Poetry AQA vocabulary

Hubristic

dangerously proud

Autocratic

absolute ruler

Transience

brief existence

Annihilation

total destruction

Ironised

power made ridiculous

Hegemonic

ruling, dominant power

Carceral

prison-like control

Panoptical

constant surveillance

Institutionalised

built into systems

Dehumanised

stripped of humanity

Sublimity

overwhelming natural power

Existential

about human existence

Insignificance

human smallness

Primordial

ancient, original force

Introspective

inward reflection

Misogynistic

hatred of women

Objectification

treating a person as property

Patriarchal

male-dominated power

Possessive

controlling ownership

Duplicity

double-faced behaviour

Futility

pointless sacrifice

Militaristic

obsessed with war

Blind obedience

unquestioning loyalty

Collectivised

loss of individuality

Heroised

glorified falsely

Psychological

mental suffering

Desensitised

emotionally numbed

Existential

questioning purpose

Relentless

never ending

Futility

lack of meaning

Apocalyptic

end-of-world scale

Volatile

violently unstable

Implacable

unstoppable

Sublime

terrifying beauty

Insentient

uncaring force

Disoriented

mentally confused

Instinctual

driven by survival

Dehumanised

reduced to an object

Traumatised

mentally scarred

Immediate

happening instantly

Internalised

mentally absorbed

Trauma

lasting psychological damage

Fragmented

broken mentally

Haunted

unable to escape memory

Guilt-ridden

overwhelmed by guilt

Desensitised

emotionally numb

Detached

emotionally distant

Voyeuristic

watching suffering

Moralised

turned into judgement

Hypocritical

false concern

Maternal

motherly

Domestic

home-based life

Inevitable

unavoidable loss

Silent suffering

hidden pain

Displacement

emotional removal

Ephemeral

short-lived

Fragile

easily destroyed

Impermanent

not lasting

Translucent

partially revealing

Idealistic

hopeful but unrealistic

Idealised

unrealistically perfect

Nostalgic

longing for the past

Alienated

emotionally isolated

Corrupted

morally damaged

Identity-forming

shaping selfhood

Marginalised

pushed aside

Reclaimed

taken back

Subversive

challenging authority

Empowering

giving power

Colonial

linked to empire

Indoctrinated

conditioned beliefs

Dishonour

loss of honour

Conflict

duty vs humanity

Rejection

social exclusion

Regret

sorrow over choice