English 12: 2026 Midterm Exam Review

These flashcards cover key vocabulary, literary terms, and important characters and concepts related to Shakespeare's Hamlet, as well as broader themes and moral questions presented in the course.

acquisitive

greedy, acquire, posses (money, materialistic objects)

arrogate

assume/take/claim unjustly (kings assume power)

emulate

imitate, mimic, copy

insatiable

unquenchable, impossible to satisfy

reconnaissance

survey, investigate (military)

taciturn

reserved, shy, quiet

tenable

defensible, maintainable, justifiable (especially against criticism)

brackish

salty water

devious

sly, shady, scheming

halcyon

peaceful, clam, happy (time/place) (ones childhood)

incendiary

provocative, flammable, cause conflict/fire (baby that burns)

pejorative

derogatory, insulting, disapproval (language/tone)

propriety

decorum, proper, appropriate

sacrilege

profanity, disrespecting something considered sacred

summarily

briefly, straight away, directly (summary)

decry

condemn, denounce, criticize (de-cry) (action, calling something out)

distraught

distressed, agitated, upset

feckless

ineffective, lacking initiative, irresponsible, reckless

evince

demonstrate, reveal, showcase evidence

primordial

ancient, instinctive, basic

verbiage

wordiness, diction

viscous

thick, sticky, tacky

nefarious

wicked, evil, criminal

cavort

frolic, dance, jump around

theme

central message

characterization

character development

plot

story events

exposition

background information in a story

rising action

building tension in the plot

climax

turning point in a story

falling action

conflict resolution begins

resolution

conflict resolved

setting

time and place of the story

point of view

story perspective

limited

one character’s view

omniscient

all-knowing narrator

conflict

central struggle

motivation

driving reason

tragedy

downfall of hero

hamartia

fatal flaw in character

Hamlet’s tragic flaw is his indecision, delays the killing of his uncles to avenge his father.

catastrophe

tragic outcome

• Gertrude is poisoned and dies

• Laertes and Hamlet are both fatally wounded

• Hamlet kills King Claudius

• Fortinbras arrives to take control of Denmark

monologue

long speech

The “closet scene,” and “O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!”

soliloquy

thoughts aloud by a character

“To be, or not to be” - Hamlet reflects on life, death, and the pain of existence, wondering whether it’s better to endure life’s suffering or end it by dying.

foil

contrasting character

Laertes is a foil to Hamlet. Laertes is quick to act and seek revenge for his father’s death, while Hamlet is thoughtful, hesitant, and overthinks. This contrast emphasizes Hamlet’s indecision.

dramatic irony

audience knows more than the characters

Hamlet pretends to be mad; other characters think he’s truly insane, but the audience knows it’s an act.

verbal irony

says something but means the opposite, often to be sarcastic or witty

It’s often used by Hamlet to criticize or tease others while hiding his true thoughts.

situational irony

what actually occurs is the opposite of what is expected

• Hamlet accidentally kills Polonius while intending to confront Claudius—he didn’t expect to kill the wrong person.

• Hamlet delays revenge, yet in the end, almost everyone, including himself, dies—opposite of his plan to carefully control events.

Hamlet

Hamlet is a tragedy by William Shakespeare about Prince Hamlet of Denmark, who struggles with grief, revenge, and moral uncertainty after his father, King Hamlet, is murdered by his uncle, Claudius, who then marries Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude.

Claudius

Hamlet's uncle and primary antagonist.

Gertrude

Hamlet's mother.

Polonius

Meddling authority figure in Hamlet.

Ophelia

Hamlet's love interest.

Laertes

Foil to Hamlet; son of Polonius and brother of Ophelia. He is hot-headed, impulsive, and decisive, serving as a foil to Hamlet’s indecision.

Fortinbras

Fortinbras is the Prince of Norway in Hamlet and serves as a foil to Hamlet.

Horatio

Horatio is Hamlet’s close friend and confidant in Hamlet.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern

False friends symbolizing betrayal. Are childhood friends of Hamlet in Hamlet.

the Ghost (King Hamlet)

Catalyst for Hamlet's revenge plot.

psychological realism

Deep portrayal of human emotions and thoughts. Shakespeare shows characters’ inner thoughts and emotions in a realistic way—like Hamlet’s soliloquies revealing his grief, doubt, and moral struggles, making him a complex, relatable character.

utilitarian thinking

An ethical approach that judges actions based on their consequences, aiming to maximize overall happiness or minimize overall pain.

moral integrity

The quality of consistently doing what is right, ethical, and honest, even when it’s difficult or no one is watching.