chauvinist: A man who treats women as though they are inferior to men.

enfer: A French word meaning "hell."

guillotine: A device used for beheading, which consists of a heavy blade suspended above a block designed to hold the victim's head.

incarnate: Embodied in human form.

iron maiden: A medieval torture device that resembles a coffin, which is covered in spikes on the inside. The victim was forced to stand upright while spikes pierced his or her body, causing profuse bleeding and often death.

King Charles spaniel: A breed of small dog.

latent: Present, but in a dormant state.

lecherous: Lewd or excessively sexual.

leonine: Resembling or characteristic of a lion.

Liebestod: A musical love theme from the opera, Tristan and Isolde.

liminal: Existing on a threshold between places or states.

Marquis: A French nobleman.

menses: Menstruation.

nocturnal: Active at night. Opposite to diurnal.

orifice: An opening, especially of the body.

piazza: An Italian word meaning "public square."

prothalamion: A song sung in celebration of a wedding.

Romania: A country in Central Europe that includes the Western region of Transylvania, famous for its vampire legends.

serenade: A musical performance meant to express love for the recipient.

somnambulist: A sleepwalker.

soubrette: A coquettish maid figure of the comic opera.

subjugation: Enslavement or forced subservience.

Tarot cards: A deck of pictoral playing cards used in fortunetelling.

vagina dentata: The idea, originating in folklore, of a toothed vagina.

vertigo: A state of dizziness or disorientation.

• Biography of Angela Carter
• About The Bloody Chamber
• Character List
• Major Themes
• Glossary of Terms
• Short Summary
• Full Summary and Analysis
• Summary and Analysis of "The Bloody Chamber"
• Summary and Analysis of "The Courtship of Mr. Lyon"
• Summary and Analysis of "The Tiger's Bride"
• Summary and Analysis of "Puss-in-Boots"
• Summary and Analysis of "The Erl-King"
• Summary and Analysis of "The Snow Child"
• Summary and Analysis of "The Lady of the House of Love"
• Summary and Analysis of "The Werewolf"
• Summary and Analysis of "The Company of Wolves"
• Summary and Analysis of "Wolf-Alice"
• Related Links on The Bloody Chamber
• Suggested Essay Questions
• The Fairy Tale Tradition
• Author of ClassicNote and Sources
• Purchase The Bloody Chamber and Other Works
• Test Yourself! Quiz 1
• Test Yourself! Quiz 2
• Test Yourself! Quiz 3
• Test Yourself! Quiz 4
• Test Yourself! Quiz 5
• Essays on The Bloody Chamber
• Message Board on The Bloody Chamber