Vocabulary Words Unit I Mystery Irony Suspense Words

Vocabulary Words Unit I: Mystery, Irony, Suspense

Words to Know: • • • IRONY Verbal Irony Dramatic Irony Situational Irony Pauper Vexation Prospects Flatter Treacherous • • • Bewildered Emitting Vilify Guffawed SUSPENSE Tangible Cultivated Imprudent Elude Imperative • • • Impunity Repose Implore Destined MYSTERY Brevity Egotistical Sullen Wary

Mystery • a fact or phenomenon whose meaning or cause is unknown; an enigma or puzzle

Suspense • Anxious expectancy or indecision

Irony • Emphasis by stating the opposite • Dramatic Irony – occurs when the reader knows what a character does not. • Situational Irony – the contrast between what the character expects to happen and what actually happens.

VERBAL IRONY A contradiction between what is said or written and what is meant. Example: The prologue to Act I of Romeo and Juliet reads, “Two households, both alike in dignity and respect…” This leads readers to suspect that the families are dignified and respectful which becomes evidently untrue.

Words to Know: • Flatter: to compliment • Treacherous: untrustworthy; deceptive; dangerous

Bewildered • (Adj. ) confused or puzzled • Example: The bewildered, balding gentleman stared at the ceiling. • You can be bewildered, or bewilder someone.

Emit • (verb) to release • The student was emitting fumes.

Guffawed • (verb) A loud, hearty laugh • The students guffawed.

Tangible • adj. • Capable of being touched. • Example: – The vexation she was causing me was so great it was almost tangible. • Synonym: touchable

cultivated • Adjective OR Verb • Grown, produced; prepared for raising crops; educated • Example: – We cultivated the field before the harvest. – She was a cultivated young woman.

Imprudent • Adj. • Incautious; acting without thinking; rash • Example: – Crossing the street without looking both ways is imprudent. • Synonyms: unwise; ill-advised

Elude • Verb • to avoid or escape by speed, cleverness, trickery • Example: to elude capture. • Synonyms: dodge

Imperative • Adj. • Absolutely necessary or required; of extreme importance • Example: it is imperative that you graduate from high school! • Synonyms: essential

Brevity • (noun) • Lasting only a short period of time. • Example: – The brevity of our meeting surprised me. • Synonym: shortness

Egotistical • adjective • Given to talking about oneself; selfish • Example: The egotistical girl ignored her mother’s requests. • Synonyms: vain; boastful; opinionated

Sullen • Adjective • Showing irritation by silence or gloomy temper • Example: – The sullen student put his head on his desk. – Synonyms: cross; glum; moody; sour

Wary • Adjective • watchful; being on one's guard against danger. • Example: – Be wary of strangers with candy! • Synonyms: alert; guarded; watchful