vocabulary:

• Horatian satire - named after the poet Horace, Horatian satire tends to be lighter, gentler, and less serious in tone.  it is characterized by a good-natured, tolerant sense of humor about human folly. the persona may be urbane, witty, and tolerant, and is moved more often to wry amusement than indignation.  it is often a general comment on the failing of mankind, and was known as “telling the truth with a smile.”

• Juvenalian satire - named after the Roman poet Juvenal, Juvenalian satire tends to be more serious, even harsh and bitter in tone.  the persona is a serious moralist who uses a dignified style to point out the vice and error in our flawed humanity. juvenalian satire is characterized by biting sarcasm, bitter irony, moral indignation, pessimism, and an antagonistic tone. it emphasizes criticism more than humor.

• double entendre is a word or phrase open to two interpretations, one of which is usually risqué or indecent.

• burlesque - the ridiculous exaggeration of language. it can be a literary, dramatic, or other imitation that purposely makes ridiculous that which it imitates.  style is an essential quality; it usually makes a subject appear ridiculous by treating it with incongruity. for instance, when a character who should use formal, intelligent language speaks like a fool or a character who is portrayed as uneducated uses highly sophisticated, intelligent language. (e.g. Monty Python and the holy grail and the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table are examples.) 

• farce -  exciting laughter through exaggerated, improbable situations; usually contains low comedy:  quarreling, fighting, coarse with, horseplay, noisy singing, boisterous conduct, trickery, clownishness, drunkenness, slap-stick

• incongruity - to present things that are out of place or are absurd in relation to its surroundings. Particular techniques include oxymorons, metaphor, and irony

• invective - harsh, abusive language directed against a person, cause, idea, or system.  it is a vehicle, a tool of anger.  it is the bitterest of all satire. (Juvenalian)  it employs a heavy use of negative emotive language. 

• inversion/reversal - to present the opposite of the normal order. it can focus on the order of events, such as serving dessert before the main dish or having breakfast for dinner. additionally, it can focus on hierarchical order—for instance, when a young child makes all the decisions for a family or when an administrative assistant dictates what the company president decides and does.

• irony

  • dramatic irony - when the words or acts of a character carry a meaning unperceived by himself but understood by the audience. the irony resides in the contrast between the meaning intended by the speaker and the added significance seen by others.

  • situational irony - depends on a discrepancy between purpose and results (e.g., a practical joke that backfires).

  • Socratic irony -pretending ignorance of a subject in order to draw knowledge out of his students by a question-and-answer device. it can also be feigning ignorance to achieve some advantage over an opponent.

  • verbal irony - the actual intent is expressed in words that carry the opposite meaning.

Vocab 2 (week 3)

1. naiveté:

definition: lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment.

root: from the latin "nativitas", meaning "birth" or "nature."

2. cynicism:

definition: an inclination to believe that people are motivated purely by self-interest; skepticism.

root: “cyni” from the greek "kynikos", meaning "dog-like."

3. Abject:

definition: extremely bad, unpleasant, and degrading as a conditional state

root: from the latin "abjectus", meaning "thrown down" or "cast off."

4. sardonic:

definition: grimly mocking or cynical.

root: possibly from the greek "sardonios", relating to a plant from sardinia 

believed to cause convulsive laughter and a contorted grin.

5. epiphany:

definition: a sudden realization or comprehension.

root: from the greek "epiphaneia", meaning "manifestation" or "appearance."

6. dystopia:

definition: an imagined place or state in which everything is unpleasant or bad.

root: from the greek "dys-" (bad) + "topos" (place).

7. utopia:

definition: an imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect.

root: from the greek "ou" (not) + "topos" (place), implying "no-place" or "nowhere."

8. ephemeral:

definition: lasting for a very short time.

root: from the greek "ephēmeros", meaning "lasting only a day" or “short-lived.”

9. ineffable:

definition: too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words.

root: from the latin "ineffabilis", meaning "that cannot be expressed."

10. vicissitudes:

definition: a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant.

root: from the latin "vicissitudo", meaning "change" or "alternation."

Vocab 3 (week 4)

1. melancholy:

Definition: noun, a gloomy or depressed state of mind

Root: from the greek “melas”, meaning “black”

2. auto-da-fé : 

Definition: noun, execution of people convicted as heretics by the Spanish Inquisition; usually killed by burning at the stake

Root: from the Portuguese language, meaning “act of faith.”

