English midterm study guide

Question 1

Gothic literature

Answer 1

A genre characterized by elements of horror, suspense, and the supernatural, fitting the dark and chilling nature of the story

Question 2

Catacombs

Answer 2

The underground burial chambers of the Montresor family, setting the eerie and dark atmosphere of the story- gothic

Question 3

Flambeaux

Answer 3

Tall torches used to light the way in the vaults, casting eerie shadows and adding to the gothic setting

Question 4

Long and winding staircase

Answer 4

architecture that leads to Fortunato’s confusion and entrapment

Question 5

Human remains

Answer 5

Bones and bodies found in the crypt, symbolizing death and decay

Question 6

Nitre

Answer 6

A mineral form of potassium nitrate that grows in damp places, causing the walls of the catacombs to be covered in a white powder

Question 7

Setting

Answer 7

The time and place in which a story takes place.

Question 8

Dramatic language

Answer 8

Language that is intense, emotional, or theatrical, used to heighten the impact and suspense of the story

Question 9

Insight

Answer 9

A deep understanding or perception of a person or situation, gained through the analysis of the story’s themes and characters

Question 10

Compare and contrast

Answer 10

To identify similarities and differences between two or more things, a technique that can be applied to analyze the characters or themes in the story

Question 11

Style

Answer 11

The distinctive way in which a writer uses language, evident in Edgar Allan Poe’s use of suspense, symbolism, and vivid descriptions

Question 12

Magical realism

Answer 12

A genre that combines realistic elements with magical or fantastical elements, not applicable to “The Cask of Amontillado”

Question 13

Shakily

Answer 13

In an unsteady or trembling manner, not directly relevant to the story

Question 14

Fluttering

Answer 14

Moving or flapping rapidly and lightly, not directly relevant to the story

Question 15

Inexplicably

Answer 15

In a way that cannot be explained or understood, not directly relevant to the story

Question 16

Irony

Answer 16

A contrast between expectation and reality

Question 17

Dramatic irony

Answer 17

when a reader or audience is aware of something that a character isn’t

Question 17

Verbal irony

Answer 17

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. Sarcasm

Question 18

Language of gothic literature

Answer 18

strongly dramatic and intensely descriptive language

Question 19

Modern Gothic Literature

Answer 19

Ordinary places, which make strange events even more unsettling, ordinary people, to whom readers can relate, situations in which normal life is interrupted, ambiguous endings that leave questions unanswered.

Question 20

narrator’s tone

Answer 20

Attitude a narrator takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character

Question 21

Ambiguity

Answer 21

An event or situation that may be interpreted in more than one way.

Question 22

Theme

Answer 22

Central idea of a work of literature

Question 23

Denotation

Answer 23

The dictionary definition of a word

Question 24

Connotation

Answer 24

All the meanings, associations, or emotions that a word suggests

Question 25

rend

Answer 25

to tear violently, to split

Question 26

prefix

Answer 26

a syllable or word that comes before a root word to change its meaning

Question 27

suffix

Answer 27

word ending

Question 28

Adverb

Answer 28

A word that modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb (usually ends in ly)

Question 29

cleanly (adv )

Answer 29

in a clean manner

Question 30

skilfully (adv. of manner)

Answer 30

with skill

Question 31

relentlessly

Answer 31

with intense persistence

Question 32

demonstrative (adjective)

Answer 32

expressing emotion freely

Question 33

simple sentence

Answer 33

one independent clause

Question 34

compound sentence

Answer 34

a sentence with two or more independent clauses, joined by coordinating conjunctions (fanboys) or a semi-colon.

Question 35

complex sentence

Question 36

compound-complex sentence

Question 37

prepositional phrase

Question 38

first person point of view

Question 39

object of the preposition

Question 40

technical vocabulary

Question 41

omniscient point of view

Question 42

fragment sentence

Question 43

situational irony

Question 44

tension

Answer 44

A state of mental or emotional strain, a key element in creating suspense and anticipation in the story