Glossary
Atmosphere
The prevailing mood or emotional tone of a literary work, often created through descriptions of setting, imagery, and word choice. It evokes a particular feeling in the reader.
Example:
Edgar Allan Poe masterfully creates a chilling and melancholic atmosphere in 'The Fall of the House of Usher' through descriptions of decay and gloom.
Character Motivation
The reasons or impulses that drive a character's actions, thoughts, and decisions within a story. Understanding these motivations helps explain character behavior and development.
Example:
Jay Gatsby's relentless pursuit of wealth and lavish parties is driven by his deep-seated character motivation to win back Daisy Buchanan.
Foreshadowing
A literary device where an author hints at future events or outcomes in a story. It builds suspense and prepares the reader for what is to come.
Example:
The ominous storm clouds gathering on the horizon at the beginning of a horror story often foreshadow a tragic event.
Free Response Question (FRQ)
An essay-based question on the AP English Literature exam that requires students to write a well-developed analytical essay in response to a given prompt, often analyzing a passage or a whole work.
Example:
An FRQ might ask you to analyze how a character's journey through a specific setting reveals their internal conflict and growth.
Multiple Choice Question
A type of assessment question that presents several possible answers, from which the test-taker must select the best or correct option. On the AP Lit exam, these often test comprehension of literary devices, meaning, and interpretation.
Example:
For a poem, a multiple choice question might ask which literary device is most prominent in a given line, offering options like metaphor, simile, or personification.
Setting
The time, place, and environment in which a story takes place, including physical location, historical period, and prevailing mood or atmosphere. It often functions symbolically to reflect mood, convey values, highlight themes, and provide insight into characters.
Example:
The oppressive heat and dust of the American South in A Streetcar Named Desire create a stifling setting that mirrors Blanche DuBois's deteriorating mental state.
Symbolism
When writers use objects, people, or places to represent something beyond their literal meaning, often an abstract idea, quality, or event. It adds layers of significance and deeper meaning to a text.
Example:
In Lord of the Flies, Piggy's glasses symbolize intellect and the fragility of civilization.
Textual Evidence
Specific details, phrases, or direct quotations from a literary work used to support an argument, interpretation, or claim about the text. It is crucial for validating analysis.
Example:
When arguing that the green light in The Great Gatsby symbolizes hope, one must provide textual evidence by quoting passages where Gatsby gazes at it longingly.
Theme
The central, underlying message or idea that an author explores in a literary work. It is often a universal truth or observation about life, society, or human nature.
Example:
A recurring theme in dystopian novels like 1984 is the danger of totalitarian control and the loss of individual freedom.