AP Lit Terms Nov 12

Plot

The sequence of incidents or events through which an author constructs a story.

Plausible

Means that an interpretation, argument, or aspect of a story is believable or reasonable within the context of the work itself.

Dilemma

A position in which he or she must choose between two courses of action, both undeniable.

Protagonist

Central character in conflict/central character

Antagonist

Any force arranged against the protagonist.

Artistic Unity

Essential to a good plot. All elements in a story work together for the achievement of its central theme. Everything in the story is relevant and arranged in the most effective order. 

Plot Manipulation

A situation in how an author gives the plot a twist or turn unjustified by preceding actions or by the characters involved.

Direct Presentation

They tell us straight out, by exposition or analysis, what the characters are like. Or they have another character in the story describe them.

Indirect Presentation

The author shows the characters through their actions; we, the reader, determine what they are like.

Flat Character

Only has one or two predominant traits; not complex.

Round Character

Complex, dynamic, contains many traits.

Stock Character

Special kind of flat character; stereotyped figures who have recurred in literature before.

Theme

The controlling idea or its central insight.

Omniscient POV

All-knowing point of view; can see everything and everyone’s thoughts. Told by a third person narrator.

Limited Omniscient POV

Only knows what is going on in one character’s mind—still third person.

First-person POV

Author tells the story from the POV of the character

Objective POV

The author is a sort of camera, recording the events objectively with no inflection.

Symbol

Something that suggests more than what it is on the surface.

Verbal Irony

A figure of speech in which the character says the opposite of what they actually mean.

Dramatic Irony

The contest between what a character says or thinks and what the reader knows to be true.

Irony of Situation

Occurs when the outcome of an event is the opposite of what’s expected.

Sentimentality

It is contrived or excessive in its emotion.

Fantasy

Is something that transcends the bounds of known reality.

Poeticize

Use an immoderately heightened and distended language to accomplish their effects.