Eng IV Final

Vocabulary

Unit 1

• Acquisitive (adjective): Strongly desirous of acquiring and possessing.

  • Synonyms: Greedy, grasping.

  • Antonyms: Uninterested, generous.

  • Sentence: The acquisitive CEO bought out smaller companies to expand his empire.

• Coherent (adjective): Logical and consistent.

  • Synonyms: Clear, rational.

  • Antonyms: Confused, incoherent.

  • Sentence: Her coherent argument won the debate.

• Encomium (noun): A speech or piece of writing that praises someone highly.

  • Synonyms: Tribute, eulogy.

  • Antonyms: Criticism, denunciation.

  • Sentence: The teacher delivered an encomium to the retiring principal.

• Invidious (adjective): Likely to cause resentment or anger.

  • Synonyms: Offensive, hateful.

  • Antonyms: Pleasant, flattering.

  • Sentence: He made an invidious comment about her appearance.

Unit 2

• Accost (verb): To approach and address someone aggressively.

  • Synonyms: Confront, challenge.

  • Antonyms: Avoid, evade.

  • Sentence: A stranger accosted me on the street to ask for money.

• Myopic (adjective): Lacking foresight or imagination.

  • Synonyms: Shortsighted, narrow-minded.

  • Antonyms: Visionary, farsighted.

  • Sentence: His myopic view ignored the long-term consequences of his actions.

• Pejorative (adjective): Expressing contempt or disapproval.

  • Synonyms: Derogatory, demeaning.

  • Antonyms: Complimentary, approving.

  • Sentence: The article used pejorative language to criticize the politician.

• Sacrilege (noun): Violation of something sacred.

  • Synonyms: Blasphemy, desecration.

  • Antonyms: Reverence, piety.

  • Sentence: Defacing the ancient temple was considered sacrilege.

Unit 3

• Cavort (verb): To leap or dance about excitedly.

  • Synonyms: Frolic, romp.

  • Antonyms: Mourn, sulk.

  • Sentence: The children cavorted in the snow all afternoon.

• Credence (noun): Belief in or acceptance of something as true.

  • Synonyms: Trust, confidence.

  • Antonyms: Disbelief, skepticism.

  • Sentence: His story gave credence to the rumors of a hidden treasure.

• Nefarious (adjective): Wicked or criminal.

  • Synonyms: Villainous, immoral.

  • Antonyms: Honorable, virtuous.

  • Sentence: The nefarious plan was foiled by the authorities.

• Utopian (adjective): Idealistic or visionary but often impractical.

  • Synonyms: Perfect, ideal.

  • Antonyms: Realistic, dystopian.

  • Sentence: His utopian dreams for society ignored real-world challenges.

Unit 4

• Atrophy (noun/verb): Gradual decline in effectiveness due to underuse or neglect.

  • Synonyms: Decline, wither.

  • Antonyms: Growth, development.

  • Sentence: After months in a cast, his muscles began to atrophy.

• Frenetic (adjective): Fast and energetic in a wild way.

  • Synonyms: Frantic, hectic.

  • Antonyms: Calm, leisurely.

  • Sentence: The frenetic pace of the workday left everyone exhausted.

• Incarcerate (verb): To imprison.

  • Synonyms: Jail, confine.

  • Antonyms: Free, liberate.

  • Sentence: The criminal was incarcerated for his actions.

• Ludicrous (adjective): Ridiculously absurd.

  • Synonyms: Preposterous, laughable.

  • Antonyms: Serious, logical.

  • Sentence: His idea to build a house on the moon was ludicrous.

Unit 5

• Acuity (noun): Sharpness of thought, vision, or hearing.

  • Synonyms: Awareness, precision.

  • Antonyms: Dullness, inaccuracy.

  • Sentence: The surgeon’s acuity made him the best in his field.

• Depraved (adjective): Morally corrupt.

  • Synonyms: Wicked, vile.

  • Antonyms: Pure, virtuous.

  • Sentence: The villain in the story had a depraved sense of justice.

• Idiosyncrasy (noun): A distinctive or peculiar feature or characteristic.

  • Synonyms: Quirk, peculiarity.

  • Antonyms: Normality, conformity.

  • Sentence: His habit of humming was just one of his idiosyncrasies.

• Nuance (noun): A subtle difference in meaning or expression.

  • Synonyms: Shade, distinction.

  • Antonyms: Obviousness, bluntness.

  • Sentence: The artist’s work captured every nuance of light and shadow.

Unit 6

• Agnostic (noun/adjective): Someone who doubts the existence of a higher power.

  • Synonyms: Skeptic, doubter.

  • Antonyms: Believer, theist.

  • Sentence: As an agnostic, he remained undecided on religious matters.

• Derelict (adjective/noun): In poor condition or abandoned.

  • Synonyms: Neglected, dilapidated.

  • Antonyms: Maintained, cared-for.

  • Sentence: The derelict building was an eyesore in the neighborhood.

