Eduqas GCSE English Literature key terms

A serious drama in which a central character’s downfall brings suffering and often death, encouraging the audience to consider responsibility and human weakness.

A character whose suffering and downfall invite pity, sometimes alongside recognition of destructive choices or flaws.

A weakness in a tragic character that contributes to their downfall; Macbeth's excessive ambition can be interpreted as his tragic flaw.

The central character in a tragedy, whose errors or vulnerabilities contribute to a destructive downfall.

Going beyond ordinary physical experience or material explanation; Jekyll uses this idea to describe medicine that acts on identity and the soul.

The state of lasting only briefly. In the poem, the berries’ freshness suggests that pleasure cannot be preserved indefinitely.

Lasting psychological distress following terrifying or deeply damaging experiences.

A sequence of three parallel words, phrases or clauses.

A metrical pattern in which each pair of syllables begins with a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable.

A metrical pattern of four stressed–unstressed pairs of syllables, often shortened at the end; its falling rhythm helps give the witches’ chants their distinctive sound.

A metrical foot consisting of a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable.

A decisive moment which changes the direction of a plot or a character’s development.

A Christian celebration at the close of the Twelve Days of Christmas, associated with Epiphany and traditions of feasting, entertainment and reversed social roles.

Cruel or oppressive government that uses power against the people it should protect.

A ruler who exercises power cruelly and oppressively.

An account whose accuracy or interpretation readers have reason to question, for example because the narrator is biased or tries to justify their actions.

A narrator whose account readers have reasons to question because their understanding, judgement or presentation may be limited or biased.

Love that is not returned by the person who is loved.

A character who never appears on stage but whose experiences or actions influence the drama.

A person who takes power or a position without a rightful claim to it. Macbeth becomes a usurper by murdering Duncan and taking his throne.

Lending money at interest, traditionally condemned in Christian teaching. Today the word usually means lending at excessively high interest.

A desire to be admired by other people.

Open grassland in southern Africa.

Saying something whose intended meaning differs from, or opposes, its literal meaning.

Speech or writing organised into poetic lines, often using rhythm or metre.

A conventional tempter in medieval morality plays who represents evil and often shares plans with the audience, drawing them into complicity.

A short, vivid description of a person, scene or moment.

Physical force used to injure, damage or destroy. In the novel, violence exposes cruelty and challenges the apparent security of civilised society.