abashed (adj)
to feel embarrassed or ashamed
(antonym: un____)
adversity (n)
a very difficult or unfavorable situation
alliteration
repetition of the same letter sounds at the beginning of connected words
allusion
a reference to a significant historical, literary, cultural, or political figure or idea
anthropomorphism
non-human beings, like animals or objects, are given human traits, ambitions, emotions and behaviors
apathy (n)
a lack of feeling, emotion, or interest
apparition (n)
someone you see or think you see but who is not really there as a physical being
benevolent (adj)
kind
bewildered (adj)
when you are confused and cannot understand something or decide what you should do
bildungsroman (coming-of-age)
the story of a protagonist who navigates journey of self-discovery as they transition from childhood to adulthood
conciliatory (adj)
trying to end ana argument by making people feel less angry
contemplate (v)
to think about carefully and for a long time
convergence (n)
the coming together of different ideas, groups, or societies; the process by which these groups stop being different and become more similar
(antonym: divergence)
critique (v, n)
(v) to analyze, evaluate, or criticize(n) a piece of writing that analyzes, evaluates, or criticizes
cynical (adj)
believing the worst of human nature and motives
defiance (n)
a behavior or attitude that shows that you are not willing to obey someone
devoid (adj)
emphasizes that someone has nothing of a quality or thing
displacement (n)
the removal of something or someone from its usual place or position by something or someone which then occupies that place or position
dissent (v, n)
protest
dramatic irony
when the reader knows more than the characters know
edification (n)
something done to instruct
end stopping
when a sentence of poetry ends with a period or semicolon at the end of a line
enjambment
when a sentence in poetry spills onto the next line
ephemeral (adj)
lasting for a short period of time
equivocation
using language to deliberately confuse listeners
ethos
a method of persuasion based on the character and credibility of the speaker
euphemism
a gentler way of saying something harsh or uncomfortable
fable
a story which teaches a moral lesson; sometimes includes animals as the main characters
figurative language
language, like simile, metaphor, and personification, that is not meant to be interpreted literally
flash-forward
a jump ahead in time that breaks the chronological order of narrative
flashback
a jump back in time that breaks the chronological order of narrative
futile (adj)
when there is no point in doing something, usually because it has no chance of succeeding
grave (adj)
an event or situation that is very serious, important, or worrying
a person that is quiet and serious in their appearance or behavior
grotesque (adj)
when something is so unnatural, unpleasant, and exaggerated that it upsets or shocks you
heed (v, n)
to pay attention to
hysteria (n)
a state of uncontrolled excitement, anger, or panic among a large group of people
ignorant (adj)
lacking knowledge or awareness
imagery
descriptive language that appeals to the five senses
implicit (adj)
something expressed indirectly
(antonym: explicit)
incumbent (adj, n)
(adj) obligatory, required(n) one who holds a specific office at the time spoken of
irony
the opposite of what is expected
irreparable (adj)
damage or harm that is so bad that it cannot be repaired or corrected
juxtaposition
placing two (or more) images or ideas close together to emphasize the contrast
liable (adj)
likely to happen, probable
logos
a method of persuasion based on logic and reason
manifest (adj)
clear or obvious
manipulate (v)
to control someone or something (unfairly to gain an advantage)
maxim (n)
a short saying; a general truth or rule of conduct
memoir
a narrative, written from the perspective of the author, about an important part of their life. Rather than an autobiography that focuses on facts, memoirists choose a pivotal moment in their lives and try to recreate the event through storytelling.
mitigate (v)
to make something less unpleasant, serious, or painful
motif
an idea, symbol, or image that occurs multiple times in a text
obstinate (adj)
stubborn
oration (n)
a formal speech
oscillate (v)
to move repeatedly from one position to another and back again
paradigm (n)
a typical example or model for something
parallelism
the use of components in a sentence that are grammatically the same. This method adds balance and rhythm to sentences, giving ideas a smoother flow and thus persuasiveness
passive voice
a type of sentence in which the emphasis is on the action, while the subject is not known or de-emphasized
pathos
a method of persuasion based on emotion
perfect rhyme
a rhyme of identical vowel and consonant soundsex: we real cool. We skip school.
personification
attributing human qualities to inanimate objects
plausible (adj)
seems very likely to be true
(antonym: im____)
pretension (n)
a claim that someone is more important than they really are
pretext (n)
a reason that you pretend to have in order to hide your real reason or intention
privilege (n)
a special right or advantage given to only one person or group
prudent (adj)
someone who is sensible and careful
(antonym: im___)
reproach (n, v)
to criticize, reprimand, or scold
resigned (adj)
to accept an unpleasant situation or fact because you realize that you cannot change it
rhetorical triangle
using logos, ethos, and pathos to persuade
satire
the use of humor or exaggeration in order to show how foolish or wicked some behaviors or ideas are
scapegoating
a logical fallacy in which a speaker or leader blames an unpopular person or group of people from a problem
semi-autobiographical
partially about the author's life but contains elements of fiction
shrewd (adj)
tricky and clever (sometimes in a deceptive way)
slant rhyme/imperfect rhyme
a near rhyme where the words contain similar sounds but do not rhyme perfectlyex: we lurk late/we strike straight
slippery slope
stating that a small event will escalate into an extreme outcome
strawman fallacy
attacking a position someone doesn't actually hold
stream of consciousness
narration that captures the free-flowing thoughts of the mind
subjective (adj)
based on personal opinions and feelings rather than facts
(antonym: objective)
suppress (v)
to put down by force or authority; to silence
symbol
when an object, person, or idea in a text has an additional meaning beyond its literal one
tyranny (n)
cruel or oppressive use of power
vain (adj) (first def)
to take extreme pride in your own beauty, intelligence, or other good qualities
vain (adj) (second def)
do something without success
veritable (adj)
actual, true, or real; a word often used in figurative expressions to emphasize the size, amount, or nature of something.
vignette
short scenes that help the reader better understand d a character, idea, or setting
volition (n)
to do something because you have decided for yourself that you will do it and not because someone else has told you to do it.