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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 author released a novella that explored themes of love and loss. 
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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 Iliad is one of the greatest epics of ancient Greek literature. 
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chronicle
chronicle
[noun]

a historical account of events presented in chronological order

Ex: The historian wrote a detailed chronicle of the medieval period. 
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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 poet wrote an ode to celebrate the beauty of nature. 
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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 comedian's parody of the popular song went viral, making people laugh with its clever and humorous lyrics. 
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fable
fable
[noun]

a short story on morality with animal characters

Ex: The fable of "The Tortoise and the Hare" teaches us that slow and steady wins the race. 
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parable
parable
[noun]

a short, simple story that teaches a moral lesson

Ex: The teacher used a parable to explain the importance of honesty. 
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haiku
haiku
[noun]

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

Ex: She wrote a haiku about the changing seasons. 
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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: Oscar Wilde's epigram, "I can resist everything except temptation," is widely quoted. 
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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 ancient saga of Beowulf recounts the hero's battles with formidable monsters. 
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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 novel opens with an epigraph from T.S. Eliot. 
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limerick
limerick
[noun]

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

Ex: She wrote a clever limerick for the poetry contest. 
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lyricism
lyricism
[noun]

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

Ex: The poet's lyricism brought a deep emotional resonance to her verses. 
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prose
prose
[noun]

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

Ex: Her writing style is characterized by clear and concise prose, making her novels accessible to a wide audience. 
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oeuvre
oeuvre
[noun]

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

Ex: The museum's retrospective showcased the entire oeuvre of the renowned painter, highlighting his evolution over four decades. 
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motif
motif
[noun]

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

Ex: The motif of the "hero's journey" is a common theme in many epic tales, symbolizing the protagonist's growth and transformation. 
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characterization

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

Ex: The author's skillful characterization brought the protagonist to life, making the reader empathize with her struggles and triumphs. 
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antagonist

villainous character who strongly opposes another person or thing

Ex: The antagonist in the novel was a cunning and ruthless villain, determined to thwart the protagonist's plans at every turn. 
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protagonist

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

Ex: The protagonist of the novel is a young orphan who embarks on a journey of self-discovery and adventure. 
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to abridge

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

Ex: The play was abridged for the school performance, focusing on the key scenes. 
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to depict
to depict
[Verb]

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

Ex: The artist’s work often depicts scenes from daily life in a vibrant style. 
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addendum
addendum
[noun]

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

Ex: The book included an addendum with updated statistics on the topic. 
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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 book's foreword was written by a renowned scholar in the field. 
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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: The afterword offered insights from the editor about the book's impact. 
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stanza
stanza
[noun]

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

Ex: The poem was structured with four stanzas, each following a different theme. 
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verse
verse
[noun]

a set of words that usually have a rhythmic pattern

Ex: The poet carefully crafted each verse, weaving together words to create a tapestry of emotion and meaning. 
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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: He struggled to fit his thoughts into the strict format of a sonnet. 
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gripping
gripping
[Adjective]

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

Ex: The gripping novel kept me on the edge of my seat, unable to put it down until I reached the last page. 
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concise
concise
[Adjective]

giving a lot of information briefly and clearly

Ex: She gave a concise summary of the meeting's key points. 
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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: Jane Austen's novels are considered part of the canonical literature of English literature, studied and revered by scholars and readers alike. 
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flowery
flowery
[Adjective]

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

Ex: The professor's speech was so flowery that it obscured the main points. 
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mannered
mannered
[Adjective]

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

Ex: His mannered speech made him seem distant and insincere. 
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raunchy
raunchy
[Adjective]

sexually explicit or morally obscene

Ex: The movie was criticized for its raunchy scenes and explicit content. 
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highbrow
highbrow
[Adjective]

scholarly and highly interested in cultural or artistic matters

Ex: The film festival attracted a highbrow audience eager for independent films. 
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sequel
sequel
[noun]

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

Ex: The highly anticipated sequel to the bestselling novel was released to critical acclaim. 
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codex
codex
[noun]

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

Ex: The museum's prized exhibit is an illuminated codex from the medieval period, featuring intricately detailed illustrations and calligraphy. 
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ghostwriter

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

Ex: The celebrity hired a ghostwriter to pen their memoirs. 
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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: The humorist used exaggerated scenarios to poke fun at modern technology. 
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tragedian
tragedian
[noun]

a playwright who writes tragedies

Ex: The ancient Greek tragedian Sophocles is known for his masterpiece, "Oedipus Rex." 
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man of letters

a male literary author or scholar

Ex: The renowned poet was considered a true man of letters in his time. 
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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 latest column humorously critiqued political leaders. 
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