Pretentious

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Pretentious (adjective) – making demands on one’s skill, ability, or means

Source – https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pretentious

From “The Complete Fiction of Nella Larson” by Nella Larsen, “Quicksand” Chapter 17 Page 125

“The easement which it’s heedless abandon brought to her was a real, a very definite thing. She liked the sharp contrast to her pretentious stately life in Copenhagen.”

Here, the word pretentious is used to describe how Helga has established a life full of comfort and extravagant living in Copenhagen.

Tumult

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Tumult (noun) – disorderly agitation or milling about of a crowd usually with uproar and confusion of voices.

Source: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tumult

From “The Complete Fiction of Nella Larson” by Nella Larsen, “Quicksand” Chapter 20 Page 142

“About her the tumult and the shouting continued, but in a lesser degree.”

The word tumult is used to describe how the disturbing loud commotion gradually became lower.

Ascetic

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Ascetic:Adjective

“practicing strict self-denial as a measure of personal and especially spiritual discipline”

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ascetic

This word was encountered on pg 211

“Robert Anderson’s inexorable conscience that
had been the chief factor in bringing about her
second marriage—his ascetic protest against

the sensuous, the physical. ”

I have never seen this word before so I had zero clue what it meant. However since protest came after it I thought it meant either violent or non violent. Now that I know what it means I realized that it could mean either or,plus neither.

Tremulously

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Tremulous:Adjective

“Affected by timidity”

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tremulous

this word was encountered on page 203

“Just what is it, Helga?” he asked
again, because the pause had grown awkward,
for him.
“I can’t explain any better than I have,”
she had begun tremulously, “it’s just some-
thing—something deep down inside of me,”
and had turned away to hide a face convulsed
by threatening tears.”

This word when I first saw it reminded me of tremor.I thought that since they were touching a touchy subject that she got upset.Now that I have looked up this word i realize that she is upset however she isn’t just upset she’s slightly embarrassed and is feeling other things too.

indignant

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Adverb

indignant – feeling or showing anger because of something unjust or unworthy

I came across this word while reading “Quicksand” by Nella Larsen. It can be found in chapter 17, page 210.

“She might at least, thought Helga indignantly, have acted a little bit as if she…”

After understanding what this word means, I believe that Anne was thinking that Helga might be upset, and feeling angry on the inside. Another word she was assuming how Helga might have felted.

sources: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indignantly

 

Image result for feeling angry

Repudiated

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Verb

refuse to accept or be associated with. Reject.

source: dictionary.com

word is found in chapter 14 “Quicksand”

”In America Negroes sometimes talked loudly of this, but in their hearts they repudiated it.”

here Helga Crane is justifying her new life was now pleasing to her as it satisfied her “self-importance”, but to her the Negroes embrace the idea of being themselves on the surface not within their hearts as she believed they wanted to be more like the “whites” rather than black.

Impecunious

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adjective

having little or no money

source: dictionary.com

found in chapter 13 “Quicksand”

”with that sensation of lavish contentment and well-being enjoyed only by impecunious sybarites waking in the houses of the rich”

This was perhaps describing Helga her self as the one who is not quite affluent  but still Indulges in luxuries of the rich.