English Review Alliteration: the repetition of initial sounds in successive or neighboring words Anaphora: the repetition of words or phrases

at the beginning of consecutive lines or sentneces Antagonist: the protagonists adversary Antimetabole: arrangement of ideas in the second clause in a reversal of the first Assonance: the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words Characterization: how the character is portrayed Climax: the point of highest interest in a literary work Connotation: the implied or associative meaning of a word Consonance: the repetition of a consonant sound within nearby words Denotation: the literal meaning of a word Diction: the word choices made by a writer Dramatic irony: audience knows what the character doesnt Dynamic character: a character that changes in response to the actions through which he or she passes Epiphany: a moment of sudden revelation or insight Epistrophe: the repetition of the same word or group of words at the ends of successive clauses Exposition: background material about the characters, setting, and situation with which the author introduces the story Extended metaphor: a metaphor that continues to be used in the story External conflict: conflict not with the self Falling action: the part of the story that follows the climax and leads to the resolution First person narrator: the story is told from a character who narrates his or her own experience directly Flashback: the insertion of an earlier event into the normal chronological order of a narrative Flat character: a character who embodies a single quality and who doesnt not develop in the course of a story Foreshadowing: the presentation of material in such a way that the reader is prepared for what is to come later in the work Hyperbole: intentional exaggeration to create an effect Imagery: the use of figures of speech to create vivid images that appeal to one of the senses Inference: a conclusion on draws based on premises or evidence Internal conflict: conflict within oneself

Inverted order: a sentence with the predicate before the subject Juxtaposition: a poetic or rhetorical device in which normally unassociated ideas, words, or phrases are placed next to one another, often creating an effect of surprise and wit Metaphor: a comparison of two things not using like or as Mood: the overall feeling created by an authors choice of words Natural order: constructing a sentence so that the subject comes before the predicate Onomatopoeia: a word formed from the imitation of natural sounds Oxymoron: an expression in which 2 words that contradict each other are joined Paradox: an apparently contradictory statement that actually contains some truth Parallel structure: a grammatical or structural similarity between sentences or part of a sentence. It involves an arrangement of words, phrases, sentences, and paragraphs so that elements of equal importance are equally developed and similarity phrased. Personification: endowing non-human objects or creatures with human qualities or characteristics Polysyndeton: the use, for rhetorical effect, of more conjunctions than is necessary or natural Protagonist: the central character of the story Repetition: device in which sounds, words, and ideas are used more than once to enhance rhythm and to create emphasis Resolution: the conclusion of the story Rhetorical fragment: sentence fragment used deliberately for a persuasive purpose or to create a desired effect Rhetorical question: a question asked merely for rhetorical effect and not requiring an answer Rising action: the part of the story in which the tension rises towards the climax Round character: a complex character with several traits Setting: the environment in which the story takes place Shift: a change or movement in a literary piece resulting from Simile: a comparison of 2 things using like or as Situational irony: irony involving a situation in which actions have an effect that is opposite from what was intended, so that the outcome is contrary to what was expected. Soliloquy: an utterance or discourse by a person who is talking to himself or herself or is disregardful of or oblivious to any hearers present (often used as a device in drama to disclose a character's innermost thoughts) Static character: a character that changes little or not at all Suspense: techniques used by author to keep the readers interesting in the story and in what will happen next

Symbolism: using an object to represent something else Synecdoche: using one part of an object to represent the entire object Theme: a central idea of a work Third person limited: the story is told from the viewpoint of one character who can see only a part of the whole story Third person omniscient: the author is outside the story and presents the thoughts of all the characters involved Tone: the writers attitude toward a subject, character, or audience; it is conveyed through word choice and detail Verbal irony: irony in which a person says or writes one thing and means another, or uses words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of the literal meaning. Voice: the authors distinctive style or manner of expression

