2025-26 AP Lit. Essential Literary Terms

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Protagonist

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The main character in a story, often a hero or heroine, who faces a conflict that needs to be resolved.

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Antagonist

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A character or force in a story that opposes the protagonist and creates conflict.

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Direct Characterization

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The method of describing a character in a straightforward manner, through explicit statements about their traits.

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Indirect Characterization

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The process of revealing a character's personality through their actions, speech, appearance, and interactions with others.

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Bildungsroman

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A literary genre focusing on the psychological and moral growth of the protagonist from youth to adulthood.

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Conflict

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A struggle between opposing forces, which is the driving force of a story.

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Resolution

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The part of a story where the conflict is resolved and the story concludes.