Exam ReviewVocabulary and MLA

QualifyTo show both sides

Generalize; Generalizations

To make broad statements about; those statements.

ReiterateTo reinforce an idea by repeating

RefuteTo argue against a proposed claim

EmphasizeTo make important by stressing

Adjectivedescribes a noun

NounPerson, place, thing or idea

Verbaction, or link between subject and predicate

Adverbsdescribes a verb, adjective or adverbtells when, how, or to what degree

Pronounreplaces a noun, he, she, etc.

NarrativeStory

Comment orCommentary

Something someone says or writes about someone or somethingYou have written personal commentary over literature this semester.

Descriptionhow something appears

In literature, it is used to establish character, mood, etc.

Conversationalcasual tone, as if speaking to a friend

Color imagerypictures created with color

Also related to connotation and symbolism.

MetaphorComparison between two unlike things

SimileComparison using the words: like, as, seems,

appears or other synonym of like or as

Hyperbole; Hyperbolic

Exaggeration, making bigger than it is; having the qualities of being exaggerated.

Onomatopoeiawords that imitate sounds, buzz, pop, etc.

SympathyTo show emotional concern or similarity with

Censureto punish, admonish, or ostracize

EnvyTo desire what others have

AdmirationTo like or respect

ScornAngry dislike; hate

ContemptComplete dislike

PityTo feel sorry for

Disgustrepulsive

AweA strong feeling of fear, respect and wonder

Confusionto not understand, unclear, uncertain

SurprisingTo encounter unexpectedly

ImmoralNot conforming to accepted standards of

morality

Characteristichaving the nature of the typical specimen

In literature, characterization is created through description of characteristics.

irrelevantNot connected with or related to something

Paradoxicalseems absurd or self-contradictory, but holds

some truth

JudgmentalTo show opinions of something, sometimes

harshly

ConspiratorialTo plan together to make something happen

DisinterestedNot showing any concern for or interest in

PivotalImportant turning point.

An anchor point. Crucial to the story.

ValuesImportant mantras or morals

Proportionagreeable relation of parts within a whole; In literature, pleasing

interaction or appropriate combination of literary elements.

CongruousCorresponding in character or kind

AtmosphereMood created

Impassionedemotionally excited

concernto show care for

forcefulpowerful

ColloquialCasual or familiar way of speaking or writing

Figurative Language

Imaginative; NOT literal, “What’s up?”

Concretephysical; hard evidence; Can be literally felt, seen, heard, etc.

House, chair, table, Mrs. Wagner

AnomalousDeviating from what is standard, normal, or

expected

SuperfluousMore than enough to the point it is

unnecessary

Ironicopposite from what is expected

In literature, dramatic irony is when the audience knows what is going to happen, but characters do not. Situational irony is when the situation in the story is opposite from what the audience

expects. Verbal irony is saying the opposite of what is meant. Sarcasm is a hurtful form of this.

Enigmaticdifficult to interpret; mysterious

AppendingAdd something, attach something to existing

Immediacydirect and instant involvement with

Close connection. Intimate.In literature, immediacy is usually established when a narrator treats the reader like a close

friend discussing events in a story.

AbstractExisting in thought or idea, but not in the physical realm

Love, hate, respect

Specificclearly defined or identified

UnfamiliarNot comfortable or usual

In literature, it usually puts the reader or character on edge, nervous feeling.

CommonplaceUsual, ordinary, comfortable

Past tenseverbs with -ed, d ending or form of the word

which means it occurred previously

Present tenseverbs with -es, -s ending or form of a verb which indicates it is happening right now

Symbol; SymbolicSomething that represents something else; not

a comparison like a metaphor or simile.Ex: Color of the light at the end of Daisy’s dock.

LiteralWords which mean exactly what they say.

Inferan educated guess from information provided,

synthesized answer

ResentfulTo express bitterness or indignation at being

treated unfairly

Prodigalityprod-i-gal-i-ty or pro-di-gal-ty

extravagant wastefulness

Imagespictures created with words

Connotationmeanings of words that we create from our

experiences

DenotationDictionary or literal definition of the word

Diction; Word Choice

words chosen by an author to create meaning for the audience. Related to connotation and denotation.

ConveyTo show or to give an impression of

Alternatelyother option, opposite idea

IncongruousNot in harmony or matching the surroundings

of

IntensityExceptionally great concentration of power or force

In literature, authors create intensity by making the reader care about a character and then placing that character in peril or tense situation.

Overstatementexpressing or stating something too strongly;

exaggeration

PredominateStrongest or main element

In literature, the literary element that is strongest or repeated.

Bitterangry, hurt, or resentful because of bad

experiences

Wistfulregretful longing

Despondentlow spirit; loss of hope

ObjectiveShowing no personal attachment;

theoretically non-biased

Irritatedannoyed; showing slight anger

Italics vs. Quotation Marks in

TitlesItalics belong with selections that are whole;

They can be sold at Barnes and Nobles as whole.

Quotations belong with selections that are part of something else; You have to rip these out of collections of stories or poetry or books or off

of CDs or clips of movies.

MLA CITATION

AUTHOR FIRSTLast Name, First Name.

TITLES NEXTspecific to general

SPECIFIC: “Article.” “Poem.” “Story.”GENERAL: Title of the Book.

If the title is handwritten, then underline.If the title is typed, then italicize.

In AnthologyEd. FirstName LastName, FirstName LastName, and FirstName LastName.

Publication Information

City: Company, Year.

PAGE NUMBERSOnly needed if you use a title that requires

quotation marks.

213-221. 201-5.

TYPE OF SOURCEPrint. Web. Interview. CD. Video.

Book: Put it all together. Indent 2nd line.

Morales, Alfredo. The Red Wagon. New York: Penguin, 2013. Print.

ANTHOLOGY:Put it all together. Remember to indent 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. lines.

Author. “Title of Article.” Title of the Book. Ed. Editor or editors listed by first

name. City: Company, Year. Pages.

Type of Source.

WebAuthor. “Title of Page.” Title of Website. Sponsor of Website, Date last updated. Type of Source. Date accessed.

MLA If there is missing information in the order of

appearance, just skip it.

In-text Citation“quote” (Author pg#).

“hello” (Smith 32).

If there is no author, use whatever word is first in the works cited page, for example

the title.“quote” (“title” 345).

“hello” (“Ways” 2).

No page number, then just the author or title.

“hello” (“Ways”).