Euro Lit Semester 2 Final

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Satire

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the technique that employs wit to ridicule a subject, usually some social institution or human foible, with the intention of inspiring reform.

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Enlightment

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a philosophic movement of the 18th century marked by a rejection of traditional social, religious, and political ideas and an emphasis on rationalism

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Philosophy

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theory or logical analysis of the principles underlying conduct, thought, knowledge, and the nature of the universe

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Parody

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a humorous imitation of serious writing.

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Caricature

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exaggeration of prominent features of appearance or character.

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Theology

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the study of religious faith, practice, and experience

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Optimism

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the doctrine that this world is the best possible world

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Pessimism

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the doctrine that evil overbalances happiness in life

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Character foil

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a character whose traits are the opposite of those of another character, and who thus points up the strengths or weaknesses of the other character

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Hyperbole

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a figure of speech involving great exaggeration.

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Paradox

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a statement, often metaphorical, that seems to be self-contradictory but that has valid meaning.

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Juxtaposition

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to place side by side for comparison or judgment

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Oxymoron

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a combination of contradictory or incongruous words

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scathing

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v. or adj. witty attacks

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pernicious

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adj. harmful

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loathed

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to dislike greatly

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disdain

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scorn

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malevolently

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evil,harmful, injurious

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prudence

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n. the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason

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audacious

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bold

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subjugate

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v.t. to bring under complete control; conquer

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fetishes

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n. a cult that worships objects believed to have magical powers

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pious

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adj. having or showing a dutiful spirit of reverence for God

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assiduous

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constant in application or effort

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sordid

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filthy

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vapid

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adj. without liveliness or spirit; dull

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maxims

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general truths, fundamental principles, or rules of conduct

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languish

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v./n. become weak or worn out

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abominable

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adj. repugnantly hateful; detestable; loathsome

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dexterity

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n. Skill and grace in physical movement, especially in the use of the hands; adroitness

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heretic

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a professed believer who maintains religious opinions contrary to those accepted by his or her church or rejects doctrines prescribed by that church

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contingent

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adj./n. dependent for existence, occurrence, character, etc., on something not yet certain; conditional

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irascible

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adj. to be marked by hot temper and easily provoked anger

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disconcerted

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adj./verb/word modifier| to disturb the self-possession of; perturb; ruffle

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abject

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adj. miserable

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Big Brother

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an all powerful government or organization monitoring and directing people’s actions

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Capitalism

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an economic system in which investment in and ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange of wealth is made and maintained chiefly by private individuals or corporations, esp. as contrasted to cooperatively or state-owned means of wealth

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Communism

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a system of social organization in which all economic and social activity is controlled by a totalitarian state dominated by a single and self-perpetuating political party

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Conflict

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the struggle between two opposing forces

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Democracy

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government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system

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Dystopia

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an imaginary place where people lead dehumanized and often fearful lives; anti-utopia

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Foreshadowing

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a hint given to the reader of what is to come

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Marxism

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the doctrine that the state throughout history has been a device for the exploitation of the masses by a dominant class, that class struggle has been the main agency of historical change, and that the capitalist system, containing from the first the seeds of its own decay, will inevitably, after the period of the dictatorship of the proletariat, be superseded by a socialist order and a classless society

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Moral

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the lesson or inner meaning to be learned from a story

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Motif

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a character, incident, idea or object that appears over and over in various works or in various parts of the same work

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Oligarchy

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a form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or in a dominant class or clique; government by the few

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Paradox

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a statement, often metaphorical, that seems to be self-contradictory but that has valid meaning

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Propaganda

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the spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, cause, or a person

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Socialism

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a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole

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Totalitarianism

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absolute control by the state or a governing branch of a highly centralized institution

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Utopia

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absolute control by the state or a governing branch of a highly centralized institution

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inexorable

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adj. relentless; unyielding

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lucid

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adj. having full use of one's faculties

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odious

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adj. deserving hatred or repugnance

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inscrutable

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adj. not readily interpreted or understood; mysterious

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multifarious

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adj. diverse

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proletariat

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n. the lowest social or economic class of a community

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orthodox

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adj. conforming to established doctrine esp. in religion

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credulity

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willingness to believe

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eccentricity

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deviating from the norm

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effigy

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n. a crude figure representing a hated person

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luminous

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clear; bright

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impregnable

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unconquerable; impenetrable

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demur

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v. hesitation based on doubt

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pretentious

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adj. exaggerated worth, importance, or stature

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catechism

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n. a summary of religious doctrine in the form of questions and answers

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arbitrary

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adj. existing or coming about seemingly by random or by chance

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inimical

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adj. hostile; unfriendly

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sanctimonious

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n. hypocritically devout

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martyr

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n. someone who sacrifices something of great value for the sake of a principle

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erroneous

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adj. mistaken

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forlorn

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adj. sad and lonely due to isolation; being in poor condition

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capitulate

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v. to stop resisting; to yield; to give in

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Theme

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The author’s message in a literary work

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Direct Characterization

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The writer makes direct statements about a character’s personality and tells what the character is like

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Indirect Characterization

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The writer reveals information about a character and his personality through that character’s thoughts, words, and actions, along with how other characters respond to that character, including what they think and say about him

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Motif

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The writer reveals information about a character and his personality through that character’s thoughts, words, and actions, along with how other characters respond to that character, including what they think and say about him

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Symbol

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Something that represents or suggests other things or ideas

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intermittent

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adj. alternately ceasing and beginning

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excrement

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n. waste matter discharged from the body, i.e. feces.

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imperiously

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adv. in a domineering or overbearing manner

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bedraggled

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v. to make limp and soiled, esp. with rain or dirt

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ingenuously

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adj. free from reserve or restraint; candid; sincere

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nettles

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v. to irritate; vex

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coveting

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in desire of something enviously

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intravenous

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adj. within a vein

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perfunctory [perfunctorily*]

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adj. [adv.*] performed merely as a routine duty; hasty and superficial

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zeal

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n. fervor for a person, cause or object; enthusiastic diligence

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amalgamate [amalgamated]

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v. to mix or merge so as to make a combination; to blend

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obliquely

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adv. in an indirect or misleading manner or direction

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disclaimed

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v. to deny or renounce any claim to or connection with; disdain

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commiseration

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n. a feeling of sympathy or sorrow for the misfortunes of others

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haggard

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adj. having a gaunt, wasted, or exhausted appearance

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irrespective

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prep. regardless

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expostulated

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v. to reason earnestly with someone in an effort to dissuade or correct; remonstrate

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peremptory

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adj. putting an end to all debate or action; not allowing contradiction or refusal.

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indelible

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adj. things that cannot be erased, eliminated, changed, or forgotten

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din

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n. a loud confused noise