Glossary
Characterization
The process by which an author reveals a character's personality, values, and traits through various methods, including their words, actions, appearance, and what others say about them.
Example:
The author's detailed description of Gatsby's extravagant parties and his isolated demeanor provides crucial characterization of his complex nature.
Claim
A statement or assertion that presents an arguable point or interpretation about a literary work, requiring support from textual evidence.
Example:
A strong claim might argue that Ophelia's madness in Hamlet is a direct consequence of the patriarchal pressures exerted upon her.
Commentary
The explanation and analysis that connects textual evidence to the claim, demonstrating how the evidence supports the argument and contributes to the overall thesis.
Example:
After quoting a character's dialogue, your commentary would explain how those specific words reveal their internal conflict or contribute to a theme.
Conflict
The central struggle or clash between opposing forces that drives the plot of a story, which can be internal (within a character) or external (between characters, society, nature, etc.).
Example:
The primary conflict in The Catcher in the Rye is Holden Caulfield's internal struggle against the phoniness he perceives in the adult world.
Dynamic Character
A character who undergoes significant internal change, growth, or development throughout the course of a narrative, often as a result of conflicts or experiences.
Example:
In Great Expectations, Pip is a dynamic character who transforms from a naive orphan to a more mature and self-aware individual.
Evidence
Specific details, quotations, or examples taken directly from the text that are used to support and validate a claim or argument.
Example:
To support a claim about Hamlet's indecision, one might use evidence like his 'To be or not to be' soliloquy.
Longer Works
Literary pieces like novels and plays that allow for extensive exploration of character development and complex themes over an extended narrative.
Example:
Unlike a short story, Pride and Prejudice is a longer work that meticulously traces Elizabeth Bennet's evolving perceptions and growth over many months.
Plot
The sequence of interconnected events that make up a story, driven by conflict and leading from a beginning through a climax to a resolution.
Example:
The intricate plot of Macbeth unfolds through a series of murders and escalating paranoia, leading to the tragic downfall of the protagonist.
Static Character
A character who remains essentially unchanged in terms of personality, values, or outlook from the beginning to the end of a narrative.
Example:
Despite the chaos around him, Mr. Collins in Pride and Prejudice remains a static character, consistently pompous and oblivious to social cues.
Symbolism
The use of objects, people, places, or ideas to represent something else, often a deeper, more abstract concept or meaning within a literary work.
Example:
The green light at the end of Daisy's dock in The Great Gatsby is a powerful symbolism for Gatsby's unattainable dreams and the elusive American Dream.
Thesis Statement
A concise, arguable statement, typically found in the introduction of an essay, that presents the main argument or interpretation of the literary work and guides the entire essay.
Example:
A compelling thesis statement for an essay on Frankenstein might argue that Victor's ambition, rather than the Creature's inherent evil, is the true monster of the novel.