ap lit (only general + character)

Allusion

A quick, indirect reference to something else (like a person, event, or work) without fully explaining it.

Diction

The specific words a writer or speaker chooses to use.

Genre

A category of art (like books, movies, or music) based on its style or content, such as mystery or romance.

Prose

Ordinary written or spoken language that isn't structured like poetry.

Mood

The overall feeling or atmosphere a piece of writing creates for the reader.

Motif

An idea, image, or object that keeps repeating throughout a story.

Theme

The main message or big idea behind a piece of writing.

Setting

The time and place where a story happens.

Verse

A single line or section of a poem.

Antagonist

The main character or force that opposes the hero of the story.

Deuteragonist

The second most important character in a story, ranking just below the main character.

Direct Characterization

When the author directly tells you what a character is like.

Dynamic Character

A character who changes and grows significantly over the course of the story.

Flat Character

A simple character with only one or two traits and little depth.

Foil

A character whose differences highlight another character's traits by contrast.

Hamartia

A character flaw or mistake in judgment that leads to the hero's downfall.

Hubris

Excessive pride or overconfidence that leads to a character's downfall.

Indirect Characterization

When a character's traits are shown through what they say, do, think, or look like, instead of being stated outright.

Protagonist

The main character of the story.

Round Character

A complex, well-developed character with many traits, flaws, and motivations (complexity)

Static Character

A character who stays basically the same throughout the story (development/change)