Poetic Terms

Denotation: The basic definition or dictionary meaning(s) of a word (41).
Connotation: What a word suggests or implies beyond its basic dictionary definition; a word's overtones of meaning (41).
Figure of Speech: A way of saying one thing and meaning another (70).
Personification: A figure of speech in which human attributes are given to an animal, an object, or a concept (73-75).
Onomatopoeia: The use of words that supposedly mimic their meaning in their sound (ex. BOOM, CRASH) (223).
Overstatement: A figure of speech in which exaggeration is used in the service of truth (113).
Dramatic Irony: A device by which the author implies a different meaning from that intended by the speaker (or by a speaker) in a literary work (119).
Verbal Irony: A figure of speech in which what is meant is opposite of what is said (116).
Simile: A figure of speech in which an explicit comparision is made between two things essentially unalike. The comparison is mande explicit by the use of some such word or phrase as like, as, than, resembles, etc. (70-73)
Metaphor: A figure of speech in which an implicit comparision is made between two things essentially unalike (70-73).
Imagery: Representation through language of sense experience (55).
Diction: The choice and use of words or phrases in speech or writing.
Metonymy: A figure of speech in which a part or something closely related is substituted for the thing literally meant. (77)
Alliteration: The repetition at close intervals of the initial consonant sounds of accented syllables or important words (for example, map-moon, kill-code, preach-approve).
Apostrophe: A figure of speech in which someone absent or dead or something nonhuman is addressed as if it were alive and present and could reply.
Situational Irony: A situation in which there is an incongruity between actual circumstances and those that would seem appropriate, or between what is anticipated and what actually comes to pass. (120)
Tone: The writer's or speaker's attitude toward the subject, the audience, or herself or himself; the emotional coloring, or emotional meaning, of a work. (161)
Theme: The central idea of a literary work. Usually written out in a complete sentence. (25)
Allusion: A reference, explicit or implicit, to something in literature or history. (139)

Spring 08: Paper #1 Topic

TOPIC: Look closely at the poem you have chosen and identify the dominant tone (the author’s attitude) of the short story. Then set about answering how the author goes about achieving this tone. When writing this paper, you may find it helpful to discuss literary devices and techniques such as foreshadowing, irony, figurative language, narrative pace, etc. Please include a number of quotations to back up your answer.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

1. Examine the language of the poem. Look up any words that seem important or unclear. How does the poem make use of the particular connotations of its words? Are there patterns of word choice (diction), such as language associated with religion or with everyday speech? What images and image patterns are prominent? What are the associations of these images? Do the images take on larger significance as symbols? What other metaphoric language contributes to the poem's meaning? Similes? Puns? Are there larger patterns of allegory or allusion?

2. How is the author using the form? How does the form suit the poet's intent? How does the form of the poem affect the meaning? How does the poet use the line and stanza breaks? What sound effects do you notice (alliteration, rhyming, etc.) and how do they fit the larger effects of the poem

3. Who is the speaker of the poem? How would you characterize the speaker? What is the tone of the poem? How does it change? Does it use irony? What techniques does the poet use to get this tone across? What is the relationship between the speaker and the audience? How does this relate to the message of the poem?

4. What are the main ideas, themes, or concepts in the poem? Does it have a point you could summarize? Does it set up a contrast or debate? If so does it resolve the debate somehow? How does this relate to the sense of closure in the poem? How do the other elements of the poem support or enhance this theme?

Spring 08: Paper #1 Requirements

** All papers should be printed out and handed in at the BEGINNING of class on the due date. Papers should also be emailed to me.

1. Your paper should be typed, double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font with standard 1-inch margins, approximately 650-750 words (2-2.5 pages).
2. You must use three quotations (one quote for each body paragraph). DO NOT simply plug in a long quotation to full up space. You should have twice as much of your own writing relating to each quotation you use.
3. Do not use I, you, or we in a formal paper
4. Proof read for run-on sentences
5. Properly cite quotations: (Author's Last Name page#).
6. Use the present tense (not past or future)
7. Use the active tense (not passive)
8. Number each page.
9. Format the paper correctly: name, course, section, date in the right margin; title in bold; no extra space between paragraphs

GENERAL GUIDELINE

Introduction: 6-7 sentences

• First Sentence: Introduce author and play and make general comment on play
• Body sentences: should give some indication as to what you will cover in your body paragraphs of the paper.
• Thesis statement (this is something that you are going to argue in your paper – what is your point? Use the essay question to help you write this.)

