English Vocabulary Flashcards
Allegory
A ——- or ———- with two meanings; the ———- or ——— meaning that is immediately clear, and a second, usually —— meaning.
A story or narrative with two meanings; the obvious or literal meaning that is immediately clear, and a second, usually hidden meaning.
Example: Many people claim Lord of the Rings is an allegory for the World War I because it portrays war (and especially industrialisation for war production) negatively.
Alliteration
Repetition of ————- at the beginning of successive words or within sentences/——— to create a sense of ———, though they can be overdone (as in ———- ————).
Repetition of consonants at the beginning of successive words or within sentences/phrases to create a sense of rhythm, though they can be overdone (as in tongue twisters).
Example: “Peter piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”
Allusion
A subtle or passing ————- to an event, ———, place, other —–, etc. that is intended to be noticed by ———- (though isn’t always picked up on).
A subtle or passing reference to an event, person, place, other text, etc. that is intended to be noticed by readers (though isn’t always picked up on).
Example: Remus Lupin in Harry Potter is named for Remus of ‘Remus and Romulus’, twins in Greek mythology who were raised by a wolf. This is a mythological allusion that ties into his being a werewolf.
Ambiguity
When something is left to the reader’s —————. Often this involves the ——– not stating explicitly what is ————-, what has been —–, etc.
When something is left to the reader’s imagination. Often this involves the author not stating explicitly what is happening, what has been said, etc.
Example: The ending of Inception (Christopher Nolan) is incredibly ambiguous. In the
film audiences are shown that the main character’s spinning top will continue to spin if he’s in a dream and topple if he’s in reality – however the final shot cuts just as the spinner begins to wobble, leaving audiences to wonder if he’s in reality or still dreaming.
Analogy
Uses two similar ———– or ideas to create a ———— or draw comp
Uses two similar concepts or ideas to create a relationship or draw comparisons between the two.
Example: “A sword is to a warrior as a pen is to a writer.”
Anaphora
A ———— device that involves the ———— of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses, ————, or phrases.
A rhetorical device that involves the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses, sentences, or phrases.
Example: “In every cry of every man, In every infant’s cry of fear, In every voice, in every ban, The mind-forged manacles I hear.” In this excerpt from William Blake’s poem
“London,” the phrase “In every” is repeated at the beginning of successive lines, emphasising the difficulties of life in the city.
Antithesis
Using —- sentences with ————– or contrasting meanings close to one another, sometimes even in immediate ————-.
Using two sentences with contradictory or contrasting meanings close to one another, sometimes even in immediate succession.
Example: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” (Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities).
Archetype
An archetype is an immediately recognisable ———–, concept or ——– that makes it easy for audiences to ————- them based on what they resemble in ————-.
An archetype is an immediately recognisable character, concept or object that makes it easy for audiences to categorise them based on what they resemble in literature.
Example: Hagrid (Harry Potter) and Hodor (Game of Thrones) fit the ‘gentle giant’ archetype, while Batman is the ultimate ‘lone vigilante’ archetype.
Assonance
Similar to ————, however in this case it is ——– sounds that are repeated.
Similar to alliteration, however in this case it is vowel sounds that are repeated.
Example: “A long song.” has a repeated long ‘o’ sound in the last two words that creates assonance, however the name “Rita Skeeter” from Harry Potter also features assonance, as the ‘i’ and ‘ee’ create the same sound.
Atmosphere
Atmosphere and —– are often used interchangeably, as they are similar but used in different —– and have different ——–.
Atmosphere and mood are often used interchangeably, as they are similar but used in different ways and have different results.
Example: “The floorboards creaked in time with the wind whistling around the houses’ jagged edges, and waves crashed angrily against the rocky cliffs below. She clutched her
coat tighter around her and stepped into the flickering light of the fire.”
Characterisation
The process by which characters are ————-, described and then fully ——– through their ——–, interactions, etc.
The process by which characters are introduced, described and then fully formed through their choices, interactions, etc.
Example: Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games) is characterised as being independent,
resourceful, focused on survival and having poor social skills. These traits determine how she interacts with people and makes choices, as seen in her initially being vocal in her hatred for the Capitol, but then doing as the Capitol tells her if it means protecting her family and surviving.
Cliché
A ———- and/or ———— expression, often found in similes and ———–.
A common and/or overused expression, often found in similes and metaphors.
Example: “He ran like the wind.”
Connotations
The ——, feelings or ———- associated with specific words, ——— or situations that go beyond their literal ———-.
The ideas, feelings or concepts associated with specific words, phrases or situations that go beyond their literal meaning.
xample: ‘Beautiful’ and ‘cute’, while both describing how something is visually appealing, have different connotations. ‘Beautiful’ creates a sense of grace, elegance
and maturity, while ‘cute’ is more associated with youth, pettiness and the colour pink.
Consonance
The repetition of the same ———— in words that use different ——– -sounds.
The repetition of the same consonants in words that use different vowel-sounds.
Example: “Mike likes his bike” repeats the “k” sound, while the phrase “Blank and think” repeats the “nk” sound.
Context
The —–, place and ——- setting within which a text was created, including the values of the —–, the world events, major topics of ————-, key figures, etc.
The time, place and social setting within which a text was created, including the values of the time, the world events, major topics of discussion, key figures, etc.
Example: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley explores the idea of science being used to create life, reflecting Shelley’s own interest in science and the actual reanimation
experiments of the time period.
