From yellow book Flashcards
What is a bildungsroman?
It’s a story about a young person growing up, learning about life, and figuring out who they are. It’s a German word that means “education novel.”
Who wrote the first bildungsroman?
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe wrote the first one, called Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre, in 1796.
Name two bildungsroman stories by Charles Dickens.
- David Copperfield (1850)
- Great Expectations (1861)
What is The Catcher in the Rye about?
It’s a bildungsroman by J.D. Salinger from 1951 about a young person growing up and facing life’s challenges.
Are all bildungsromans set in schools?
No, some are, but others like Lord of the Flies by William Golding (1955) are not set in a school.
What is anagnorisis in a Greek tragedy?
It’s when the hero realizes something big, like they’re stuck in a bad situation.
Anagnorisis occurs in Oedipus Rex by Sophocles when Oedipus realizes that he has unknowingly killed his father and married his mother. This moment of tragic recognition shifts his fate from ignorance to devastating knowledge, fulfilling the prophecy he tried to avoid.
What does catharsis mean?
It’s when the audience feels better after watching a sad story.
What is hamartia?
It’s a big mistake the hero makes, like missing a target.
What does hubris mean in a tragedy?
It’s when the hero is too proud and messes up because of it.
Another example is Macbeth, whose overconfidence in the witches’ prophecies makes him believe he is invincible. His hubris leads him to make reckless decisions, like murdering Macduff’s family, ultimately sealing his doom.
What is mimesis in a story?
It means the story copies real life, like people and nature.
Like vivd descriptions of it
What is nemesis in a Greek tragedy?
It’s the punishment the hero gets for their mistakes, like a big payback.
What does peripeteia mean?
It’s a big twist in the story that changes everything for the hero.
It often marks a turning point in a tragedy, leading the protagonist from good fortune to disaster.
What is spectacle in a play?
It’s the cool things you see, like costumes or sets in the play.
What is irony?
Irony is when something happens that’s the opposite of what you expect.
What is verbal irony?
It’s saying one thing but meaning the opposite, like calling something “clear as mud” when it’s confusing.
Give an example of verbal irony.
In Hannah and Her Sisters (1986), a character says something went well, but it didn’t.
What is situational irony?
It’s when something happens that’s the opposite of what you thought would happen.
Give an example of situational irony.
In The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry, a husband and wife give up special things to buy gifts, but the gifts don’t work out.
What is dramatic irony?
It’s when the audience knows something the characters don’t.
Give an example of dramatic irony.
In Romeo and Juliet, we know Juliet is just sleeping, but Romeo thinks she’s dead, so he dies too.
What did Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel say about tragedies?
Hegel said a tragedy is when two good things or rights clash, and they can’t both win.
Hamlet represents the moral duty of personal revenge and justice for his father.
The State (represented by Claudius) represents political stability and order.
Both forces have justification—Hamlet seeks justice, but his pursuit of revenge leads to chaos, destruction, and the downfall of nearly everyone, including himself. This tragic collision between personal morality and the demands of the state makes Hamlet a perfect example of Hegel’s idea that tragedy arises from two equally valid yet opposing principles.
How is Hegel’s idea different from Aristotle’s?
Aristotle focused on the hero’s mistakes, but Hegel said tragedies are about two good things fighting, not just good versus evil.
Give an example of Hegel’s tragedy idea.
In Antigone by Sophocles, the main character has to choose between family rules and city rules, and it ends sadly.
What does Hegel say about good versus evil in tragedies?
Hegel said tragedies aren’t just about good versus evil, but about two good things that can’t both happen.
What’s the first step to understand an informational text?
Find the main point, which is called the conclusion.
What do you do after finding the conclusion?
Look for the reasons (called premises) that support the main point.
What should you list when reading an informational text?
List all the reasons the writer gives, even the ones they assume you know.
How do you check if the reasons are good?
Think about whether the reasons make sense and really support the main point.
What makes an argument valid?
An argument is valid if all the reasons are true and support the main point.
What happens if the reasons aren’t true?
If the reasons aren’t true, the argument isn’t good—it’s invalid.
Can you fix a bad argument?
Yes, you can fix a bad argument by adding more true reasons.
What is a caesura?
It’s a pause or break in the middle of a line of poetry, like taking a breath to create rhythm or show a feeling.
What does exeunt mean in a play?
It means “everyone leave the stage!” It’s a direction for actors to go off the stage, often in old plays like Shakespeare’s.
What is a soliloquy?
It’s when a character in a play talks to themselves out loud, sharing their thoughts with the audience, but other characters can’t hear.
