Vocab

Question 1

Alliteration

Answer 1

Repetition of initial consonant sounds in words often used to create emphasis or a musical quality.

Question 2

Allusion

Answer 2

references to religious or classical texts which Donne frequently employs and W;t explores.

Question 3

Ambiguity

Answer 3

a word or phrase with multiple meanings which Donne employs to suggest layered interpretations.

Question 4

Anaphora

Answer 4

the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive lines which can create a cumulative emphasis on a theme.

Question 5

Apostrophe

Answer 5

a direct address to an abstract concept or absent personas in Donne’s “Death

Question 6

Assonance

Answer 6

the repetition of vowel sounds within words close to each other often to create internal rhyme and emphasize certain emotions or themes.

Question 7

Balances

Answer 7

Examines how different elements within or across texts create harmony or contrast.

Question 8

Blends

Answer 8

discusses how a text combines or merges ideas tonally

Question 9

Caesura

Answer 9

a deliberate pause within a line of poetry which can emphasize thematic or emotional shifts.

Question 10

Conceit

Answer 10

a central metaphor that governs a poem such as Donne’s likening of death to sleep in “Death

Question 11

Divine Judgment

Answer 11

the concept of being judged by God a prominent focus in Donne’s sonnets.

Question 12

Diction

Answer 12

choice of words; Donne’s diction is often elevated and intricate reflecting his intellectual approach to poetry.

Question 13

Elision

Answer 13

the omission of syllables or sounds common in Donne’s time

Question 14

Enjambment

Answer 14

continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line often used to create tension or urgency.

Question 15

Existential Angst

Answer 15

the dread or anxiety about life’s purpose and mortality as seen in Vivian’s journey.

Question 16

Existentialism

Answer 16

a philosophy focusing on individual experience and choice which echoes in W;t’s exploration of death and meaning.

Question 17

Faith vs. Doubt

Answer 17

the struggle between belief and skepticism a theme in both Donne’s work and Vivian’s experiences.

Question 18

Humility vs. Pride

Answer 18

the tension between intellectual pride and the need for humility which Vivian ultimately confronts.

Question 19

Intellectual Detachment

Answer 19

the idea of approaching life or literature with an emotional remove which Edson critiques in Vivian’s character.

Question 20

Invokes

Answer 20

brings to mind certain themes or ideas from another text often indirectly.

Question 21

Irony

Answer 21

Donne often uses irony to challenge conventional beliefs while Edson uses it to critique intellectual pride.

Question 22

Metaphysical Conceit

Answer 22

an extended metaphor that draws a complex comparison common in Donne’s work and relevant to W;t’s academic setting.

Question 23

Metaphysical Poetry

Answer 23

a style marked by wit intellectualism

Question 24

Metaphysical Wit

Answer 24

a blend of intellectual humor and insight as in Donne’s sonnets and the ironic wordplay in W;t.

Question 25

Mortality

Answer 25

the inevitability of death a core theme in Donne’s Holy Sonnets and W;t.

Question 26

Paradox

Answer 26

a statement that seems contradictory but reveals a deeper truth often used by Donne to explore faith.

Question 27

Redemption

Answer 27

the idea of salvation and forgiveness explored in Donne’s religious poetry and Vivian’s journey in W;t.

Question 28

Religious Imagery

Answer 28

Images and symbols drawn from Christian theology central to Donne’s work and relevant in W;t.

Question 29

Resonates

Answer 29

connects with or reinforces themes and ideas creating a shared meaning.

Question 30

Sharpens

Answer 30

contrasts two elements in a way that makes one or both clearer.

Question 31

Soteriology

Answer 31

theological study of salvation, a subtext in both Donne’s sonnets and W;t.

Question 32

Synthesizes

Answer 32

combines ideas or themes from multiple sources to create a new integrated perspective.

Question 33

Weaves

Answer 33

Intertwines themes or ideas from different texts or sources into a complex whole.

Question 34

Prosody

Answer 34

The patterns of rhythm and sound used in poetry, inflection and pacing.

Question 35

Deixis

Answer 35

is the use of words or phrases to refer to a particular time (e.g. then), place (e.g. here), or person (e.g. you) relative to the context of the utterance.

Question 36

Ratiocinative

Answer 36

the process of exact thinking

Question 37

Contrition

Answer 37

– the theme of regret and repentance, particularly relevant in Donne’s meditative style.

Question 38

Mortality

Answer 38

– the inevitability of death, a core theme in Donne’s Holy Sonnets and W;t.

Question 39

Personification

Answer 39

– attributing human qualities to non-human entities, frequently seen in Donne’s treatment of abstract concepts like Death or Sin.

Question 40

Litotes

Answer 40

– understatement through double negatives, often used for subtle emphasis or irony.
-ironic understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary

Question 41

Sibilance

Answer 41

– a type of consonance where “s” or “sh” sounds are repeated, often creating a soft, hissing effect.

Question 42

Paradox

Answer 42

– a statement that seems contradictory but reveals a deeper truth, often used by Donne to explore faith.

Question 43

Volta

Answer 43

– the “turn” in a sonnet, typically occurring between the octave and sestet in a Petrarchan sonnet, signaling a shift in tone or perspective.

Question 44

Memento Mori

Answer 44

– a reminder of human mortality, an idea central to Donne’s and Edson’s treatments of death.

Question 45

Existentialism

Answer 45

– a philosophy focusing on individual experience and choice, which echoes in W;t’s exploration of death and meaning.

Question 46

Epigram

Answer 46

– a short, witty statement or line, common in metaphysical poetry and often seen in Donne’s work to encapsulate complex ideas concisely.

Question 47

Quatrain

Answer 47

– a stanza of four lines, often used in sonnets and marked by a specific rhyme scheme.

Question 48

Sestet

Answer 48

– the final six lines of a Petrarchan sonnet, usually providing a resolution or response to the octave.

Question 49

Metonymy

Answer 49

– a figure of speech where something is referred to by a closely associated term, often used by Donne to discuss abstract concepts.

the substitution of the name of an attribute or adjunct for that of the thing meant, for example, “poppy” and “charm” are used to produce gentle sleep or death.

Question 50

Synecdoche

Answer 50

– using a part to represent the whole, or vice versa, often used for emphasis or to simplify complex themes.

Question 51

Euphony

Answer 51

– the use of smooth, harmonious sounds, which can create a pleasing tone even with difficult themes.

Question 52

Cacophony

Answer 52

– harsh, discordant sounds used to create a sense of discomfort or emphasize chaotic themes.

Question 53

Compositio loci

Answer 53

(Latin for “composition of place”) is a meditative technique that involves visualizing a scene in vivid detail to aid memory, understanding, or spiritual reflection. Popularized by St. Ignatius of Loyola, it helps deepen engagement with a subject, such as a story or historical event, by mentally placing oneself within it.

Question 54

mettre une chose en present à quelqu’un,

Answer 54

to place something in a person’s presence, in regards to the gift of the gospel and salvation through Christ. As already being given but for some, not yet received.

Question 55

prosopopeias

Answer 55

a figure of speech in which an imaginary or absent person is represented as speaking or acting. See, Personification but more specific as it is an absent person.

Question 56

vates-poet

Answer 56

Latin term meaning “poet-prophet” or “seer-poet.” In classical Roman culture, a vates was not just a poet but someone believed to have prophetic insight, often inspired by divine forces. This term highlights the poet’s role as a visionary who not only composes verse but also reveals deeper truths or insights about human experience and the world.