Literary Elements

Allusion

In AP Literature, an allusion is an indirect reference to a well-known person, place, event, myth (Greek/Roman), historical moment, or other literary work (like the Bible or Shakespeare) that adds layers of meaning, emotion, or context to the text, relying on the reader's prior knowledge to create a "bridge" to deeper themes without explicit explanation

Colloquial

colloquial language refers to informal, everyday speech, slang, or regional expressions used in writing to create realism, develop character voice, establish setting, and make a text feel conversational and authentic

connotation

connotation is crucial: it's the emotional, cultural, or implied meaning of a word beyond its literal dictionary definition

“You will regret that, Marilyn” Marilyn’s mother’s tone when referring to her wedding James. She disapproves of her white daughter marrying a Chinese man, but won’t say it, only imply that there is something wrong with it.

emotive

emotive language (or loaded language) is the deliberate use of words and phrases to create a strong emotional response (joy, anger, fear, etc.) in the reader, persuading them or deepening their engagement with themes like injustice or love

Nath lashes out at Lydia while he’s away at college: “Why don't you go take your problems to Jack” There is evident pent up anger and bitterness in Nath’s tone. His words burn Lydia.

epistolary

epistolary refers to a narrative style told through documents like letters, diary entries, texts, or logs, offering multiple perspectives, deep character insight, and heightened suspense as readers piece together the story

extended metaphor

an extended metaphor is a comparison between two unlike things that is developed in great detail over multiple sentences, paragraphs, or even an entire literary work

flat character

a flat character is a one-dimensional, uncomplicated figure with few, if any, complex traits, lacking depth, internal conflict, or significant development (change) throughout a story

foil character

a foil is a character who contrasts with another, usually the protagonist, to highlight their differences through comparison. This contrast emphasizes certain traits, values, or motivations of the main character

Lydia and her brother Nath contrast with one another throughout the whole book, mainly through the different ways they were raised. Nath didn’t get the same attention Lydia did, and pitied the pressure that was put on her. However, he also didn’t receive the love that she did, and this pitted them against each other at times. We see a divide growing between them throughout the story, peaking near the end.

frame story

a frame story (or frame narrative) is a literary device where a main story provides a framework for one or more embedded stories, like a picture frame holding a painting, allowing authors to present multiple narratives, explore themes, add context, and offer diverse perspectives within a cohesive structure

All of Everything I Never Told You is a sort of frame story. It’s told from many different points of view, and is comprised of embedded stories. They jump around from character to characters, and often are flashbacks.

in media res

a narrative technique where a story begins in the midst of the action, skipping the chronological beginning to immediately engage the reader

This book begins fully in media res. In fact, the very first line is “Lydia is dead.” It starts with the news of her death and within the first chapter, goes over the frantic reactions of her family members.

juxtaposition

juxtaposition is the literary technique of placing two or more contrasting elements side-by-side to highlight their differences and create a powerful effect

narrative diction

"narrative diction" refers to the specific word choices a narrator or author makes in telling a story, which directly influences the tone, characterization, and the overall meaning of the text

objective/neutral

objective and neutral refer to a style of writing and interpretation that is factual, unbiased, and free from personal opinions, emotions, or judgments

omniscient

omniscient point of view describes a third-person narrator who knows and reveals the inner thoughts, feelings, motivations, and actions of multiple characters

This whole book is written this way. It jumps from character to character multiple times most chapters. For example, shortly after Lydia’s death is declared a suicide, there is a chapter where Marilyn is up late at night searching for clues, and, unbeknownst to her, her daughter Hannah is hiding in the next room, listening to her mother’s desperate search. We get the thoughts and points of view of both characters in this chapter.

resolution/denouement

the story's conclusion, where main conflicts are resolved, loose ends are tied up, and a sense of closure is provided, with denouement (from French for "untying") specifically emphasizing the unraveling of plot threads after the climax to reveal the final outcome and themes

This story has many topics that need resolving, but the main mystery, Lydia’s death, is resolved at the end. We find out that she rowed to the middle of the lake and jumped in during the night, but had no intention of dying. This contradicts building suspicions of her being murdered or committing suicide that have been present since the very beginning of the book.

round character

a round character is a complex, multi-dimensional figure with fully developed personalities, backgrounds, and motivations, often undergoing significant internal change (character arc) as they face conflicts, making them feel realistic and relatable

Marilyn is a round character. Through flashbacks, we follow her character from being a young, independent woman who was driven to become a doctor in a male dominated field, to a hopeful student who became pregnant, a mother who saw her dreams slipping away and tried to chase them down, and an older woman who started giving up. Because of this, we can see how she develops emotionally, through her goals and relationships.

static character

a fictional character who does not undergo significant internal change, growth, or transformation in personality, beliefs, or behavior throughout a story

temporal setting

the specific time (era, year, season, time of day) a story occurs, including historical context, cultural norms, and social conditions, all crucial for understanding characters, mood, and themes, shaping their motivations and actions within that narrative time frame

third-person limited

a narrative point of view where an external narrator uses "he/she/they" but stays focused on the thoughts, feelings, and perceptions of only one specific character, offering deep insight into their world while remaining outside other characters' minds, creating intimacy and suspense

verbal irony

a figure of speech where a speaker or narrator says one thing but intends to convey the opposite or a markedly different meaning