AMERICAN LIT STUDY GUIDE - FALL FINAL 2025

Direct Characterization

When the author explicitly describes a character’s traits

Indirect Characterization

When a character’s traits are revealed through actions, dialogue, and interactions

Introduction Paragraphs

Opening paragraphs that introduce the topic and grab the reader’s attention

Thesis Statements

A sentence that clearly states the main argument or claim of an essay

Creation Myth

Traditional stories explaining how the world and humanity came to exist

Oral Traditions

Cultural stories, beliefs, and practices passed down by word of mouth

Creation Stories

Narratives describing the origins of the world, often sacred to a culture

Mytheme

A basic, recurring element or theme found in myths

Free Will

The ability to make choices independent of fate or external control

Imagery

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses

Foreshadowing

Hints or clues about events that will happen later in a story

Irony

A contrast between expectation and reality

Transcendentalism

A philosophical movement emphasizing nature, intuition, and individual spirituality

Metaphor

A comparison saying one thing is another to suggest a similarity

Similie

A comparison using “like” or “as”

Dialogue

The spoken exchanges between characters

Topics

The subjects or ideas a text is about

Themes

The deeper messages or insights a text conveys about life or human nature

Citing Textual Evidence

Using specific quotes or details from a text to support a claim or interpretation