vocab

Exposition

Prose, information, ordinary language, and writing. Factual, not poetic. Ex: Romeo and Juliet: Family fighting
Dictionary
Expos class

Genre

A category of artistic composition as in music or literature, marked by distinctive style, form or content. Ex: Sci

Style

Way in which a piece of literature is written / refers not to what is said but to how it is said / produced by word choice, grammatical structures, use or literary devices and all possible parts of language use. Ex: Michael Bay Movies vs. Tim Burton
Shakespeare vs. Dickens

Fiction

Novels and stories that describe imaginary people and events. Ex: Harry Potter series
Hunger Games
City of Bruss
Divergent
Maze Runner

Non

Fiction

Abundant

Adj: occurring in profusion; easily and often found
Syn: Ample, polite, plentiful
Ant: Sparse

Assent

V: To agree
Syn: Concur, accord
Ant: Disagree

Brusque

Adj: The quality of being short or rude, especially in speech
Syn: Curt, abrupt
Ant: Tactful, polite

Coercion

N: The use of physical force, threats or fear to obtain a desired result
Syn: Browbeating, intimidating
Ant: Cooperation

Corrode

V: To slowly destroy; to break down overtime, as by acid
Syn: Erode
Ant: Fortify

Demented

Adj: Mentally unbalanced or unhinged; insane
Syn: Delirious, deranged
Ant: Balanced, rational

Diligence

N: Perseverance; an attitude of careful, patient consistency to complete a task
Syn: Industry, alertness
Ant: Laziness

Furtive

Adj: Acting in a suspicious manner; sneaky
Syn: Secretive, cautious, covery
Ant: Forthright

Ignominious

Adj: Dishonorable or disgraceful
Syn: Humiliating, shameful
Ant: Prideful

Insipid

Adj: Lacking in taste or culture
Syn: Unsavory, distasteful
Ant: Well

Conflict

A struggle between two opposing forces. External → Involving a character pitted against an outside force
(ex: man vs nature, man vs society, man vs physical object, & man vs man)
Internal → Occuring within the character (ex: Man versus self).
Ex: Romeo and Juliet (Man vs Man)
Oedipus (Man vs self)
Man vs. Titanic (Man vs Nature)

Characterization

Methods by which writers create, reveal or develop their characters
External reality of their characters revealed by describing appearance, actions or speech.
Inner reality of characters is revealed by revealing thoughts and feelings. Ex: Harry Potter

Protagonist

The main character in a drama or other literary work, usually perceived as a positive or champion character. Ex: Harry Potter, Macbeth, Batman, Hamlet.

Antagonist

A character in a story or play who opposes the main character, usually one who is perceived as an adversary/enemy. Ex: Lord Voldemort
The Joker Scar

Foil

Character who provides a striking contrast to another character, points out strengths and weaknesses of another character. Good vs. Evil. Ex: Lennie and George
Dr. Evil vs. Austin Powers
Avatar vs. Zuko

Obstinacy

N: Stubbornness; an unbending adherence to a position or viewpoint
Syn: Determination, tenacity
Ant: Flexibility

Perceptible

Adj: Able to be seen, heard, felt, tasted or touched
Syn: Noticeable, apparent
Ant: Ambiguous

Precarious

Adj: Having potential dangerous; hazardous
Syn: Chancy, problematic
Ant: Safe

Querulous

Adj: Tending to whine or complain; disagreeable
Syn: Grouchy, critical
Ant: Cheerful

Seethe

V: To move with violent agitation
Syn: Incensed, bristle
Ant: Calm, happy

Superfluous

Adj: Beyond what is necessary; extra
Syn: Excess, lavish
Ant: Necessary

Transcend

V: To go beyond or rise up
Syn: Surpass, exceed
Ant: Fail, retreat

Wane

V: To diminish or become less bright, as the progression of the moon from full to new
Syn: Abate, decline
Ant: Grow, develop

Annihilate

V: To destroy completely, so as to leave no trace
Syn: Abolish, demolish
Ant: Establish

Attest

V: To state or authenticate that something is true, valid or genuine
Syn: Confirm, corroborate, assert
Ant: Deny

Figurative language

Language used in a non-literal way for the purpose of emphasis, clarification, or a special effect. Language which uses descriptive figures of speech. Ex: Can't talk, I'm busy as a bee today! The wind spoke to me. LETTUCE begin making our salad. I opened the soda bottle with a loud pop.

