Glossary
This glossary includes helpful vocabulary and allusions that will deepen your understanding of Miss Julie.
| WORD/PHRASE | DEFINITION |
|---|---|
| Arabian Nights | (n) A collection of Middle Eastern folktales compiled during the Islamic Golden Age (between the 8th and 13th centuries); it is titled One Thousand and One Nights in Arabic, and often referred to as “Arabian Nights” in English |
| Arson | (n) The willful or malicious burning of property (such as a building), especially with criminal or fraudulent intent |
| Danish War | (n) A war in 1864 won by Austria and Prussia; it led to the Danish state losing two German duchies and one Danish duchy, leading to an overall loss of a third of its territory and 40% of the state’s population |
| Don Juan/Joseph | (n) Don Juan is a character from a Spanish legend known for deceiving and seducing women; Joseph refers to the Bible, specifically the story of Potiphar’s wife, who attempted to seduce a young slave and accused him of rape when he refused her |
| Enfin | (adv) A French word meaning “Finally,” or “At last” |
| Menial | (adj) Used to describe boring or unpleasant work that does not require special skill and pays little money |
| Merde | (n) A French curse word/exclamation, literally meaning feces/excrement |
| Midsummer | (n) A holiday in Sweden celebrating the longest day of the year, during which the sun never sets |
| Miller | (n) Someone who operates a mill, grinding grain into flour |
| Mésalliance | (n) A French word for a marriage to someone of inferior social position |
| Penitent | (adj) Showing sorrow and regret, seeking redemption from sins |
| Rumania | (n) A southeastern European country, now referred to as Romania |
| Schottische | (n) A partnered country dance of German origin |
| Skål | (v) A Scandinavian celebratory toast for community and goodwill |
| St John’s Day/John The Baptist | (n) A celebration of the birth of John the Baptist, a Jewish prophet who baptized Jesus, and is known for being beheaded |
| Strumpet | (n) An archaic derogatory word for a woman who engages in sex work, or who simply has many sexual encounters |
| Turkish pavilion | (n) An ornately decorated outhouse |
Plus, check out the translation of these French sentences from the play!
| FRENCH | ENGLISH |
|---|---|
| Très gentil, monsieur Jean! Très gentil! | “Very kind, Mr. Jean! Very kind!” |
| Vous voulez plaisanter, madame! | “You must be joking, madam!” |
| Et vous voulez parler français! | “And you want to speak French!” |
| Attention! Je ne suis qu’un homme! | “Caution! I’m only a man!” |