Bless the Beasts and Children Vocabulary and Study Guide
Part 1 – Vocabulary(#1-15)
Match each underlined word with the definition.
Part 2 – Multiple Choice of Significant Plot Events (#16-28)
Part 3 – Who said it? (#29-40)
Match the quote to the character who spoke those words.
Lally 1, Lally 2, Shecker, Teft, Goodenow, Cotton, Wheaties
Part 4 – Character Matching (#41-50)
Match the description to the character it describes.
Lally 1, Lally 2, Shecker, Teft, Goodenow, Cotton, Wheaties
af·flu·ent
( f l - nt, -fl
-) adj.
1. Generously supplied with money, property, or possessions; prosperous or rich.
2. Plentiful; abundant.
3. Flowing freely; copious.
car·nage (kär n j) n.
1. Massive slaughter, as in war; a massacre.
2. Corpses, especially of those killed in battle.
ca·thar·sis (k -thär s s) n. ; pl. ca·thar·ses (-s z)
1. Medicine. Purgation, especially for the digestive system.
2. A purifying or figurative cleansing of the emotions, especially pity and fear,
described by Aristotle as an effect of tragic drama on its audience.
3. A release of emotional tension, as after an overwhelming experience, that restores
or refreshes the spirit.
4. Psychology.
a. A technique used to relieve tension and anxiety by bringing repressed
feelings and fears to consciousness.
b. The therapeutic result of this process; abreaction.
chutz·pah also hutz·pah
(
t sp , h t -) n.
Utter nerve; effrontery: “has the chutzpah to claim a lock on God and morality”
(New York Times).
con·ster·na·tion (k n st r-n sh n) n.
A state of paralyzing dismay.
cyn·i·cism (s n -s z m) n.
1. An attitude of scornful or jaded negativity, especially a general distrust of the
integrity or professed motives of others: the public cynicism aroused by
governmental scandals.
2. A scornfully or jadedly negative comment or act: “She arrived at a philosophy of
her own, all made up of her private notations and cynicisms” (Henry James).
3. Cynicism The beliefs of the ancient Cynics.
e·nor·mi·ty ( -nôr m -t ) n.
pl. e·nor·mi·ties
1. The quality of passing all moral bounds; excessive wickedness or outrageousness.
2. A monstrous offense or evil; an outrage.
3. Usage Problem. Great size; immensity: “Beyond that, [Russia's] sheer enormity
offered a defense against invaders that no European nation enjoyed” (W. Bruce
Lincoln).
eq·ui·ty ( k w -t ) n.
pl. eq·ui·ties
1. The state, quality, or ideal of being just, impartial, and fair.
2. Something that is just, impartial, and fair.
3. Law.
a. Justice applied in circumstances covered by law yet influenced by
principles of ethics and fairness.
b. A system of jurisprudence supplementing and serving to modify the rigor
of common law.
c. An equitable right or claim.
d. Equity of redemption.
4. The residual value of a business or property beyond any mortgage thereon and
liability therein.
5.
a. The market value of securities less any debt incurred.
b. Common stock and preferred stock.
6. Funds provided to a business by the sale of stock.
for·mi·da·ble
(fôr m -d -b l, fôr-m d -) adj.
1. Arousing fear, dread, or alarm: the formidable prospect of major surgery.
2. Inspiring awe, admiration, or wonder: “Though a true hero, he was also a
thoroughgoing bureaucrat and politician, a formidable combination” (Mario
Puzo).
3. Difficult to undertake, surmount, or defeat: a formidable challenge; a formidable
opponent.
ig·no·min·y ( g n -m n , -m -n ) n.
pl. ig·no·min·ies
1. Great personal dishonor or humiliation.
2. Shameful or disgraceful action, conduct, or character.
im·pi·ous
( m p - s, m-p -) adj.
1. Lacking reverence; not pious.
2. Lacking due respect or dutifulness: impious toward one's parents.
in·do·lent ( n d -l nt) adj.
