Literature Terms and Concepts

Benevolent

  • Kind and well-meaning.
  • Example: A benevolent character helps others selflessly.

Paternalistic

  • Treating others in a fatherly way, often condescendingly.
  • Common in authority figures who “know best.”

Contemptuous

  • Scornful or showing disdain.
  • Often used in tone or dialogue.

Indifferent

  • Lack of interest or concern.
  • May appear in passive characters or tone.

Disillusionment

  • Realization that something isn’t as good as it seemed.
  • Often follows idealism.

Skepticism

  • Doubting or questioning attitude.
  • Example: Holden Caulfield’s view of society.

Symbolism

  • Use of objects to represent abstract ideas.

Motif

  • Recurring element or theme.
  • Examples: Gatsby’s parties, Holden’s hat.

Hubris

  • Excessive pride leading to downfall.
  • Often a tragic flaw.

Meretricious

  • Flashy but lacking real value.
  • Describes Gatsby’s wealth.

Unassuming

  • Modest; not pretentious.

Integrity

  • Honest and moral character.

Phony

  • Fake or insincere.
  • Holden’s favorite insult.

Vulnerable

  • Open to emotional hurt.

Alienation

  • Feeling isolated from others.

Ostracize

  • To exclude someone.

Shun

  • To deliberately avoid someone.

Dramatic Irony

  • When the audience knows something the characters do not.

Stream of Consciousness

  • Narrative that mimics inner thought flow.

Diction

  • Word choice; affects tone and meaning.

First Person

  • "I" point of view (Holden).

Third Person Limited

  • Narrator knows one character’s thoughts.

Third Person Omniscient

  • All-knowing narrator.

Tenuous

  • Weak or insubstantial.

Memory Play

  • A play where the narrator reflects on memories.
  • Example: The Glass Menagerie.

Elusiveness

  • Hard to grasp or pin down.
  • Like dreams or identity.

Metaphor

  • Comparison without “like” or “as.”

Theme

  • Central message or insight.

Criticism

  • Analysis or judgment of literary works.

In Media Res

  • Starting in the middle of the action.

Character List by Work

The Glass Menagerie

  • Tom Wingfield:
    • Narrator and main character.
    • A poet longing to escape.
  • Amanda Wingfield:
    • Overbearing mother clinging to the past.
  • Laura Wingfield:
    • Shy, fragile sister.
    • Finds comfort in her glass figurines.
  • Jim O’Connor:
    • The “gentleman caller”.
    • Laura’s high school crush.

The Catcher in the Rye

  • Holden Caulfield:
    • Disillusioned teen narrator.
  • Phoebe Caulfield:
    • Holden’s younger sister.
    • Represents innocence.
  • Allie Caulfield:
    • Holden’s deceased brother.
    • Symbol of purity.
  • Mr. Antolini:
    • Former teacher.
    • Gives Holden advice.
  • Stradlater / Ackley:
    • Holden’s roommates at Pencey.
  • Jane Gallagher:
    • Holden’s old friend.
    • Idealized in his mind.

The Great Gatsby

  • Jay Gatsby:
    • Mysterious millionaire chasing a dream.
  • Nick Carraway:
    • Narrator, Gatsby’s neighbor.
  • Daisy Buchanan:
    • Gatsby’s love interest.
    • Represents wealth and illusion.
  • Tom Buchanan:
    • Daisy’s arrogant, racist husband.
  • Jordan Baker:
    • Professional golfer, cynical friend of Daisy.
  • Myrtle Wilson:
    • Tom’s mistress.
  • George Wilson:
    • Myrtle’s husband, garage owner.

Plot Review

The Glass Menagerie

  • Memory play told by Tom.
  • Focuses on the Wingfield family’s struggles.
  • Amanda pressures Laura to find a suitor.
  • Jim’s visit ends in disappointment.
  • Tom leaves, haunted by guilt.

The Catcher in the Rye

  • Follows Holden post-expulsion from Pencey.
  • Roams NYC in search of meaning.
  • Obsesses over innocence, mourns Allie.
  • Ends in mental breakdown and possible therapy.

The Great Gatsby

  • Nick narrates Gatsby’s pursuit of Daisy.
  • Gatsby’s lavish parties mask loneliness.
  • Daisy kills Myrtle; Gatsby takes blame.
  • Gatsby is killed by George Wilson.
  • Nick is disillusioned by the East Coast elite.

Symbolism – What They Represent

  • Laura’s glass menagerie:
    • Laura’s fragility and dream world.
  • The fire escape:
    • Tom’s desire to escape responsibilities.
  • “Blue Roses”:
    • Laura’s uniqueness and perceived beauty.
  • Red hunting hat:
    • Holden’s individuality and protection.
  • The Museum of Natural History:
    • Holden’s wish for permanence.
  • The Ducks:
    • Holden’s search for stability and curiosity about change.
  • Phoebe’s broken record:
    • Loss of innocence, Holden’s inability to protect her.
  • Valley of Ashes:
    • Moral decay, poverty, and lost dreams.
  • The green light:
    • Gatsby’s dream and unreachable future.
  • Allie’s baseball mitt:
    • Innocence, purity, and Holden’s grief.

Themes: Isolation & Escapism

The Catcher in the Rye

  • Isolation:
    • Holden isolates himself from “phonies.”
  • Escapism:
    • Obsesses over the past and idealized childhood.

The Glass Menagerie

  • Isolation:
    • Laura’s social anxiety, Tom’s emotional detachment.
  • Escapism:
    • Tom escapes into movies, Amanda into memories, Laura into glass animals.

Personal Narrative / College Admissions Writing Tips

  • Strong Opening: Start in the middle of a scene or action for immediate engagement.
  • Sensory Details: Use all five senses to bring experiences to life.
  • Reflective Ending: Explain what the experience taught you.
  • Show, Don’t Tell: Use specific events to demonstrate traits.
  • Addressing Challenges: Focus on resilience, growth, and insight gain.