British Literature Unit 4 Review

Vocabulary flashcards based on British Literature Unit 4 notes, covering major themes, authors, and literary styles.

Romanticism

An artistic and intellectual movement that emphasized emotion, individualism, and nature, influencing various social revolutions.

Laissez faire

A policy of government noninterference in the economy, leaving workers vulnerable to employer demands.

Idealism

The philosophy that all knowledge is a creation of the individual mind, based on personal perceptions.

Transcendentalism

A movement seeking higher truths through intuition versus reason or revelation, beyond Christian teachings.

Progressivism

The belief that human society can improve through reform.

Primitivism

The idea that human misery stems from society, advocating a return to nature for happiness.

Poetry

The dominant voice of Romanticism, characterized by deep emotional expression.

Victorianism

Cultural period marked by social reform, industrial growth, and notable literary achievements.

Darwinian theory

A scientific theory that challenged traditional worldviews and increased tension between faith and doubt.

'To a Mouse'

A poem by Robert Burns depicting the contrast of a mouse's simple present-focused life versus man's complex emotional struggles.

Simile

A figure of speech comparing two different things using 'like' or 'as', used by Burns in 'A Red, Red Rose'.

Hyperbole

An exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally, exemplified in Burns' declaration of eternal love in 'A Red, Red Rose'.

Mary Wollstonecraft

An early feminist who argued for women's equality with men and access to education.

Jane Austen

A novelist known for her keen observations of human behavior and social customs, especially in 'Pride and Prejudice'.

Sonnet

A poetic form that traditionally expresses a single thought or theme, such as those used by Wordsworth and Keats.

Euphony

A harmonious combination of sounds in poetry, demonstrated in Keats' 'To Autumn'.

Cacophony

A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds, exemplified in Keats' imagery in 'To Autumn'.

Gothic novel

A genre focusing on dark themes and troubled emotions, seen in Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein'.