SAT Humanities - Literature and Culture

Here you will learn some English words related to literature and culture, such as "excerpt", "stanza", "melodramatic", etc. that you will need to ace your SATs.

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SAT Humanities
prose [noun]

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

Ex: The professor 's lectures were known for their eloquent prose , captivating students with their rich language and depth of insight .

a type of verse without rhyme that has an irregular rhythm

stanza [noun]

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

Ex: She analyzed the stanza to understand its symbolic meaning .
sonnet [noun]

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

Ex: The poet recited a classic sonnet by Shakespeare during the literary evening .
ballad [noun]

a tale that is narrated in the form of a song or poem

Ex: The folk singer-songwriter wrote a new ballad about the struggles of ordinary people in modern society .

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

Ex: The protagonist 's internal conflict drives the narrative forward as they grapple with difficult choices and confront their own flaws and insecurities .
heroine [noun]

the main female character in a story, book, film, etc., typically known for great qualities

Ex: The heroine of the book is a young girl with special abilities .
allegory [noun]

a specific story, artwork, or performance that embodies symbolic representation of deeper truths

Ex: The sculpture of blindfolded Justice is an allegory .

the use of words and expressions that are not meant to be taken literally, but rather to create a vivid, imaginative image or effect in the reader's mind

a literary and rhetorical device that involves repeating words or phrases in successive clauses or sentences, but in reverse order

a literary device where human qualities or characteristics are attributed to non-human entities, objects, or ideas

Ex: The author used personification to describe the trees whispering in the forest .
allusion [noun]

a statement that implies or indirectly mentions something or someone else, especially as a literary device

Ex: In his speech , he made an allusion to the Trojan War , drawing a parallel between their struggle and that of ancient heroes .
pun [noun]

a clever or amusing use of words that takes advantage of the multiple meanings or interpretations that it has

Ex: " I used to be a baker , but I could n't make enough dough , " is a classic pun .
metaphor [noun]

a figure of speech that compares two unrelated things to highlight their similarities and convey a deeper meaning

Ex: His writing style relies heavily on vivid metaphors and imagery .
simile [noun]

a word or phrase that compares two things or people, highlighting the similarities, often introduced by 'like' or 'as'

Ex: Through the simile " as brave as a lion , " the writer characterizes the hero 's courage and valor in the face of danger .
irony [noun]

a form of humor in which the words that someone says mean the opposite, producing an emphatic effect

Ex: His speech was filled with irony , making fun of the company ’s so-called " success . "
tone [noun]

the quality or character of speech, writing, or behavior that reflects the speaker's or writer's attitude

Ex: The article 's tone suggested skepticism .
canon [noun]

a recognized collection of authoritative books, texts, or works within a particular field or tradition, especially in religion

Ex: Bach 's compositions are celebrated as part of the classical music canon .

marks and notes written in the margins of a book or document

memoir [noun]

a written account of a person's own life experiences or a particular period in their life

the story of the life of a person, written by the same person

Ex: She decided to write an autobiography after retiring to reflect on her experiences .

a book that combines illustrations and storytelling to convey a narrative, often in a sequential art format

Ex: He introduced me to a graphic novel that blends science fiction and fantasy .

a cheap paperback novel often featuring an adventure or melodramatic story

the events that have happened to a character before their story in a book, movie, etc. begins

Ex: Understanding the villain 's backstory added depth to the narrative , revealing the motivations behind their sinister deeds .

a collection of selected writings by various authors, often on a similar theme or subject

Ex: The anthology of poetry featured works from diverse cultures and time periods .

