Glossary
Analysis
The process of breaking down a literary work into its component parts to examine how those parts contribute to the overall meaning, effect, or theme.
Example:
An effective analysis of a poem would not just identify metaphors but explain how those metaphors deepen the poem's message about loss.
Behavior
A character's actions and choices within the story, which demonstrate their motives, morals, background, and true nature, often revealing discrepancies between words and deeds.
Example:
Hamlet's indecisive behavior and delay in avenging his father's death are central to understanding his internal conflict and the play's tragic trajectory.
Characters
The individuals who inhabit and drive the narrative of a literary work, serving as the primary agents of the plot and often embodying the story's themes.
Example:
In The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby is a central character whose mysterious past and relentless pursuit of Daisy fuel the entire story.
Description
The details an author provides about a character's physical appearance, personality, motivations, and beliefs, often revealed by the narrator, other characters, or the character themselves.
Example:
The author's description of Miss Havisham's decaying wedding dress and cobweb-filled mansion immediately conveys her stagnant, heartbroken state in Great Expectations.
Dialogue
The spoken words exchanged between characters, which reveal their personality, values, relationships, and advance the plot.
Example:
The witty dialogue between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice highlights their initial misunderstandings and eventual mutual respect.
Dynamic Character
A character who undergoes a significant internal change or development in personality, attitude, or perspective over the course of a story.
Example:
Ebenezer Scrooge is a classic dynamic character who transforms from a miserly recluse to a generous and compassionate man by the end of A Christmas Carol.
Foil Character
A character who contrasts with another character, typically the protagonist, to highlight particular qualities of the other character.
Example:
Laertes serves as a foil character to Hamlet in Shakespeare's play, as his swift and decisive actions to avenge his father contrast sharply with Hamlet's hesitation.
Perspective
A character's unique viewpoint and interpretation of events, shaped by their background, personality, biases, and relationships, which influences how they perceive and react to the world.
Example:
Holden Caulfield's cynical perspective on the adult world in The Catcher in the Rye colors every event he narrates, revealing his disillusionment.
Sophistication
In AP Lit essays, demonstrating a nuanced and complex understanding of the text, often by exploring complexities, ambiguities, or alternative interpretations.
Example:
An essay shows sophistication by acknowledging the moral ambiguity of a character's actions rather than presenting them as purely good or evil.
Static Character
A character who undergoes little or no significant change in personality, attitude, or perspective throughout the course of a story.
Example:
Sherlock Holmes remains a largely static character throughout his adventures, consistently demonstrating his brilliant deductive reasoning and eccentric habits.
Stock Character
A stereotypical character who is easily recognizable and serves a conventional role in a story, often lacking complex individual traits.
Example:
The 'damsel in distress' or the 'wise old mentor' are common examples of stock characters found across various genres.
Textual Evidence
Specific details, quotations, or paraphrases from the literary work that are used to support and illustrate claims made in an analysis.
Example:
When analyzing symbolism in The Scarlet Letter, citing specific descriptions of the 'A' as it changes meaning for Hester provides strong textual evidence.
Theme
A central idea or underlying message that a literary work explores, often conveyed through the experiences and development of its characters.
Example:
The theme of societal hypocrisy is powerfully explored through the characters' actions and interactions in The Crucible.
Thesis
A clear, defensible argument or main point presented in an essay, which directly responds to the prompt and guides the entire analysis.
Example:
A strong thesis for an essay on Frankenstein might argue that Victor's ambition, rather than the creature's nature, is the true monster of the novel.