2014 AP 12 (Literature and Composition Summer Reading Assignment) Students, Over the course of the academic year, we will be analyzing texts for purpose, meaning, structure, organization, and literary devices. The best place to start our analysis is with the novels you will be reading this summer. Over the summer, you are expected to read two novels; please see the chart below to determine the titles for your school.
Required Texts: Great Mills and Leonardtown The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger Self-selected novel (choose from the list below)
Chopticon Songs of Innocence & Songs of Experience by William Blake Mythology by Edith Hamilton (students should select and read 10 myths with which they are not already familiar-see the list on page two as a starting point)
The reading must be completed by the first day of school. You will write a formal comparison paper on both required novels sometime during the first few weeks of school. You also may be expected to pass a written examination on the book(s) during the same period. Assessments may consist of comprehension, analysis, and short answer questions in the College Board’s AP style. You should be able to demonstrate understanding of the books’ major premises, themes, and literary devices (such as symbols, archetypes, authorial voices, etc). You must be able provide an in-depth analysis of each text, not just a summary of the events of each novel.
Self-Selected Texts: Great Expectations by Charles Dickens Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen The Kite Runner by Kahled Hosseini Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro A Portrait of the Artist as Young Man by James Joyce Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy Atonement by Ian McEwan Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck Black Boy by Richard Wright
This list contains works that have appeared on past AP Literature and Composition Exams and on various lists of “recommended reading” for college bound students. Some books may contain language or situations that make you uncomfortable. If you become uncomfortable while reading a work, please select another title. Do not select a work that you have already read for a previous class. This is your opportunity to expand your knowledge of literature. Please be certain to have your novel on hand during the first few weeks of school. You should secure a copy of all books and “actively” read them (meaning annotate the text: take notes, underline, ask questions, etc.). This may be more easily completed if you purchase the books, but you should feel free to borrow copies from local libraries; however, please note that you are expected to have copies of both books with you for the first two weeks of school to facilitate whole class and small group discussion.
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AP Literature is a fast-paced course designed to provide a college-style literary experience. You may wish to extend your reading outside of the required texts in order to expose yourself to several other novels. After all, when it comes to the AP exam, the depth and breadth of your literary expertise makes all of the difference. If you are searching for novels to enrich your summer reading experience, visit the College Board’s website for a list of 101 novels for college bound readers at http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/boost-your-skills/23628.html. Upon entering AP Literature it is expected that you have a firm grasp of a plethora of literary terms. If you find your cognitive library of literary terms lacking, please spend some time this summer brushing up. Dictionaries of literary terms are commonly available in local libraries, book stores, and on-line through reputable websites. We suggest: http://www.uncp.edu/home/canada/work/allam/general/glossary.htm http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/literature/bedlit/glossary_a.htm http://www.tnellen.com/cybereng/lit_terms/ Another way to support your success in AP Literature is to become familiar with important Biblical and mythological stories that are often alluded to in literature. Knowledge of these stories helps you enjoy and understand great literature. Biblical The Garden of Eden Cain and Abel Noah and the Flood The Birth of Christ Pilate and Jesus The Agony of Christ Rescue of Moses and the Burning Bush Passover and Passage through the Red Sea The Book of Job The Book of Ruth Samson and Delilah David and Goliath Jonah and the Whale Sodom and Gomorrah Jezebel Elijah Daniel and the Lion’s Den Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors Solomon Tower of Babel Jacob and Esau
Mythological Prometheus and Epimetheus Pandora’s Box Paris and the Golden Apple Odysseus and the Trojan Horse Achilles Hector Agamemnon Jason Perseus Tantalus and Ixion and Sisyphus and Cerberus Atlas and His Burden Midas and the Golden Touch The Twelve Labors of Hercules Echo and Narcissus Arachne and Athena Cupid and Psyche Demeter and Persephone Orpheus and Eurydice Pygmalion and Galatea Daedalus and Icarus
If you have questions about the assignment, you can contact us at the email addresses below. Enjoy your summer! We look forward to meeting all of you in August. Ms. Offenbacher Ms. Susannah Shelton Great Mills High School
[email protected] [email protected]
Ms. Gill Leonardtown High School
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Ms. Young Chopticon High School
[email protected]
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