Glossary
Character
A person, animal, or imaginary creature represented in a literary work. Analysis often focuses on their development, motivations, relationships, and symbolic significance.
Example:
The complex character of Hamlet, torn between duty and despair, drives much of the play's dramatic tension.
Claim
An arguable statement or interpretation about a text that serves as the central argument of a literary analysis essay. It is specific, defensible with evidence, and open to discussion.
Example:
The student's claim was that Gatsby's relentless pursuit of Daisy ultimately represents the unattainable nature of the American Dream, rather than just personal obsession.
Close Reading
A careful, detailed examination of a text, paying particular attention to individual words, syntax, literary devices, and their precise effects. It is the foundation of effective literary analysis.
Example:
A close reading of the poem's final stanza reveals how the poet's choice of verbs like 'shattered' and 'fragmented' emphasizes the speaker's emotional breakdown.
Commentary
The explanation and analysis of how textual evidence supports a claim. It involves interpreting the evidence and connecting it back to the main argument, rather than just summarizing.
Example:
After quoting the character's desperate plea, the student's commentary explained how this line revealed the character's deep-seated fear of abandonment, thus supporting the claim about their insecurity.
Context
The circumstances, background, or setting in which a literary work was created or is interpreted. This can include historical, cultural, social, or biographical factors that influence the text's meaning.
Example:
Understanding the historical context of the American Civil Rights Movement is crucial for fully appreciating the urgency and power of Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'Letter from Birmingham Jail'.
Figurative Language
Language that uses figures of speech to go beyond the literal meaning of words, creating comparisons, emphasis, or new insights. Examples include metaphors, similes, and personification.
Example:
The author's extensive use of figurative language, such as calling the city a 'concrete jungle,' helped to convey the overwhelming and oppressive nature of urban life.
Imagery
Vivid and descriptive language that appeals to the five senses, creating mental pictures or sensory experiences for the reader. It helps to establish mood and convey meaning.
Example:
The poet's use of chilling imagery, describing 'the skeletal trees clawing at the moonless sky,' immediately established a gothic and foreboding atmosphere.
Literary Analysis
The process of examining a text closely to understand its components and how they contribute to the overall meaning or effect. It involves investigating themes, characters, symbols, structure, and literary devices.
Example:
Through careful literary analysis, a student might argue that the recurring motif of birds in 'The Awakening' symbolizes Edna Pontellier's desire for freedom.
Literary Devices
Techniques or structures used by authors to convey meaning, create effects, or enhance the reader's experience. Examples include imagery, symbolism, metaphor, simile, and personification.
Example:
The author employed various literary devices, such as vivid metaphors and ironic understatement, to satirize the superficiality of the upper class.
Sophistication
In AP Lit scoring, it refers to a complex and nuanced understanding of the text, demonstrated through insightful analysis, exploration of complexities, or connections to broader implications. It goes beyond basic interpretation.
Example:
The essay achieved sophistication by not only identifying the symbolism of the storm but also exploring its paradoxical nature, representing both destruction and renewal for the protagonist.
Structure
The way a literary work is organized or arranged, including its plot sequence, narrative perspective, or formal elements like stanzas in a poem. It often contributes to the work's meaning.
Example:
The non-linear structure of the novel, jumping between past and present, effectively mirrors the protagonist's fragmented memory and trauma.
Style
The distinctive way an author uses language, encompassing elements like word choice (diction), sentence structure (syntax), tone, and figurative language. It reflects the author's unique voice.
Example:
Hemingway's minimalist style, characterized by short, declarative sentences and sparse descriptions, creates a sense of stark realism.
Symbol
An object, person, place, or idea that represents something else, often an abstract concept. Symbols add layers of meaning and depth to a text.
Example:
In 'The Great Gatsby,' the green light across the bay functions as a powerful symbol of Gatsby's hopes and dreams for the future with Daisy.
Textual Evidence
Specific details, quotes, or paraphrased passages from a literary work used to support and prove a claim. It provides the factual basis for an interpretation.
Example:
To support the argument about the character's isolation, the essay cited the textual evidence where the protagonist repeatedly describes their room as 'a cage of silence' and avoids all social interaction.
Theme
A central, underlying message, idea, or insight about life or human nature conveyed by a literary work. It is often a universal truth explored through the narrative.
Example:
A prominent theme in 'Frankenstein' is the danger of unchecked scientific ambition and the responsibility of creation.