Appendix F: Concept review (in-progress Google document)

Concept Review
Li Ancient Epic, Spring 2016
Throughout the semester, well discuss MANY terms and concepts relating to
writing, Epic (Homer/Virgil/Ovid), and literary vocabulary more generally. This
will serve as a fluid resource list to be updated as we cover new definitions each
week. Once a concept has been discussed in class, you are responsible for
applying it to your writing--both formal essays and any writing homework--and
may be held accountable for these concepts in our weekly quizzes.
Family Group Work Monday 2/22
Jerome
Dylan
Eve
Marissa

Luis
Chris
Jamp
Kellan

Ian
Alejandro
Edward
Andrew

Tiamo
Connor
Maggie
Jordan

Please stay focused for this family group activity. Some of you are
reviewing/correcting definitions of terms weve already discussed; please make
sure that you generate useful examples (from the Iliad if possible; from
another literary text if not). Others of you are generating definitions and
examples for empty boxes. Either way, hold yourselves to high standards.
Category 1: Writing Conventions and Grammar
Concept

Definition

Examples and
notes

italics or
underlining versus
quotation marks
for titles, covered
Thurs 1/21

Italics and underlying are for

works that can stand alone, while
quotation/quotes are works
within anything that can stand
alone.

The Great Gatsby

The Iliad

using however
in the middle of a
sentence, covered
Tues 1/26

Needs a semicolon before and a

comma after.

Andrew tells people he

doesn't love to read;
however, he is often
found snuggled up
with a good book.

comma splices

Use of a comma to join two

independent clauses.

I woke up late, I am A
Block head.

independent
clause, covered
Thurs 1/28

Subject and a verb that can stand

on its own and completes a full
thought.

ex. Billy threw the ball

to Bill. Does not
include coordinating

Chapter/Book 3

conjunctions or
subordinate
conjunctions.
dependent clause,
covered Thurs
1/28

Subject, verb, & subordinate

conj. - cannot stand on its own

ex. Although he sat

down.
-Not a complete
thought
-Although is the
subordinate conj.

simple sentence,
covered Thurs
1/28

An independent clause.
(No conjunctions or conjunctive
adverbs)

Strawberries are the

only fruits with seeds
on the outside.
The sky is blue.

complex sentence,
covered Thurs
1/28

Sentence with one independent

and dependent clause

Although Dale has

fought with Ian the
night before, he went
up to Ian again and
knocked Ians two
front teeth.

compound
sentence

Connects two independent

clauses with a coordinating
conjunction or a conjunctive
adverb

Jamie went to fight

Eddy and he punched
Ed so hard he lost his
two front teeth.

compoundcomplex sentence

Two independent clauses and a

dependent clause combined in
one sentence

As Ian shaved his

beard, he became
unrecognizable;
however, his face
became quite shiney

coordinating
conjunction

a word placed between two

phrases

and
for
but
or

relative pronoun

Functions like subordinate

conjunctions: when combined
with a subject and a verb, they
create dependent clauses.

which
Whichever
Who
Whoever
Who
Whomever

subordinating
conjunction

Whose
conjunctive
adverb

A conjunctive adverb brings

together two complete thoughts.
Each clause can stand on its own
as a sentence. The first clause is
followed by a semi-colon.
Sometimes there is a comma
after the conjunctive adverb.

citations and
periods after page
#'s
forbidden words

negative, positive, strong

Because Shirley says

these words should
never ever be used in
your essay.

Category 2: Homeric/Virgilian terms

Concept

Definition

Examples and notes

epic simile, covered

Thurs 1/21

long simile in
literature,
comparing
something using
like or as

Hektor, as strong as a bull. Shirley

says: this could easily be longer!

Homeric epithet,
covered Fri 1/22

Repeatedly
describing a
character either
before or after his
name is stated.

Glorious Hektor
Brilliant Hector
Hector, the brilliant

Greek god/desses,
their functions, and
Roman equivalents
(Fri 1/22 quiz)

Shirley says: the

definition is worded
in a way that is
unclear.

patronymic, covered
Fri 1/22

A name given to
someone derived
from an ancestor.

Nestor, son of Neleus

Hektor, son of Priam

epic repetition,
covered

long repeated
passage that comes
back multiple times
to add emphasis

The repetition of gifts to be given

to Achilleus

epic (genre,
classification),
covered Weds 1/27

A long poem, driven

from oral tradition
involving legendary
characters, and the
supernatural.

The Dark Knight

Glory
Martin Luther King is the
hero
USA
Everything MLK did
o March
o Speech
Evil forces driving racism
and oppression

Shirley says: theres

a few more
characteristics
involved here.
Remember the ten
that you were
Shirley adds: please give other
quizzed on?
more traditional examples of
epic too.
tragic hero, covered
(see worksheet)

A literary hero who

initiates their own
destruction

Gilgamesh.. Achilleus.. Enkidu..

Shirley says: Check

the more precise
definition of a tragic
hero
Paris/Alexandros

Son of Priam and

Hecuba.

