Malignant

Malignant (adj): very evil or wrong

"...bitter, wrathful, malignant smile..." (Dostoevsky, 39)

Regina George acted in malignant ways to maintain her image.

Dostoevsky, Fyodor. Crime and Punishment. Trans. Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1993. Print.

Monomaniac

Monomaniac (noun): excessive concentration on a single thought or idea to the point of mental illness

"This happens with certain monomaniacs when they concentrate too long on one thing..." (Dostoevsky, 28)



In the mornings, I turn into a bit of a monomaniac- obsessed with the search for hot coffee.

Dostoevsky, Fyodor. Crime and Punishment. Trans. Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1993. Print.

Bilious

Bilious (adj): extremely unpleasant or revolting to looks at: bad-tempered

"He woke up bilious, irritable, and angry..." (Dostoevsky, 27)



Voldemort was frequently bilious, probably because he didn't have a nose.

Dostoevsky, Fyodor. Crime and Punishment. Trans. Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1993. Print.

Magnanimous

Magnanimous (adj): having or showing a generous and kind nature or personality

"....though she is a magnanimous lady, is unjust..." (Dostoevsky, 15)


Though dressed oddly, Mrs. Weasley was undoubtedly magnanimous and caring.

Dostoevsky, Fyodor. Crime and Punishment. Trans. Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1993. Print.

Ennobled

Ennobled (adj): to make something more admirable or noble

"...she has a lofty heart and is full of sentiments ennobled by good breeding..."(Dostoevsky, 15)



It never occurred to Belatrix LeStrange that taking a shower may ennoble her appearance.

Dostoevsky, Fyodor. Crime and Punishment. Trans. Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1993. Print.

Glibly

Glibly (adverb): said or done too easily, showing lack of thought as to what was being said

"He was drunk, but spoke loquaciously and glibly..." (Dostoyevsky, 13)



Neville Longbottom frequently spoke glibly and thus ended up in many a painfully awkward conversation.

Dostoyevsky, Fyodor. Crime and Punishment. Trans. Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1993. Print.

Crime and Punishment Commences

We have now begun Fyodor Dostoevsky's lengthy, angst-ridden, classic  Crime and Punishment and will be diving into the psyche of a murderer living in destitution....charming as usual in IB English....

Misanthropic

Misanthropic: marked by a hatred or contempt for humankind

The misanthropic Joker from "Batman" enjoyed wreaking mass havoc and injury on the citizens of Gotham.

"Misanthropic." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 10 Jan. 2015.

Ode

Ode: a poem in which a person expresses a strong feeling of love or respect for someone or something

Sappho's Ode to Aphrodite pays tribute to the many aspects of the Goddess of love.

"Ode." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 07 Jan. 2015.

Naturalism

Naturalism: a style of art/literature which shows people or things as they actually are

Author Walter Dean Meyers's work, focusing on the harsh realities of juvenile detention, crime, and war, could lead some to call him a proponent of naturalism.

"Naturalism." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 07 Jan. 2015.

Meter

Meter: a systematically arranged and measured in rhythm verse

Rhyme and meter are key components of many children's nursery rhymes.

"Meter." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 07 Jan. 2015.

Melodrama

Melodrama: drama in which many exciting events happen and the characters have very strong or exaggerated emotions

Many reality TV show characters are very melodramatic to raise the show's ratings.

"Melodrama." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 07 Jan. 2015.

Euphemism

Euphemism: a mild or pleasant word or phrase that is used instead of one that is unpleasant or offensive

"Culturally uneducated" is sometimes used as a euphemism for "racist."

"Euphemism." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 07 Jan. 2015.

A pause....Aposiopesis

Aposiopesis (noun): the leaving of a though incomplete, usually by the breaking off of a sentence.




Professor Trelawney's speech was littered with aposiopesis since she had so many thoughts she wanted to express at once.

