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plot

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(DEF) the author's shaping of events to shape the reader's understanding/response. What happens/how it happens (EX) The plot in "Hills like White Elephants" sequences the events to slowly give the reader an idea as to what the characters are arguing over. Hemingway gradually has them bicker more as the story continues, finally making the two characters sit in two different places, literally and metaphorically.

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action

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(DEF) the events recounted. (EX) In Cathedral the plot consists of Arthur coming to visit the protagonist and his wife, eating dinner with the pair, watching television, and finally having the protagonist draw him a cathedral.

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in medias res

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(DEF)"in the middle of things" stories beginning in the middle of the action. (EX) The in medias res in "Cathedrals" consisted of Robert, the protagonist, and his wife sitting down to "watch" television.

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flashback

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(DEF) events recounted that occurred before the story began (EX) In Huckleberry Finn, Huck reffers to past events that occurred between him and Tom Sawyer before the story even began.

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foreshadow

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(DEF) hinting towards future events (EX) In The Yellow Wallpaper, the protagonist hints at her husband's lack of sanity, which later comes to the forefront in the story.

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subplot

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(DEF) works can have more than one plot. receives less attention than the main plot. (EX) In Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises one subplot consists of Brett and Cohn's short lived romance. This relationship wasn't pivotal to the story, but it was one component of the larger story.

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episode

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(DEF) an event in the story (EX) one episode in "Recitatif" consisted of Roberta and Twyla running into each other in the diner. This happenstance was one event of the larger story.

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discriminated occasion

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(DEF) pointing out an important incident, triggering the story will slow down and tell us something important. (EX) The discriminated occasion in "Everyday Use" consists of Wanjero taking the butter churner, as this signals the beginning of her conquest through the house.

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conflict

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(DEF) struggle. plot hinges on conflict, and its resolution. (EX) In "Cathedrals" the conflict existed between the protagonist and Robert, because initially the protogonist was hostile to the idea of Robert visiting. The conflict is partially resolved in the end when the protagonist and Robert come to slightly understand each others perspectives.

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external conflict

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(DEF) struggle between characters, or something/someone outside of themselves. (EX) In "Recitatif" Twyla and Roberta struggle with racial conflicts of the time period, such as discrimination.

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internal conflict

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(DEF) within a character, struggling to deal with competing desires, needs, duties, or aspects of themselves. (EX) In "Mrs. Dalloway", the protagonist struggles with dissatisfaction of her own unsubstantial life. While she enjoys her place in society, she also appears to feel empty.

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Freytag's pyramid

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(DEF) exposition inciting incident rising action climax falling action resolution conclusion (EX) see photo

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exposition

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(DEF) introduces character, situation, settings, basic info (EX) The exposition in "The Yellow Wallpaper" consists of the author first listing the two main characters, secondly the setting, and the conflict all within the first three paragraphs.

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rising action

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(DEF) begins with inciting incident, introduces new conflict (EX) the rising action in "The Old Man and the Sea" by Ernest Hemingway consists of the main character deciding to go out to sea in order to change his bad luck.

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climax

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(DEF) moment of greatest emotional intensity, outcome of plot/character's fate are decided. (EX) The climax in "Cathedrals" was when Robert had the protagonist draw him the picture. This was the climax because it was the protagonist's first real breakthrough of dropping his prejudice and attempting to understand Robert, which overall resolved the conflict of the story.

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falling action

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(DEF) release of tension, moves us toward conclusion (EX) in the "Yellow Wallpaper" when the protagonist is waiting for John to arrive after having stripped away the wallpaper. Her source of stress and conflict was erased thus leaving her and the reader relieved.

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conclusion

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(DEF) new, stabilized, situation (EX) The conclusion in "Recitatif" consisted of Twyla and Roberta finally having an honest conversation about their mutual conflicts, as well as informing the reader of the truth of the Maggie story, leaving the reader with some sense of completeness.

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epiphany

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(DEF) a sudden realization of truth inspired by a seemingly unimportant event (EX) In Kate Chopin's "The Awakening" the main character has an epiphany, to live as a free woman regardless of her familial obligations, while swimming in the ocean.

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crisis

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(DEF) precedes and follows the climax (EX) The crisis in "Cathedral's" was when the protagonist's wife woke up and was extremely startled by her husband's and Robert's behavior, disturbing the scene.

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deus ex machina

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(DEF) an unexpected twist (EX) In "The Yellow Wallpaper" the twist of Jenny and John both seemingly also seeing something in the wallpaper makes the reader doubt whether the protagonist is insane at all.

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plot summary

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(DEF) action summary. what happened, facts. (EX) The plot summary of "Recitatif" consists of Roberta and Twyla becoming friends at an orphanage, parting ways, coming into contact again but with hostility, and eventually resolving that hostility.

