Keywords For Exams (A-level Termonology)

Question 1

What is hubris

Answer 1

Overwhelming pride and arrogance

Question 2

What is Memento mori ?

Answer 2

Reminder of death

Question 3

What is pathos ?

Answer 3

Pity

Question 4

What is the harmatia of a character ?

Answer 4

Error of judgement which tends to lead to down fall of a character (fatal flaw)

Question 5

What is Catharsis ?

Answer 5

Purging or cleansing of emotions

Question 6

What is malcontent ?

Answer 6

Blaming others for their actions

Question 7

What is technique is stichomythia ?

Answer 7

It is where quick exchange occurs between characters

Question 8

What does is meant by media res ?

Answer 8

It is where the beginning of a piece of literature starts in the middle of a story
E.g act 1 scene 1 hamlet

Question 9

What is meant by the Oedipus complex ?

Answer 9

The attachment of a child to the parent of the opposite sex. This tends to mean that there is an aggressive feeling toward The parent of the same sex.

Question 10

What is a Sycophant ?

Answer 10

a person who acts obsequiously towards someone important in order to gain advantage.
(Where someone sucks up to someone for rewards and prizes)

Question 11

What is a nepotism ?

Answer 11

the practice among those with power or influence of favouring relatives, friends, or associates, especially by giving them jobs