Literal language

Exact meanings of words, not using metaphors or exaggeration / non

Analogy

A comparison made between two object, situations or ideas that are somewhat alike but unlike in most respects (formal and informal). Ex: SAT'S → arm: hand as tree: branch
Life is like a box of chocolate...

Simile

A direct comparison using the terms "like" and "as". Ex: As happy as a clam
Sharp as a tack
Fast like a cheetah

Metaphor

A direct comparison. Ex: Love is a battlefield
Your ideas are absolute garbage
You are a horse's ass

Bulbous

(adj) like or relating to a bulb, especially round like a bulb. Syn: Curved, ovalAnt: Straight, indirect

Complacence

(n) a sense of contentment with the current state or situation; not desiring change. Syn: Pride, vanity Ant: Meekness, modesty

Copious

(adj) appearing in large number. Syn: Bountiful, generous Ant: Lacking, meager

Derision

(n) offensive attitude or speech; ridicule. Syn: contempt, scorn Ant: admiration, flattery

Disparage

(v) to speak poorly of. Syn: belittle, malign Ant: exalt, compliment

Equivocate

(v) to use words that have multiple meanings, particularly in order to obscure the truth. Syn: evade, parry, hedgeAnt: confront, honest

Geniality

(n) friendly behavior or attitude. Syn: kindness, amiability Ant: woe, floom, moodiness

Impartial

(adj) without bias; having no preconceived belief or position. Syn: Objective, unbiased
Ant: Biased, prejudged, subjective

Ire

(n) anger. Syn: rage, wrath
Ant: calm, joy

Maudlin

(adj) excessively emotional. Syn: sentimental, gushing
Ant: pragmatic, unemotional

Prologue

Introduction of any literary work,
especially in a play, that provides
necessary exposition to the story.
Ex: Romeo and Juliet Prologue
Star Wars Introduction

Epilogue

Conclusion of any literary work,
providing necessary exposition to end
the story. Sometimes progresses
story farther than actual conclusion
did.
Ex: October Sky

Soliloquy

A speech on stage alone that
allows the character to speak his
or her thoughts aloud for
audience to hear / soap opera
style.
Ex: Hamlet

Aside

A device in which a character in
a drama makes a short speech
which is heard by the audience
but not by other characters
in the play.
Ex: Hamlet

Catharsis

The purging of the feelings of pity
and fear that, according to
Aristotle, occur in the
audience of tragic drama. The
audience experiences catharsis at
the end of the play, following the
catastrophe.
Ex: Oedipus
Juliet

Morose

(adj) sorrowful or sullen; broodingly gloomy.
Syn: sulky, glum
Ant: happy

Odious

(adj) extremely distasteful; detestable.
Syn: repulsive, repellent
Ant: attractive

Palatial

(adj) large and glorious, as a palace.
Syn: luxurious, grand
Ant: tiny

Prelude

(n) an introduction or overture, especially to a musical performance.
Syn: forward, commencement
Ant: epilogue, ending

Quiescent

(adj) inactive or at rest
Syn: dormant, idle
Ant: active

Reprisal

(n) retaliation; an act of revenge or retribution.
Syn: avenging, vengeance
Ant: sympathy, kindness

Sequester

(v) to confine and isolate.
Syn: insulate, close off
Ant: reveal

Surmise

(v) to guess, imagine or deduce.
Syn: assumption, conjecture
Ant: calculation

Usurious

(adj) requiring excessive or illegal interest to be paid on a loan.
Syn: extorting, greedy
Ant: unselfish

Wizen

(v) to cause to dry out; to deplete all moisture from an object.
Syn: anhydrate, dehumidify
Ant: soak

Alliteration

sound device that is the repetition
of thee same sounds or of the
same kinds of sounds at the
beginning of words or in stressed
syllables.
Ex: Sally Sells Seashells
Cate can create a crafty cake
Mommy made me mash my M&Ms

Assonance

Sounds device that is the repetition
of a vowel sound within words.
Ex: So, no go?
Alligator ate Al

Consonance

Sound device that is the repetition
of consonant sounds within
words.
Ex: The big brown bare bit me!
Wam bam, thank you maam!
It's a matter of time

Refrain

The repetition of one of more lines in each stanza of a poem.
Ex: Poe

Satire

A literary term used to ridicule or
make fun of human vice or
weakness, often with the intent of
correcting, or changing, the subject
of the satiric attack.
Ex: Mark Twain
The Onion
SNL

Bauble

(n) a worthless but attractive adornment.
Syn: knickknack, novelty
Ant: jewel, gem

