Vocab for Poetry and Tragedy

Question 1

Ballad

Answer 1

A narrative poem to be sung or recited.

Question 2

Elegy

Answer 2

A poem written as a tribute to one who has died.

Question 3

Sonnet

Answer 3

A 14-line poem usually about universal themes relatable for all people, such as love. Uses iambic pentameter, a rhyme scheme, and a volta.

Question 4

Concrete poem

Answer 4

A poem in which the poet uses visible shape to create a picture related to the poem’s subject.

Question 5

Ode

Answer 5

A poem that highly praises something like a person, and event, or an idea.

Question 6

Trochee

Answer 6

A foot consisting of one stressed syllable followed by one unstressed syllable. DUH-duh. Ex: Later.

Question 7

Spondee

Answer 7

A foot consisting of two stressed syllables. DUH-DUH. Ex: Downtown.

Question 8

Anapest

Answer 8

A foot with a pattern of two unstressed, one stressed syllable. duh-duh-DUH. Ex: Understand.

Question 9

Dactyl

Answer 9

A foot with a pattern of one stressed, two unstressed syllables. DUH-duh-duh. Ex: Typical.

Question 10

Iamb

Answer 10

A foot with one unstressed syllable, and one stressed syllable. duh-DUH. Ex: Attack.

Question 11

Dirge

Answer 11

A song of mourning, usually sung at a funeral for the dead person.

Question 12

Paradox

Answer 12

A seemingly contradictory statement that actually reveals truth upon investigation.

Question 13

Catharsis

Answer 13

A purging or sweeping away of pity or fear aroused by tragic action.

Question 14

Peripeteia

Answer 14

A reversal of intention when the character creates the opposite effect to their original intended effect.

Question 15

Anagnorisis

Answer 15

The discovery or recognition, in which the character changes from ignorance to knowledge.

Question 16

Mimesis

Answer 16

The imitation of an action.

Question 17

Hubris

Answer 17

Excessive pride, causing the hero to ignore a divine warning or break a moral law.

Question 18

Aristotle’s theory of tragedy

Answer 18

Plot, character, thought, diction, song, and spectacle. In Aristotle’s theory of tragedy, these six elements are used to allow the tragedy to show, not tell. Plot is how the incidents are shown to the audience, character is meant to advance the plot because a lacking area in character often leads to the tragic downfall, thought is similar to the theme and it shows how speeches reveal character, diction is the style of speech, song refers to the odes which are fully integrated into the play, and spectacle refers to special effects. Aristotle’s perfect tragedy correctly employs all six elements.

Question 19

Trochee (later)

Answer 19

A foot consisting of one stressed syllable followed by one unstressed syllable. DUH-duh. Ex: Later.

Question 20

Spondee (downtown)

Answer 20

A foot consisting of two stressed syllables. DUH-DUH. Ex: Downtown.

Question 21

Anapest (understand)

Answer 21

A foot with a pattern of two unstressed, one stressed syllable. duh-duh-DUH. Ex: Understand.

Question 22

Dactyl (typical)

Answer 22

A foot with a pattern of one stressed, two unstressed syllables. DUH-duh-duh. Ex: Typical.

Question 23

Iamb (attack)

Answer 23

A foot with one unstressed syllable, and one stressed syllable. duh-DUH. Ex: Attack.

Question 24

What does Aristotle literally define tragedy as?

Answer 24

The imitation of an action that is serious and also as having magnitude, complete in itself.