Final Exam - English103

Sonnet: A short poem of 14 lines, including 3 quatrains and 1 couplet, written in iambic pentameter, meaning that each line has 10 syllables and each syllable alternate between unstressed and stressed. While sonnets were originally written about a man’s unrequited love, Shakespeare made it into an ambiguous philosophical diary about his close circle of friends.

Gender performativity: The notion that gender is a performance of a role or identity.

One-sex model: A model which claimed that everyone was initially female, and the male genitalia was the same as the female genitalia but simply pushed outside.

Digression: A break or interruption of the main storyline to tell a smaller but related story. It is often unexplained how the digression is relevant to the main story.

Comedy play: A comedy play begins with order, which is disrupted by a blocking figure, which causes further complications and confusion, and it ends with a resolution or return to order, which is generally in the form of marriage. For example, in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the play starts with order in Athens, which is disrupted when Egeus does not want Hermia and Lysander together, causing confusion and complications among all parties of the play, and it ends with Hermia and Lysander together.

Orientalism: The representation of Asia, especially in the Middle East, in a stereotyped way that is regarded as embodying a colonialist attitude. This view also assumes that the West is developed, rational, flexible, and superior to Eastern cultures.  

Revenge tragedy: A sub-genre which begins with a crime or injustice, and in which the criminal is the one in charge of justice. Since justice is not served, the hero takes justice into their own hands, leading to an even sadder and more tragic ending.

Piety: A respect for the natural order of things, including a religious patriotism or extreme devotion to the empire. This is a traditional roman value.

Goth: A Germanic tribe in Europe, which were perceived as racially distinct from Romans. They were pale-skinned and tall, and were perceived as primitive and barbarians by Romans.

Soliloquy: A long speech made by a character while they are alone onstage. Since no one else is around, they are considered to be speaking their truest inner thoughts.

Spectacle: Something that is seen in public, especially an impressive or horrifying sight. The sight is treated as an object for public entertainment and emphasizes the visual over other meaningful relations.

History play: plays depicting the English chronicles during the 100 years preceding the Tudor monarchy.