1. British Literature Vocabulary Unit 1

2. ecclesiastical Having to do with the church

3. precept Commandment or direction meant as a rule of action or conduct

4. temporal Lasting only for a short time, limited; of this world, not spiritual

5. adversity Misfortune, trouble

6. diligently With great care and attention

7. efficacious Effective, producing the desired result

8. agency Force or power

9. secular Of the world; not sacred

10. literal Word for word, true to the actual or original meaning

11. allegory A work in which each element symbolizes, or represent, something else

12. caesura Major pause, or breath place, in a line of poetry

13. alliteration Repetition of initial consonant sounds (ex. seven silver swans)

14. hyperbole Deliberate exaggeration for effect

15. metaphor Comparison in which one thing is said to be another (ex. Diamonds are a girl’s best friend!)

16. simile Comparison using like or as (ex. My love is like a red, red rose.)

17. tribute Regular payment of money or goods made by one ruler or nation to another in acknowledgement of servitude or for protection from invasion.

18. spoils Arms, goods, or money taken from a defeated foe

19. brood Offspring or a family of offspring of animals

20. Purge Cleanse or rid of impurities or other undesirable elements

21. Relish Enjoy; like