Oh, the Drama!: "Master Harold...and the Boys" by Athol Fugard

This play, set in apartheid-era South Africa, explores the relationship between a white teenager and two black servants.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. anticipation
    an expectation
    On this table a knife, fork, spoon and side-plate in anticipation of a simple meal together with a pile of comic books.
  2. intricate
    having many complexly arranged elements; elaborate
    Thinking for a moment, then raising his arms to hold an imaginary partner, he launches into an intricate ballroom dance step.
  3. disconsolate
    sad beyond comforting; incapable of being soothed
    WILLIE: I only got bus fare to go home. [He returns disconsolately to his work.]
  4. flourish
    a showy gesture
    The demonstration comes to an end with a flourish of applause from HALLY and WILLY.
  5. conviction
    an unshakable belief in something without need for proof
    He speaks with total conviction.
  6. rummage
    search haphazardly
    Rummages through his school case, finds a book and settles down at the table to read.
  7. morbid
    suggesting an unhealthy mental state
    HALLY: [Flicker of morbid interest.] Really?
  8. oscillate
    be undecided about something
    I oscillate (mispronounces) between hope and despair for this world as well, Sam.
  9. intrepid
    invulnerable to fear or intimidation
    An intrepid social reformer will not be daunted by the magnitude of the task he has undertaken.
  10. daunt
    cause to lose courage
    An intrepid social reformer will not be daunted by the magnitude of the task he has undertaken.
  11. reform
    a campaign aimed to correct abuses or malpractices
    My next man...and he gets the tide on two scores: social reform and literary genius...is Leo Nikolaevich (mispronounces) Tolstoy.
  12. oppression
    the state of being kept down by unjust use of authority
    Napoleon regarded all people as equal before the law and wanted them to have equal opportunities for advancement. All ves-u-ges of the feudal system with its oppression of the poor were abolished.
  13. vestige
    an indication that something has been present
    Vestiges, feudal system and abolished.
  14. feudal
    relating to a system where vassals are protected by lords
    Vestiges, feudal system and abolished.
  15. visionary
    a person with unusual powers of foresight
    HALLY: [Trying to look like Tolstoy.] And those burning, visionary eyes.
  16. serf
    (Middle Ages) a person who is bound to the land and owned by the feudal lord
    That man freed his serfs of his own free will.
  17. phenomenal
    exceedingly or unbelievably great
    You’ve got a phenomenal memory.
  18. flotsam
    the floating wreckage of a ship
    God, the flotsam and jetsam that life washed up on our shores!
  19. jetsam
    part of a ship's cargo thrown overboard to lighten the load
    God, the flotsam and jetsam that life washed up on our shores!
  20. edifying
    enlightening or uplifting so as to encourage improvement
    You're on your bed trimming your toenails with a knife — not a very edifying sight — and as for me...what am I doing?
  21. sulk
    be in a huff and display one's displeasure
    There were occasions when we deliberately let you win a game so that you would stop sulking and go on playing with us.
  22. audacity
    aggressive or outright boldness
    Yes! (shaking his head with disbelief) The sheer audacity of it took my breath away.
  23. fiasco
    a complete failure or collapse
    Like everything else in my life, here comes another fiasco.
  24. brusquely
    in a blunt direct manner
    That’s what hospitals are there for. (brusquely) So don’t just stand there!
  25. seething
    in constant agitation
    HALLY: [Seething with irritation and frustration] Tell me something I don’t know, Sam.
  26. perpetual
    uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
    The principle of perpetual disappointment.
  27. shilling
    an English coin worth one twentieth of a pound
    I also pay two pounds ten shilling entrance fee.
  28. latter
    referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned
    He goes for SAM but the latter is too quick for him and puts HALLY’S table between the two of them.
  29. despot
    a cruel and oppressive dictator
    He struts around like a little despot, ruler in hand, giving vent to his anger and frustration.
  30. tirade
    a speech of violent denunciation
    He keeps up his tirade as he prepares it.
  31. reckon
    expect, believe, or suppose
    And anyway, I reckon there are a few people who have got past just dreaming about it and are trying for something real.
  32. till
    a strongbox for holding cash
    How much is in the till, Sam?
  33. deportment
    the way a person behaves toward other people
    Maximum of ten points each for individual style, deportment, rhythm and general appearance.
  34. surge
    a sudden or abrupt strong increase
    HALLY: [A little surge of hope.] You’re right.
  35. pretense
    the act of giving a false appearance
    When he speaks again, his tone changes completely. It is not simply pretense. We sense a genuine emotional conflict.
  36. ailment
    an often persistent bodily disorder or disease
    Bloody depressing there with everybody going on about their ailments, hey!....
  37. shambles
    a condition of great disorder
    That’s guaranteed to turn that dance floor into a shambles.
  38. meddle
    intrude in other people's affairs or business
    Because what you’ve been trying to do is meddle in something you know nothing about.
  39. ebb
    flow back or recede
    SAM: [His violence ebbing away into defeat as quickly as it flooded.] You’re right.
  40. spectrum
    a broad range of related objects, values, or qualities
    He goes to the jukebox, puts in a coin and selects a record. The machine comes to life in the grey twilight, blushing its way through a spectrum of soft, romantic colours.
Created on Wed Jun 26 18:21:22 EDT 2013 (updated Fri Jul 20 15:08:31 EDT 2018)

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