3. distraught: 

Definition: adjective, extremely upset or crazed

root : from the latin “distrahere”, meaning “to draw in different directions.”

4. tremulous:

 Definition: adjective, timid, shaking, and fearful

Root: from the latin “tremulus”, meaning to “shake” or “tremble.”

5. avert:

 Definition: verb, to turn away or aside

Root: from old french “avertir”, meaning to “turn” or “direct.”

6. adversary:

 Definition: noun, an opponent or enemy

Root: from the latin “advertere”, meaning “to turn toward.”

7. incite:

 Definition: verb,  to encourage or stir up

Root: from the latin “incitare”, meaning “to set in motion” or “urge.”

8. assiduous: 

Definition: adjective, diligent or persevering

Root: from the latin “assidere”, meaning “to be engaged in doing.”

9. peril:

 Definition: noun, extreme danger

Root:  from the latin “periculum”, meaning “danger.”

10. imprudently:

 Definition: adverb, lacking discretion; unwisely, rash

Root: from the latin “imprudentem”, meaning “not foreseen” or “unaware.”

11. indefatigable:

Definition:  adjective, tireless

Root: from the latin “indefatigabilis”, meaning “to tire out.”

_Vocab 4 (week 6)

1. Rapacity (noun)
   Root: From the Latin rapax, meaning "greedy" or "seizing."
   Definition: Aggressive greed.

2. Candor (noun)
   Root: From the Latin candor, meaning "whiteness" or "purity."
   Definition: The quality of being open and honest; frankness.

3. Sublime (adjective)
   Root: From the Latin sublimis, meaning "uplifted, lofty."
   Definition: Of such excellence or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe.

4. Indignation (noun)
   Root: From the Latin indignatio, from indignari ("to regard as unworthy").
   Definition: Anger or annoyance provoked by what is perceived as unfair treatment.

5. Philosophize (verb)
   Root: From the Greek philosophia ("love of wisdom"), with philo- meaning "loving" and sophia meaning "wisdom."
   Definition: To speculate or theorize about fundamental or serious issues, often in a self-important way.

6. Usurp (verb)
   Root: From the Latin usurpare, meaning "to take possession of without legal claim."
   Definition: To take a position of power or importance illegally or by force.

7. Vindicate (verb)
   Root: From the Latin vindicare, meaning "to claim, to set free."
   Definition: To clear someone of blame or suspicion.

8. Anathema (noun)
   Root: From the Greek anathema, meaning "a thing devoted" (to evil); originally referred to something set aside for sacred purposes.
   Definition: Something or someone that one vehemently dislikes.

9. Prostrate (adjective)
   Root: From the Latin prostratus, past participle of prosternere ("to throw down").
   Definition: Lying stretched out on the ground with one's face downward.

10. Insolence (noun)
    Root: From the Latin insolentia, meaning "unusualness, haughtiness."
    Definition: Rude and disrespectful behavior.

Week 5 

1. Pernicious
   Definition: Having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way.
   Root: From the Latin perniciosus, meaning "destructive."

2. Sycophant
   Definition: A person flatters someone important in order to gain advantage.
   Root: From the Greek sykophantes, meaning "informer."

3. Obfuscate
   Definition: To render obscure, unclear, or unintelligible.
   Root: From the Latin obfuscare, meaning "to darken."

4. Sagacity
   Definition: The quality of being wise or having keen mental discernment.
   Root: From the Latin sagacitas, meaning "wisdom."

5. Avarice
   Definition: Extreme greed for wealth or material gain.
   Root: From the Latin avaritia, meaning "greed."

6. Reprieve
   Definition: A cancellation or postponement of a punishment.
   Root: From the Middle English reprieven, meaning "to take back."

7. Taciturn
   Definition: Reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little.
   Root: From the Latin taciturnus, meaning "silent."

8. Vexation
   Definition: The state of being annoyed, frustrated, or worried.
   Root: From the Latin vexare, meaning "to shake or disturb."

9. Probity
   Definition: The quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency.
   Root: From the Latin probitas, meaning "goodness, uprightness."

Ignominious
Definition: Deserving or causing public disgrace or shame.
Root: From the Latin ignominia, meaning "disgrace or loss of reputation."