Lecture Terminology & Vocabulary Collection

A set of 156 vocabulary flashcards covering terminology for literary devices, drama, tragedy, romanticism, societal structures, and film analysis based on lecture notes.

Ideology (General)

Any set of beliefs which, to the people who hold them, appear to be logical and 'natural'.

Implicature

Something the speaker suggests or implies with an utterance, even though it is not literally expressed.

Slogan (Advertising)

A short and striking or memorable phrase used in advertising.

Euphemism

A word or phrase used to avoid saying another word or phrase that may be unpleasant or offensive.

Metaphor

A figure of speech that directly refers to one thing by mentioning another.

Simile

A figure of speech that directly compares by highlighting the similarities using "like", "as", or "figured" way.

Figure of speech

A literary device in which language is used in an unusual way.

Passive

Where the patient is expressed as the Subject of a clause.

Active

Where the agent is expressed as the Subject of a clause.

Agent

Indicates the 'doer' of an action described by the verb in a clause.

Patient

Indicates the 'undergoer' of a situation in a sentence or clause.

Jargon

The specialised terminology associated with a particular field or area of activity.

Mass media

A diverse array of media technologies that reach a large audience via mass communication.

Tabloid

A newspaper with a smaller format, typically popular in style and dominated by sensational stories.

Broadsheet

A newspaper with a large format, regarded as more serious.

Construal (Perspective)

Where a situation or idea is presented in one particular way among alternatives; e.g., 'half full' vs 'half empty'.

Foregrounded

Where a particular linguistic feature 'stands out' or is 'highlighted'.

Exploitation

The action or fact of treating someone unfairly in order to benefit from their work.

Manipulation

The use of devious means to exploit, control, or otherwise influence others to one's advantage.

Historical fiction

A literary genre where the story takes place in the past, in order to capture the details of the time.

Ideology (Group)

A collection of ideas or beliefs shared by a group of people.

Turn-taking

Type of organisation in conversation where participants speak one at a time.

Monologue

A long speech by one actor in a play or film, or as part of a theatrical or broadcast programme.

Dialogue

A conversation between two or more people as a feature of a book, play, or film.

Stage directions

Describes where the scene takes place and how the lines should be said.

Stagecraft

The collaborative effort involved in putting together a production, e.g. light, sound.

Crosscutting

Scenes from different times and/or locations staged at the same time to highlight contrast.

Clause declarative

Typically describes an event or situation using a 'regular' word order; a statement.

Clause imperative

Typically used to get someone to do (or not do) something; a command.

Clause interrogative

Typically used to ask questions.

Clause exclamative

Often used to express a sudden cry, remark expressing surprise, strong emotion, or pain.

The Other

Someone who is perceived by the group as not belonging, as being different in some fundamental way.

Othering

Applying a principle that allows individuals to be classified into two hierarchical groups: them and us.

Colony

A place where people from one country go to live, but still follow the rules of their original country.

Colonialism

When a powerful country takes over another country and uses its land, people, resources.

Migrants

People who move from one place to another, usually to find work or better living conditions.

Assimilation

When someone or something becomes more like another person or thing, e.g. adopting others customs.

Resistance

When you do not accept or agree with something, or when you try to stop it from happening.

Marginalisation

When someone or a group of people are treated as less important or less worthy than others.

Dystopia

An imagined society where there is great suffering or injustice, typically one that is totalitarian.

Dystopia: Government control

A feature of imagined totalitarian suffering where the state maintains total authority.

Dystopia: Environmental destruction

A common theme in imagined societies featuring ruined ecosystems.

Dystopia: Technological control

The use of advanced tools to monitor and exploit citizens in an imagined unjust society.

Dystopia: Survival

A key motif focused on staying alive within a harsh imagined society.

Dystopia: Loss of individualism

The erasure of personal identity in a totalitarian imagined society.

Utopia

An imagined place or state where everything is perfect.

Theme

An idea or a subject that an author wants to explore.