Started the war by giving

Aphrodite the apple in the
Judgement of Paris and
kidnapped Helen

Troy/Ilion
poetic meter
dactylic hexameter
Category 3: Literary Vocabulary
This site (Bedford St Martins) may help with some of the literary vocabulary
below: http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/litgloss/.

Concept

Definition

Examples
(preferably from
the Iliad; if it takes
too long, just come
up with any
example)

Notes

diction

The choice and

use of words and
phrases which
combine together
to help create a
meaning in
writing or speech.

Throwing first, he
struck the horn of the
horse-haired helmet
and the bronze inward
through the bone; and
a mist of darkness
clouded both
eyes.(6.9-11)

Word choice

sentence
structure

The way in which

a sentence is put
together. The
punctuation,
language, word
choice, location of
subject and verb,
etc.

But about the burning

of the dead bodies I do
not begrudge you; no,
for there is no sparing
time for the bodies of
the perished, once they
have died, to give them
swiftly the pity of
burning. Let Zeus,
high-thundering lord of
Hera, witness our
pledges. (7.408-411)

Repetition of
the word
bodies
Putting
burning of
the bodies
before
subject/verb to
exemplify its
importance

style

The specific way

the writer
arranges words to
to achieve
particular effects

Follow close now and

be rapid, so we may
capture the shield of
Nestor, whose high
fame goes up to the sky
now, how it is all of
gold, the shield itself
and the cross-rods; and
strip from the
shoulders of Diomedes,
breaker of horses, that
elaborate corselet that
Hephaistos wrought
with much toil.(8.191195)

Style of the
Iliad:
- Many
homeric
epithets such
as Diomedes
the breaker of
horses.
- Long
sentences with
a lot of
punctuation to
combine them
together to
complete a
thought.

tone

The authors
attitude toward
the reader or the
people

(6.500-503) So they
mourned in his house
over Hektor while he
was living still, for they
thought he would never
come back from the
fighting alive, escaping
the Achaian hands and
their violence.

metaphor

A figure of speech
that makes a
comparison
between two
things without
like or as

Pepperoni pizza is
heaven in a box.

simile

A comparison
between two
things using the
words like or
as

(8.338-342) As when
some hunting hound in
the speed of his feet
pursuing a wild boar or
a lion snaps from
behind at his quarters
or flanks, but watches
for the beast to turn
upon him, so Hektor
followed close on the
heels of the flowinghaired Achaians.

connotation

Something that
goes beyond the
literal meaning of
a word

Straight away he sent

down the most lordly
of birds, an eagle with a
fawn, the young of a
running deer, caught in
his town's who cast
down the fawn the side
Zeuss splendid alter.
Pg. 207

denotation

The literal
meaning of a
word from the
dictionary

So the grim encounter

of Achaeans and
Trojans was left to
itself pg. 171

sensory
imagery

Used to create
vivid images

Shining mixing bowl

Pg. 124

through words
that call upon the
senses
literal language

A sentence that
doesn't have
literary devices;
the literal
meaning of a
sentence.

The soup was hot

figurative
language

Using literary
devices to
demonstrate
multiple
meanings, a
deeper meaning
of the sentence.
Uses images,
similes.

He was glad, like a

lion who comes on a
mighty carcass. Pg. 117

tension

When people
disagree or feel
anger towards
each other.

... or whether the gods

will strike me down at
the hands of the
Achaeans. (181)

contrast

Distinction or a
different
viewpoint
between two sides

...screaming, and
frightened at the aspect
of his own father
Then, taking up his
dear son he tossed him
about in his arms and
kissed him (184)

alliteration

When the same

consonant sound
is repeated in a
sentence, usually
at the beginning
of the word.

...dig a deep ditch...

(195)

assonance

Repeating
...happy in his
internal vowel
victory (194)
sounds, just not at asleep under the tree

the beginning of
the word.
allusion

A quick mention
of a person, event,
thing, place, or
idea in history or
literature.

Menelauss reference to
Pariss judgement of
the Gods when he says
the gods are
blameworthy to me.
i,e:
Brilliant Hector
Hector, the brilliant

allegory

A story or
description
usually with only
one meaning
because its events,
actions,
characters,
settings, and
objects represent
specific ideas.

Hektors last goodbye

symbolizes the end of
the war. Shirley says:
not quite! Look outside
the Iliad for a
definition.

personification

When human
...bitter combat. (7.
characteristics are 51)
given to
nonhuman things.

theme (versus
subject--be sure
to differentiate
these two)

A topic that is
repeated
throughout the
piece of writing.
The point the
author is trying to
make, the lesson
the readers learn.

The destiny of man is

inevitable.

Shirley says: the

definition is
worded in a way
that is unclear.
subject

A person, place,
or thing that is
being described at
great length and

War, violence, divinity,

glory, fate, religion,
faith, prayer, death

detail.
Shirley says: the
definition is
worded in a way
that is unclear.

The subjects of Iliad

are the followings
characters: the
Olympian Gods and
Goddesses and all the
Heroes involved in the
Trojan War.