civ lit test

1. In Medias Res: A narrative technique where the story begins in the middle of the action. Commonly used by Homer in The Iliad.

2. Penelope: The faithful wife of Odysseus in The Odyssey, symbolizing loyalty and intelligence.

3. Argus: Odysseus’s loyal dog in The Odyssey, representing fidelity and the passage of time.

4. Epic Invocation: A formal plea to a muse for inspiration at the beginning of an epic poem, as seen in The Iliad and The Odyssey.

5. Creon: A character in Sophocles's plays, representing themes of power, law, and moral conflict, particularly in Antigone.

6. Tragedy: A dramatic genre involving serious themes and the downfall of the protagonist, exemplified in works by Sophocles and Euripides.

7. Divine Comedy: Dante Alighieri’s epic poem detailing the journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven.

8. Terza Rima: A poetic form consisting of tercets with an interlocking rhyme scheme, used in Divine Comedy.

9. Paolo and Francesca: Characters from Divine Comedy, representing tragic love and the consequences of desire.

10. Virgil: The Roman poet who authored The Aeneid, influencing Dante and embodying the ideals of Roman virtue.

11. Nostoi: Greek term referring to the theme of homecoming, particularly in The Odyssey.

12. Sophocles: An ancient Greek playwright known for his tragedies, notably Oedipus Rex.

13. Homer: The legendary ancient Greek poet traditionally said to be the author of The Iliad and The Odyssey.

14. Tragic Flaw: A character trait that leads to the protagonist's downfall, such as hubris in Greek tragedies.

15. Contrapasso: A term used in Divine Comedy describing the punishment of souls in Hell as a reflection of their sins.

16. Dramatic Irony: A literary device where the audience knows more than the characters, heightening the tension, as seen in Oedipus Rex.

17. Tiresias: A blind prophet in Greek mythology, notably featured in Oedipus Rex and The Odyssey, symbolizing insight and foresight.

18. Epic Simile: An extended simile often used in epic poetry to create vivid imagery, found in works like The Iliad.

19. Beatrice: A central figure in Divine Comedy, representing divine love and the ideal woman.

20. Oresteia: A trilogy by Aeschylus dealing with themes of justice, revenge, and the evolution of society.

21. Catharsis: The emotional release experienced by the audience through the unfolding of tragedy, particularly in Aristotle’s analysis of Greek drama.

22. Limbo: The first circle of Hell in Divine Comedy, where virtuous non-Christians reside.

23. Soliloquy: A device where a character speaks their thoughts aloud, revealing inner conflicts; famously used in Shakespeare’s plays.

24. Blank Verse: Unrhymed iambic pentameter used in English poetry, including works by Shakespeare.

25. Globe Theatre: The famous playhouse in London associated with Shakespeare and his works.

26. Brutus: A key figure in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, known for his moral conflict and tragic flaws.

27. Machiavellian: Referring to political deceit and cunning, inspired by Machiavelli's writings, often associated with characters like Iago in Othello.

28. “Et tu, Brute”: A line from Julius Caesar reflecting betrayal by a close friend.

29. Ekphrasis: A literary description of a visual work of art, used to explore themes and emotions in literature.

30. Battle of Philippi: The pivotal battle in Julius Caesar, marking the end of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Empire.