Professor Trelawney. Digital image. Harry Potter Wikia. N.p.,n.d.. Web. 7 Jan. 2015.
"Aposiopesis." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 07 Jan. 2015.
Reintjens, Yorick. "1000+ Fancy English Words." Yorick Reintjens. Blogger, 17 Mar. 2012. Web. 07 Jan. 2015.

Austere

Austere (adjective): stern and cold in appearance and or manner



Professor McGonogal initially seemed austere, until she warmed to Harry Potter and his friends.

 "Austere." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 07 Jan. 2015.
Professor McGonogal. Digital image. Youtube. N.p., 26 October 2012. Web. 7 Jan. 2015.
Reintjens, Yorick. "1000+ Fancy English Words." Yorick Reintjens. Blogger, 17 Mar. 2012. Web. 07 Jan. 2015.

Ambivalence

Ambivalence (noun): simultaneous and contradictory feelings towards a person, object, or idea


Hermione frequently felt ambivalent about Ron, unsure whether she loved him, or hated him.

"Ambivalence." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 07 Jan. 2015.
Ron and Hermione. Digital image. Fanpop. N.p., n.d.. Web. 07 Jan. 2015.
Reintjens, Yorick. "1000+ Fancy English Words." Yorick Reintjens. Blogger, 17 Mar. 2012. Web. 07 Jan. 2015.

Surreptitious

Surreptitious (adjective): done in a secret way

"The Wicked Witch burst from concealment/ Where she had been lurking/ surreptitiously"
-"Thank Goodness" from the musical "Wicked" by Stephen Schwartz


Filch frequently lurks surreptitiously around Hogwarts, hoping to catch unruly students.

"Surreptitious." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 07 Jan. 2015.
Argus-Filch. Digital image. Krisztina Williams. Blogger, n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2015.
Wicked. By Stephen Schwartz. Orpheum Theatre, San Francisco. Feb. 2013. Performance.

Ostentatious

Ostentatious (adjective): marked by or fond of conspicuous and sometimes pretentious display; displaying wealth, knowledge, etc., in a way that is meant to attract attention, admiration, or envy

"Wow, Sarah Jessica Parker looks outright ostentatious in that outfit!" -my mother

Professor Gilderoy Lockheart repeatedly brought up his thriving career most ostentatiously.


Brooks, Patrick. Gilderoy Lockheart. Digital image. The Tab. The Tab UK, 2 June 2014. Web. 7 Jan. 2015.
"Ostentatious." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 07 Jan. 2015.

Exposition

Exposition: device used to introduce background information about events, settings, characters etc. to the audience or readers

In the exposition of TEWWG, Janie's character is seen entering town, amid a flurry of gossip about her husband's whereabouts.

"Exposition - Examples and Definition." Literary Devices. Home of Literary Devices, 03 Nov. 2013. Web. 07 Jan. 2015.

Extended Metaphor

Extended Metaphor: a comparison between two unlike things that continues throughout a series of sentences in a paragraph or lines in a poem

An extended metaphor is used in Billie Holiday's song "Strange Fruit" in which a dead body is compared to hanging fruit.

"Extended Metaphor - Examples and Definition." Literary Devices. Home of Literary Devices, 03 Nov. 2013. Web. 07 Jan. 2015.

Connotation

Connotation: the suggesting of a meaning by a word apart from the thing it explicitly names or describes

Due to the modern-day cliche "the birds and the bees," I, as a reader of Hurston's passage about Janie's romantic awakening, experience Hurston's images of dancing bees uniquely, due to the connotation the word carries for me.

"Connotation." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 6 Jan. 2015

Ya know, that Colloquialism stuff...

Colloquialism: a word or phrase used mostly in informal speech

It is dangerous to use colloquialism such as "messed up" when writing your Paper 1 because such expression frequently do not translate.

Does it strike anyone else as ironic that the term "colloquial" is not used frequently in colloquial conversation?

 "Colloquialism." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2015.

