Key Words and Meanings - Year 12 English

• Modern Poetry, and Shelley

  Industrial revolution	The Industrial Revolution began in the 18th century in Great Britain. It was only It the first stepping-stone to the modern economic growth that is still growing to this day. While the nation was changing, so was the way that literature was written.
  Nostalgia	A sentimental longing or wistful affection for a period in the past.
  Belonging	Feeling like you fit in with a place or group.
  Nature	The physical world, can include: plants, animals, weather.
  Romanticism	A literary, artistic, and philosophical movement originating in the 18th century. Often focussed on autobiographical material, thoughts and feelings, common human values, and an appreciation of nature.

• A Streetcar Named Desire;, and Never Let Me Go;

  (Non) Chronological narrative	A chronological narrative is a story told in the order that events happened. A non-chronological narrative may start in "the present" before using a flashback to talk about events in the past.
  Motif / extended metaphor	Motif is a literary technique that consists of a repeated element that has symbolic significance to a literary work. Sometimes, a motif is a recurring image. Other times, it's a repeated word, phrase, or topic expressed in language.
  Allegory	A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.
  Foil	In literature - a foil is a character who contrasts with another character. Typically, a character who contrasts with the protagonis (main character), in order to better highlight or differentiate certain qualities of the protagonist.
  Audience	Who has this been written for? Older people? Younger people? People with an interest is something?
  Dystopia	A very bad or unfair society in which there is a lot of suffering, especially an imaginary society in the future, after something terrible has happened

• A Streetcar Named Desire; and Never Let Me Go

  Minor Characters	A supporting character who is needed to advance the plot, or reveal crucial details, but the audience does not know much about them.
  Music	How does Williams use music on the stage? Think about the Varsouviana Polka, and the songs the Blanche sings.
  Dependence	The state of relying on or being controlled by someone or something else.
  Reputation	The beliefs or opinions that are generally held about someone or something. In 'A Streetcar Named Desire' Blanche tries to escape her reputation, whereas the men try to build a strong, dominating masculine reputation.
  Elegy	A poem written in elegiac couplets. Or a poem of serious reflection, typically a lament for the dead.
  Transcendence	Existence or experience beyond the normal or physical level.
  Illusion	A deceptive appearance or impression. Also perceived within Williams' play as fantasy. Blanche creates a false sense of herself, however it may not be entirely deceptive, as it is her version of reality.
  Antagonsitic	Showing or feeling active opposition or hostility towards someone or something. Many of Williams' characters have an antagonistic relationship with Blanche, as she is from a different life and holds different ideals.
  Reality	The state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them. In Williams' play Stanley wants to expose Blanche and show the real her.
  Domestic	Williams' play is largely set within the home of Stella and Stanley, and revolves around their interactions with each other and their friends. It involves domestic disputes and relations and also exposes the domestic issues of the other characters.
  Prejudice	Preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience. In Williams' play Blanche is prejudiced against Stanley and his friends, but equally Stanley acts against Blanche from the start.
  Sexuality	The way characters present themselves in terms of sex. Williams' play is centred around this and sex, and it is important to understand how the characters act, and how they wish to be perceived to understand their agendas.
  Light	How does Williams use lighting on the stage? Blanche covers the light with a paper lantern. The use of the red light in the poker game. Also references to the light like Allan's suicide.

• Coursework
• Coursework and exam preparation
• Exams, and preparation for Yr 13