How to Read Literature Like a Professor — Vocabulary
Thomas C. Foster
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	35	top 100
narratoran actor who helps to tell a story by talking directly to the audience (breaking the imaginary barrier between the performers and the audience) The narrator in the play, Our Town talks to characters in the play as well as to the audience.more Show sample from book Being in early adolescence, the narrator has no way of dealing with the object of his desire, or even the wherewithal to recognize what he feels as desire.34 more a character in a story who tells the story to the reader Show general definition someone who tells a story--especially the main voice in a documentary, or a character who talks directly to the audience in a movie, play or other performance
	10	top 500
contemporarybelonging to the present time It's easier to find outstanding books when selecting from those that have been in print for a long time. Were it not for that, I would prefer modern literature with its contemporary language, issues, and ideas.more Show sample from book West Side Story famously reworks Romeo and Juliet, which resurfaces again in the 1990s, in a movie featuring contemporary teen culture and automatic pistols.13 more Show general definition for contemporary (as in: contemporary design) characteristic of or belonging to the present time
	4	top 500
contemporary#2lived at the same time Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo were contemporary artists who competed for some projects.more Show sample from book G. K. Chesterton, a mystery writer and contemporary of Arthur Conan Doyle, has a story, "The Arrow of Heaven" (1926), in which a man is killed by an arrow.13 more living or working at the same time Show general definition for contemporary (as in: they are contemporaries) living at the same time or: something occurring in the same period of time as something else
	9	top 100
establishestablish → established:created Which word choice best maintains the tone established in the first paragraph?more Show sample from book But irony typically depends on an established pattern on which it can work its inversions.10 more establish → established:existing Show general definition for establish (as in: establish a positive tone) create, start, or set in [a] place
	2	top 100
establish#2establish → establishing:showing or demonstrating The passage is primarily about establishing the relationship between the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and global temperature.more Show sample from book Once you've established that a book—a man's book at that, a war book—is borrowing a situation from Lewis Carroll's Alice books, anything is possible.10 more establish → established:shown Show general definition for establish (as in: establish that there is a need) show or determine (cause to be recognized or figure out)
	27	top 1000
narrativeStory He titled his autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.more Show sample from book You don't encounter her directly, you've only heard of her through narrative of one sort or another.†26 more story Show general definition for narrative (as in: Narrative of the Life of...) a story; or related to a story
	9	top 100
correspondcorrespond → corresponds:is equivalent The girls are using a simple code where "1" corresponds to "A", "2" to "B" and so on for each of the 26 letters of the alphabet.more Show sample from book The more we become aware of the possibility that our text is speaking to other texts,— the more similarities and correspondences we begin to notice, and the more alive the text becomes.9 more correspond → correspondences:alignments Show general definition for correspond (as in: corresponding time period) connect or fit together by being equivalent, proportionate, or matched (Two things are equivalent if they have the same or very similar value, purpose, or result.)
	1
correspondentreporter Let's get a report from our correspondent in Mexico City.more Show sample from book Jake Barnes, newspaper correspondent and wounded war veteran.9 more Show general definition for correspondent (as in: foreign correspondent of the paper) a reporter or other representative -- typically from a foreign country or with a particular expertise
	8	top 100
conveycommunicate or express She dresses to convey a sense of a successful, no-nonsense woman.more Show sample from book A name has to sound right for a character—Oil Can Harry, Jay Gatsby, Beetle Bailey—but it also has to carry whatever message the writer want to convey about the character or the story.8 more Show general definition for convey (as in: convey her thoughts) communicate or express
	1	top 2000
convey#2transport I was ordered to convey her to London.more Show sample from book The river is both danger and safety, since the relative isolation from land and detection is offset by the perils of river travel on a makeshift conveyance.8 more convey → conveyance:means of transportation Show general definition for convey (as in: convey her safely to) transport Show editor's word notes Today, this sense of convey is seldom seen outside of historic literature.
