AP Lit. Terms - Week 2

linear plot

a story whose events follow chronological order from beginning to end

episodic plot

a series of events held together by the same character, place, or theme, but held apart by their individual plots- o

in medias res

when the telling of a story begins with dramatic action, as the plot is already in progress

rising action

events preceding a climax which create tension and suspense

falling action

events following a climax, occurring after the conflict has been solved

anticlimax

an event, conclusion, or statement which is far less important, powerful, or striking than expected

deus ex machina

an artificial or improbable device resolving the difficulties of a plot

epiphany

a moment of revelation and insight, usually initiated by some occurrence or experience

open resolution

the part of a story in which some complications are left unresolved or unmentioned so the reader is left to draw his/her own conclusions

closed resolution

the part of the story in which the various crises and complications are solved or worked out for good or for bad- all loose ends should be tied up in a manner satisfactory to the reader

verbal irony

when the speaker makes a statement in which actual meaning differs sharply from meaning that the words inherently express

situational irony

when actions have the opposite effect from what was intended, so the outcome is contrary to what was expected

dramatic irony

when something is understood by the audience but not grasped by the characters in a story or play

cosmic irony

when reality differs sharply from human ideals, sometimes revealing that fate, destiny, or a god controls and toys with human hopes and expectations

motif

a recurrent, distinctive, dominant idea, repeated for larger symbolic meaning