Body Paragraphs: 7 sentences (at least)

• First sentence: Topic sentence
• Second sentence: Introduce Quote – speaker? What is happening?
• Quote: remember to cite it properly (Author’s Last Name, p #). Do not use a quote that is longer than five lines for one paragraph. Only one quote per paragraph
• Fourth sentence: Explain quote in your own words
• Fifth and Sixth sentences: Explain the significance of the quote to your topic sentence. Answer the question: why this quote? What does this quote say that is important?
• Seventh sentence: transitional sentence – try to connect idea of this paragraph to the next paragraph.

Conclusion: 6 or 7 Sentences

• First sentence: Restate your thesis
• Second sentence: General comment
• Start specific and end general
• Last sentence: Give the reader something to take home.

Root Words

ALL THE 2007 FALL ROOTS!!

Week 1: EGO, AUTO, BIO = self/life

Week 2: AQUA, HYDR, MAR = water or sea

Week 3: MATER, PATER = mother/father

Week 4: SCRIPT/SCRIB, GRAPH/GRAM = to write

Week 5: SCI, COGN/COGNI/GNOCS = to know

Week 6: AUD/AUDIT = to hear; VID/VIS = to see; SENS/SENT = to feel

Week 7: MAN = hand; PED = foot


ALL THE 2007 - 2008 WINTER ROOTS!!

WEEK 1: AD/AC/AP = to, toward

WEEK 2: EU/BENE = good, LAUD = praise

WEEK 3: SUB = under, below, beneath, HYPO = under, below, beneath

WEEK 4: BULL = to boil, FLAG/FLAM = fire, FERV = heat

WEEK 5: EX = out

WEEK 6: CIRCUM = around, ORTHO = STRAIGHT

WEEK 7: BELL = WAR, MAL = BAD

Spring 08 Vocabulary Words

Week 1
DE = away from, apart, down, reverse
deodorant (n) something that masks or neutralizes the odor of something
deleterious (adj) harmful, injurious
detrimental (adj) causing damage or harm
devious (adj) not straight-forward, deceitful
depreciate (v) to lessen in value
detach (v) to separate; to disconnect
deregulate (v) to take away control or rules
derivation (n) the source or origin of something
decline (v) to express polite refusal; to slope downward

Week 2
CON/CO = with
congress (n) a formal assembly to discuss problems
confounding (adj) confusing or perplexing
contort (v) to twist out of shape
concise (adj) expressing much in few words; clear and succinct
conciliate (v) to overcome the distrust of, to appease
congenial (adj) having the same tastes or temperament; friendly
convivial (adj) lively, merry, festive
co-exist (v) to live together at the same time or the same place
VI = life
vibrant (adj) full of vigor or energy
vivacious (n) full of spirit; lively

Week 3
AM/EM = love
1. amateur (n) someone who does something as a pastime rather than a
profession
2. amorous (adj) strongly attracted to sexually
3. amity (n) peaceful relations
4. enamoured (adj) inspired with love; captivated
PHIL = love
5. philanthropy (n) a love of humans
6. philatelist (n) a stamp collector
7. bibliophile (n) a lover of books

Week 4
PAN = all
1. panorama (n) an open view of the entire surroundings
2. panacea (n) a cure for all diseases or evils
3. pandemic (n) wide-spread
4. panoply (n) a splendid or striking display
OMNI = all
5. omnipotent (adj) having unlimited power
6. omnipresent (adj) present everywhere all at once

Week 5
DICT = to say, to tell, to use words
1. dictate (v) to say aloud to someone who write it
2. malediction (n) a curse
3. edict (n) a decree issued by an authority
4. verdict (n) the finding of a jury in a trial
5. predict (v) to tell or know something in advance
FAB/FAM = to speak
6. fable (n) a short narrative having a moral
7. infamous (adj) having an extremely bad reputation
8. defame (v) to damage someone’s reputation
9. fabulous (adj) astonishing; extremely pleasing
10. ineffable (adj) unable to be expressed; indescribable

Week 6
ANTI = against, opposing
1. antisocial (adj) shunning or avoiding others
2. antiseptic (adj) throughly clean
3. antithesis (n) a direct contrast; opposition
4. antipathy (n) a strong dislike
5. antidote (n) something that counteracts a poison
CONTRA/COUNTER = against, opposing
6. contradict (v) to say the opposite; to deny
7. contraband (n) goods prohibited in trade
8. counteract (v) to oppose or lessen the effects or something through contraryaction
9. contrary (adj) opposed

Week 7:
PSYCH = mind, soul, spirit
1. psychiatry (n) the branch of medicine that deals with mental and emotional disorders
2. psychic (n) someone who has extraordinary mental powers such as ESP
3. psychopath (n) someone with an aggressive, perverted, or criminal personality disorder
4. psychosomatic (adj) having physical symptoms which originate from mental or emotional causes.
SOMN = sleep
5. insomnia (n) the inability to sleep
6. somnambulate (v) to walk while asleep
PEN, PONT = to weigh, to consider
7. ponder (v) to weigh carefully in the mind
8. ponderous (adj) having great weight
9. pensive (adj) deeply or wistfully thoughtful
10. repent (v) to feel regret for one’s actions