Bureaucracy

(n) government through administrative organizative organizations or departments.
Syn: authority, management
Ant: chaos, anarchy

Condolence

(n) sympathy for or acknowledgement of another's pain or grief.
Syn: compassion, solace
Ant: anger, thoughtless

Conflagration

(n) an extensive fire.
Syn: inferno, blaze
Ant: water, gas

Dissuade

(v) to convince a person to abandon an action or belief.
Syn: persuade, discourage
Ant: aid, assist, encourage

Exacerbate

(v) to make worse; to aggravate a problem or condition.
Syn: intensify, provoke
Ant: alleviate, improve

Ghastly

(v) having a horrible appearance.
Syn: appalling, horrendous
Ant: beautiful, delightful

Impetus

(n) a factor that causes action.
Syn: stimulant, incendiary, agitatorant
Ant: hindrance, block, obstacle

Lenient

(adj) tending to give a lesser punishment or penalty.
Syn: benevolent, gracious, forgiving
Ant: merciless, intolerant

Pandemic

(v) widespread and pervasive; affecting everyone.
Syn: common, contagious, rampant
Ant: exclusive, incomplete

Epigram

Short witty poem or saying using
satire or sarcasm or irony (used in advertising).
Ex: Got milk?
Every kiss begins with Kay

Parody

A humorous imitation of serious
writing.
Ex: Weird Al Songs
SNL

Didactic

Containing a political or moral message; tending to give instruction or advice, even when it is not welcome or not needed.
Ex: Car manuals
Sermons
Textbooks

Aphorism

A brief saying that embodies a moral or expresses a general observation about life in a clever way.
Ex: Nice guys finish last
Lost time is never found again

Cliché

An idea or expression that has
become tired and trite from overuse,
its freshing and clarity having worn
off.
Ex: That's what she said
Yolo
Barking up the wrong tree

Reticent

(adj) unwilling to speak; tending to be silent.
Syn: reserved, bashful
Ant: communicative, talkative

Shiftless

(adj) lacking willingness or energy to accomplish anything.
Syn: idle, apathetic
Ant: energetic, motivated

Tacit

(adj) not stated outright but understood.
Syn: implicit, unspoken
Ant: explicit, stated

Trepidation

(n) a feeling of anxiety or uncertainty.
Syn: dread, uneasiness
Ant: calm, composure

Veneer

(n) a superficial, often deceptive, outer layer.
Syn: facade, disguise
Ant: reality

Zealot

(n) a person who is fanatical or holds extreme and passionate views on a particular topic, especially in religion.
Syn: extremist, radical
Ant: moderate, conservative

Admonish

(v) to criticize or rebuke gently for a fault.
Syn: berate, reprimand
Ant: compliment, flatter

Apathy

(n) a lack of emotion or caring.
Syn: afloodness, indifference
Ant: concern, feeling

Bemoan

(v) to complain.
Syn: lament, bewail
Ant: praise, gloat

Caricature

(n) a representation, often a drawing that exaggerates or distorts features of the subject.
Syn: cartoon, satire, parody
Ant: seriousness

Anagram

A word, phrase or sentence formed from another by rearranging its letters.
Ex: I got a taste for cancer → A carton of cigarettes
Santa \= Satan

Acronym

A word formed from the initials or other parts of several words.
Ex: NATOCPK
SATS (scholastic achievement aptitude test)
SDSU

Palindrome

A word, phrase, passage or number that reads the same forward and backward.
Ex: Racecar
92129
Level

Spoonerism

The shuffling of the first letters of words to make different words, therefore changing the actual meaning of the sentence, or else produce a humorous, nonsensical sound.
Ex: Shel Silverstein

Synecdoche

When one uses a part to represent the whole.
Ex: Kleenex \= tissue
Xerox \= copy
John Hancock \= signature
Ziploc \= small plastic bag
Band Aid \= adhesive bandage

Desist

(v) to stop; to discontinue an action.
Syn: cease, pause, quit
Ant: complete, continue

Duplicity

(n) purposeful misrepresentation to deceive or defraud.
Syn: hypocrisy, cunning
Ant: honesty, sincerity

Extravagant

(adj) immoderate and excessive in spending money.
Syn: reckless, ridiculous
Ant: sensible, modest

Gullible

(adj) easily fooled or tricked.
Syn: unsophisticated, credulous, naïve
Ant: discerning, astute, unbelieving

Impugn

(v) to challenge or attack an idea or statement as being untrue, especially to bring up arguments or facts against an idea or statement.
Syn: contradict, question
Ant: agree, concede