1. Vocabulary Unit One Introduction Words

2. Epic Noun Long narrative poem about adventures of a god or hero and gives a portrait of a culture

3. Example The Odyssey

4. *Myth Noun Story, origin of which is unknown, & explains natural phenomenon or culture’s belief

5. Example Creation is explained through stories Tell how life came into existence

6. *Quest Noun A search for immortal life or some kind of secret knowledge

7. Example Looking for the fountain of youth

8. *Archetype Symbols, images, patterns, appearing in myths, literature, &visual art of many different people

9. Example Good= light Evil=darkness Garden=paradise Serpent=evil, temptations Tree= life

10. hero/heroine Noun Person who tends to be bold and resourceful beyond the means of ordinary mortals

11. Theme Noun Central idea, concern or purpose of a literary work/insight; it gives to life/universal truth or message

12. Example Never one word Explains the message Remembering preserves the past and keeps traditions and family alive.

13. Example Odysseus, Batman, Katniss, the protagonist

14. *Fable Noun A brief story, usually with animal characters that teaches a moral or lesson

15. Example

16. Irony Noun Situation or use of language that involves a surprising, interesting, or amusing contradiction

17. Example “Work makes you free.”

18. Paradox Noun Situation or statement that seems contradictory but is actually true

19. Example No one goes to that restaurant; it’s always crowded. “I am a compulsive liar” (do you believe them or not?) I am nobody. You can save money by spending it.

20. *Folk Tale Adj/N Story composed orally then passed down by word of mouth

21. Example Oral tradition then recorded

22. Persona Noun Character assumed by the speaker of the poem, short story, or novel (“the mask” the poet or author uses to tell the poem or story)

23. Example: what am I? I fly at night in search of prey The moon lights my wings’ way Below the creatures hope and pray They don’t become my midnight meal In one swoop, my talons steal A tiny creature of the night Hoot! Hoot! Hoot! I am out of sight

24. Tone Noun Author’s use of attitude toward his/her subject or characters

25. Example It’s voting season! The politicians are making their way through the ends of the nation spreading their views like icing on a cake. Thousands of people have sacrificed their lives so that we have the freedom to vote. It’s a right we have because it’s a right that so many of our country’s people were not allowed to experience, but they fought for the future! How does the author feel about voting?