Ligeia
by Edgar Allen Poe
Words are
listed in order of appearance in the text.
placid
– (adj.) calm, peaceful
enthralling
– (v./adj.) captivating
eloquence
– (n.) fluent and powerful speech
The Rhine
– West German River
paternal
– (adj.) of the father
institute
–(v.) establish
caprice
–(n.) a whim; sudden impulse or desire
shrine
– (n.) alter or chapel
wan—(adj.)
pale, from illness or exhaustion
idolatrous
– (adj.) worshipping idols
presided
– (v.) held authority over
ill-omened
– (adj.) doomed
emaciated
– (v.) made thin and feeble (by disease)
opium
– (n.) stimulant drug
*Daughters of Delos - The three
daughters of king Anius of Delos, Oeno (wine), Spermo (wheat) and Elais
(oliveoil). Their grandfather was Dionysus, and he gave them the powers to
change water into wine, grass into wheat and berries into olives. When the
Greek fleet set out to make war in Troy, the daughters stocked their ships.
Agamemnon then kidnapped them. Dionysus saved them by turning them into white
doves.
Bacon, Lord Verulam - Francis Bacon, born in London, 1561. He
was a brilliant writer and philospher. He originated the saying,
"Knowledge is Power". Bacon's actual quote, paraphrased by Poe in
"Ligeia" is, "There is no excellent beauty that hath not some
strangeness in the proportion."
genera
– (n.) plural of genus; classified type
repose—(n./v.)
rest; sleep
Homeric
–(adj) Of or relating to the Ancient Greek poet philosopher Homer
epithet – (n.) expression; A characterizing word or phrase accompanying or
occurring in place of the name of a person or thing.
hyancinthine – (adj.) of the color of a hyacinth, which is a reddish-blue or deep purple flower or gemstone
aquiline – (adj.) curved/hooked like an eagle’s beak
voluptuous – (adj.) full and luxurious
*Cleomenes – King of Sparta from 232-222 BCE
*Nourjahad –A story in which the title character claims what he wants most is everlasting life and riches. A series of experiences teaches Nourjahad the vanity of his desire, and he is humbled at the end.
*Houri of the Turk - One of the beautiful maidens that in Muslim belief live with the blessed in paradise. intrench (entrench) – (v.) to establish firmly
*The well of Democritus - According to legend, the well of Democritus was bottomless. Democritus is known for laying the foundation for the modern atomic theory, declaring that matter cannot be destroyed but merely changes form.
*Twin stars of Leda - In Greek mythology, Castor and Pollux were twins born of Leda and fathered by Zeus, who disguised himself as a swan and seduced her. The twins are also the two brightest stars in the Gemini constellation.
anomalies—(n.) nontraditional things
derived—(v.) to obtain; to get from a source
chrysalis—(n.) teenage years of an insect’s development
hyancinthine – (adj.) of the color of a hyacinth, which is a reddish-blue or deep purple flower or gemstone
aquiline – (adj.) curved/hooked like an eagle’s beak
voluptuous – (adj.) full and luxurious
*Cleomenes – King of Sparta from 232-222 BCE
*Nourjahad –A story in which the title character claims what he wants most is everlasting life and riches. A series of experiences teaches Nourjahad the vanity of his desire, and he is humbled at the end.
*Houri of the Turk - One of the beautiful maidens that in Muslim belief live with the blessed in paradise. intrench (entrench) – (v.) to establish firmly
*The well of Democritus - According to legend, the well of Democritus was bottomless. Democritus is known for laying the foundation for the modern atomic theory, declaring that matter cannot be destroyed but merely changes form.
*Twin stars of Leda - In Greek mythology, Castor and Pollux were twins born of Leda and fathered by Zeus, who disguised himself as a swan and seduced her. The twins are also the two brightest stars in the Gemini constellation.
anomalies—(n.) nontraditional things
derived—(v.) to obtain; to get from a source
chrysalis—(n.) teenage years of an insect’s development
*Star of the 6th
Magnitude –Magnitude measures brightness
with 6th being the faintest
Lyra – Small, harp-shaped constellation
Joseph Glanvill - (1636-1680) an English writer, philosopher, and clergyman. He wrote Sadducismus Triumphatus, which contained a valuable collection of seventeenth century folklore about witches.
volition—(n.) use of one’s own will
tumultuous—(adj.) rocky; difficult
modulation—(v.) to adjust or regulate
Classical tongues—Greek and Latin and Hebrew
proficient—(adj.) skilled
abstruse—(adj.) difficult to understand
erudition—(n.) deep, extensive learning
traversed—(v.) to travel
Lyra – Small, harp-shaped constellation
Joseph Glanvill - (1636-1680) an English writer, philosopher, and clergyman. He wrote Sadducismus Triumphatus, which contained a valuable collection of seventeenth century folklore about witches.
volition—(n.) use of one’s own will
tumultuous—(adj.) rocky; difficult
modulation—(v.) to adjust or regulate
Classical tongues—Greek and Latin and Hebrew
proficient—(adj.) skilled
abstruse—(adj.) difficult to understand
erudition—(n.) deep, extensive learning
traversed—(v.) to travel
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