What is enjambment in a poem?
It’s when a sentence in a poem doesn’t stop at the end of a line and keeps going to the next line, like the words spill over.
What is a circumfix?
A circumfix is a type of affix that surrounds a word, attaching to both the beginning and end of it.
📖 Example in English:
The word “enlighten” is formed by a circumfix. The prefix “en-“ attaches to the start of the root word “light,” and the suffix “-en” attaches to the end of it, creating the meaning of making something light or providing light.
What is an imperative statement?
It’s a sentence that tells someone to do something, like “Sit down!” or “Clean your room!”
It is often seen as giving a command.
What does the suffix -ness do to a word?
It turns a describing word into a naming word that means a quality, like “happy” becomes “happiness.”
This suffix indicates a state or condition.
What is a direct object?
It’s the thing that gets the action in a sentence, like “ball” in “I kicked the ball.”
The direct object answers the question ‘what?’ or ‘whom?’
What is an indirect object?
It’s the person who gets the direct object, like “Mom” in “I gave Mom a flower.”
The indirect object answers the question ‘to whom?’ or ‘for whom?’
What is a subordinate phrase?
It’s a group of words that can’t stand alone and needs the main sentence, like “because I missed the bus” in “I was late because I missed the bus.”
Subordinate phrases often begin with conjunctions.
What is an absolute phrase?
It’s a group of words that adds extra info to a sentence, like “The sun shining brightly” in “The sun shining brightly, we went to the park.”
Absolute phrases provide additional details but are not essential to the main clause.
What is a participle?
It’s a verb form that acts like a describing word, like “running” in “The running dog is fast.”
Participles often end in “-ing” or “-ed.”
Where do periods and commas go with quotation marks?
They go inside the quotation marks, like in “I like to play,” she said.
This is a standard rule in American English.
Where do colons and semicolons go with quotation marks?
They go outside the quotation marks, like in “I’m tired”; then she went to bed.
This rule differs from the placement of periods and commas.
When do you use a comma with ‘and’ or ‘but’?
Use a comma before ‘and’ or ‘but’ when they connect two full sentences, like ‘Bob caught three fish, and I caught two fish.’
Where does a comma go after an introductory phrase?
Use a comma after a starting phrase, like ‘After the final out, we went to a restaurant to celebrate.’
How do you use commas in a list?
Use commas to separate things in a list, like ‘I will bring the turkey, the pie, and the coffee.’
When do you use a comma with ‘Wow’ or ‘Yes’?
Use a comma after words like ‘Wow’ or ‘Yes,’ like ‘Wow, you know how to play this game.’
Where do commas go in dates?
Use commas in dates, like ‘July 4, 1776, is an important date to remember.’
How do you use commas when talking to someone?
Use a comma when talking directly to someone, like ‘You, John, are my only hope in this moment.’
Where do commas go with extra information?
Use commas to set off extra info, like ‘John Frank, who coaches the team, was promoted today.’
How do you use commas in addresses?
Use commas in addresses, like ‘He is meeting me at 456 Delaware Avenue, Washington, D.C., tomorrow morning.’
What does ‘affect’ mean as a verb?
It means to change or influence something, like ‘The sunshine affects the plant’s growth.’
What does ‘effect’ mean as a noun?
It means a result, like ‘What effect will this weather have on our schedule?’
What does ‘affect’ mean as a noun?
It means a feeling, like ‘The patient had a flat affect (his face showed no emotion).’
What does ‘effect’ mean as a verb?
It means to cause something, like ‘These new rules will effect order in the office.’
Which is safer to use, ‘affect’ or ‘effect’?
Use ‘affect’ as a verb and ‘effect’ as a noun when you’re not sure—it’s the safest choice.
What is the Learning Approach to language?
It says kids learn language by copying what adults say.
What is the Linguistic Approach to language?
It says kids are born with the ability to learn language—it’s in their brains. Noam Chomsky made this idea in the 1950s.
What is the Cognitive Approach to language?
It says kids need to develop thinking skills before they can learn language. Jean Piaget made this idea in the 1970s.
What is the Socio-Cognitive Approach to language?
It says kids learn language from a mix of thinking, social, and language skills. It explains why neglected kids might struggle.
What does UNESCO say literacy is?
Literacy is the ability to understand, interpret, create, communicate, compute, and use written materials in different situations.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
What else does literacy mean according to UNESCO?
It means understanding the culture, politics, and history of your community.
What does the suffix -er do?
It turns a verb into a person who does something, like Teach → Teacher (a person who teaches).
What does the suffix -ing do?