• Diatribe (noun): A forceful and bitter verbal attack.

  • Synonyms: Tirade, rant.

  • Antonyms: Praise, compliment.

  • Sentence: His diatribe against the company shocked everyone.

• Inane (adjective): Silly or lacking meaning.

  • Synonyms: Foolish, absurd.

  • Antonyms: Intelligent, meaningful.

  • Sentence: Their inane chatter was distracting during the meeting.

Real-World Writing Unit

• Purpose of a Resume: Summarizes professional history, skills, and qualifications in a clear, factual format.

• Purpose of a Cover Letter: Provides a personalized narrative about why you’re interested in and qualified for a specific job.

• Difference:

  • Resume: Structured, concise, focuses on accomplishments and experience.

  • Cover Letter: A persuasive introduction to accompany the resume.

Beowulf Unit

What does EPIC stand for?

EPIC: Excellence, Perseverance, Integrity, Courage (specific to your class slides—verify exact meaning).

Common Anglo-Saxon Poetic Devices

• Alliteration: Repetition of consonant sounds.

• Kennings: Metaphorical phrases like “whale-road” for the sea.

• Caesura: A pause in the middle of a line of poetry.

Oldest Epic Story

Beowulf is the earliest known narrative in English literature, preserved through oral tradition before being written down.

Translation Issues

Different translators interpret tone and cultural context differently, impacting how the story is perceived.

What is an Epic Narrative?

A long, narrative poem about heroic deeds that reflect the values of the society from which it originates.

Key Characters

• Beowulf: Hero of the story, symbolizes strength and loyalty.

• Grendel: Monster representing evil and chaos.

• Grendel’s Mother: A vengeful creature seeking justice for her son.

• The Dragon: Symbol of greed and ultimate destruction.

• King Hrothgar: Wise ruler of the Danes, represents leadership.

Plot Summary

1. Beowulf arrives in Denmark to help King Hrothgar defeat Grendel.

2. Beowulf slays Grendel and later, Grendel’s mother.

3. Many years later, Beowulf fights and defeats a dragon but dies from his injuries.

Symbols

• Grendel: Represents human fears and the unknown.

• Dragon: Greed and inevitability of death.

• Heorot Hall: Safety, community, and civilization.

Themes

1. Christianity vs. Paganism: Dual beliefs reflected in the story.

2. Good vs. Evil: A central conflict in all Beowulf’s battles.

3. Loyalty: Displayed in Beowulf’s dedication to his people.

4. Death & Defeat: Acknowledges fate and mortality.

5. Hospitality: A cultural value of generosity and protection.

Connection to Oedipus

Characterization and Character Traits

Characterization occurs through:

• Dialogue: What characters say reveals personality.

• Actions: Their decisions and behavior define their traits.

• Internal Thoughts: When the narrator provides access to a character’s mind.

• Reactions: How other characters respond to them.

Short Stories Unit

Key Stories and Authors

1. “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs: A family learns the dangers of tampering with fate after wishing on a magical paw.

2. “The Third Wish” by Joan Aiken: A man makes wishes to improve his life but learns about unintended consequences.

3. “The Landlady” by Roald Dahl: A young man discovers a strange and sinister boarding house.

4. “Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl: A wife’s unexpected reaction to her husband’s betrayal.

Frankenstein Excerpts

• Chapter 10: Victor Frankenstein encounters the creature, who confronts him about abandonment.

• Chapter 16: The creature recounts his suffering and rejection, explaining his turn to vengeance.

Conflicts in Literature

1. Man vs. Man: External conflict between characters.

2. Man vs. Nature: Struggle against natural forces.

3. Man vs. Self: Internal struggle with emotions or decisions.

4. Man vs. Society: Opposition to societal norms or rules.

“Of Revenge”

• Author: Francis Bacon.

• Summary: An essay discussing the futility and destructiveness of revenge, urging readers to let go of grudges.

“How to Make Your Writing Suspenseful”

• Key Tips:

  • Use pacing to build tension.

  • Keep the reader guessing by withholding information.

  • Create high stakes for the characters.

Poetic Devices

• Alliteration: Repetition of initial consonant sounds (e.g., "She sells seashells").

• Symbolism: Using objects or ideas to represent deeper meanings.

• Allusion: A reference to another work or historical event.

• Metaphor: A direct comparison (e.g., “Time is a thief”).

• Hyperbole: Exaggeration for emphasis.

• Personification: Giving human traits to non-human things.

• Suspense: Building tension and anticipation.

• Simile: A comparison using "like" or "as."

MLA Formatting Requirements

• Font/Spacing: Times New Roman, 12-point, double-spaced.

• Header: Last name and page number in the upper-right corner.

• Title: Centered, same font, no bold or italics (except for book titles).

• In-Text Citations: Author's last name and page number in parentheses (e.g., "Smith 45").

• Works Cited: Proper format with hanging indent for each entry.

Let me know if you need further details or specific slides filled out!