abandon: (verb) to leave completely; to give up or discontinue
abscond: (verb)to hide away or depart secretly
acquire: (verb) to gain possession of; to get
acute: (adjective) excellent control over senses and thoughts; able to see,
hear, smell, or sense extremely well
adjective: a word used to modify or describe a noun or pronoun
adverb: a word used to modify or describe a verb
alliteration: the repetition of consonant sounds, usually at the beginning
of words
antagonist: The character or force that opposes the protagonist in a work of
literature
Anti-Semitic: (adjective) being hostile and/or prejudice toward members of
the Jewish faith
articulate: (verb) to express clearly or distinctly
Aryan: (adjective) a race of people characterized by being tall, blond, and
blue eyed; the Nazis believed that Germans were racially superior, “the
master race” -- The Nazis referred to Germans as Aryan
ashamed: (adjective) feeling humiliated, disgraced, embarrassed; not liking
oneself
author’s purpose: An author’s reason for writing a particular work (i.e. to
persuade, inform, describe, or entertain)
autobiography: A story of a person’s life written by that person
beadle: (noun) a parish/church officer who performs various duties such as
keeping order in the church
biography: A story of a person’s life written by another person
characterization: the technique authors use to present and develop
characters
circumstances: (noun) surrounding conditions
climax: The pivotal moment in a story when the protagonist is faced with a
choice which will effect the outcome of the story
commitment: (noun) an agreement or pledge to do something in the future
compassionate: (adjective) a feeling of sympathy for another's misfortune
confidant: (noun) a person you entrust your secrets too
confide: (verb)to tell a secret with confidence that it won’t be repeated
conflict: the problem or struggle between opposing forces
conjunction: a word which joins words or groups of words
contradictions: (plural noun) Ideas that go against or state the opposite of
what was previously expressed. (ex. When he first arrived at The Home of
the Angels, Jennings was a withdrawn and outgoing young boy. Withdrawn and
outgoing contradict each other because a character can’t be both at the same
time.)
crematory: (noun) large ovens used to burn the bodies of death-camp victims
delusional: (adjective) Characterized by having a false belief or opinion
that is resistant to reason or confrontation with actual fact
deportees: (noun) people who have been expelled, banished, or removed from
their home or country
derision: (noun) the use of ridicule or scorn to show contempt; the act of
making fun of someone to show you dislike them
describe: (verb) to convey an idea or impression of; characterize
destitute: (adjective) lacking something needed or desirable; extremely poor
determine: (verb) to come to a decision after observing or weighing the
options
devastated: (adjective) having been ruined or shattered completely; made
helpless
digest: (verb) to think over and arrange in the mind
disenchanted: (adjective) disappointed or not satisfied
disgust: (noun) loathing, dislike, or hatred of
dissemble: (verb) hiding under false appearance
dissimulation: (noun) the act of hiding under false appearance
earnest: (adjective) serious and sincere in intention or feeling
effects: (plural noun) the result of something that has been done or has
happened
entertain: (verb) to hold the attention of someone with something amusing or
exciting
enthusiasm: (noun) extreme interest or eagerness in what one is doing
evaluate: (verb) to determine the value quality or significance
evidence: (noun) an outward sign, or something that serves as proof
exposition: the beginning of the story where the characters and setting are
introduced
fascism: (noun) a totalitarian government system led by a dictator and
emphasizing aggressive nationalism, militarism, and often racism
falling action: the events that happen after the climax which usually wrap
up the action and lead to the resolution
fear: (noun) a distressing emotion aroused by danger, evil, pain, etc.,
whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being
afraid.
fiction: A type of writing that tells a story about imagined people, places,
or events
flashback: a scene or image that interrupts the present action in order to
describe a previous event
foreshadowing: the literary technique authors use to hint at events that
will take place later in a story
genocide: (noun) the deliberate and systematic extermination of a national,
racial, political, or cultural group
genre: (noun) a specific type or category of literature
Gestapo: (noun) German secret police
gesticulations: (plural noun) wild movements with the arms
ghetto: (noun) a quarter of the city in which members of a minority group
live because of social, legal, or economic pressure
hyperbole: an exaggeration to emphasize a point or create an effect
humble: (adjective) not proud; does not brag about his/her accomplishments
even when given the opportunity
hypocritical: (adjective) saying one thing, but acting or thinking in a
contradictory/opposite manner
idealistic: (adjective) one who is guided by a perfect standard or set of
values that are not necessarily realistic
indifference: (noun) the act of showing no interest or concern about a
particular topic or situation
infallibility: (noun) being incapable of error or doing wrong
inform: (verb) to let a person know something
interjection: a word which expresses emotion
irony: (noun) when the opposite of what is expected occurs
irresponsible: (adjective) not fulfilling one’s obligations; unable to be
trusted to choose between right and wrong
jaded: (adj.) made dull, bitter, or cynical by experience
Kapo: (noun) a prisoner in charge of making fellow prisoners work; they
received privileges as a result
keen: (adjective) mentally and physically alert
lure: (verb) to tempt with a promise of something desired or a reward
memoir: A story about a significant or memorable event or related events in
a person’s life
metaphor: comparing two unlike things without using like or as
monitor: (verb) to watch, check, or observe for a special purpose
mood: the emotional effect or feeling the author creates for the reader
narrative: a synonym for a story
narrator: (noun) one who relates a series of events; one who tells a story
navigate: (verb) to steer, direct, or control the course of; to move your
way through
nemesis: (noun) a formidable (and usually victorious) rival; an enemy of
equal or slightly greater power
nonfiction: A type of writing that tells about real people, places, and
events
noun: a word used to name a person, place, thing, or idea
objective: (adjective) treating or dealing with facts without being
influenced by personal feelings or prejudice
obstacle: (noun) something that stands in the way or opposes
omniscient: (adjective) possessing universal or complete knowledge; all
knowing and seeing
onomatopoeia: when the sound of the word suggests or imitates its meaning
overcome: (verb) to make the better of; to conquer
overwhelmed: (adj.) being overpowered by a feeling or outside force (ex. I
was overwhelmed with sadness because of the death of my cat Fluffy.)
peer: (verb) to look intently or curiously
perceive: (verb) to become aware of through the senses
personification: giving human qualities to animals or objects
perspective: (noun) an opinion based on personal experiences; a subjective
evaluation or point of view
persuade: (verb) to win over to a belief or to a course of action by
argument or earnest request
plausible: (adj.) possible or worthy of belief
plot: the series of related events in a literary work; often follows a
pattern
poetry: a type of literature that expresses ideas and feelings by relying on
compact language that appeals to readers’ senses and emotions
point of view: The perspective from which an author tells a story (i.e.
first person, second person, or third person)
predicament: (noun) a difficult or trying situation
prejudice: (noun) an unreasonable, unfavorable, or hostile opinion formed
beforehand or without knowledge or thought
preposition: a word used to show the relationship of a noun or a pronoun to
some other word in the sentence
pronoun: a word used in place of a noun
protagonist: the central character in a literary work
purpose: (noun) a result or effect that is intended or desired; an intention
Rabbi: (noun) the chief religious official of a synagogue
recurring: (adjective) happening or appearing again, time after time
refrain: a repeated line or phrase in a poem that creates recurring rhythm
and produces a musical quality
reflect: (verb) to ponder or think about a past event
refuge: (noun) a place that provides protection from danger or distress
reminisce: (verb) to recall or tell of a past memorable experience
repetition: repeating a word or phrase for emphasis or to create an
emotional effect
resolution: The conclusion of the story in which we see the outcome of the
main conflict
responsive: (adjective) responding quickly and sympathetically
retrospective: (adjective) of or related to a recalling or a review of the
past
revel: (verb) to take intense satisfaction in something; to enjoy greatly
rhyme: repetition of the same or similar sounds
rhythm: a pattern of sounds or beats created by the arrangement of words or
syllables
rising action: In this part of the story the conflict(s) occur, tension
builds, and the story moves toward the climax
sagacity: (noun) being clever enough to understand a situation; shrewdness
sage: (adjective) wise or having great knowledge
setting: the time and place in which the action of a literary work unfolds
simile: comparing two unlike things using like or as
spectator: (noun) one who looks on or watches
spiteful: (adjective) filled with or showing ill will with a wish to annoy,
anger, or frustrate
S.S.: (noun) an elite unit of German soldiers used in the extermination
camps
stanza: a grouping of lines in a poem; similar to a paragraph
stoic: (adjective) not affected by passion or feeling; able to endure
physical or emotional pain without complaint or signs of discomfort
stroll: (verb) to walk in a leisurely or idle manner
suavity: (noun) the act of being persuasively pleasing
symbolism: the use of an object, event or character to express a larger idea
or concept
synagogue: (noun) a Jewish house of worship
synonym: (noun) a word having the same or similar meaning as another
theme: an underlying idea or message about life or human nature contained in
a literary work
tone: an author’s attitude toward the subject
transition: (noun) a word, phrase, or sentence that connects one idea,
topic, or subject to another
transpire: (verb) to take place or happen
universal: (adj.) present or occurring everywhere; applying to everyone
valiant: (adjective) boldly brave; courageous; heroic
verb: a word that expresses a state of being or an action
