheme, often exploring love, time, and human emotion

Octet

An 8-line section of a poem, often used in Petrarchan sonnets to present a problem or question

Sestet

A 6-line section that follows the octave in a Petrarchan sonnet, often giving a response or resolution

Quatrain

A group of 4 lines in a poem; Shakespearean sonnets use three of these to develop an idea

Couplet

A pair of two rhyming lines, often used at the end of a Shakespearean sonnet to deliver a final twist or conclusion

Iamb

A two-syllable rhythm where the stress is on the second syllable (da-DUM); the main meter in Shakespeare’s poetry

Trochee

A two-syllable rhythm where the stress is on the first syllable (DUM-da); often used for emphasis or to create a heavier beat

Tetrameter

A line of poetry with four stressed beats (four feet)

Pentameter

A line of poetry with five stressed beats; the most common meter in Renaissance English poetry

Hexameter

A line of poetry with six stressed beats; less common in English but used to create a grand or epic feel

Alliteration

The repetition of the same initial consonant sound in nearby words, often used for emphasis or musical effect

Carpe diem

A Latin phrase meaning “seize the day”; in poetry, it encourages enjoying life and love before it passes

Enjambment

When a sentence or phrase runs over from one line of poetry to the next without a pause

Pastoral

A type of literature that idealizes rural life and nature, often featuring shepherds and simple, peaceful settings

Elegy

A poem that mourns the death of a person or reflects on loss and sorrow

Novel

A long work of fictional prose that tells a story about characters and events, often exploring society or human nature

Conceit

An extended, often unusual or clever metaphor that compares two very different things

Metaphysical poets

17th-century English poets (like John Donne) known for intellectual, witty, and complex poetry using conceits and exploring love, religion, and philosophy

Libretto

The text or lyrics of an opera or musical, written to be set to music

Aria

A solo song in an opera that expresses a character’s emotions or thoughts

Union of the Crowns (1603)

When James VI of Scotland became James I of England, uniting the two crowns under one monarch (date)

King James Bible (1611)

An English translation of the Bible, known for its poetic language and lasting influence on English literature (date)

Interregnum (1649-1660)

The period when England had no king after Charles I was executed, marked by Puritan rule under Oliver Cromwell (date)

Restoration (1660)

The period when the monarchy was restored in England under Charles II, bringing back theaters and arts (date)

Glorious Revolution (1688)

The bloodless overthrow of King James II in favor of William and Mary, establishing parliamentary supremacy (date)