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characterization

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(DEF) the presentation of a fictional character. (EX) in "Tender is the Night" Dick Diver is first described and depicted as a successful psychiatrist in a perfect marriage.

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direct characterization

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(DEF) when an author clearly describes the character's personality (EX) In "Tender is the Night" Nicole Diver is directly characterized when her medical condition and general disposition are discussed between two characters in the story.

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indirect characterization

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(DEF) a character's personality has to be understood through interpretation of their behavior, speech, etc. (EX) In "The Old Man and the Sea" Santiago is not directly described, rather his commitment to his trade and compassion to his younger companion demonstrate his moral and hardworking personality.

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protagonist

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(DEF) the main character of the work (EX) The protagonist in "The Sun Also Rises" is Jake Barnes.

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antagonist

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(DEF) a character in opposition to the protagonist. (EX) the antagonist in "The Sun Also Rises" could be considered to be Robert Cohn as Cohn creates disruptions in the protagonists life as well as the lives of the other characters. Cohn is responsible for many of the problems faced in the story.

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character

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(DEF) an imaginary person who is referred to in the work. (EX) a character in "The Yellow Wallpaper" is Jenny, the housekeeper who keeps an eye on the protagonist.

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major/main character

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(DEF) the character in the work who receives the most emphasis. (EX) the main character in "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin is Edna Pontellier, the reader follows her throughout the story and is most knowledgeable of her thoughts, feelings, and circumstances.

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minor character

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(DEF) the character in the work who receives the least emphasis. (EX) a minor character in "The Sun Also Rises" is Montoya, the owner of the inn who does not appear in the story for long, nor does he have an important storyline.

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flat character

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(DEF) simple, predictable characters, with few substantial personality traits. (EX) Jenny in, "The Yellow Wallpaper", is a flat character as her personality is barely revealed to the reader, none of her actions change the course of the story or effect the other characters.

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round character

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(DEF) characters with substance, complex personalities. (EX) Brett, in "The Sun Also Rises, is a round character as her personality is extremely complex and ever-changing. She expressed a wide range of emotions throughout the story, and is central to the plot.

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static character

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(DEF) characters who do not change throughout the story. (EX) In "Cathedrals" the protagonists wife is static as she does not experience and transformations in the story, holding the same personality throughout the plot.

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dynamic character

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(DEF) characters who experience change within the story. (EX) In "Cathedrals" the protagonist is dynamic as in the beginning of the story he is extremely close minded and prejudiced toward Robert, while in the end he begins to change his perspective and finds a way relate to Robert.

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stock character

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(DEF) typical, familiar, types of characters that occur often in works. (EX) The waitress in "Hills like White Elephants" would be considered a stock character since waitresses are commonly depicted, and she had no outstanding traits that would make her different.

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archetype

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(DEF) a character, myth, symbol that commonly occurs throughout the literature of many cultures. (EX) Fire is used in Jane Eyre to represent passion, as it commonly used in other works, such as Henry James's The American, to symbolize passion as well.

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foil

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(DEF) a character who is used to contrast another character (EX) In Kate Chopin's "The Awakening" Mademoiselle Reisz and Adele Ratignolle contrast one another. One is a dedicated mother and wife, while the other is a free spirited artist with no domestic ties. These character's differences are used to highlight the choice of what type of woman the protagonist can choose to be.

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narrator

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(DEF) the teller of the story, the voice who recounts the narrative, the speaker. The writer is the creator of the narrator, and uses the narrator to tell the story. (EX) The narrator of "The Sun Also Rises" is Jake Barnes, whose voice tells the whole story.

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unreliable narrator

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(DEF) a narrator who's retelling should be read with suspicion. (EX) Edna Pontillier in Kate Chopin's "The Awakening" is an unreliable narrator due to her illogical thought processes and erratic behavior.

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first person narrator

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(DEF) a narrator who uses first person pronouns such as I or We. (EX) The narrator of "The Yellow Wallpaper" is using first person narration, telling the story from her own perspective using pronouns such as "I."

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second person narrator

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(DEF) uncommon in literature. uses pronoun "you." (EX) In Albert Camus's "The Fall" second person narration is used, as the narrator directly addresses the audience

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third person narrator

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(DEF) omniscient, have an all-seeing perspective of the characters and events. (EX) The narrator of "The old Man and the Sea" is using third person, as he is able to tell the story from an outsider's perspective.

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third person omniscient

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(DEF) able to describe inner- thoughts and feelings of multiple characters in the work. (EX) The narrator of "The Old Man and the Sea" is third person omniscient as he is able to know and depict the thoughts feelings and perceptions of all of the character's in the work.

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third person limited

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(DEF) able to describe the inner thoughts, feelings, and perceptions of one character. (EX) The narrator of "Everyday Use" is third person limited as only momma's inner thoughts and feelings are depicted to the reader.

