AP Lit Terms (Third 10)

Antihero

A main character who lacks the usual heroic qualities. They often have flawed or morally ambiguous traits

Characterization

The process by which an author reveals the personality, motives, and distinguishing traits of a character

Foil

A character whose contrasting traits emphasize the distinctive characteristics, values, or temperament of another character (usually the protagonist)

Hero or Heroine

The principal character in a literary work, traditionally possessing noble qualities and admirable morals

Paradox

A statement that seems contradictory or absurd but often reveals a deeper or unexpected truth

Parody

An imitation of the style of a particular writer, artist, or genre with deliberate exaggeration for comic effect

Pathetic Fallacy

 A literary device where human feelings or emotions are attributed to inanimate objects or aspects of nature

Peripeteia

 A sudden and unexpected reversal of circumstances or turning point in a narrative, especially in tragedy

Prosody

The study of the meter, rhythm, and sound in poetry

Protagonist

the main character of a story