AP Literary Terms List: Fiction
Point of View/Setting:
Narrator – the speaker or the one from whom the story is told
point of view- to identify the narrator of a story, describing any part he or she plays in the events and any limitations placed upon his or her knowledge is to identify point of view.
omniscient narrator- the narrator sees into the minds of all (or some) of the characters, moving when necessary from one to another.
editorial vs. impartial omniscience – when a narrator adds occasional comment or opinion vs. being non-judgmental
limited or selective omniscience- when a non-participatory narrator sees events through the eyes of a single character (major or minor)
objective point of view- the narrator does not enter the mind of any character but describes events from the outside.
innocent or naive narrator- a participatory narrator who fails to understand all the implications of a story. Ex. Huck Finn
stream of consciousness- a kind of selective omniscience: the presentation of thoughts and sense impressions in a life-like fashion - randomly
Interior monologue- is an extended presentation of a character’s thoughts, not in the helter-skelter order of stream of consciousness
Setting – the time and place of a story. Locale- a term that refers to place
Naturalism- fiction of grim realism, in which the writer observes human characters like a scientist studying ants, seeing them as the products and victims of environment and heredity
Character :
Stock Character- a character who is known for some outstanding trait or traits. They are almost a stereotype rather than a unique character. They have little description since we already know them.
Flat Character- has one outstanding characteristic, a few distinguishing marks
Round Character - characters who are represented with more detail and depth; Usually a main character
Static Character - a character who does not change through the story. they remain fixed.
Dynamic Character -a character that experiences a change over the story
Allusion - A reference to a famous person, place or thing in history, in fiction, or in actuality
Anti-hero- a hero who lacks one of the typical traits of the hero
Gratuitous Act- an act which has no motivation or cause
Plot and Theme:
theme- whatever general idea or insight the entire story reveals
Dramatic situation- the conflict in which some character is involved
Exposition- the opening position of a story that sets the scene (if any), introduces main characters, tells us what happened before the story opened and provides any other background information we need in order to understand and care about the events that follow.
Protagonist vs. antagonist- Pro: central character, the principal person in the story Ant: the character who is in opposition to the protagonist
Suspense - the pleasurable anxiety we feel that heightens our attention to the story, makes us wonder how it will all turn out.
Foreshadowing- an indication of events to come
Climax- the moment of greatest tension at which the outcome is decided.
Resolution/denouement- the outcome or conclusion of the story
in media res- starting “in the midst of things”, first presenting some exciting or significant moment, then filling in what happens earlier.
flashback- a scene relived in a character’s memory
epiphany- some moment of insight, discovery, or revelation by which a character’s life, or view of life, is greatly altered.
story of initiation - a story which tells of a character’s initiated into experience or maturity.
Tone and Style:
tone - whatever leads us to infer the author’s attitude. Commonly the choice of details, characters, events, situation, and words leads us to an understanding of tone
style- individual traits or characteristics of a piece of writing. A writer’s
particular way of managing words.
diction - choice of words
minimalist – an author of realism who has a flat, laid back, unemotional tone. It is an appropriately bare, unadorned style. The author gives nothing but the facts drawn from ordinary life.
irony (verbal) - implies a contrast or discrepancy between what is said and what is meant.
sarcasm- verbal irony tinged with mockery
irony (situational) - a situation can be ironic if it contains some wry contrast or incongruity.
ironic point of view- a point of view where we sense a sharp distinction between the narrator of a story and the author.
irony of fate/cosmic irony- when we sense that some malicious fate (or other spirit of the universe) is deliberately frustrating human efforts.
Symbol :
Symbol- a thing that suggests more than its literal meaning. Symbols generally do not “stand for” any one meaning, not for anything definite; they point or hint to greater significance or meaning.
Allegory – a story in which persons, places, and things form a system of clearly labeled equivalents.
Symbolic act- a gesture with larger significance than usual.
Source:
Kennedy, X.J. and Dana Gioia. Introduction to Literature: Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. 7th ed. New York: Longman, 1999.