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third person objective

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(DEF) narrator only relates what is seen or heard, the reader should be able to infer the thoughts and feelings of the character despite the information not being explicitly stated. (EX) The narration of "The Sun Also Rises" is third person objective as while all of the information is shared, the inner feelings of the characters are not explicitly stated and it is through only reasoning of the clues that the reader can understand the feelings of the characters. (Source) http://www.ohio.edu/people/hartleyg/ref/fiction/pov.html

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point of view

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(DEF) the lens in which the work's details and events is viewed. (EX) The reader views the Yellow Wallpaper through the point of view of the protagonist and narrator.

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focus

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(DEF) point of view, the perspective from which the story is viewed. (EX) The focus of "The Yellow Wallpaper" is the protagonist's first person narration.

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voice

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(DEF) the particular telling of the work, the narration. (EX) The voice of "The Awakening" is Edna Pontellier, the protagonist who tells the entire span of the story.

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setting

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(DEF) the time and place in which the story takes place. (EX) The setting of The Old Man and the Sea is Havana, Cuba during the 1940's.

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general setting

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(DEF) the general time and place in which the work's action takes place. (EX) The general setting of "Smart Women" by Judy Blume is Boulder, Colorado in modern times, somewhere between 1980 and the present.

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particular setting

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(DEF) the time and place in which specific episodes take place. (EX) a particular setting in the "The Great Gatsby" is west egg, which the characters inhabit for some time but not the entire duration of the novel.

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time

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(DEF) 1. author time- when the author created or published the text. 2. narrator time- when the narrator of the work told the story, 3. plot time- when the action of the work took place 4. reader time- when the audience reads the work (EX) the author time of The Great Gatsby is 1925, when the work was published. The narrator time is the early 1920's, as the narrator is experiencing and sharing the story as it unfolds. The plot time is the early 1920's when the story takes place. The reader time can be anytime from 1925, when the work was published, to the present, as the work can be presently be accessed by the public.

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symbol

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(DEF) a person, place, thing, or event that stands for something else. the symbol is typically concrete while the idea is typically abstract. (EX) The painting in Albert Camus's The Fall symbolizes the unavoidable judgment placed on the main character and society in general.

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myth

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(DEF) a narrative explaining how the world developed into its present state, generally considered to be true by the people who created it. Can feature supernatural beings, and can also have religious meaning. (EX) An example of a myth is Adam and Eve, a widely known story for how the earth was created. Adam and Eve is commonly referenced throughout different works of literature, as it is universally understood.

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figurative language/figures of speech

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(DEF) making a change in the typical usage of words to portray a figure to the reader,carried out by comparing or identifying things in the work. (EX) In Paulo Coelho's "The Alchemist" a simile, an example of a figure of speech, is made when he writes The Alchemist fells as silent as the desert."

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allegory

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(DEF) the characters, actions, and settings in the work have to layers of meaning. The literal component of the story symbolizes the underlying layer of the story's moral or lesson. (EX) While "The Awakening" may superficially appear to be a story detailing the unraveling of the main character's marriage and societal stature, the main characters struggle is really a symbol for the societal restrictions affecting all women, and the potentially harmful effects of these tight restrictions on the larger society.

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allusion

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(DEF) a short and discreet reference to something outside of the work's text. (EX) Ernest Hemingway uses allusions to point out the the harmfulness of alcoholism by creating characters who are constantly drinking and getting into trouble due to their drinking. He does not explicitly say that excessive drinking is harmful, but he expresses this sentiment through his characters actions.

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irony

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(DEF) a situation or statement described by a difference between what is expected versus what actually happens. expressing a meaning through language that typically means the opposite. (EX) Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" is an example of irony because the main character dies when her husband ends up being alive, twisting the plot into an opposite ending than what was expected.

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metaphor

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(DEF) a figure of speech in which two things are compared without the use of "like" or "as." (EX) In "Of Mice and Men" the dead puppy is a metaphor for the unavoidability of lenny and george's dream being crushed.

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metonymy

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(DEF) a figure of speech in which the name of something refers to another thing associated with it. (EX) An example of this would be when F Scott Fitzgerald refers to the people of west egg not by stating their individuality, but by grouping them into the category and labelling them simply as West Egg.

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oxymoron

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(DEF) a figure of speech that combines two opposing things. (EX) In Shakespeare's Hamlet he writes "I must be cruel only to be kind." which involves joining two opposite ideas into one.

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personification

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(DEF) a figure of speech that gives human qualities to a non-human thing. (EX) In The Yellow Wallpaper the protagonist describes the paper as having "two bulbous eyes that stare at you upside down." In doing this she is giving the wallpaper lifelike attributes.