Week 8:
PRE = BEFORE
precaution (n) an action taken to protect against possible danger or failure
preconception (n) an opinion formed before you have adequate knowledge
predecessor (n) one who comes ahead of another; especially in an office or position
preliminary (adj) before the main action or business; introductory
premeditate (v) to plan or plot in advance
POST = AFTER
posterior (adj) located behind a part or structure
posthumous (adj) occurring or continuing after one’s death
postmortem (n) a prcedure performed to determine a person’s cause of death
postoperative (adj) happening after surgery

A Doll House Paper

Length: 2-2.5 pages
Format: Standard analytical paper examining some aspect of the play, "A Doll House"
Possible Paper Topics:

1. Mrs. Linde is the perfect character foil for Nora, offering a model for her to follow as well as actions for Nora to avoid.
2. Dr. Rank and Krogstad are very effective character foils for Torval Helmer, offering models for him to follow as well as actions for him to avoid.
3. Nora is not the only “doll” in the “doll house.” Torvald and the children are also dolls which adds to the feel of unreality of the family and the marriage.
4. While Krogstad causes tough problems for Nora, he cannot be considered the only “villain” of this play.
5. It is Torvald who has created the biggest problems for Nora, not Krogstad.
6. Dr, Rank is probably a better man morally than Krogstad, but he, too, is flawed and isn’t perfect.
7. Helmer has several chances to change during the course of the play, but he misses these opportunities. Thus, he is responsible for what happens at the end.
8. Nora and Helmer have contrasting views of reality which makes what happens at the end inevitable.

Winter Vocabulary Words

Week 1
SUB = under, below, beneath
submissive (adj) yielding or surrendering to the will or authority of
another
subordinate (adj) less important
subservient (adj) slavish or showing compliance to another
substandard (adj) failing to meet a certain level or degree
subliminal (adj) below the level of consciousness
subterfuge (n) a trick or excuse to get out of something unpleasant
subpoena (n) a legal paper requiring someone’s appearance in court to
give testimony

HYPO = under, below, beneath
hypodermic (adj) injected beneath the skin
hypothesis (n) an explanation that can be tested by investigation
hypothermia (n) a condition where the body’s core temperature drops
below normal

Week 2
BULL = to boil
ebullient (adj) zestfully enthusiastic, bubbly
FLAG/FLAM = fire
conflagration (n) a large destructive fire
flammable (adj) easily ignited; able to burn rapidly
flamboyant (adj) highly elaborate or showy
flagrant (adj) conspicuously bad
FERV = heat
ferment (v) to cause turbulent change
effervescent (adj) bubbling; showing excitement
fervent (adj) great warmth or intensity of feeling

Week 3
EX = out
exalt (v) to raise in rank; to elevate
exclude (v) to prevent from entering; to keep out
extol (v) to praise highly
exuberant (adj) high-spirited; lively
eloquent (adj) able to speak fluently and persuasively
extricate (v) to release from entanglement or difficulty
extraneous (adj) not essential
extrovert (n) one who is socially outgoing
expectorate (v) to spit
exorcise (v) to expel an evil spirit;to free from evil spirits

Week 4
CIRCUM = around
circumference (n) the boundary line of a circle
circumlocution (n) the use of wordy and indirect language (to beat around the bush)
circumnavigate (v) to go or proceed completely around
circumspect (adj) cautious; prudent, careful
circumstantial (adj) of minor importance
circumvent (v) to avoid or to get around (doing something)
ORTHO = STRAIGHT
orthodontics (N) the dental specialty of straigthening the teeth
orthodox (adj) adhering to an accepted or established doctrine
orthopedics (n) the branch of medicine that deals with injuries or disorders of
skeletal system

Week 5
BELL = WAR
bellicose (adj) warlike in manner
belligerent (adj) hostile, eager to fight
MAL = BAD
malefactor (n) a criminal
malevolence (n) evil behavior
malformation (n) a deformity; an abnormal structure
malfunction (n) to fail to work normally
malign (v) to speak evil of
malinger (v) to pretend to be sick in order to avoid work

Week 6
PRE = BEFORE
precaution (n) an action taken to protect against possible danger or failure
preconception (n) an opinion formed before you have adequate knowledge
predecessor (n) one who comes ahead of another; especially in an office or position
preliminary (adj) before the main action or business; introductory
premeditate (v) to plan or plot in advance

POST = AFTER
posterior (adj) located behind a part or structure
posthumous (adj) occurring or continuing after one’s death
postmortem (n) a prcedure performed to determine a person’s cause of death
postoperative (adj) happening after surgery