Motif

An object, sound, place, action, situation or phrase that returns time and time again throughout a text.

Symbol

A thing that represents something else, especially a material object representing something abstract.

Allegory

A short story where characters and events are symbols.

Satire

When a writer attacks a serious issue by presenting it in a funny way.

Slogan (Persuasive)

A short and striking or memorable phrase used to persuade.

Propaganda

Information, of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote a political cause or point of view.

Coup

The violent seizure and removal of a leader, typically in an illegal manner using military force.

Totalitarianism

A form of government that attempts to assert total control over the lives of its citizens.

Communism

A community owns property and each person contributes and receives according to their needs.

Parasitical

Relying on or exploiting others.

Dictatorship

A single leader with absolute authority over its people.

Democracy

A form of government in which the people have the authority to deliberate and decide legislation.

Dissent

Disagreeing strongly with someone.

Revolution

A forcible overthrow of a government or social order, in favour of a new system.

Rebellion

When a group of people resist the government or authority to bring change to the political system.

Leadership

The ability of an individual or a group of individuals to influence and guide followers.

Power

The ability to influence others.

What (Analysis)

The topic sentence of a literary analysis.

Where (Analysis)

The example, evidence, or quotes used in analysis.

How (Analysis)

The detailed analysis and explanation of the evidence.

Context (Analysis)

Relating the analysis to historical or situational terminology.

Why (Analysis)

The investigation of author intent and purpose.

Reader Reaction

Determining how a text makes the reader feel.

Trope

Figures of speech that play with the literal meaning of words.

Blazon

A poetic list of someone's admirable physical features, usually a woman.

Metaphor (Poetic)

Speaks of an idea or object as if it is another; transports meaning from one idea to another.

Metaphor tenor

The subject of the metaphor and its intended meaning.

Metaphor vehicle

The language used to describe the tenor.

Metaphor ground

The relationship between the tenor and the vehicle.

Simile (Poetic)

An explicit comparison between two distinct objects or ideas connected with 'as' or 'like'.

Connotation

The array of emotions and ideas suggested by a word.

Form

The shape or arrangement of parts of a text.

Structure

The order of words, sentences and ideas, often evident with clear patterns.

Quatrain

A $4-lined$ group; there are $3$ quatrains in a Shakespearean sonnet.

Couplet

A $2-lined$ group; concludes a Shakespearean sonnet.

Rhyme scheme

Pattern of rhymes where letters are used to indicate which lines rhyme.

Octave

An $8-lined$ group; in a Petrarchan sonnet it forms the "proposition".

Sestet

A $6-lined$ group; in a Petrarchan sonnet it forms the "solution".

Volta

The turn in thought or argument in a sonnet.

Form: conform

To be similar or identical to an established literary pattern.

Form: deviate

To depart from an established course or accepted standard.

Sonnet

A $14$ line poem where the rules and expectations have changed over time.

Shakespearean sonnet

A sonnet featuring $3$ quatrains, a volta, and a rhyming couplet with a scheme of $ABAB\,CDCD\,EFEF\,GG$.

Petrarchan sonnet

A sonnet featuring an $8$ lined octave and a $6$ lined sestet with a scheme like $ABBA\,ABBA\,CDCDCD$ or $DECDE$.

The beloved

A person, place or thing that you feel great affection for; often the focus in sonnets.

Unrequited

A feeling, especially love, that is not returned.

Objectification

The act or instance of treating a person as an object or thing.

Courtly Love

A set of rules and expectations for how to act and behave when in love.

Petrarchan lover (idolises)

Turns the lover into an idol, an object of worship.

Tragedy (Genre)

A fictional representation of suffering; a way of dignifying and making sense of suffering.

Catharsis

Allows us to experience negative emotions vicariously, leaving after having expelled them.

Protagonist (Tragedy)

One or more main characters who acts in a way which proves disastrous.

Hamartia

Protagonist's error of judgment.