Lesson 27 – Vocabulary:
Entertainment
In this vocabulary lesson we'll learn some more advanced words for talking about
entertainment like movies, TV, books, and music.
Again, I'm assuming you already know a number of basic words for describing
these things, so I won't review those - instead I'll give you some more advanced
options.
There are so many elements that go into a well-crafted story - one that is created
and developed with skill. When writing a saga (a long story that often spans many
years/characters), the author or director will need to bring together lots of
different story lines / narrative threads (these are different aspects of the story)
in order to have provide a sense of closure by the end of the movie/book
(satisfying feeling of conclusion).
The movie or book may use elements of foreshadowing - small signs or
suggestions of something that will happen in the future. Or the protagonist (main
character) could have flashbacks - suddenly remembering something that
happened in the past.
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You might enjoy the depiction/portrayal of a particular character or situation these words refer to how something is shown and described in the story. A writer
might also juxtapose (put together or side by side) two contrasting elements, like
a funny character and a serious character, or a rich neighborhood and a poor
neighborhood.
Most stories and songs have a motif - a recurring theme, subject, or idea that
occurs throughout. There can also be many nuances - small details - that add
complexity.
When a movie or book is gripping/riveting, it means it strongly holds your
attention. For especially suspenseful shows/films, you can say you were on the
edge of your seat meaning you were tense and eagerly waiting to see what would
happen next.
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Some stories are quite cerebral, meaning they appeal more to the intellect, to
logical thought. These types of stories may be understated, meaning they are
reserved and subtle, without huge flashy events. On the other hand, a story that
is mind-blowing is one that intensely shocks or amazes you.
Maybe you prefer light-hearted movies/books, ones that are cheerful and not too
serious. These may have quirky/offbeat characters - ones who are a little strange
- and the funny predicaments (difficult situations) they get into.
If you're watching something with your kids, make sure it's family-friendly
(appropriate for children) without any risqué/racy scenes (sexually suggestive) or
profanity (swearing, using bad language).
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Do you like horror stories that are chilling, meaning they make you feel
cold/afraid? I enjoy enigmatic characters/situations (ones that are mysterious)
but I'm not a fan of macabre movies (ones that focus on death or injury) with
gruesome and gory scenes - gruesome describes something that causes
horror/disgust, and gory refers to showing blood.
One interesting type of story is satire - a satirical book/movie is one that uses
exaggeration, sarcasm, and ridicule to call attention to and expose some real
problems in society. These can make you laugh, but they can also hit home - have
a significant emotional impact.
If you want to feel good, watch a movie that's uplifting - that means it elevates
your feelings and mindset to a more positive place. This type of movie may end
with scene that warms your heart (makes you feel nice).
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A movie, book, or play that is highly praised can be described as criticallyacclaimed, or you can say it was lauded by critics. On the other hand, if it was
panned by critics, that means people evaluating the work said negative things
about it.
Maybe everyone else says good things about a show, but you think it's overrated
- that means it's not that good and doesn't deserve all that praise. You might think
the story is far-fetched (meaning too unbelievable and not likely) or that there
are lots of plot holes - gaps or inconsistencies in the story; things that don't make
sense.
To describe an excellent movie, show, or book, you can say it’s superb,
remarkable, or phenomenal. If it makes you think about something in a nice new
way, it’s refreshing, and if the author/director shows a lot of creativity, then the
story is imaginative.
Informally, we can also call it a must-see or a must-read if we think it’s so good
that everyone should watch or read it.
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Review and Practice Pronunciation
a well-crafted story (n.)
a saga (n.)
story lines / narrative
threads (n.)
a sense of closure (n.)
foreshadow (v.) /
foreshadowing (n.)
protagonist (n.)
flashback (n.)
depiction / portrayal (n.)
juxtapose (v.) /
juxtaposition (n.)
motif (n.)
nuances (n.)
gripping / riveting (adj.)
be on the edge of one's
seat (v.)
cerebral (adj.)
understated (adj.)
mind-blowing (adj.)
light-hearted (adj.)
quirky / offbeat (adj.)
predicament (n.)
family-friendly (adj.)
risqué / racy (adj.)
profanity (n.)
chilling (adj.)
enigmatic (adj.)
