APLIT Vocab #1

Topic

½ words phrase, what the text is about

Theme

Complete statement, “a truth about life”

Paradigm

Set of beliefs/perspective on a topic

Symbol

Object that represents an idea / layered, multiple meanings

Embodiment

Character that embodies a concept or idea- NOT symbolizes. Has to be a character.

Symbolic Action

Character acts on a symbol →action assumes symbolic meaning

Denotation

Dictionary definition of a word

Connotation

Association / tone implied by word, feeling

Narrative POV

Perspective in which the story is told

1st Person Major

Main character tells story

1st Person Minor

Secondary character tells story

3rd Person

“Invisible” narrator, not a character

Limited 3rd Person

Only focuses on the thoughts + feelings of the main character

Omniscient 3rd Person

Focuses on the thoughts + feelings of multiple characters

Objective 3rd Person

Does not focus on the thoughts or feelings of any characters, only tells what can be seen

Tone

Attitude of the speaker / narrator

Mood

Emotional atmosphere of the work (setting description)

Diction

Word choice

Syntax

The structure of a sentence

Motif

Repeated element in a text

Allusion

A reference to something outside of the text (real life events, pop culture, etc.)

Ambiguity

Uncertainty / open to multiple interpertations

Allegory

Story in which the “symbols” only have one meaning

Utopia

Perfect world

Dystopia

Failed utopia, controlling government, technology, fear of the future

Didactic

Intended to teach, can be preachy

Paradox

Situation that contains an inherent contradiction

Oxymoron

The use of two contrasting words (“bittersweet”)

Irony

Author subverts our expectations as a reader

Verbal Irony

When the literal meaning of someone’s words goes against their intention (sarcasm, hyperbole, understatement)

Situational Irony

A plot twist, something that takes our expectations of a scene/environment and switches it around

Dramatic Irony

When we as an audience know something a character doesn’t know