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

Ex: The ghostwriter received credit in the acknowledgments section of the book .

a written document, book, or musical composition created by hand rather than being produced using a typewriter or printing press

Ex: Scholars analyzed the handwritten manuscript to decipher the poet 's intentions .
scroll [noun]

a roll of parchment, paper, or other material containing writing or images, often used for historical or religious texts

an absurd or comically exaggerated replication of a literary or dramatic work

satirical [adjective]

intending to mock, ridicule, or criticize a person, group, or society in a humorous or exaggerated way

Ex: He wrote a satirical article about government policies .
melodramatic [adjective]

exaggerated or overly emotional in a theatrical or sensational way

Ex: His apologies seemed melodramatic , as if he were trying to gain sympathy rather than express genuine remorse .

to select and extract a passage, segment, or portion from a larger text, usually for reference or quotation

Ex: The journalist excerpted a statement from the interview to capture the essence of the conversation .

to turn real events or situations into a tale or story, often by changing or adding to the details

Ex: Writers often fictionalize real-life scandals to protect the identities of those involved .
glyph [noun]

a specific graphical representation or shape of a character or symbol within a writing system

(grammar) a phrase or word used suddenly to express a particular emotion

Ex: The linguist discussed the various functions of interjection in language .
syntax [noun]

(linguistics) the way in which words and phrases are arranged to form grammatical sentences in a language

Ex: Linguists study syntax to uncover the underlying principles that dictate how different languages form sentences .
dialect [noun]

the spoken form of a language specific to a certain region or people which is slightly different from the standard form in words and grammar

Ex:

(phonetics) the rising and falling of the voice when speaking

Ex: In some languages , intonation can change the meaning of a word or phrase , as in Mandarin Chinese , where different intonation patterns distinguish between words with the same phonetic sounds .
acronym [noun]

a word formed from the initial letters of a phrase, pronounced as a single word

Ex: The military often uses acronyms for complex terms .

a type of abbreviation where the first letter of each word in a phrase or name is used to form a pronounceable acronym-like string of letters

the study of the origins and historical developments of words and their meanings

Ex: The dictionary includes information on the etymology of words to provide linguistic context .
linguist [noun]

an expert in the study of language, examining its structure, development, and cultural aspects

Ex: Linguists often collaborate to document and analyze dialectal variations within a language .

a collection of ancient myths, particularly one that belongs to a group of people and their history, etc.

Ex: Many cultures around the world have their own mythology , explaining natural phenomena and the origins of their societies .
chimera [noun]

a mythological creature in Greek mythology, typically depicted as a fire-breathing creature with the body and head of a lion, the head of a goat protruding from its back, and a serpent for a tail

basilisk [noun]

a legendary reptile, often depicted as having a deadly gaze or venomous breath

Ex: Heroes in tales of old often ventured into dangerous lands to slay the dreaded basilisk .
folklore [noun]

the traditional beliefs, customs, stories, and legends of a particular community, usually passed down through generations by word of mouth

Ex:
custom [noun]

a way of behaving or of doing something that is widely accepted in a society or among a specific group of people

Ex: The custom of celebrating New Year 's Eve with fireworks is widespread .
lore [noun]

collective knowledge, traditions, beliefs, and stories passed down within a culture or community, typically through storytelling

Ex: Local lore tells of a hidden treasure buried somewhere in the mountains .
elegy [noun]

a song or poem expressing sadness, especially in the memory of a dead person or a bitter event in the past

Ex: In literature , an elegy is a poetic form that expresses sorrow and lamentation , often commemorating the dead or reflecting on the transient nature of life .
heritage [noun]

the customs, traditions, rituals, and behaviors that are inherited and preserved within a community or society over time

Ex: The preservation of indigenous heritage is crucial for maintaining cultural diversity and understanding .

a group within a larger culture that shares distinctive values, norms, and behaviors, often differing from those of the dominant culture

Ex: Members of the skateboarding subculture often gather at skate parks to practice tricks and bond over their shared passion for the sport .
rebirth [noun]

a renewed period of growth, popularity, or significance, particularly in cultural, artistic, or economic contexts

Ex: The film industry saw a rebirth of interest in classic movies after the release of a digitally remastered collection .
time-honored [adjective]

(of traditions, practices, or customs) respected and followed for a long time because of their enduring value or significance

Ex: The university 's commencement ceremony is a time-honored tradition that graduates look forward to .