	4	top 100
analysisdetailed examination According to my analysis, we should focus on improving customer service.more Show sample from book The great thing about Lawrence, from my point of view, is that you can never go wrong bringing sex into the analysis.7 more detailed thinking to better understand Show general definition for analysis (as in: analysis of relevant data) the process or result of examining and thinking about something to better understand it
	4	top 2000
analysis#2psychiatric treatment I visited the psychiatrist who recommended I undergo analysis.more Show sample from book All of this may be regarded these days as so much hokum in the arena of psychoanalysis, but it's like gold in terms of literary analysis.7 more analysis → psychoanalysis:theory of psychiatric treatment Show general definition for analysis (as in: psychiatrist suggested analysis) psychiatric treatment -- (using any of many theories of the human mind that use talk therapy to understand the unconscious mind)
	1	top 100
differentiaterecognize difference The jury determined that she was able to differentiate between right and wrong.more Show sample from book Both of these first two readings have picked up what is most central to the story, namely the growing awareness of the main character to class differentiation and snobbery.2 more differentiate → differentiation:differences or treatment as different Show general definition for differentiate (as in: differentiate between right/wrong) to recognize difference
	2	top 100
differentiate#2make different; or show difference How does your company differentiate itself from the competition?more Show sample from book So what's going on here? Character differentiation, certainly. The missing member sets Jake apart from everyone else in the novel, or any other novel I know of, for that matter.2 more differentiate → differentiation:making different than others Show general definition for differentiate (as in: differentiate our product) to make different; or to show difference
	1	top 200
implicitexists as an inseparable part or characteristic This risk is implicit in your plan. We can work to minimize the danger, but it cannot be eliminated.more Show sample from book Eliot uses his essay on Joyce to defend implicitly his own masterpiece, The Waste Land, which also builds around ancient myths, in this case fertility myths associated with the Fisher King.1 more implicit → implicitly:by the nature of the argument
	1	top 200
implicit#2without question or doubt Her team has implicit confidence in her decisions.more Show sample from book Still, he implicitly believes that what Europe represents is degraded and decaying (and these are not the only examples).1 more Show general definition for implicit (as in: I trust her implicitly.) without question or doubt
	1
insulateinsulate → insulated:added material to reduce heat transfer We had his bedroom insulated before winter came.more Show sample from book Snow is clean, stark, severe, warm (as an insulating blanket, paradoxically), inhospitable, inviting, playful, suffocating, filthy (after enough time has elapsed).2 more insulate → insulating:keeping the inside warm Show general definition for insulate (as in: insulate the attic) to separate two things to prevent passage of something such as heat, cold, noise, or electricity -- often by covering one of the things with a material
	2
insulate#2separate (from influences thought to be harmful) They home schooled their young children to insulate them a little longer from what they consider to be a crass society.more Show sample from book Birds and Flight Mansfield uses the metaphor of birds and flight as a strategy to show how the Sheridan insulate themselves from the lower classes.2 more separate Show general definition for insulate (as in: insulate her from harm) to separate someone or something from influences thought to be harmful
	2
canoncanon → canons:official rules The church’s teachings are guided by centuries-old canons.more Show sample from book But let's think in terms of slightly more canonical sources.5 more canon → canonical:established Show general definition for canon (as in: a canonical requirement) an established rule, principle, or standard -- especially in religion, philosophy, or tradition Show editor's word notes Historically, a canon was a church law. Do not confuse "canon" with "cannon" (a large gun).
	4
canon#2an authoritative list of works There is much debate as to what should belong in today's literary canon; or even if such a list can have any general validity.more Show sample from book The "literary canon," by the way, is a master list of works that everyone pretends doesn't exist (the list, not the works) but that we all know matters in some important way.5 more recognized list of important works Show general definition for canon (as in: the Shakespearean canon) a recognized or official list of important works, people, or texts -- especially those seen as foundational Show editor's word notes Do not confuse "canon" with "cannon" (a large gun).