Ms. Vataj (Mrs. Pennock)

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Vocabulary small medium large 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 When he first arrived at The Home of the Angels, Jennings was a withdrawn and outgoing young boy. Withdrawn and outgoing contradict each other because a character can’t be both at the same time.)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 Or, would you like to view and optionally restore one of these previous versions? 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Ms. Vataj (Mrs. Pennock) - 8th grade ELA

Vocabulary

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