Honors English II Semester 2 - Final Exam Vocab Words

Virtue

A trait or quality of exellence, character, or moral goodness. It represents a disposition to consistently think, feel, and act in a way that is right and ethically sound.

Scrutinized

To examine or inspect someone or something very closely and critically, paying minute attention to detial in order to verify accuracy, discover flaws or uncover hidden information.

Diabolism

The belief in, worship of, or practices associated with the devil (Satan). It broadly encompasses devilish, malevolent, or fiendish behavior, as well as the use of black magic or sorcery.

Arbitrating

Acting as an impartial third party to settle a dispute between two opposing sides. It describes the process of reviewing arguments from all parties involved and delivering a final judgment to resolve the disagreement outside of a traditional courtroom.

Irony

A contrast between expectation and reality

Situational: When the outcome of an event is the opposite of what is expected.

Dramatic: When the audience / reader knows crucial information that the characters do not.

Verbal: When someone says one thing, but means the exact opposite.

Paradox

A seemingly absurd statement or idea that seems contradictory, but upon reflection, it provides a deeper understanding into society, revealing a hidden truth.

Antithesis

The exact opposite of something. A specific type of juxtaposition contrasting ideas within the balanced or grammatical structure.

Ex: Speech is silver, silence in golden.

Ex: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

Vindicate

1. To prove someone is innocent of a wrong doing, especially when they were previously accused or suspected

2. To show that a previously doubted theory, decision, or action was actually right and reasonable.

Sanctity

The quality of being holy, sacred, saintly, (important) to be questioned or violated.

Coerce

To force someone to do something against their will, typically using threats, intimidiation, or actual force.

Condemn

To officially declare someone as wrong, guilty, or deserving punishment, express strong disapproval, or sentence someone to a specific fate.

Indifference

1. The state of having no preference, interest, or concern in someone or something; lack of feeling against an issue, resulting in emotionaly nuetrality, or unconcern.

2. When something is unimportant or makes no difference.

Monotony

The feeling of the same thing repeating so much that it becomes suffocating, draining the life of meaning, or energy.

Atmosphere

The overall feeling or mood that a piece of writing creates in the reader. It's built through setting, word choice, imagery, and tone all working together. It's not one specific device — it's the cumulative effect of everything.

Diaspora

The scattering of a people from their original homeland across multiple places, where they maintain a shared identity and connection to where they came from.

Connection: Myers uses this to connect the "A Train" to the "banks of the Niger."

Visceral

An instinctive, gut-level reaction that hits emotionally and physically before rational though kicks in.

Abrasive

Harsh, rough, and irritating in a way that causes friction or discomfort. Can describe a texture, a sound, or more commonly a person's personality or communication style.

Cacophonous

A harsh, jarring mixture of sounds that is unpleasant or chaotic to hear.

Synecdoche

When a part of something is used to represent the whole thing, or the whole is used to represent a part.

Ex: All hands on deck - Using "hands" to refer to the entire sailor or worker.

Ex: Nice wheels! - Reffering to a car just by it's wheels

Allusion

A reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art that the author expects the reader to recognize, without explicitly explaining it.

Resignation

Quiet, passive acceptance of something unpleasant or unchangeable — not happy about it, but no longer fighting it either.

Stagnation

A state of no movement, growth, or progress; being stuck in place with no change happening.

Ignorance

A lack of knowledge or awareness about something, not necessarily from stupidity but from simply not having been exposed to the information.

Resilience

The ability to recover from hardship, setbacks, or suffering and keep moving forward; actively bouncing back and continuing despite the difficulty.

Pastoral

Relating to peaceful, idealized rural life; countryside, nature, simplicity, away from the chaos of cities; contrasts the peace of nature with the corrupted city life. Often carries a sense of innocence or nostalgia, like the countryside represents a purer, simpler existence.

Ex: A painting of rolling green hills, sheep grazing, and a quiet farmhouse — that's a pastoral image.

Celestial

Relating to the sky, heavens, or anything divine and otherworldly; suggests something beyond the earthly and ordinary

Subterranean

Existing or occurring underground, or hidden beneath the surface. Can be literal or figurative — something physically underground or something concealed beneath what's visible.

Plight

A difficult, dangerous, or unfortunate situation that someone is trapped in, often through no fault of their own.

Abstract

Existing as an idea or concept rather than something concrete or physical

Satirical

Using humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize or mock something — usually a social institution, political system, or human behavior.

Isolation

The state of being separated or cut off from others physically, emotionally, or socially.

Aesthetic

The visual style, appearance, or artistic sensibility of something; the way something looks or feels as an artistic or design choice. Can describe a deliberate visual style or the overall artistic impression something creates.

Colloquial

Informal, everyday language that people use in casual conversation rather than formal writing or speech.

Archetype

A universal character type, symbol, or pattern that appears repeatedly across different cultures, stories, and time periods because it represents something fundamentally human.

Archetype vs Sterotype: An archetype is deeper and more universal. It transcends any one culture or story.

Institutionalized

When something harmful or unjust becomes so deeply embedded in a system or society that it operates automatically, without anyone needing to actively enforce it. Becomes the norm, built into the structure itself rather than dependent on individual bad actors.

Prejudice

A preconceived judgment or opinion about someone based on their group identity such as race, gender, religion, class rather than actual knowledge or experience of that individual. Formed before any real evidence, and usually resistant to change even when evidence contradicts it.

Guise

An outward appearance or disguise that conceals someone's true nature or intentions. Not necessarily a physical disguise, but more often a false front or pretense someone hides behind.

Direct characterization

When an author or narrator directly and explicitly tells you what a character is like, leaving no room for interpretation.

Ex: John was a selfish and arrogant man - the narrator just tells you directly. No inferring required.

Indirect characterization

When the author reveals what a character is like through their actions, dialogue, thoughts, or how others react to them. You have to infer the character traits yourself.

Ex: A character who always holds the door open for strangers, tips generously, and remembers everyone's birthday - the narrator never says "she was kind", but you can infer from her behavior.

Philosophical

Relating to deep questions about existence, morality, meaning, truth, or human nature that don't have simple or definitive answers.

Aspiration

A strong desire or ambition to achieve something better than your current situation.

Deferred

Postponed or delayed.

Connection: In Hughes's context, this refers to the systemic denial of opportunity and civil rights.

Simile

A comparison using "like" or "as."

Connection: Note how Hughes's similes are all sensory (smell, touch, taste).

Cataloging

A poetic list.

Connection: Myers uses this to create a "kaleidoscope" effect, listing cities, names (Jack Johnson, Baldwin), and neighborhoods.

Juxtaposition

Placing two contrasting things side-by-side.

Connection: Look for how Myers places "Shango" (a Yoruba deity) next to "Jesus."

Synesthesia

Blending senses

Ex: Colors loud enough to be heard.