English Vocab Words for Tests

vignette

Any small, pleasing picture or view; a short, carefully composed, literary sketch

simile

A figure of speech that makes an explicit comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind

personification

The attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something nonhuman, or the representation of an abstract quality in human form

alliteration

The conspicuous repetition of the same constant sound in adjacent or close words

parallel construction

Words, phrases or clauses that have the same grammatical form or structure.

inference

An idea, conclusion or opinion that is reasonable based on the available information or evidence.

telling detail

Detail that gives specific, clear, and important information about its subject that distinguishes the subject from other similar ones

ambivalent

Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about someone or something

characterize

To mark or distinguish; to describe or illustrate the character of.

point of view

The position of a narrator in relation to the story, as indicated by the narrators outlook and attitude

First Person

Told from the point of view of someone is is part of the action

Second Person

Told by speaking to one or more participants

Third Person

Told from the perspective outside the story

protagonist

The leading character, hero, or heroine of a drama or literary work

antagonist

A character or force who is opposed to, struggles against or competes with another

conflict

The central issue of the story

empathy

Identifying with or experiencing the feelings, thoughts or attitudes of another.

concession

The act of acknowledging or giving up as a right, a privilege, or a point or fact in an argument; the thing or point that is yielded.

discernible

Able to be perceived or recognized by sight or other sense, or by the intellect; distinguishable.

exposition

The opening of a story that sets the scene, introduces characters, etc.

resolution

The conclusion of the story or ending of a crisis. You might recognize this word from “New Year’s resolutions,” and it can also mean a decision or a promise to oneself. The verb form is resolve and the adjective is resolute, meaning “decisive or determined.”

symbol

A figure, word, object, or event that has a range of reference or meaning beyond itself. In literature, a person, place, or thing that suggests more than its literal meaning.

Contextual

Depending or relying on surrounding material or information for full meaning or significance. In describing symbols, synonyms are “personal” or “private.”

Cultural

When used to describe a symbol, cultural means “generally understood within a particular group or culture.” Synonyms are “conventional” or “public.”

Metaphor

In literature, a comparison that is made directly, without the use of “like” or “as.” When George Saunders writes in “Sticks” that the father “provided offspring” for the metal pole, he is using a metaphor, comparing the “crossed sticks” to children or descendents.

allegory

A story, poem, play, picture, etc. in which the apparent meaning of the characters and events is used systematically to symbolize a deeper meaning; a “symbolic system.”

narrative arc

the shape that a story takes as it moves from its beginning to its end.

climax

The moment of greatest tension, when the outcome is to be decided.

character foils

Characters who have qualities that are in sharp contrast to one another, thus emphasizing the traits of each, i.e characters who are opposites of one another in a way that you are supposed to notice or pay attention to. To be character foils, two figures must have enough in common for you to compare them, but must be pointedly different in at least one way. Be careful with the use of this term–while foil can be a verb, in writing about literature it is almost always used as a noun.

atmosphere

The dominant mood or emotional tone of a place, time period, or work of art.

allusion

In literature, a reference to something else, such as a myth or fairy tale, another work of literature, or a historical event.

archetype

A story element (character, setting, plot action or structure, symbol or symbolic object) that occurs across time and place and is deeply rooted in universal human experience or psychology. A garden is an archetypal (adjective form) setting; both coming-of-age and the cycle of death and rebirth are archetypal plots.

myth

A traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a people, and typically involving supernatural beings or events.

Mithical

Existing only in stories and is not real

Mythic

Having the dramatic or supernatural qualities of a myth

epiphany

A sudden, intuitive perception or insight into reality or meaning.

inevitable

Unable to be avoided or escaped; unalterable; certain, necessary, sure to happen.

nostalgia

The combined pleasure and sadness caused by remembering and/or yearning for a former place, time, or state.

afflicted

Suffering from, distressed by

subtle

Difficult to perceive or understand

elusive

Hard to express or define; hard to catch

impose

To put or set by or as if by authority; to set as something to be endured or obeyed.

elixir

An often magical solution or substance that can prolong life or cure wounds or illness

clement/clemency

Mild or merciful in character

beneficence

An act of charity or kindness, a good deed; the quality of active goodness or kindness

provincial

Belonging to a particular small location, local; having or showing a narrow or unsophisticated viewpoint that might be characteristic of small-town or rustic life.

apprehension

Suspicion or fear of future trouble or evil; the ability or act of understanding or perceiving.

indifference

Lack of interest or concern

treacherous

Deceptive, untrustworthy, or unreliable, tending to betray; unstable or insecure

zealous

Filled with enthusiasm for a cause, objective, or person; eagerly working towards a goal.