macabre (adj.)
gruesome (adj.)
gory (adj.) / gore (n.)
one that's created and developed with skill
a long story spanning many years/characters
different aspects of the story
a satisfying feeling of conclusion
small signs or suggestions of something that
will happen in the future
main character
sudden memory of something that happened
in the past
how something is shown or described
putting things together or side by side, often
contrasting things
recurring theme, subject, or idea
small details
strongly holds your attention
be tense and eagerly waiting to see what will
happen next
describes something that appeals to the
intellect
reserved and subtle, without huge flashy
events
intensely shocks or amazes you
cheerful and not too serious
a little strange
difficult situation
appropriate for children
sexually suggestive
swearing, using bad language
make you feel cold/afraid
mysterious
focusing on death or injury
causes horror/disgust
showing blood
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satire (n.) / satirical (adj.)
using exaggeration, sarcasm, and ridicule to
call attention to anednd expose real problems
hit home (v.)
have a significant emotional impact
uplifting (adj.)
elevates your feelings/mindset to a more
positive place
warm your heart (v.)
makes you feel nice
critically-acclaimed (adj.) / highly praised by people who evaluate movies,
be lauded by critics (v.)
books, plays, etc.
be panned by critics (v.)
received negative comments from people who
evaluate movies, books, plays, etc.
overrated (adj.)
not very good, not deserving of praise people
give it
far-fetched (adj.)
too unbelievable; not likely
plot holes (n.)
gaps or inconsistencies in the story
superb / remarkable /
excellent
phenomenal (adj.)
refreshing (adj.)
makes you think about something in a nice new
way
imaginative (adj.)
shows lots of creativity
a must-see / a must-read
a movie or book that's so good that everyone
(n.)
should watch or read it
Quiz – Lesson 27
Complete each sentence with a word from the box:
depiction
far-fetched
gory
lauded
motif
overrated
predicament
profanity
quirky
risqué
riveting
saga
sense of closure
understated
uplifting
1. The humor in this TV series is _________________; not everyone will "get"
the jokes.
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2. Discovering one's true self is a __________________ in the book, as several
characters go through this process.
3. I don't care what you say on your personal social media, but there's no
place for ___________________ at work.
4. In my opinion, superhero movies are ____________________ - there's lots
of action but the stories aren't interesting at all.
5. Every time, Amanda's _________________ little sister keeps accidentally
interfering with her romantic relationships; it's so funny.
6. The series is about a boy with a troubled past who is adopted by a family
that loves him - it's really _________________.
7. My grandfather served in World War II and said the movie's
________________ of the battles was pretty accurate.
8. Season 1 was ________________ by critics as a creative masterpiece, but
Season 2 wasn't as good.
9. The documentary about her escape from North Korea was
_______________ - it's a fascinating true story.
10. She wore lingerie for a __________________ photo shoot, and then gave
the pictures to her husband for his birthday.
11. The movie never showed what ended up happening to some of the
characters - it lacked a ______________________.
12. The victims were shot in the head, and I covered my eyes during the
_________________ scene.
13. This book tells the _________________ of several generations of a family
that immigrated to America.
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14. In the movie, she survives a plane crash and then hikes down the mountain
to safety - I don't know, that's pretty ___________________.
15. They didn't bring enough supplies on the sailboat, so when their food ran
out they were in a terrible _____________________.
Writing Exercises – Lesson 27
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1. Describe a time when you've had a flashback.
2. What's a motif in one of your favorite movies or shows?
3. Talk about something you've seen or heard that was mind-blowing.
4. Describe a light-hearted movie, show, or book you've seen/read.
5. Write about a time you've been in a predicament.
6. Describe a chilling scene from a movie or situation you've been in.
7. What's something you've seen, read, or learned that hit home?
8. What's something you've seen, read, or learned that warms your heart?
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9. Describe something you think is overrated, and why (could be a
movie/show/book or something else)
10. What's a movie you consider a must-see, or a book you consider a mustread?
Quiz Answers – Lesson 27
1. understated
2. motif
3. profanity
4. overrated
5. quirky
6. uplifting
7. depiction
8. lauded
9. riveting
10. risqué
11. sense of closure
12. gory
13. saga
14. far-fetched
15. predicament
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