This site is 100% ad supported. Please add an exception to adblock for this site.

Our Town Lit Terminology & Vocabulary

Terms

undefined, object
copy deck
Realism
"slice of life" fiction that portrays ordinary characters and everyday events
Dialect
the regional variety of language spoken by a local social or ethnic group or profession
Drama
literary genre written for performance before an audience. Ex. Plays, monologues, dramatic poems
Aside
a theatrical convention that is a privately spoken remark directed by an actor to the audience, often in an undertone. Note: An aside is always the truth for the character speaking.
Dramatic Irony
the situation that exists in a play when the audience knows more than a character on stage knows, used to build tension.
Irony Situational
the disparity between what is expected or deserves to happen and what actually happens; Verbal: contradiction between what is said and what is actually meant
Flashback
literary technique that allows interruption in the chronological order of events in order to return to a scene at an earlier point in a narrative; a conversation or an event that has happened before the story action
Foreshadowing
literary technique that suggests hints or clues about future events, often negative
Metaphor
figurative language that directly compares 2 different items that are alike in a fundamental way
Simile
a type of metaphor that is an indirect comparison using "like" or "as" to draw the parallel
proscenium
part of stage in front of curtain
trellis
lattice; woven, wooden support for flowers and vines
highboy
tall chest of drawers supported by legs
legacy
money or property left to someone in a will; item handed down from one generation to the next
savant
a learned person
anthropology
the study of mankind and his cultures
remorse
sorry feeling; guilt over wrongdoing
belligerent
hostile; agressive; warlike
languid
sluggish; slow; weak; without spirit
heliotrope
plant with small, fragrant, reddish-purple flowers, with a vanilla scent
farce
exaggerated, broad humor based on highly unlikely, comic situations
alacrity
eager willingness; lively action
lugubriousness
overly tearful; extreme state of mourning
genealogist
one who studies family descendants & histor to chart a family tree
weaned
to withdraw gradually from a habit or an object of affection, as a baby is weaned from mother's milk
diligence
steady, careful, and energetic work
prolific
extremely productive, creating an abundance of works
subtlety
the quality of being difficult to detect or analyze, characterized by being slyly or skillfully done
pince-nez [pans'-na]
old-fashioned eyeglasses/lenses clipped to the nose with a spring
vestiges
a last visible trace or sign of something that exists or appears no more; remains; leftovers
permeated
penetrated through and through; entirely saturated or soaked through
cosmic
universal; vast in size
careening
moving fast and out of control; veering from side to side
brachiocephalic [or brachycephalic]
short-headed, with breadth of head at least 4/5th of its length
cynicism
the tendency to question the sincerity and goodness of people; the belief that all people are selfish; sarcasm
oration
a formal, ceremonial speech
barren
infertile; sterile; unproductive
torrent
a rapid or violent flow -- for example, of rushing water or gusty wind
sacrament
one of the 7 rites of the Christian church considered as a means to grace
tableau
a "frozen" scene; an interval during a dramatic scene in which actors hold a striking pose without speaking or moving; a still "picture" on stage
crestfallen
dejected; down-hearted; in low spirits
panoramic
wide view of all sides; having an unlimited view in all directions
contriving
managing cleverly or inventively to force the result one wants
impetus
an incentive to act; a motivating force
transitory
temporary; not long-lasting; "here today, gone tomorrow"
sentiment
genuine feeling
sentimentality
a false or exaggerated feeling; overly emotional in a fake way
catcall
a shrill, mocking cry; a whistle or hoot of derision
epitaph
an inscription on a tombstone in memory of the deceased, summarizing the past life and identity briefly
bereaved
the mourners; those grieving for the loss of a loved one [adj. - bereft]

Deck Info

50

permalink