Zeal

Enthusiasm or energetic effort

subversion

The attempted or accomplished overthrow of something established; the undermining of something established. Subversion is often accomplished by some force inside the organization that is targeted; it tends to mean causing destruction from within.

patrician

Of high social rank or noble family, aristocratic; characteristic of persons of very good background, education, and refinement.

elide

To suppress, ignore, pass over; to omit or leave out.

incongruous

Out of place, inappropriate, not fitting to the occasion or setting; not consistent, lacking similarity of parts or styles.

desolate

Barren, empty, deserted or uninhabited; having the feeling of abandonment, hopelessly sad; dreary, dismal, gloomy.

surreal

Having the disorienting, hallucinatory quality of a dream.

Poignant

Keenly distressing to the feelings; affecting or moving the emotions

Irony

indication of an attitude or meaning different from what is stated

Acute

Sharp or severe in effect, intense; sensitive to slight details of perception

Susceptible

Easily or especially capable of being affected by some influence, emotion, or mood.

Crisis

A stage in a sequence of events at which the trend of all future events is determined, a turning point; a dramatic, emotional or circumstantial upheaval in a person’s life; a condition of political, social, or economic instability or danger.

Denounement

The final resolution of the intricacies of a plot, as in a story, drama, or novel; the outcome of a doubtful series of occurrences.

Static

Unchanging over the course of the plot; marked by lack of action or development

Dynamic

Showing a change over the course of the plot; marked by energy, action, or development

Denotation

The explicit or primary meaning of a word (Definition)

Connotation

The associated or secondary meaning of a word (suggestions)

Evoke

To draw forth or summon an image or reaction

Imply

To indicate or suggest without explicitly stating

Vindictively

Revengefully, done in revenge; unreasonably cruel and unfair towards someone who has harmed you

Denigrate

To criticize or speak ill of; to insult

Disenchanted

Rid or freed from illusion or enchantment; having given up one's hopes or optimism

Cunning

Sly, tricky, Clever at being deceitful

Covertly

In a concealed manner; secretly, furtively

Belligerent

Warlike, given to waging war; aggressive, argumentative

Repulsive

Causing intense distate or disgust

Sardonic

Grimly or scornfully mocking; bitterly sarcastic

Internalize

To make external attitudes, values, or behavior part of one's own nature by learning, socializing, or unconscious assimilation

Catharsis

The purging of the emotions or relieving of emotional tension, especially through certain kinds of art, such as drama or music

Transcend

To rise above or go beyond, exceed; to outdo or exceed in excellence, to surpass, excel

Reconciliation

The act of settling a quarrel or dispute; the act of restoring to agreement or harmony; accepting or being resigned to something not desired.

Diction

The choice and use of words and phrases in speech; the style of enunciation in speaking or singing.

Tone

The emotional and intellectual attitude that a narrator or speaker takes towards a particular subject.

Ostracize

To exclude or expel from a society, community or group

Privilege

A special advantage or benefit not enjoyed by or granted to all

Compulsory

Required by rule; obligatory

Conceited

Having an exaggerated sense of self-importance; arrogance.

Unscrupulous

Without principles; without a conscience

Lavish

Using or giving in great amounts; generous; occurring in profusion

Conscientious

Done in according to principles; characterized by extreme care and effort

Suave

Smoothly or agreeably polite; having a sophisticated charm

Nonchalant

Marched by blithe unconcern; indifferent, unexcited

Recuperate

To get over an illness or shock; to recover

Bourgeois

Conforming to the conventions of the middle class

Sacrilegious

Grossly irrelevant towards what is held to be sacred

Inane

Lacking sense, significance or ideas; devoid of intelligence; silly

Provocative

Serving or tending to excite or stimulate

Harrowing

Extremely disturbing, distressing, or painful

Humility

A modest opinion or estimate of one’s own importance; a lack of false pride

Conform

To act in accord with or to comply with the prevailing standards, attitudes, practices, etc. of a particular group