It shows an action happening now or makes a describing word, like Run → Running (action or a running dog).
What does the suffix -ed do?
It makes a verb past tense or a describing word, like Walk → Walked (past tense) or a walked path.
What does the suffix -s or -es do?
It makes a noun plural or shows a verb with ‘he/she/it,’ like Cat → Cats or Run → Runs.
What does the suffix -ly do?
It turns a describing word into how something is done, like Quick → Quickly.
What does the suffix -ness do?
It turns a describing word into a quality, like Happy → Happiness.
What does the suffix -ful do?
It means ‘full of’ that quality, like Beauty → Beautiful (full of beauty).
What does the suffix -less do?
It means ‘without’ that quality, like Hope → Hopeless (without hope).
What does the suffix -ment do?
It turns a verb into the state or result of the action, like Move → Movement.
What does the suffix -able or -ible do?
It means ‘can be done,’ like Read → Readable (can be read).
What does the prefix un- mean?
It means ‘not’ or the opposite, like Happy → Unhappy (not happy).
What does the prefix re- mean?
It means ‘again’ or ‘back,’ like Do → Redo (do again).
What does the prefix dis- mean?
It means ‘not’ or the opposite, like Like → Dislike (not like).
What does the prefix in- (or im-, ir-, il-) mean?
It means ‘not,’ like Active → Inactive or Possible → Impossible.
What does the prefix pre- mean?
It means ‘before,’ like View → Preview (view before).
What does the prefix mis- mean?
It means ‘wrong’ or ‘badly,’ like Spell → Misspell (spell wrong).
What does the prefix over- mean?
It means ‘too much,’ like Eat → Overeat (eat too much).
What does the prefix under- mean?
It means ‘not enough’ or ‘below,’ like Cook → Undercook (not cook enough).
What does the prefix anti- mean?
It means ‘against,’ like Virus → Antivirus (against a virus).
What does the prefix co- mean?
It means ‘together,’ like Operate → Cooperate (work together).
Carpe Diam
In Latin, “Seize the day.” The fleeting nature of life and the need to embrace its pleasures constitute a frequent theme of love poems; examples include Andrew Marvell’s “To His Coy Mistress” and Robert Herrick’s “To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time.”
Means life is short
What is concrete poetry?
It’s a poem where the words are arranged to make a picture or shape that matches the poem’s meaning, like a poem about a tree shaped like a tree.
What is a villanelle?
It’s a poem with 19 lines, 5 stanzas of 3 lines, and one stanza of 4 lines. Two lines repeat, and it rhymes like ABA ABA ABA ABA ABA ABAA.
What is a sonnet?
A sonnet is a traditional poem with 14 lines, written in iambic pentameter. It often focuses on a theme like love or beauty and has a turn, called a volta.
What is a Petrarchan (Italian) sonnet?
A Petrarchan sonnet has 14 lines split into an octave (8 lines) with the rhyme scheme ABBA ABBA, and a sestet (6 lines) with the rhyme scheme CDE CDE or CDC DCD.
What is an English (Shakespearean) sonnet?
14 lines
3 quatrains (4 lines each) + 1 couplet (2 lines)
Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG
Written in iambic pentameter (that fancy 10-syllables-per-line rhythm that goes da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM 🎭)An English sonnet has 14 lines split into three quatrains and a final couplet. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.
How is the English sonnet different from the Petrarchan sonnet?
The English sonnet has three quatrains and a couplet with fewer rhymes than the Petrarchan sonnet, which has an octave and sestet.
What are some variations of the sonnet form?
Variations include the Spenserian sonnet, the Miltonic sonnet, and sonnet sequences like La Corona and Sonnets from the Portuguese.
What does ‘carpe diem’ mean?
Carpe diem is Latin for ‘seize the day,’ a theme in poetry that encourages enjoying life’s pleasures now.
Where does the carpe diem theme come from?
The carpe diem theme comes from Roman poet Horace’s Ode 1.11.
“Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero”
(“Seize the day, put very little trust in tomorrow”)
How do Renaissance poets use carpe diem?
Renaissance poets like Andrew Marvell and Robert Herrick use carpe diem to encourage action, urging love and marriage while young.
What does Andrew Marvell say in To His Coy Mistress?
Marvell argues that since time is short, they should love now and make the most of it.
What does Robert Herrick say in To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time?
Herrick advises young women to gather rosebuds and get married while they are young before time passes.
How does a poem’s structure affect its meaning?
A poem’s structure changes how we understand it; the number of lines, stanzas, and rhythm can match the poem’s message.
What is free verse in poetry?
