Vocab WordsVocab Words

Vocab Part I

N. “God from a machine” literally; a contrived N. “God from a machine” literally; a contrived ending where a supernatural force intervenes in the ending where a supernatural force intervenes in the

nick of timenick of time

TThe ubiquitous modern he ubiquitous modern deus ex machinadeus ex machina explains away all the explains away all the improbable story details by having the main character wake up at improbable story details by having the main character wake up at

the end – it was all a dream!the end – it was all a dream!

Blight

N: Destructive disease

Many blights like smallpox and polio have been eradicated by vaccines, and the human lifespan has lengthened as a result.

pestilence

N: plague; blight

As the pestilence spread through the village, those not infected devoted herculean effort to caring for all the sick among them, with little regard to their personal safety.

Induce

V: persuade; cause

My father was induced to quit smoking after seeing a news special with graphic images of smokers’ lungs and pestilential mouths.

dispatch

V: kill; send away

The orcs were dispatched in droves by Legolas’ bowmanship and Gimli’s axe-wielding skills.

invoke

V: to summon; to call forth (as a spirit)

The composer invoked his muse when he needed inspiration.

prophecy

N: prediction of future events

When Oedipus heard the oracle’s prophecy, he foolishly tried to evade the events it foretold.

countenance

N: facial expression; face

Hester’s countenance was like a mask; even though she was in agony on the inside, she did not show any outward signs of her duress, appearing calm and detached.

malignant

Adj: harmful; evil; cancerous

Harper’s malignant attitude brought everyone in his presence down.

A mole changing shape or size could be a sign of malignancy; go to the dermatologist and have it checked out!

chorus

N: in Greek drama, group recitation of background or expository material

The chorus was used to help tell the story in ancient Greek drama; Sophocles moved drama more to what we know today, incorporating more actors and dialogue.

Vocab Part II

Adj: In the middle of things; in literature, describes a Adj: In the middle of things; in literature, describes a story that begins mid-plotstory that begins mid-plot

Even though Even though Oedipus the KingOedipus the King begins begins in medias resin medias res, , the Greek audience would have known the the Greek audience would have known the background story of Oedipus’s early life from Greek background story of Oedipus’s early life from Greek mythology.mythology.

N: chain or shackleN: chain or shackleV: to put in chains or to restrict or confineV: to put in chains or to restrict or confine

The joke is that getting married is the same as being The joke is that getting married is the same as being fettered, thus the phrase “the old ball and chain” to fettered, thus the phrase “the old ball and chain” to refer to a wife.refer to a wife.

V: to satisfy, please, or give pleasureV: to satisfy, please, or give pleasure

The festival of Bacchus devolved into a hedonistic The festival of Bacchus devolved into a hedonistic quest to gratify all desires.quest to gratify all desires.

Adj: having a reputation of the worst kind; notorious; Adj: having a reputation of the worst kind; notorious; known for illegal activity or negative reasonsknown for illegal activity or negative reasons

In the 1930s Bonnie and Clyde were enigmatic: In the 1930s Bonnie and Clyde were enigmatic: infamous for crime and murder, but beloved by many infamous for crime and murder, but beloved by many downtrodden Americans in The Depression.downtrodden Americans in The Depression.

Adj: doing or producing good, especially acts of Adj: doing or producing good, especially acts of charitycharity

Mother Teresa was, perhaps, the most beneficent Mother Teresa was, perhaps, the most beneficent person ever to walk the earth.person ever to walk the earth.

Adj: in agreement; in harmonyAdj: in agreement; in harmony

My husband and I have a consonant relationship; My husband and I have a consonant relationship; we’ve never had a fight.we’ve never had a fight.

N: marked by an air of respect or worshipfulnessN: marked by an air of respect or worshipfulness

Her face beamed with reverence when her Her face beamed with reverence when her grandfather, whom she adored, entered the room.grandfather, whom she adored, entered the room.

Originated in drama- when the Originated in drama- when the audience knows or understands audience knows or understands what at least one character does what at least one character does

not.not.

The current dramatic irony comes from the The current dramatic irony comes from the audience’s knowledge of Oedipus’s true identity as audience’s knowledge of Oedipus’s true identity as

Laius’s killer.Laius’s killer.

Sarcasm; when what is said is not meant literallySarcasm; when what is said is not meant literally

When your mother asks you if you think she’s stupid, When your mother asks you if you think she’s stupid, it’s verbal irony. It’s also a rhetorical question, so it’s verbal irony. It’s also a rhetorical question, so don’t bother answering!don’t bother answering!

When events occur differently from one’s When events occur differently from one’s expectations; incongruity between the actual result expectations; incongruity between the actual result of a sequence of events and the normal or expected of a sequence of events and the normal or expected result (often just called irony)result (often just called irony)

It the irony was that her dying from shock was It the irony was that her dying from shock was actually based on false information.actually based on false information.