AP Literature Unit 1: Short Fiction I

Character

• A person, animal, or entity in a literary work who drives the action and experiences the events of the narrative.

• A setting that provides the backdrop for the story.

• A theme that represents the central idea of the narrative.

• A plot twist that changes the direction of the story.

Characterization

• The process by which an author reveals a character's personality, traits, and motivations through description, dialogue, actions, and thoughts.

• A technique used to create suspense in a narrative.

• The method of organizing a story's plot structure.

• The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities.

Thesis Statement

• A summary of the main points in an essay.

• The central argument of an essay that presents a defensible interpretation of a literary work.

• A concluding statement that wraps up the essay.

• An introduction that outlines the essay's structure.

Climax

• The introduction of the main characters in a story.

• The turning point or moment of highest tension in a narrative.

• The resolution of the story's conflict.

• The setting where the story takes place.

Antagonist

• The character that supports the protagonist and helps them achieve their goals.

• The character, force, or entity that opposes the protagonist and creates conflict.

• A character who remains neutral and does not influence the story.

• The main character in a story who faces challenges.

Social Setting

• A physical location where events occur.

• The cultural, economic, and social environment that influences characters and events.

• A specific time period in history.

• The emotional state of a character.

Dramatic Situation

• The circumstances and conflicts that place characters in tension with each other or their environment.

• A peaceful resolution between characters in a story.

• The background information provided about the characters.

• A humorous interaction that lightens the mood of the story.

Indirect Characterization

• When the author directly states a character's traits.

• When the author reveals character traits through what the character says, does, thinks, or how others react to them.

• When the author describes the setting in detail to reflect a character's mood.

• When the author uses dialogue to convey the plot.

Analysis

• The process of examining how literary elements work together to create meaning in a text.

• A method of summarizing the main ideas of a text.

• The act of reading a text without interpretation.

• A technique for memorizing literary terms.

Irony

• A similarity between expectation and reality.

• A contrast between expectation and reality, or between appearance and truth.

• A type of humor that relies on exaggeration.

• A situation where everything goes as planned.