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simile

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(DEF) a figure of speech giving a clear comparison of one thing to another, usually using like or as. (EX) In Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird," Scout says "she looked and smelled like a peppermint drop" when describing one of the other characters.

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synecdoche

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(DEF) a type of metonymy, a component of something is used to represent the whole thing. (EX) The term "suits" may be used in different works, meaning businessmen but referring to them based only on one component of the greater being.

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theme

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(DEF) the topic explored in the work. specifically, insight about the topic discussed in the work. most literary works have multiple themes. (EX) One theme explored in Albert Camus's "The Fall" was that it is not the punishment of judgement that people fear, but the act of being judged by one's peers.

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moral

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(DEF) a maxim detailed in the work for how one should lead their lives. (EX) The moral of John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" could be considered to be that dreams are fragile things, which aren't always guaranteed to come true.

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Reader Response Theory

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(DEF) Our own personal responses that help us to better understand the text, giving us a more conscious understanding of how we're relating to the text and why (Source) Class notes (EX) While reading The Yellow Wallpaper I was able to sympathize and understand the protagonist as I have experienced being restricted by a patriarchal society in my life.

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Identity Theme

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(DEF) Norman Holland's theory that we respond to literary people and events similar to the way we would in real life. (EX) For instance, I did not like or sympathize with the male character in "Hills like White Elephants" because his traits of manipulation and self-imposed superiority would be reasons for me not to like someone in real life. (Source) Class notes

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Defence Mode

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(DEF) the same themes and people that would create anxiety in a reader's actual life will create anxiety when the reader happens upon those themes. (EX) If I as the reader had a challenging past with men, i may be unable to sympathize with male characters in a work that I read, thus misunderstanding the meaning. (Source) Using Critical Theory

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Fantasy Mode

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(DEF) In an effort to escape the anxieties brought about by a topic in a text, the reader will misinterpret or ignore aspects of the text. (EX) If I was uncomfortable with the topic of divorce, I may choose to ignore that aspect of "Smart Women", thus misunderstanding the work. (Source) Using Critical Theory

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Symbolic Leap

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(DEF) Imposing one's own belief system onto a text, misinterpreting the text due to that projection. The symbol should be endorsed by the text. (EX) In reading Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea, if I did not like the smell of fish, I could assume that the man's catch was a symbol for negative emotion such as disgust, which would distort the meaning of the entire novel, without any true evidence to support the theory. (Source) Class Notes

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Representation

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(DEF) When an author portrays a topic by discussing it in the work, through actions or events, but instead of defending it the author is merely calling attention to the issue. (EX) In Toni Morrison's "Recitatif," she is not defending or preaching racism by portraying it, but bringing it to the forefront in order to show what racism can look and sound like. (Source) Class Notes, Lecture.

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Endorsement

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(DEF) When an author portrays a topic under a positive light in order to portray their opinion of support on a topic. (EX) In Judy Blume's "Smart Women" she portrays two people in a positive relationship who do not intend to get married, she is positively portraying a topic, that some people tend to disagree with, through her characters. (Source) Class Notes, Lecture

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Feminist Theory

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(DEF) Personal identity shaped by concepts of gender. implications and constructs of oppression through gender. social constructs that define what it means to be male or female. (EX) In Judy Blume's "Smart Women" much of the novel is spent discussing the struggles her women characters face due to their being women in a male dominated society. Struggles such as early sexualization, little respect in the workplace, and marital issues. (Source) Class Notes, Lecture

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Patriarchy

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(DEF) a male dominated society where men hold the majority of the power. (EX) In "The Yellow Wallpaper" the protagonist is limited by the patriarchal society in which she resides, being forced to listen to the commands of her husband. (Source) Class Notes, Lecture

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Objectification

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(DEF) Women are valued for their service to men, seen as things rather than respectable well rounded people. (EX) In "Don't Explain" The protagonist is expected to be sexually available by a patron, because she is servicing him as a waitress in another aspect. (Source) Class Notes, Lecture

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Sexism

answer

(DEF) The belief that women are innately inferior to men. (EX) One character in Judy Blume's "Smart Women" displays sexist behavior by assuming that all women would desire him because he is attractive. (Source) Class Notes, Lecture

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Sexist Stereotypes

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(DEF) assumptions made about a person based on their gender. (EX) One Character in Judy Blume's "Smart Women" is assumed to be inept and ill-equipped to perform in her job due to her attractive appearance, though she is very smart and capable. (Source) Class Notes, Lecture

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Gender Roles

answer

(DEF) The behaviors, attitudes, and activities expected or common for males and females. (EX) The protagonist in "The Yellow Wallpaper" was expected to tend to her home and family because she was a woman, though she felt disinterested and incapable of doing so. (Source) Dictionary.com

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