Key Vocabulary from the “Nova: Die Begin” Teacher’s Guide

30 English vocabulary flashcards drawn from the teacher’s guide for “Nova: Die Begin,” covering literary terms, book components, and story-specific concepts.

Nova: Die Begin

The first novel in Fanie Viljoen’s Afrikaans science-fiction series. It follows Lucas Niemand, a curious teenager living near a secretive military base in the isolated town of Nova, as he experiences his first encounter with aliens after discovering a crashed UFO. This discovery draws him and his friends into a dangerous mystery involving invading extraterrestrials and leads them to uncover secrets about the military's involvement.

Fanie Viljoen

South-African author of numerous children’s and YA books; wrote “Nova: Die Begin” and compiled the accompanying teacher’s guide.

Title (Titel)

The main name of a book; in this case “Nova.”

Subtitle (Subtitel)

Secondary part of a book’s name that clarifies or narrows the focus; here “Die Begin” signals the series’ first instalment.

Blurb (Lokteks)

Brief teaser on a book’s back cover designed to hook readers by posing questions or highlighting intrigue.

Protagonist (Protagonis)

The story’s central ‘good-guy’ figure; in “Nova” it is Lucas Niemand.

Antagonist (Antagonis)

The force or character opposing the protagonist; in “Nova” the invading aliens fulfil this role.

Characterization (Karakterisering)

The writer’s technique for creating believable, multi-faceted characters through various means: direct description, a character's actions, dialogue, internal thoughts, reflective naming, and self-reflection.

Internal Conflict (Interne Konflik)

A struggle that takes place inside a character’s mind or emotions, e.g., Lucas’s fear versus curiosity about the UFOs.

External Conflict (Eksterne Konflik)

A struggle between a character and an outside force such as another person, society, nature, or aliens.

Plot (Intrige)

The ordered sequence of events in a narrative, encompassing the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. It usually rises in tension toward a climax before resolving.

Foreshadowing (Vooruitwysing)

Author’s hints early in the story that predict later events, such as Lucas’s opening nightmare of blue corridors.

Flashback (Terugflits)

An interruption that transports the narrative back to past events, supplying background or insight.

Narrator (Verteller)

The voice that tells the story; can use first, second, or third person.

Third-person Narrator (Derdepersoon Verteller)

A storyteller who refers to all characters as ‘he’, ‘she’, or ‘they’; used throughout “Nova: Die Begin.”

Theme (TEMA)

The central or underlying idea explored by a work; for 'Nova: Die Begin,' the teacher's guide emphasizes the 'loss of innocence' given Lucas's confrontation with uncomfortable realities and secrets.

Motif (Motief)

A repeating element—object, phrase, or image—that threads through a story; “stars” and “touch” recur in “Nova.”

Setting (Agtergrond)

Time and place in which a story occurs; here the isolated town of Nova, its military base, and an alien craft.

Mood (Stemming)

The emotional atmosphere or tone a reader senses, ranging from suspenseful to humorous in “Nova.”

Half-title Page (Halftitelblad)

Early interior page that may bear only the book’s title and publisher’s logo.

Title Page (Titelblad)

Right-hand interior page listing full title, author and publisher details.

Copyright Page (Kopieregblad)

Left-hand page giving publication date, ISBN, rights statement, and acknowledgements.

Hok

Local nickname for the heavily guarded military research base bordering the town of Nova.

VVV (Vreemde Vlieënde Voorwerp)

Afrikaans abbreviation equivalent to “UFO” (Unidentified Flying Object).

Sterreloper (Starwalker)

Mysterious figure who leaves warnings for Lucas; literally ‘Star-walker.’

Nova (astronomy)

A star that suddenly brightens spectacularly then fades; also the town’s name, linking the story to outer space.

Climax (Klimaks)

The moment of highest tension in a plot; in “Nova” the teens’ capture aboard the alien ship.

Resolution / Denouement (Ontknoping)

Section after the climax where loose ends are tied up; Lucas and friends are released into the river.

Skimming (Vluglees)

Rapid reading to gain a general sense of a text’s content before intensive study.

Scanning (Soeklees)

Quick reading technique focused on locating a specific word, number, or fact within a text.