1.
a. Disinclined to exert oneself; habitually lazy. See Synonyms at lazy.
b. Conducive to inactivity or laziness; lethargic: humid, indolent weather.
2.
a. Causing little or no pain: an indolent tumor.
b. Slow to heal, grow, or develop; inactive: an indolent ulcer.
in·ep·ti·tude ( n- p t -t d , -ty d ) n.
1. The quality of being inept; ineptness.
2. An inept act or remark.
in·her·ent ( n-hîr nt, -h r -) adj.
Existing as an essential constituent or characteristic; intrinsic.
in·tran·si·gent also in·tran·si·geant ( n-tr n s -j nt, -z -) adj.
Refusing to moderate a position, especially an extreme position; uncompromising.
in·trep·id
( n-tr p d) adj.
Resolutely courageous; fearless. See Synonyms at brave.
mute (my t) adj. mut·er, mut·est
1. Refraining from producing speech or vocal sound.
2.
a. Often Offensive. Unable to speak.
b. Unable to vocalize, as certain animals.
3. Expressed without speech; unspoken: a mute appeal.
4. Law. Refusing to plead when under arraignment.
5. Linguistics.
a. Not pronounced; silent, as the e in the word house.
b. Pronounced with a temporary stoppage of breath, as the sounds (p) and
(b); plosive; stopped.
n.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Often Offensive. One who is incapable of speech.
Law. A defendant who refuses to plead when under arraignment.
Music. Any of various devices used to muffle or soften the tone of an instrument.
Linguistics.
a. A silent letter.
b. A plosive; a stop.
tr.v. mut·ed, mut·ing, mutes
1. To soften or muffle the sound of.
2. To soften the tone, color, shade, or hue of.
ob·sess
v. tr.
( b-s s , b-) v. ob·sessed, ob·sess·ing, ob·sess·es
To preoccupy the mind of excessively.
v. intr.
To have the mind excessively preoccupied with a single emotion or topic: “She's
dead. And you're still obsessing” (Scott Turow).
om·nis·cient ( m-n sh nt) adj.
Having total knowledge; knowing everything: an omniscient deity; the omniscient
narrator.
n.
1. One having total knowledge.
2. Omniscient God. Used with the.
prox·im·i·ty
(pr k-s m -t ) n.
The state, quality, sense, or fact of being near or next; closeness: “Swift's major
writings have a proximity and a relevance that is splendidly invigorating” (M.D.
Aeschliman). See Usage Note at redundancy.
res·ig·na·tion
(r z g-n sh n) n.
1. The act or an instance of resigning.
2. An oral or written statement that one is resigning a position or an office.
3. Unresisting acceptance of something as inescapable; submission. See Synonyms
at patience.
sac·ra·ment
(s k r -m nt) n.
1. Christianity. A rite believed to be a means of or visible form of grace, especially:
a. In the Eastern, Roman Catholic, and some other Western Christian
churches, any of the traditional seven rites that were instituted by Jesus
and recorded in the New Testament and that confer sanctifying grace.
b. In most other Western Christian churches, the two rites, Baptism and the
Eucharist, that were instituted by Jesus to confer sanctifying grace.
2. A religious rite similar to a Christian sacrament, as in character or meaning.
3. often Sacrament
a. The Eucharist.
b. The consecrated elements of the Eucharist, especially the bread or host.
se·rene
(s -r n ) adj.
1. Unaffected by disturbance; calm and unruffled. See Synonyms at calm.
2. Unclouded; fair: serene skies and a bright blue sea.
3. often Serene Used as a title and form of address for certain members of royalty:
Her Serene Highness; His Serene Highness.
sur·cease
(sûr s s , s r-s s ) tr. & intr.v. sur·ceased, sur·ceas·ing, sur·ceas·es
To bring or come to an end; stop.
n.
Cessation.
vin·dic·tive (v n-d k t v) adj.
1. Disposed to seek revenge; revengeful.
2. Marked by or resulting from a desire to hurt; spiteful.