english vocab Flashcards
cloying
excessively sweet, rich, or sentimental, especially to a disgusting or sickening degree
Burnish
to make shiny or lustrous especially by rubbing
saccharine
excessively sweet or sentimental.
Allegory
Story/ character/ place/ event used to convey hidden meaning, typically moral or political, about real-world events or issues
ex. Duncans death, allegory for killing king
allusion
an implied or indirect reference especially in literature, writer assumes reader is familiar with
archetype
First real example/ prototype of something
ideal model/perfect image
macbeth at start of play is archetypal jacobean soldier/nobleman
bathos
Anti-climaz which is abrupt.
Usually humour that comes from odd and sudden change in tone
porter scene= comic relief in the grim tragic atmosphere/ intense tragic momentum
Biblical
Religious connotations
blazon
Poem in which speaker describes womans physique by focus/listing individual body parts
caricature
Imitation, notable characteristics exxagerated to comic/grotesque effect
colloquialism
Informal phrase common at time of utterance
Comic relief
Releif from tension
Connotation
Using text to create implied meaning w/o explicitly referring to said meaning
Dichotomy
Division or contrast between two opposing things
titular character, Macbeth himself, and the dichotomy that develops within him
Double entendre
Words or phrases that have double meaning and is deliberately ambiguous, especially wen one of the meanings is risque
(elizebethan england, “die” refers to death and orgasm)
Dysphemism
a derogatory or unpleasant term used instead of a pleasant or neutral one
(contrast neutral/euphimistic terms)
-“20 trenched gashes” banquos murder at banquet , graphic deatil of brutal murder horrify jacobean audience, contrast euphimism earlier “is he dispatched”/”catch the nearest way” conveys now familiar and comfortable with murder
Epithet
A word/ phrase applied to a person to describe an actual or credited quality
“star crossed lovers” for romeo an juliet
epitome
Perfect example/ embodiment of a concept
Epizeuxis
Repetition of words in succession within the same sentence
“tomorrow”
-cycle of lang, mirroring time, passes day after day
“out”
Euphemism
the substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant
opposite of dysphemism
“this nights great business into my dispatch”
“catch the nearest way”
Metaphor that continues over many sentences or even whole play
Extended metaphor
An indicator that an event will occur later in the narrative
Foreshadowing
Ugly and distorted, physically or figuritavely, in a way that is comic or repulsive
Grotesque
Use of exaggerated statements
Hyperbole
Use of language which is visually descriptive or symbolic
Imagery
Embedding a meaning using language typically implying the opposite of what the writer is intending to express,
often for humorous effect
Irony
Comparing two concepts, characters, clauses, in close proximity in a passage for the effect of contrast
Juxtaposition
A physical expression or realisation of an abstract idea through a character, object, place or event
Macbeth ‘s struggle against the natural order is manifested in his attempt to transcend time. Another manifestation of this struggle lies in Macbeth ‘s attempt to become more masculine by subduing his feelings
Manifestation
An element that reoccurs such as a word, phrase, idea, image, action, character or symbol that appears throughout the play for emphasis
blood, violence of regicide + society
weather, foreshadows death/destruction/chos
weather manifestation of gods punishment
Motif
Two opposing terms placed next to each other
“fair/foul”
Oxymoron
A story used to tech a moral or spiritual lesson, typically told in bible by jesus
Parable
working-class people regarded collectively Eva Smith represents the proletariat, who has been exploited by the bourgeoisie. Mr. Birling represents capitalist ideas and the belief that profit is key
Proleteriat
the attribution of human feelings and responses to inanimate things or animals
Pathetic fallacy
Giving something non-human a human trait, capability or personality
Personification
A play on words which suggests multiple meanings
Pun
Criticising people through the use of humour/ irony
Satire
A writer uses words which are linked by a theme or topic throughout a text or passage
Semantic field
Repetition of “s” sound
like serpent
Sibilance
Comparing something with like or as
Simile
Using one object/character to represent wider concept running through novel
Symbolism
A particular type of character, event, setting used frequently in stories
trope
Imagery representing animal forms
- snake biblical/sly
- birds (hawk/raven/owl/eagle) natural order, imperial, strength,success, omen, death
- horses noble,”beautous and swift” ambition, loyal, relied upon “‘Tis said they eat each other.”
zoomorphism
the belief that people always act selfishly
cynical person
Cynisism
“I have a dream”
repetition of a word or words at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or lines to create a sonic effect
“all hail”
Anaphora
suggests both earthly and eternal significance
Biblical language suggests
Parallel structure that uses opposites to create emphasis
a person or thing that is the direct opposite of someone or something else
Antithesis
Part of actors lines not meant to be heard by other characters on stage and intended only for the audience
short digression vs soliloquy
Aside
Unrhymed poetry written in iambic pentameter
-spoken by nobles
Blank verse
convoluted syntax + hyperbolic metaphor during Captain’s speech
display greatness of Macbeth also high flown rhetoric of the classical messenger,
deteriorates arguably demonstrate retrogression of the Captain thus implying may be unreliable source not good test of the nobility of Macbeth, with loss of coherence.
Speech pattern of captain in macbeth
extremely complex and difficult to follow
captain
Mr b
Convoluted
the process of returning to an earlier state, typically a worse one.
