Prefixes A prefix is something that is put before the word which changes its meaning or makes a new word. If you can understand the meaning of the prefix, you can often work out the meaning of the word. For example ab – means away from, e.g., absent. ante – means before, e.g., antenatal. anti – means opposite or against, e.g., anti-clockwise.…
Homophones are words that sound the same but are spelt differently and have a different meaning. The word homophone comes from the Greek words: homo, meaning ‘same’ and phone, meaning ‘sound’, i.e., words that sound the same. Examples of homophones: aloud allowed bored board break brake buy by great grate meat meet pale pail pain…
Synonyms and antonyms are used to avoid over-using words. They help to build vocabulary and broaden your understanding of the world. Synonyms Synonyms are words with a similar or the same meaning. The word ‘syn’ means ‘the same. Examples of synonyms: Word Synonym private secret lucky fortunate build construct quarrel argue Antonyms: are words that…
The Onion’s satirical article, “Revolutionary New Insoles Combine Five Forms Of Pseudoscience”, uses several rhetorical devices to campaign its innovative, revolutionary product: MagnaSoles shoe inserts. Using the fictional MagnaSoles as a model, the article humorously mocks the strategies used by companies to market products to attract its susceptible customers. Using an exaggerated or sarcastic tone…
Hobbes argues that the “state of nature” of man is rules of reason contrary to human instincts. These laws of nature must be enforced by some coercive power, if justice and harmony are to be attained in society, i.e. by the sovereign. The sovereign represents an absolute power and unlimited authority whose purpose is to…
In the opening scene, the witches portray evil and supernatural, and say the line “fair is foul, and foul is foul is fair.” This line means that whatever is considered foul to the normal man is considered fair to the witches and vice versa. It is from the first scene, where the prophecies were introduced,…
To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel written by Harper Lee. The novel takes place in a small southern town in the U.S. during the 1930s. The story is about a white lawyer named Atticus who defends an African American man who has been wrongly accused by a white woman of rape. In the end,…
Rainsford What Rainsford had to survive through was a game in which he was a prey being hunted down by a hunter. Rainsford survived through it by keeping a clear head even when under a lot of pressure. He did not make impulsive choices like most people would do under a situation like his; instead,…
Scout: Describe: Straightforward. She’s not afraid to say what’s on her mind, and may come off rude sometimes. Supportive quote: “Is he dead?” “No…” “Then if he’s not dead, you’ve got one, haven’t you?” Atticus: Describe: A little shy with showing affection. Supportive quote: Jem and I found our father satisfactory; he played with us,…
”Shattered” is a book about a man named Jacques (or Sarge) who was involved in the Rwandan Genocide. Jacques has a drinking problem and is homeless. While getting served at The Club, he met a boy named Ian who was volunteering to serve the food. Ian tries to help Jacques through his rough past and…
Ray Douglas Bradbury was born in Waukegan, Illinois, on August 22, 1920. Bradbury’s great adventures would take place behind a typewriter, in the realm of imagination. Today, as an author, essayist, playwright, screenwriter, lecturer, and poet Ray Bradbury is known as one of America’s greatest creative geniuses. His books were The Martian Chronicles, Fahrenheit 451,…
COMEDY OF MANNERS A comedy of manners is a comedy that deals with the behavior of people, uses witty language and satire tone. It often criticizes upper class, their behavior and pretensions. A lot of irony and sarcasm are used. Characters are stock – they don’t represent individuals, but certain type of people, the author…
LYRICAL BALLADS Lyrical Ballads by Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth are considered to have marked the beginning of the English Romantic movement in literature. Preface to Lyrical Ballads was written by Wordsworth and it overthrew the Neoclassical (Enlightenment) conventions. The first edition of Lyrical Ballads (1798) contained just an ”Advertisement” in which Wordsworth explained Lyrical…
POETRY OF SENSIBILITY Poetry of sensibility can be considered as a forerunner to Romanticism. It contains elements of both Neoclassicism and Romanticism. Like Neoclassicism, it sticks to the form and special style of language, but is against rationalism espoused by the Enlightenment. This kind of poetry tends to evoke sympathy in reader talking about deep…
Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard – a poem by Thomas Gray, two main themes of this elegy are transience of life and potential talents wasted because of poverty. The Deserted Village – a poem by Oliver Goldsmith commenting on negative consequences of Enclosure Acts, it praises rural life. The Village – a poem by…
CHARACTERS Mr. Jones – a parallel for Czar Nicholas II, the last Russian ruler Old Major – the old pig, an allegory for Marx/Lenin Snowball – Napoleon’s partner at first, an allegory for Leon Trotsky, had a good way of realizing socialism Napoleon – the dictator pig, an allegory for Stalin, valued power for his…
CHARACTERS Gabriel Conroy – self-absorbed individual, cares only about himself and how others see him, paralyzed by his self-consciousness, avoids conflicts and has the superiority complex Gretta – Gabriel’s wife. Love for Michael Furey in her youth left a mark on her life Lilly – the poor, hard-working servant Aunt Julia and Kate & Mary…
CHARACTERS Marlow – the speaker of the frame narrative starts to question his beliefs and attitudes when in Africa The Manager – a corrupted Imperialist, for him only economical gain is important, no matter the cost Mr. Kurtz – chief of the station, imposed himself as a god to the natives, a spiritually degenerated man…
CHARACTERS Thomas Gradgrind – local teacher and politician, tries hard to exert Utilitarianism and force it on everybody around him Mr. Choakumchild – teacher, teaches children facts and only facts Mr. Josiah Bounderby – rich businessman, banker and salesman, owner of the factory, He has no moral or regard for human suffering, he exploits and…
CHARACTERS Algernon (Algy) – a figure of dandy; careless, likes to dress nice, leads a double life, in love with Cecily Jack/John Worthing – in love with Gwendolen, leads a double life, has imaginary brother Earnest Bunbury – Algernon’s imaginary friend, Bunburying – Algernon’s term for leading a double life Lady Bracknell – Gwendolen’s mother,…
