vocab

• What does the word "avenge" mean?


  Inflict harm or pain in return for a wrong done to oneself.
• What is the definition of "supernatural"?


  Something that does not exist, including manifestations or events of supernatural origin.
• What does "malevolence" refer to?


  The state or condition of being evil or wicked.
• What is "equivocation"?


  The use of ambiguous language to conceal the truth and intentionally deceive someone.
• What does "eschew" mean?


  Deliberately avoid something or to shun someone and leave them out.
• What is a "paradox"?


  A seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement that may prove to be well founded or true.
• What does "tyranny" refer to?


  A cruel or oppressive government or rule.
• What does "Machiavellian" describe?


  A leader who is cunning, scheming, and unscrupulous, especially in politics.
• What is "regicide"?


  The murder of a monarch.
• What defines a "tragic hero"?


  A person of noble birth with heroic qualities destined for downfall.
• What does "manipulation" mean?


  The action of controlling something deceitfully and skillfully to get someone to do something you want.
• What are "prophecies"?


  A prediction about a person's future.
• What does "atypical" mean?


  Not representative or typical of a type, group, class, or gender.
• What is the "Divine Right of Kings"?


  A doctrine that kings have been placed there by God and receive all their authority from God.
• Who is a "usurper"?


  A person who takes a position of power or importance illegally or by force.
• What is the "Great Chain of Being"?


  A hierarchical structure of all matter and life, thought by medieval Christianity and decreed by God.
• What does "redemption" mean?


  The action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil.
• What is "catharsis"?


  Releasing and providing relief from strong or repressed emotions.
• What does "zenith" refer to?


  The time at which someone or something is the most powerful or successful.
• Who is the "antagonist"?


  A character who opposes the main character.
• What does "nadir" mean?


  The time at which someone or something is at the least powerful or successful.
• What are "apparitions"?


  A ghost or ghostlike image of a person or object.
• What is a "scapegoat"?


  A person who is blamed for the wrongdoings, mistakes, or faults of others.
• What does "duplicitous" mean?


  Deceitful, dishonest, untruthful, lying.
• What is a "caesarean"?


  The surgical delivery of a baby or babies from the mother’s stomach.
• What does "treason" refer to?


  The crime of betraying your country, especially by attempting to kill the monarch or overthrow the government.
• What does "prophetic" mean?


  Accurately describing or predicting what will happen in the future.
• What is "infanticide"?


  The crime of killing a child within a year of birth.
• What does "hamartia" refer to?


  A fatal flaw leading to the downfall of a tragic hero or heroine.
• What is "tanistry"?


  A custom among Celtic tribes in which monarchs could be elected to ascend the throne.
• What does "hubris" mean?


  Excessive pride or self-confidence.
• What does "callous" mean?


  Showing or having an insensitive or cruel disregard for others.
• What is a "heath"?


  An area of open land mainly on acidic soils with lots of low-growing and woody vegetation.
• What is a "rhyming couplet"?


  Two consecutive lines of poetry that rhyme.
• What is "dramatic irony"?


  When the audience knows more than the characters within the play.
• What does "erratic" mean?


  Unpredictable and prone to rapid change.
• What is a "soliloquy"?


  When a character speaks their thoughts aloud on stage, sometimes directly to the audience.
• What does "dynamic" mean in terms of character?


  A character who changes over the course of a narrative.
• What is "symbolism"?


  The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities.
• Who is the "protagonist"?


  The main character, even if they are evil.