English Vocab

Question 1

Literal

Answer 1

The way something actually, really is.

Question 2

Figurative

Answer 2

The way something is in terms that are symbolic, representational or highly descriptive.

Question 3

Connotation

Answer 3

The figurative or symbolic meaning of something

Question 4

Denotation

Answer 4

the literal or primary meaning of something

Question 5

Visual Imagery

Answer 5

descriptive language used to describe the way something appears.

Question 6

Auditory Imagery

Answer 6

descriptive language used to describe the way something sounds.

Question 7

Olfactory Imagery

Answer 7

descriptive language used to describe the way something smells.

Question 8

Gustatory Imagery

Answer 8

descriptive language used to describe the way something tastes.

Question 9

Tactile Imagery

Answer 9

descriptive language used to describe the way something feels to the physical touch.

Question 10

Organic Imagery

Answer 10

descriptive language used to describe the way something feels internally or emotionally.

Question 11

Kinesthetic Imagery

Answer 11

descriptive language used to describe the way something moves.

Question 12

diction

Answer 12

word choice

Question 13

syntax

Answer 13

word order

Question 14

mood

Answer 14

the way the reader feels while reading an author’s work.

Question 15

tone

Answer 15

words or images that describe how the author wants you to feel when reading.

Question 16

myth

Answer 16

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.

Question 17

legend

Answer 17

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.

Question 18

parable

Answer 18

Short folk tales that illustrate a moral or religious lesson.

Question 19

fable

Answer 19

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.

Question 20

allegory

Answer 20

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

Question 21

oracle

Answer 21

a priest or priestess acting as a medium through whom advice or prophecy was sought from the gods in classical antiquity.

Question 22

clairvoyant

Answer 22

a person who claims to have a supernatural ability to perceive events in the future or beyond normal sensory contact.

Question 23

allusion

Answer 23

a brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance.

Question 24

imply

Answer 24

To suggest or hint at something without expressing it literally.

Question 25

infer

Answer 25

To guess, suppose, or make a conjecture about what is being implied. You “read into” the clues.

Question 26

exposition

Answer 26

an explanation of the basic information in a story.

Question 27

protagonist

Answer 27

another word for “main character.” Not ALWAYS a hero or good guy.

Question 28

antagonist

Answer 28

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.

Question 29

foil

Answer 29

a secondary character that serves to balance or contrast the qualities of another character, frequently the protagonist. Often a friend.

Question 30

mentor

Answer 30

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.

Question 31

Dramatic irony

Answer 31

when the reader/audience knows something that the characters in the story don’t know.

Question 32

Catharsis

Answer 32

from the Ancient Greek, the feeling of relief or release one feels after surviving something scary.

Question 33

Ornate

Answer 33

elaborately or excessively decorated.

Question 34

Fetid

Answer 34

smelling extremely unpleasant.

Question 35

Disheveled

Answer 35

when something is messy, without any organized arrangement.

Question 36

Noxious

Answer 36

toxic, poisonous, harmful to one’s well-being.

Question 37

Acrid

Answer 37

sharp and harsh or unpleasantly pungent in taste or odor.

Question 38

Corrugated

Answer 38

shaped into alternate ridges and grooves.

Question 39

Unpalatable

Answer 39

not pleasant to taste

Question 40

Countenance

Answer 40

facial expression

Question 41

Peerless

Answer 41

without equal

Question 42

Atone

Answer 42

to apologize or make amends for having done something that was wrong

Question 43

Avenge

Answer 43

retaliate or enact punishment against someone for a wrong that was done to you

Question 44

Banishment

Answer 44

a punishment where someone is sent from one’s community and ordered to never return

Question 45

Nuance

Answer 45

a subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound.

Question 46

Anecdote

Answer 46

a short amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.