ALLEGORY
Multiple meanings; story in which persons/places/things form a system of clearly labeled symbols
ALLUSION
Reference to a famous person/place/thing/event/story
ANTAGONIST
Character that creates conflict with protagonist
ANTIHERO
Protagonist lacking characteristics of a typical hero (i.e. courage)-Hancock
ARCHETYPES
Mold for a character
ASIDE
When a character says something to him/herself/audience
ATMOSPHERE/MOOD
Synonym to mood, emotional feeling created by a work
CHARACTER
An representation of a human, the inner self that determines thought, speech, and behavior (determine why a character is the way he/she is)
CLIMAX
Highest point of action; moment of greatest tension
COMPLICATION
A new conflict in a story
CONCLUSION/ RESOLUTION
The ending of a story; decisive ending
CONFLICT
A character wants something, something/someone is in the way
CONNOTATION
Meaning that is figurative/symbolic (opposite of denotation-dictionary definition)
COSMIC IRONY
Fate/Cosmic forces (GOD) messing up characters' lives; some malicious fate is frustrating human efforts.
CRISIS
Moment of high tension
DENOTATION
Dictionary definition of a word
D�NOUEMENT
Resolution; tying up of loose ends at the end of a story
DETAILS (Choice of details)
Items or parts that make up a larger picture or story
DEUS EX MACHINA
God in the machine; characters are "saved" by deities/forces
DICTION
Word choice, types of words, and the level of language
DRAMATIC IRONY
When the audience knows something that the characters do not; leads to tension
DRAMATIC SITUATION
Person is involved in some conflict
EDITORIAL OMNISCIENCE
Narrator who has own opinion about action in story and knows the thoughts of characters
EPIPHANY
A moment of insight; a revelation
EXPOSITION
Opening portion of a story that sets the scene of a story, introducing main characters, background info, etc.
FABLE
Brief story that sets forth a pointed statement of truth
FAIRY TALE
Story set in a world of magic and enchantment
FALLING ACTION
After the climax, when ghd stofy tapers off
FICTION
Story that is not real/factual
FLASHBACK
Going back in time to look at the past; provides needed information
FLAT/STATIC CHARACTER
Character with one trait/feature; does not change throughout story
FOIL
Character in the story that helps balance the protagonist, provides contrast
FORESHADOWING
Event or symbol that hints at what is going to happen in the story
GRATUITIOUS ACT
Deed without cause or motive
HERO
Protagonist
IMPARTIAL OMNISCIENCE
Narrator only knows the thoughts of character(s), but does not offer opinion
IN MEDIAS RES
When the story begins in the middle of the action, rather than the beginning; uses flashbacks
INNOCENT/NA�VE NARRATOR
Narrator who fails to understand all the implications (consequences) of the story/action
INTERIOR MONOLOGUE
Extended presentation of the character's thoughts
IRONIC POINT OF VIEW
Using verbal irony in narration, i.e. the narrator sees the irony the characters do not
LIMITED/SELECTIVE OMNISCIENCE
Narrator is only able to "see" the thoughts of one character
METAPHOR
Direct comparison between things: "your fingers are sausages
MINIMALISTS
Authors using minimal description/imagery to tell story (principle underlying the most impressive phenomenon on the current literary scene)
MOTIF
Structures (plot, characters, symbols) found throughout different types of literature
MOTIVATION
Driving force behind characters' actions
NARRATOR
Person telling the story (NOT ALWAYS THE SAME AS THE AUTHOR)
OBJECTIVE POINT OF VIEW
Narrator does not enter the mind of any character, simply describing the action
OMNICIENT NARRATOR
Narrator who is ALL-KNOWING
PARABLE
A short allegory illustrating a religious truth (often associated with Jesus/the Gospels)
PLOT
The artistic arrangement of events in a story
POINT OF VIEW
From whose perspective a story is told: FIRST PERSON, OBJECTIVE, OMNISCIENT, LIMITED, THIRD PERSON, UNLIMITED
PROTAGONIST
Main character of a story, around which the action occurs
RISING ACTION
Part of a story in which events start building/moving toward climax
ROUND/DYNAMIC CHARACTER
Character with multiple features (multifaceted), who CHANGES in a story
SARCASM
A sharply ironical taunt; sneering or cutting remark
SCENE
A subsection of an ACT; a vivid/dramatic moment in a story
SETTING
Where/when/time/season of a story
SIMILE
Comparison using like or as: "my love is like a red, red rose
SITUATIONAL IRONY
Contains contrast in what occurs versus what is expected.
STOCK CHARACTERS
Like archetypes, usually secondary characters, have defined characteristics e.g. the mad-scientist, the damsel in distress, the drunk ER doctor
STORY OF INITIATION
Story in which a character moves from innocence to experience (A & P, Barn Burning, Battle Royal)
STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS
Writing that echoes the procession of thoughts passing through the mind
STYLE/STYLISTIC TECHNIQUES
The mode of expression in language; you can discuss diction, syntax, figurative language, imagery, selection of detail, sound effects, and tone
SUMMARY
DON'T DO IT ON THE AP TEST...retelling the action in own words
SUSPENSE
Pleasurable anxiety
SYMBOL
Something that represents another thing (GREEN=ENVY, CROW=DEATH, the eye=insanity)
SYMBOLIC ACT
A gesture with a larger than usual significance
TALL TALE
Story, usually bragging using hyperbole (e.g. Paul Bunyan)
TALE
Story that is short without character detail
UNRELIABLE NARRATOR
Narrator that cannot be trusted (Tell Tale Heart crazy guy) to give all the information
THEME
General idea or insight that a story reveals about life, human nature
VERBAL IRONY
Someone says something but means the opposite, e.g. sarcasm, facetiousness
VILLAIN
Character in a play/novel/story, who creates an important evil agency in the plot