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Essential Vocabulary for the GRE - All About Literature

Here you will learn some English words about literature, such as "novella", "limerick", "depict", etc. that are needed for the GRE exam.

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Essential Words Needed for the GRE
novella
novella
[noun]

a work of fiction with an intermediate length, which could be considered a short novel

Ex: The novella was praised for its concise storytelling and rich character development .
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epic
epic
[noun]

a long poem in narrative form giving an account of the extraordinary deeds and adventures of a nation's heroes or legends

Ex: The poet's latest work is an epic celebrating the founding of a legendary kingdom.
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chronicle
chronicle
[noun]

a historical account of events presented in chronological order

Ex: The museum displayed a chronicle of the town ’s history in its latest exhibit .
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ode
ode
[noun]

a lyric poem, written in varied or irregular metrical form, for a particular object, person, or concept

Ex: The ode was filled with elaborate metaphors and vivid imagery .
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parody
parody
[noun]

a piece of writing, music, etc. that imitates the style of someone else in a humorous way

Ex: The theater troupe performed a parody of a well-known Shakespeare play , adding comedic twists and contemporary references to the dialogue .
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fable
fable
[noun]

a short story on morality with animal characters

Ex: "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" is a timeless fable cautioning against the dangers of dishonesty and deception.
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parable
parable
[noun]

a short, simple story that teaches a moral lesson

Ex: The parable's message was clear : compassion outweighs judgment .
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haiku
haiku
[noun]

a Japanese poem with three unrhymed lines that have five, seven and five syllables each

Ex: She recited a haiku about the fleeting cherry blossoms .
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epigram
epigram
[noun]

a short poem or phrase that expresses a single thought satirically, often ending in a clever or humorous way

Ex: The writer used an epigram to sum up his views on marriage with a humorous twist .
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saga
saga
[noun]

a long story of heroic actions and bravery in old Norse or Icelandic in the Middle Ages, or a modern narrative resembling such a narrative

Ex: The epic saga captivated readers with its tales of valor and conquest .
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epigraph
epigraph
[noun]

a quotation or phrase placed at the beginning of a book, chapter, or other written work, often to suggest a theme or context

Ex: The epigraph inspired readers to reflect on the story 's message .
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limerick
limerick
[noun]

a humorous poem of five anapestic lines with a rhyme scheme of AABBA

Ex: The book was filled with limericks that brought joy to readers of all ages .
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lyricism
lyricism
[noun]

the creative and imaginative expression of powerful feelings in art, poetry, music, etc.

Ex: The lyricism of the poem painted vivid images and stirred the reader 's imagination .
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prose
prose
[noun]

spoken or written language in its usual form, in contrast to poetry

Ex: The author 's mastery of prose evoked vivid imagery and emotional resonance , immersing readers in the world of her storytelling .
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oeuvre
oeuvre
[noun]

the collection of artistic or literary works produced by a particular painter, author, etc.

Ex: As a scholar of literature , she dedicated her career to studying the oeuvre of Jane Austen , uncovering new insights into her timeless novels .
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motif
motif
[noun]

a subject, idea, or phrase that is repeatedly used in a literary work

Ex: The motif of " nature versus civilization " serves as a central theme in the story , highlighting the tension between humanity 's primal instincts and societal norms .
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characterization

the way in which characters in a movie, book, etc. are created and represented by a writer

Ex: The characterization of the antagonist was particularly compelling , as the writer explored the motivations behind his actions and revealed the humanity beneath his villainous exterior .
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antagonist

villainous character who strongly opposes another person or thing

Ex: Throughout the story , the protagonist 's struggle against the antagonist served as a metaphor for larger themes of good versus evil and the resilience of the human spirit .
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protagonist

the main character in a movie, novel, TV show, etc.

Ex: The protagonist's quest for redemption and forgiveness forms the emotional core of the narrative , resonating with audiences on a deeply human level .
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to abridge

to make a book, play, etc. short by omitting the details and including the main parts

Ex: For the anthology , they abridged the lengthy essay to highlight its main arguments .
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to depict
to depict
[Verb]

to describe a specific subject, scene, person, etc.

Ex: The artist has been depicting various cultural traditions throughout the year .
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addendum
addendum
[noun]

a section of additional material that is usually added at the end of a book

Ex: The manuscript ’s addendum contained supplementary information not covered in the main chapters .
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foreword
foreword
[noun]

a short introductory section at the beginning of a book, usually written by someone other than the author

Ex: The author was pleased with the thoughtful foreword provided by a fellow writer .
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afterword
afterword
[noun]

a part at the end of a book including some final words that may not be written by the author

Ex: She read the afterword to understand the editor ’s perspective on the story .
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stanza
stanza
[noun]

a series of lines in a poem, usually with recurring rhyme scheme and meter

Ex: The stanza's rhyme scheme was ABAB , giving the poem a rhythmic flow .
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verse
verse
[noun]

a set of words that usually have a rhythmic pattern

Ex: The poem 's first verse set the tone for the rest of the piece .
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sonnet
sonnet
[noun]

a verse of Italian origin that has 14 lines, usually in an iambic pentameter and a prescribed rhyme scheme

Ex: She wrote a sonnet for her literature class , following the traditional 14-line structure .
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gripping
gripping
[Adjective]

exciting and intriguing in a way that attracts one's attention

Ex: The gripping true-crime podcast delved into the details of the case, leaving listeners eager for each new episode.
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concise
concise
[Adjective]

giving a lot of information briefly and clearly

Ex: The editor appreciated the author 's concise writing style .
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canonical
canonical
[Adjective]

(of an author or literary work) accepted as highly acclaimed authors or pieces of literature, which are collectively referred to as the literary canon

Ex: The student 's thesis explored themes of identity and power in canonical literature , examining how these works have shaped cultural narratives over time .
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flowery
flowery
[Adjective]

(of writing or speech) full of literary or complicated words and phrases

Ex: The editor suggested simplifying the flowery passages to enhance clarity.
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mannered
mannered
[Adjective]

behaving in an artificial way that is too formal, trying to impress others

Ex: The diplomat 's mannered politeness felt overly formal and insincere .
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raunchy
raunchy
[Adjective]

sexually explicit or morally obscene

Ex: The raunchy lyrics of the song sparked controversy among parents and critics.
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highbrow
highbrow
[Adjective]

scholarly and highly interested in cultural or artistic matters

Ex: She prefers highbrow discussions on philosophy over popular media.
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sequel
sequel
[noun]

a book, movie, play, etc. that continues and extends the story of an earlier one

Ex: The sequel exceeded expectations , introducing new twists and revelations that kept audiences on the edge of their seats .
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codex
codex
[noun]

an ancient book, written by hand, especially of scriptures, classics, etc.

Ex: The monastery 's library houses a remarkable collection of codices, each one meticulously copied and illustrated by hand by dedicated scribes .
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ghostwriter

an author whose work is published under someone else's name

Ex: The ghostwriter's name remained confidential while the author 's name was on the cover .
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humorist
humorist
[noun]

someone who is known for writing or telling humorous stories or jokes about real people and events

Ex: Many consider her a brilliant humorist due to her insightful and funny take on cultural trends .
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tragedian
tragedian
[noun]

a playwright who writes tragedies

Ex: His reputation as a tragedian was solidified with the success of his latest dark drama .
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man of letters

a male literary author or scholar

Ex: He aspired to be a man of letters, dedicating his life to literature and scholarship .
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satirist
satirist
[noun]

a person who writes or uses satires in order to criticize or humor someone or something

Ex: The satirist's play received acclaim for its incisive take on political corruption .
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