Vocabulary Notebook
Vocabulary Word: archetype
Definition:
Is a character, symbol, story pattern,
or other element that is common
across cultures and that occurs
frequently in literature.
Synonyms:
Common impression or belief
Graphic Representation:
Examples: damsel in distress; mad scientist; the wise old man; the hero;
black = evil/white = good
Vocabulary Word: stereotype
Definition:
Commonly held belief about a
particular group of individuals; based
upon geography
Synonyms:
judgments; labels
generalizations
Graphic Representation:
ALL blondes are dumb
ALL teachers are mean.
All football players are dumb jerks.
All red-heads have no soul.
All 6th graders are annoying.
ALL teenagers are obnoxiuos.
Vocabulary Word: Diction
Definition:
Synonyms:
Graphic Representation:
Vocabulary Word: Diction
Definition:
refers to the writer’s choice of words
& use of language
Synonyms:
Vocabulary, writing style, word
choice
Graphic Representation:
Vocabulary Word: Connotation
Definition:
Synonyms:
Graphic Representation:
EXAMPLE OF CONNOTATION
A stubborn person may be described as being
either strong-willed or pig-headed. Although
these have the same literal meaning (i.e.
stubborn),
• strong-willed suggests admiration for the level
of someone's will  , while
• pig-headed suggests frustration in dealing
with someone  .
Vocabulary Word: Connotation
Definition:
the emotional or imaginative
meaning of a word or words
Synonyms:
meaning, association
Graphic Representation:
Vocabulary Word: Denotation
Definition:
Synonyms:
Graphic Representation:
Vocabulary Word: Denotation
Definition:
the direct or dictionary definition of
a word or words
Synonyms:
Definition, literal meaning
Graphic Representation:
EXAMPLES
DOVE
denotation:
connotation:
EXAMPLES
DOVE
denotation: a small, white bird
connotation:
EXAMPLES
DOVE
denotation: a small, white bird
connotation: peace
EXAMPLES
HOME
denotation:
connotation:
EXAMPLES
HOME
denotation: a building where you live
connotation:
EXAMPLES
HOME
denotation: a building where you live
connotation: a place of warmth
& comfort
EXAMPLES
SUNSHINE
denotation:
connotation:
EXAMPLES
SUNSHINE
denotation: the sun’s rays
connotation:
EXAMPLES
SUNSHINE
denotation: the sun’s rays
connotation: cheerfulness &
happiness & warmth
EXAMPLES
RAT
denotation:
connotation:
EXAMPLES
RAT
denotation: a rodent, larger than a mouse
connotation:
EXAMPLES
RAT
denotation: a rodent, larger than a mouse
connotation: disgusting, dirty, sneaky, etc.
EXAMPLES
 Negative
Positive 
Difficult . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
EXAMPLES
 Negative
Positive 
Difficult . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Challenging
EXAMPLES
 Negative
Positive 
Difficult . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Challenging
Cheap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
EXAMPLES
 Negative
Positive 
Difficult . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Challenging
Cheap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inexpensive
EXAMPLES
 Negative
Positive 
Difficult . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Challenging
Cheap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inexpensive
Stubborn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
EXAMPLES
 Negative
Positive 
Difficult . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Challenging
Cheap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inexpensive
Stubborn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Determined
EXAMPLES
 Negative
Positive 
Difficult . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Challenging
Cheap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inexpensive
Stubborn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Determined
Picky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
EXAMPLES
 Negative
Positive 
Difficult . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Challenging
Cheap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inexpensive
Stubborn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Determined
Picky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Particular
EXAMPLES
 Negative
Positive 
Difficult . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Challenging
Cheap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inexpensive
Stubborn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Determined
Picky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Particular
Loud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
EXAMPLES
 Negative
Positive 
Difficult . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Challenging
Cheap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inexpensive
Stubborn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Determined
Picky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Particular
Loud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Outspoken
Vocabulary Word: Tone
Definition:
Synonyms:
Graphic Representation:
Vocabulary Word: Tone
Definition:
a writer’s or speaker’s attitude
toward the subject
Synonyms:
Attitude, feeling, mood
Graphic Representation:
Vocabulary Word: Theme
Definition:
An author’s intended overall
message, meaning or idea in a
literary work
Synonyms:
lesson, message, main idea
Graphic Representation:
Vocabulary Word: valiant
Definition:
One who is brave or courageous
Synonyms:
Brave, courageous
Graphic Representation:
Vocabulary Word: allegory
Definition:
Allegory is an extended metaphor, in
which objects, persons, & actions in
a narrative have meanings outside
the narrative itself
Synonyms:
Extended metaphor
Graphic Representation:
Vocabulary Word: rhyme scheme
Definition:
A consistent pattern of rhyming
words at line endings throughout a
poem
Example:
There once was a big brown cat
That liked to eat a lot of mice.
He got all round and fat
Because they tasted so nice.
Graphic Representation:
a
b
a
b
Vocabulary Word: oxymoron
Definition:
Two contradicting terms
Graphic Representation:
Example:
Cold sweat
Friendly fire
Jumbo shrimp
Vocabulary Word: free verse
Definition:
Poetry without a fixed pattern of
meter and rhyme
Example:
Heroes Are
sometimes
courageous collaborators,
sometimes
originators of opportunities,
sometimes
champions of coincidence or
circumstance.
Sometimes
heroes act through intelligence
and at other times
through ignorance.
Graphic Representation:
Vocabulary Word: utopia
Definition:
A place of ideal perfection, especially
with laws and government
Synonyms:
paradise
heaven
Greek prefix: ou (u) means “not”
Greek root: top means “place”
Graphic Representation:
Vocabulary Word: analogy
Definition:
Analogies are comparisons in which two
related words are paired together.
Types of Relationships:
Location
Degree (lesser or greater)
Performer and object
Performer and action
Cause and effect
Part of the whole
Antonyms
Synonyms
Graphic Representation:
Vocabulary Word: epilogue
Definition:
a short chapter or section at the end of
a literary work, sometimes detailing the
fate of its characters
Possible Options:
The writer or the person can deliver a
speech, speaking directly to the reader,
when bringing the piece to a close, or
the narration may continue normally to
a closing scene.
Graphic Representation: