Final Review

English 12

A metaphorical compound word used in place of a name or noun

kenning

Instructions included in a script to help performers and directors

Stage directions

A poet-singer

scop

The central point or message in a literary work

theme

The character or force against which the main

character is pitted

antagonist

A pause in a line

caesura

The use of a character’s appearance, words, or actions to reveal something about a character

characterization

A work of literature that is meant to be performed

Drama

A genre of literature popular during Medieval times involving adventure, noble heroes, courtly love, chivalry, daring deeds, and the supernatural

Romance

A remark spoken in an undertone by a character, either to the audience, or to another character

aside

A long narrative poem, dealing with the adventures of a hero

Epic

When the same consonant is used at the beginning of a series of words, creating a regular sound pattern

alliteration

The Anglo-Saxon concept of fate

wyrd

A speech in a dramatic work in which a character is alone and speaks his or her feelings aloud; this is to reveal the character’s inner thoughts, feelings, and plans to the audience

soliloquy

A character who provides a striking contrast to another

character

foil

The central or main character in a story,

novel, or play

protagonist

A written conversation between two or more people

dialogue

A dramatic work that presents the downfall of a character of high status who has a flaw

that leads to his or her destruction

tragedy

Vocabulary:Words of the Day Determine the word for the following

meanings:

bold and without shame

brazen

wildly extravagant

profligate

to satisfy the appetite or desire of; gratify

satiate

of many and various kinds

multifarious

uncalled for; lacking good reason; unwarranted

gratuitous

not honorable in character or purpose

ignoble

skilled at gaining an advantage, esp.

deceitfully

wily

excessive excess

exorbitance

not proper or appropriate

unseemly

to charm or enchant, sometimes in a deceptive way

beguile

behavior in keeping with good taste and

propriety

decorum

leaving no doubt; unambiguous

unequivocal

anxious or fearful that something bad or unpleasant will

happen

apprehensive

not to be relied upon; suspect

dubious

A word, phrase, or sequence that reads the same backward

as forward

palindrome

alternate or waver between different

opinions or actions; be indecisive

vacillate

A word blending the sounds and

combining the meanings of two others (brunch)

portmanteau word

extremely or unusually small

diminutive

able to be touched or felt

palpable

reduce the force, effect, or value of

attenuate

light, delicate, and translucent

diaphanous

wanting to avoid activity or exertion;

lazy

indolent

the state of being calm, peaceful, and

untroubled

serenity

a short extract from a film, broadcast, or

piece of writing

excerpt

A spoken or written account of connected

events; a story

narrative

the ability to understand and share

the feelings of another

empathy

the expression of approval or agreement

assent

occuring often or repeatedly

recurrent

lack of interest, enthusiasm, or

concern

apathy

able to perceive or feel things

sentient

give up

cede

Person or thing that comes before another of

the same kind

precursor

Existing, happening, or done at the same

time

concurrent

an action intendedto deceive someone;

a trick

ruse

kept secret, esp. becauseit would not be approved

of

surreptitious

Beowulf The Beowulf Poet (Anonymous)

Genre Characteristics of an

Epic Conflict Antagonist Setting

Epic Hero of high status,

fateful actions, courageous deeds, supernatural, formal speeches, universal ideas

Grendel Scandinavia

(Denmark)

Sir Gawain and the Green KnightThe Gawain Poet (Anonymous)

Genre Characteristics of a

Romance Conflict Antagonist Setting

Romance/Narrative poem

Adventure, noble heroes, chivalry, courtly love, daring deeds

The contest proposed by the Green Knight

Camelot, King Arthur’s court

Le Morte d’ArthurSir Thomas Malory

Genre Code of Chivalry Conflicts Antagonists Setting

Romance Faith, modesty, loyalty,

courtesy, bravery, honor Love triangle, Revenge,

Treachery Lancelot vs. Arthur,

Lancelot vs. Gawain, Arthur vs. Mordred

Britain and France

The Canterbury TalesGeoffrey Chaucer

Genre Frame Story

Exposition:

The Pardoner’s Tale Setting

Narrative poem 29 people go on a

pilgrimage to the the cathedral at Canterbury

Each pilgrim must tell a story on the way to pass the time and entertain the group

Love of money is the root of all evil

England

The StrangerAlbert Camus

Genre Philosophy

Setting Protagonist

Fiction (novel) The Absurd: Life has no

rational or redeeming meaning

Algiers Meursault

He does not cry at his mother’s funeral, does not believe in God, and kills a man he barely knows without any discernible motive. For his crime, Meursault is deemed a threat to society and sentenced to death. When he comes to accept the “gentle indifference of the world,” he finds peace with himself and with the society that persecutes him.

Franz Kafka: Short Stories “A Little Fable” “The Vulture” “An Ancient Sword” Themes: There’s NO WAY OUT, being

trapped, being eaten alive. Kafka captures the nightmare of human life better than any other writer.

A Streetcar Named DesireTennessee Williams

Genre Protagonist Antagonist Conflict Setting

Drama (play) Blanche DuBois Stanley Kowalski Blanche vs. Stanley New Orleans

Questions to think about What are the driving forces behind human

behavior? Think about the most memorable literary

work we have read this year- what literary elements or techniques did the author make effective use of?

Who said it? The serpent that did sting thy father’s life now

wears his crown. Frailty, thy name is woman! This above all: to thine own self be true Something is rotten in the state of Denmark Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet

prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest O, my offense is rank, it smells to heaven.