How to Read Literature Like a Professor Vocab
simulacrum
Image, representation; an unsubstantial form or semblance of something
noblesse oblige
The idea that people who have high social rank or wealth should be helpful and generous to people of lower rank or to people who are poor
resonance
The quality of the sound that stays loud, clear, and deep for a long time; a quality that makes something personally meaningful or important to someone; a sound or vibration produced in one object that is caused by the sound of vibration produced in another
autonomy
The state of existing or acting separately from others; self-directing freedom and especially moral independence; the power or right of a country, group, etc., to govern itself
conventions
A custom or a way of acting or doing things that is widely accepted and followed; a tradition or common style often used in literature, theater, or art to create a particular affect
liturgy (liturgical)
A fixed set of ceremonies, words, etc., that are used during public worship in a religion; a Eucharistic rite; A rite or body of rites prescribed for public worship; a customary repertoire of ideas phrases and observances
archetype
A pattern in literature that is often found in a variety of works from different cultures throughout the ages; can be a plot, a character, an image, or setting
apocryphal
a doubtful authenticity; spurious
milquetoast
a timid, meek, or unassertive person
ambiguous
able to be understood in more than one way: having more than one possible meeting; not expressed or understood clearly
pathos
an element in experience or an artistic representation evoking pity or compassion; a quality that causes people to feel sympathy and sadness; an emotion of sympathetic pity
nemesis
an opponent or enemy that is very difficult to defeat; a formidable and usually victorious rival or opponent
repugnant
causing a strong feeling of dislike or distrust; exciting distaste or aversion
mundane
dull or ordinary; relating to ordinary life on earth rather than spiritual things
timorous
easily frightened; fearful
perennial
existing or continuing in the same way for a long time; happening again and again; continuing without interruption; of a plant: living for several years or for many years, having a lifecycle that is more than two years long
vicariously
experienced or felt by watching, hearing about, or reading about someone else rather than by doing something yourself
subtle
hard to notice or see, not obnoxious; clever and indirect; not showing your real purpose, having or showing skill at recognizing and understanding things that are not obvious
hapless
having no luck; very unfortunate
de facto
in reality; actually; being such in effect though not formally recognized; exercising power as if legally constituted; resulting from economic or social factors rather than from laws or actions of the state
inherently
involved in the constitution or essential character of something; belonging by nature or habit
rhetoric
language that is intended to influence people and that may not be honest or reasonable; the art or skill of speaking or writing formally and effectively especially as a way to persuade or influence people
incredulous
not able or willing to believe something; feeling or showing a lack of belief
nonsectarian
not affiliated with or restricted to a particular religious group
apocalyptic
of, relating to, or involving terrible violence and destruction; of or relating to the end of the world; foreboding imminent disaster or final doom; ultimately decisive: climactic
umbiquity
presence everywhere or in many places especially simultaneously; omnipresence
sublimation
psychology: to express a desire or feeling by changing it into a form that is socially acceptable; to divert the expression of (an instinctual desire or impulse) from an unacceptable form to one that is considered more socially or culturally acceptable
anthology
published collection of writings (such as poems are short stories) by different authors; a collection of works of art or music
canonical
relating to the group of books, plays, poems, etc., that are traditionally considered to be very important; connected with or allowed by the laws of the Christian church; the books that are considered to be part of the religions official text
precursors
something that comes before something else and that often leads to influences and development
exigency
something that is necessary in a particular situation
protagonist
the main character in a novel, play, movie, etc.
verisimilitude
the quality of seeming real
portends
to be a sign or warning that something usually bad or pleasant is going to happen
disparage
to lower in rank or reputation; to degrade; to depreciate by indirect means (as invidious comparison); speak slightingly about; to describe (someone or something) as unimportant, weak, bad, etc.
digress
to speak or write about something that is different from the main subject being discussed
emulate
to try to be like (someone or something you admire)