Retrogression
Decay, descent, decline, degradation
Retrogression synonym
Agitated, alarmed, unsettled
lady m
eric
Perturbed
Rhymed pair of lines
- witchcraft
- nursery rhyme, toying+familiar
- easy to listen to, easily influenced by
- something almost insistent
- “for it is a knell That summons thee to heaven or to hell” , reminder of witches influence
Couplet
When same sequence of events repeats throughout a story
Cyclical
Character oblivious of reality of which audience is aware
Dramatic irony
Passage of speech in which one person is speaking to an audience/ thinking out loud
Dramatic monologue
repetition of a word or expression at the end of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses especially for rhetorical or poetic effect
“When you durst do it, then you were a man; / And to be more than you were, you would / Be so much more the man”
Epistrophe
Information provided through stage directions,narration,dialogue or description, used to introduce the audience to crucial information
Exposition
a pair of rhyming lines that is present in a heroic poem or that relays themes of heroism within a larger poem
Heroic couplet
Liken to human heartbeat
Iambic pentameter
Starting in the middle of the action
In media res
Using place, group of people to represent something much larger
- ‘a desert place’, shrouded by sky, subjected to ‘thunder and lighting’ is microcosm for whole play thunder and lightning-force
- ‘pink and intimate’ microcosm, generation nostalgic for pre war
microcosm
Statement that seems to contradict itself but is still true
binary opposites
oxymoronic
Paradox
a word, line or phrase that is repeated within the lines or stanzas of the poem itself
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind, The answer is blowin’ in the wind
Refrain
a pastoral or lyrical poem of nineteen lines, with only two rhymes throughout, and some lines repeated
Villanelle
reveal hidden thoughts, conflicts, secrets, or motives
Soliloquy
Dualogue, characters speak one after other in quick succession
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth exchange dialogue rapidly to show the increasing tension and guilt.
Owl scream/crickets cry
when
now
as I descended
Stichomythia
the point in a play, novel, etc., in which a principal character recognizes or discovers another character’s true identity or the true nature of their own circumstances.
Anagnorosis
the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions
Catharsis
Character with qualities that contrast with other characters
macbeth/banquo
Duncan and Macduff
represent noblest aspects of what Macbeth is not; Duncan kindly compassionate ruler, Macbeth consumed own powers than the affairs of state.
Foil
Characters tragic flaw
Hamartia
Exaggerated self-pride or confidence often leads to fatal retaliation
Hubris
Leading character in a play
Peripetia
Leading character in the play
Protagonist
Character depicted perfect and honourable yet has one fatal flaw/hamartia
Tragic hero
Stories of king Arthur and his knights of the round table, popular for how they celebrate patriotism
macbeth- treachery/tyranny
arthur- bravery/courage
had potential to be Arthurian legend
Arthurian legend
Right and ability to be able to govern yourself and your actions and decisions
Autonomy
Moral, religious, social code of medieval knights, inc. Bravery, honesty, courtesy
Code of chivalry
Traditional way of doing things
convention
Denying someone their humanity, inc. Emotions and independent thought(autonomy)
Dehumansie
a belief asserting that a monarch is subject to no earthly authority, deriving his right to rule directly from the will of God
Divine order/great chain of being
Belief in medieval christianity that all life and matter on death organised into hierarchy by god
Great chain of being
Front or mask put up to disguise something or someones true character
Facade
the development of events outside a person’s control, regarded as predetermined by a supernatural power.
Fate
three goddesses who presided over the birth and life of humans. Each person’s destiny was thought of as a thread spun, measured, and cut by the three Fates, Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos
3 witches
Fates
Enriches the ordinary into the extraordinary
Literature
All shakespeares plays perfomed
Globe theatre
Someone who isn’t christian
pagan/lacks moral principles
associating with pagan god “will all great neptunes oceans”
Heathen
Never failing, incapable of making mistakes
Infallible
Macbeth even traces the roots of chaos and evil to women and blames them for it. Macbeth’s actions during the play justifies Shakespeare’s authorial choice of weaving in gender roles and masculinity to explain his use of misogyny. During the play both Macbeth and lady macbeth equate masculinity with naked aggression, violence then follows when they converse about manhood.
misogyny
Beyond legality and often religion
right from wrong
Morality
Moral lessons
Mythology
intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive.
didactic
existing beyond what is obvious or admitted; intentionally hidden
Ulterior
Belief life is pointless/meaningless
futile
Nihilism
Pre/Non-christianreligion , worships nature
neptune
Paganism
System whereby men have utimate authority which they use to press women who are largely excluded from male dominated society
Patriarchy
Having negative veiw/opinion not based on logic
prejudice
Regret and guilt for bad deed
remorse
Feel/ express great regret for sinning/commiting crime, particularly in religious context
“all the perfumes of Arabia will not seeten this little hand”
Repent
Assassination attempt 1605 on james I, catholics tried to blow up parliament
Gunpowder plot
14th-17th century where artists,writers,philosophers revisited works of ancient greeks and romans
Renaissance
Depicts downfall and reversal of fortune for good person, suffering usually awaits many characters foretold by fate, especially the tragic hero, eponymous macbeth
Tragedy
Behaviour or trait that is immoral
Vice
Behaviour or trate that is moral
Virtue