Free verse is poetry that doesn’t follow a specific rhythm or rhyme scheme.
What are end-stopped lines in poetry?
End-stopped lines are lines that have a punctuation mark at the end, creating a pause.
What is enjambment in poetry?
Enjambment is when a sentence in a poem continues to the next line without stopping.
How does William Blake use structure in The Tyger?
Blake uses short lines with a strong rhythm and skips punctuation to create tension.
How does John Milton use structure in Paradise Lost?
Milton uses enjambment and caesuras to create a jerky narration. Also Blank verse = unrhymed iambic pentameter (so it has a rhythm but no rhyme).
What is a couplet in poetry?
A couplet is a stanza of two lines that often rhyme.
How does meter affect a poem?
Meter is the rhythm of a poem, making it flow and sound pleasing.
How does Wallace Stevens use structure in The Snow Man?
Stevens uses one long sentence with many clauses to convey the snow man’s perspective.
How does Robert Frost use structure in Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening?
Frost uses four stanzas of four lines, with a simple iambic tetrameter rhythm.
What is hyperbole in poetry?
Hyperbole is exaggeration to show strong feelings or set a mood.
What is imagery in poetry?
Imagery uses words to create pictures in your mind.
How does irony help a poem?
Irony shows the opposite of what’s expected to make a point or set a tone.
What are metaphors and similes in poetry?
Metaphors compare things directly, while similes use ‘like’ or ‘as’ for comparison.
What is onomatopoeia in poetry?
Onomatopoeia is when words sound like what they mean.
How does rhyme help a poem?
Rhyme connects lines and makes the poem flow better.
What is symbolism in poetry?
Symbolism uses objects to represent bigger ideas.
How does repetition work in Theodore Roethke’s The Waking?
Repetition emphasizes life’s cycles and spiritual acceptance.
How does Sylvia Plath use repetition in her poetry?
Plath uses repetition to reflect a young woman’s constant love.
How did English drama start?
English drama started from religious rituals with early Christians performing mystery plays.
What are some famous Middle English mystery plays?
Famous plays include the York Cycle, Coventry Cycle, and Chester Mystery Plays.
How did drama change by the Renaissance?
Playwrights began writing in prose, rhyme, and blank verse, using costumes and soliloquies.
What is breaking the fourth wall in drama?
Breaking the fourth wall is when actors talk directly to the audience.
Who was William Shakespeare?
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright considered the greatest writer in English.
What is a farce in drama?
A farce is a silly comedy with ridiculous characters and unlikely events.
Who is considered the greatest writer in English?
William Shakespeare
How many sonnets did Shakespeare write?
154 sonnets
How many plays did Shakespeare write?
About 38 plays
What type of play is A Midsummer Night’s Dream?
Comedy
What type of play is Hamlet?
Tragedy
What type of play is The Tempest?
Tragicomedy
What type of play is Henry V?
Historical play
What is a farce in drama?
A silly comedy with ridiculous characters and unlikely events
What are some examples of farce?
- The Comedy of Errors
- Marx Brothers movies
- The Pink Panther series
What is black comedy?
A type of humor that makes terrible things seem funny
What is anagnorisis in Aristotle’s tragedy?
A moment when the hero realizes something significant
What is hamartia in Aristotle’s tragedy?
A big mistake the hero makes, often called a ‘tragic flaw’
What is hubris in Aristotle’s tragedy?
Excessive pride leading to the hero’s downfall
What is nemesis in Aristotle’s tragedy?
The punishment the hero receives for their mistakes
What is peripeteia in Aristotle’s tragedy?
A plot reversal where the hero’s situation changes dramatically
What is Hegel’s theory of tragedy?
A tragedy occurs when two good things clash and cannot both win
How does Hegel’s theory differ from Aristotle’s?
Hegel focuses on the conflict between two rights, while Aristotle emphasizes the hero’s mistakes
What is a revenge tragedy?
A play where the main character seeks revenge for a wrong
What happens in a revenge tragedy?
The hero suffers a wrong and takes revenge, often leading to more tragedy
What is Hamlet’s conflict in Hamlet?
Hamlet must decide whether to kill Claudius or let it go
What is Hamlet’s ‘tragic flaw’?
His hesitation to act quickly on avenging his father’s death
What is the main theme in Les Misérables?
The importance of love and compassion
How does love work in Les Misérables?
Bishop Myriel’s kindness transforms Valjean, and love inspires forgiveness
What is the theme in The Tell-Tale Heart?
Guilt and madness
How does Poe show madness in The Tell-Tale Heart?
Through the narrator’s obsession, irrational motives, and eventual confession