Altruistic: unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others Ambivalent: uncertainty as to which approach to follow Angular: lean and having prominent bone structure, stiff in character or manner Arrogant: exaggerating or disposed to exaggerate ones own worth or importance often by an overbearing manner Aversion: a feeling of repugnance toward something with a desire to avoid or turn away from it Discern: to distinguish between, to detect with the eyes Disdain: a feeling of contempt for someone or something regarded as unworthy or inferior Disparage: to speak slightingly about Disparity: inequality, the condition or fact of being unequal in #, rank, or degree Embellish: decorate with ornamentation Engender: to produce or generate Insipid: dull, flat, lacking challenging or interesting qualities Lament: to express sorrow, mourning, or regret demonstratively Laud: praise, extol Obscure: not clearly seen or easily distinguished, to conceal or hide as if by covering Ostentatious: showy, conspicuous, fond of pretentious display Prodigal: characterized by profuse and wasteful spending, lavish Repudiate: to reject; to refuse to have anything to do with Reticence: reserved, quiet, restraint

Serene: utter calm, quietude, peaceful Subtle: delicate, elusive, difficult to understand or perceive Superfluous: exceeding what is sufficient or necessary Taciturn: temperamentally disinclined to talk Revere: to show devoted deferential honor to Innocuous: harmless, inoffensive Acrimonious: caustic, biting, or rancorous especially in feeling, language, or manner Ameliorate: to make better, improve Amenable: liable, responsible, read to yield Amorphous: shapeless, lacking organization or form Buoyant: capable of floating, cheerful, capable of maintaining a satisfactory high level Cajole: to persuade with flattery or gentle urging in the face of reluctance Calamity: a state of deep distress or misery caused by major misfortunes or loss; a disastrous event Debase: to lower in status, esteem, quality or character Efface: to eliminate or make indistinct by or as if by wearing away a surface Elucidate: to clarify through explanation or analysis; to explain Ephemeral: lasting a short time Ferocity: the quality of intenseness; given to extreme fierceness and unrestrained violence and brutality Flourish: to grow luxuriantly, to prosper/thrive Haughty: blatantly and disdainfully proud Impervious: impenetrable, not capable of being damaged or harmed Inane: empty, insubstantial, lacking significance, meaning, or point; silly Infallible: incapable of error, unerring, not liable to mislead, deceive, or disappoint Indolence: inclination to laziness, sloth Inscrutable: not readily understood, mysterious Languid: sluggish in character or disposition Malice: desire to cause pain, injury or distress to another Oblique: not straightforward, indirectly stated

Opulence: wealth, abundance Penitent: causing/feeling regret Perfunctory: mechanical, characterized by routine or superficiality, lacking interest or enthusiasm REBECCA VOCAB Insidious: characterized by treachery or slyness; crafty Inviolate: not violated, kept sacred or unbroken Mullioned: a window divided by a vertical strip or bar Sepulcher: a vault for burial Spurious: not true or genuine; false or counterfeit Tenacious: holding firmly Ablutions: washing of the body Deride: making fun of; ridicule Ennui: boredom Furtive: done or acting in a stealthy manner Gaucherie: awkwardness; tactlessness Hide-bound: conservative and narrow-minded Lorgnette: a pair of eyeglasses attached to a handle Panacea: a supposed remedy, cure, or medicine; a cure all Raucous: hoarse; rough-sounding Succor: to assist; help; aid Vistaed: a view or outlook seen through a long passage like houses or trees Bezique: a card game Milieu: environment; social or cultural setting Derision: contempt or ridicule Diffident: lacking self-confidence; timid or shy Shingle: large coarse gravel Placid: undisturbed, tranquil, calm Au fait: acquainted with the facts

Fastidious: not easy to please; very critical or discriminating Gaiters: type of a shoe Punctilious: very careful about every detail of behavior Stolid: unexcitable; impassive Lee: the side or direction away from the wind Scuttle: a small hatchway in the outer hull or deck of a ship Prophetic: that which predicts or foreshadows Seacock: a valve below the waterline in the hull of a ship, used to control the intake of sea water Gaol: jail Quay: a wharf, usually of concrete or stone, for use in loading and unloading ships