English Vocab Flashcards
Literal
The way something actually, really is.
Figurative
The way something is in terms that are symbolic, representational or highly descriptive.
Connotation
The figurative or symbolic meaning of something
Denotation
the literal or primary meaning of something
Visual Imagery
descriptive language used to describe the way something appears.
Auditory Imagery
descriptive language used to describe the way something sounds.
Olfactory Imagery
descriptive language used to describe the way something smells.
Gustatory Imagery
descriptive language used to describe the way something tastes.
Tactile Imagery
descriptive language used to describe the way something feels to the physical touch.
Organic Imagery
descriptive language used to describe the way something feels internally or emotionally.
Kinesthetic Imagery
descriptive language used to describe the way something moves.
diction
word choice
syntax
word order
mood
the way the reader feels while reading an author’s work.
tone
words or images that describe how the author wants you to feel when reading.
myth
A folk tale that explains the unexplainable and generally includes gods, supernatural heroes, and/or monsters. Sometimes they explain how the universe/world/countries/civilizations
came to be or how customs were established.
legend
A folk tale that contains some element of the truth (locations, people, events). They tend to be set in more recent times and, like myths, they explain the unexplainable.
parable
Short folk tales that illustrate a moral or religious lesson.
fable
Folk tales that use animals, plants, inanimate objects, and forces of nature as characters to teach a figurative lesson about humanity. By giving human traits to inhuman
things these stories use personification.
allegory
Any folk tale that tells a story using representative, symbolic, or abstract ways to teach a moral or lesson. Fables, myths, legends, and parables are all allegories
oracle
a priest or priestess acting as a medium through whom advice or prophecy was sought from the gods in classical antiquity.
clairvoyant
a person who claims to have a supernatural ability to perceive events in the future or beyond normal sensory contact.
allusion
a brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance.
imply
To suggest or hint at something without expressing it literally.
infer
To guess, suppose, or make a conjecture about what is being implied. You “read into” the clues.
exposition
an explanation of the basic information in a story.
protagonist
another word for “main character.” Not ALWAYS a hero or good guy.
antagonist
the opposite of the protagonist, or main character. Typically, a villain of some kind, but not always! They try to stop the protagonist from achieving his/her goal.
foil
a secondary character that serves to balance or contrast the qualities of another character, frequently the protagonist. Often a friend.
mentor
An experienced advisor or teacher to a younger hero-type character, the mentor has often been in the position of the hero in the past and therefore is in a position to guide them.
Dramatic irony
when the reader/audience knows something that the characters in the story don’t know.
Catharsis
from the Ancient Greek, the feeling of relief or release one feels after surviving something scary.
Ornate
elaborately or excessively decorated.
Fetid
smelling extremely unpleasant.
Disheveled
when something is messy, without any organized arrangement.
Noxious
toxic, poisonous, harmful to one’s well-being.
Acrid
sharp and harsh or unpleasantly pungent in taste or odor.
Corrugated
shaped into alternate ridges and grooves.
Unpalatable
not pleasant to taste
Countenance
facial expression
Peerless
without equal
Atone
to apologize or make amends for having done something that was wrong
Avenge
retaliate or enact punishment against someone for a wrong that was done to you
Banishment
a punishment where someone is sent from one’s community and ordered to never return
Nuance
a subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound.
Anecdote
a short amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.
