Vocab Dose - 1

Fantasy in fiction

May we open ... by defining two kinds of fantastic fiction? One, the kind most often seen in horror novels and movies, offers up a reality that resembles our own, then postulates a second invading reality, which has to be accommodated or exiled by the status quo it is attempting to overtake. Sometimes, as in any exorcism movie - and most horror movies are that, by other names - the alien thorn is successfully removed from the suppurating flank of the real. On other occasions the visitor becomes part of the fabric of "everyday" life. Superman is, after all, an alien lifeform. He’s simply the acceptable face of invading realities. The second kind of fantastique is far more delirious. In these narratives, the whole world is haunted and mysterious. There is no solid status quo, only a series of relative realities, personal to each of the characters, and or all of which are frail, and subject to eruptions from other states and conditions. One of the finest writers in this second mode is Edgar Allen Poe, in whose fevered stories landscape, character - even architecture - become a function of the tormented, sexual anxious psyche of the author; in which anything is possible because the tales occur within the teller’s skull.

MATCH THE WORDS WITH THEIR MEANINGS

1. Resembles – (ri-zem-buhlz) (v)   2. Postulates – (pos-chyoo-leyts) (v)   3. Invading – (in-veyd-ing) (adj)   4. Accommodated –(uh-kom-uh-deyt-ed) (v)   5. Exiled – (eg-zahyld) (v)   6. Status quo – (stey-tuhs kwoh) (n)   7. Exorcism – (ek-sawr-siz-uhm) (n)   8. Suppurating – (suhp-yuh-reyt-ing) (adj)   9. Fabric – (fab-rik) (n) 10. Fantastique – (fan-tas-teek) (n) 11. Delirious – (dih-leer-ee-uhs) (adj) 12. Frail – (freyl) (adj) 13. Eruptions – (ih-ruhp-shuhns) (n) 14. Fevered – (fee-verd) (adj) 15. Tormented – (tawr-ment-ed) (adj) 16. Psyche – (sahyki) (n)

a.   The expulsion or attempted expulsion of a supposed evil spirit froma person or place: b.   The human soul, mind,or spirit c.   In an acutely disturbed state of mind characterized by restlessness, illusions, and incoherence d.   The basic structure of a society, culture, activity, etc e.   Has a similar appearance to or qualities in common with (someone or something); looks or seems like f.   Undergoing the formation of pus; festering g.   Feeling or displayingan excessive degree ofnervous excitement, agitation, or energy h.   an existing state or condition i.   entering as if to take possession, or affecting injuriously or destructively j.   A sudden outbreak of something, typically something unwelcome k.   Suggests or assumes the existence, fact, or truth of (something) as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or belief l.   Easily damaged or broken; weak m.   suffering severely n.   adapted to o.   separated or be removed from p.   the quality of being fantastic

Answers

1. e	2. k	3. i	4. n	5. o
6. h	7. a	8. f	9. d	10. p
11. c	12. l	13. j	14. g	15. m
16. b