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)