Cliche

Cliche: a phrase or expression that has been used so often that it is no longer original or interesting

Thankfully, Hurston avoided using cliches such as "head over heels" when describing Janie's romantic feelings for Tea Cake.

 "Cliche" Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2015.

Classicism

Classicism:  adherence to traditional standards (as of simplicity, restraint, and proportion) that are universally and enduringly valid

Many writers during the Harlem Renaissance rejected a Classicist approach to literature, and chose instead, like Zora Neale Hurston, to honor their own cultures through innovative storytelling techniques. 

 "Classicism." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2015.

Atmosphere

Atmosphere: the surrounding influence or environment

By placing Janie in a blooming garden, Hurston establishes a romantic atmosphere for Janie's romantic awakening to occur.

 "Atmosphere" Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2015.

Apostrophe

Apostrophe:  the addressing of a usually absent person or a usually personified thing rhetorically

When one exclaims "Oh my god, please don't let her be wearing the same dress as me!" they are using apostrophe.

 "Apostrophe." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2015.

Burro

Burro (noun): a small donkey

Before the hurricane hit, Janie observed a number of Seminole "men walking in front [with] the laden, stolid women following them like burros" (Hurston, 154).

 "Burro." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2015.
Hurston, Zora Neale. Their Eyes Were Watching God: A Novel. New York: Perennial Library, 1990. Print.

Menial

Menial (adjective) : lowly; of or relating to a servant

"Oh, poor you, performing a menial task like cleaning the dishes!" -my mother


Cinderella frequently found herself performing menial tasks like scrubbing the floor or cleaning out the fireplace.

 "Menial." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2015.

Cinderella Cleaning. Digital image. Fanpop.com. Fanpop, n.d. Web. 6 Jan. 2015.

Coquetry

Coquetry (noun): flirtatious act or attitude

"Coquetry Clothing: Unique Custom Design Clothing"



Much to his dismay, Gaston realized Belle had no intention of performing coquetries in his presence.

"Coquetry." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2015.
Klimczak, Ellie M. "CoquetryClothing.com Custom Made Clothing and Clubwear." CoquetryClothing.com Custom Made Clothing and Clubwear. N.p., 2005. Web. 07 Jan. 2015.
Gaston and Belle-Beauty and the Beast. Digital image. Youtube. Disney, 10 Sept. 2013. Web. 6 Jan. 2015.

Gallantry

Gallantry (noun): an act of marked courtesy; very brave behavior

"A pushing, shoving show of gallantry. They all beg the girls to just buy anything they can think of." (Hurston, 67).


Albus Dumbledor performed many acts of gallantry, most notably facing off Lord Voldemort.


"Gallantry." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2015.
Hurston, Zora Neale. Their Eyes Were Watching God: A Novel. New York: Perennial Library, 1990. Print.

Irk

Irk (verb): to make weary, irritated, or bored


Kanye West is frequently irked by those who disagree with his image of his own awesomeness.

"Irk." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2015.
Kanye West Attacks Paparazzo. Digital image. Abodo Talk Ph. N.p., 20 July 2013. Web. 6 Jan. 2015.

Temerity

Temerity (noun): the quality of being confident and unafraid of danger or punishment, especially in a way that seems foolish

"The town had a basketfull of feelings good and bad about Joe's position and possession, but none had the temerity to challenge him" (Hurston, 50).


Captain Jack Sparrow displayed temerity as he faced the British Royal Navy and the East India Trading Company.


"Temerity." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2015.
Hurston, Zora Neale. Their Eyes Were Watching God: A Novel. New York: Perennial Library, 1990. Print.

Desisted

Desist (verb): to cease to proceed or act

"She saw the terrible and the lips tightened down to hold back the cry and desisted," (Hurston, 14).

When drivers see a stop sign, they should desist to press the gas pedal.

"Desisted." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2015.
Hurston, Zora Neale. Their Eyes Were Watching God: A Novel. New York: Perennial Library, 1990. Print.