2015 Required Summer Reading and Assignment for English Classes
In the belief that reading good literature provides enjoyment, develops insight into human behavior, promotes language
development, and educates the mind, the Salpointe Catholic High School English Department encourages its students to
read. As a college preparatory high school, Salpointe Catholic holds high expectations for our students. Thus, the English
Department requires students to read essential texts during the summer in preparation for the coming school year. This
allows students to experience and enjoy works that supplement the regular course curriculum without creating an
additional workload during the busy school year.
English I Honors
Course Title
Freshmen
English I
Honors
Book Title(s)
Fahrenheit 451
Heroes, Gods, and Monsters of the Greek Myths
Author(s)
Ray Bradbury
Bernard Evslin
English I Honors Required Summer Reading 2015
This assignment is required for all students enrolled in English I Honors.
*If you are not enrolled in English I Honors, please see the document for English I.
1) Read both Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury and Heroes, Gods, and Monsters of the Greek Myths by
Bernard Evslin.
2) Fill in Graphic Organizers for each novel.
3) Look up the literary terms on the Literary Term Worksheet and record the definition on the chart; find
examples from the reading selections for each term.
Use a glossary of literary terms like one of the following.
http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/lit_terms_M.html
http://literary-devices.com/
http://www.tnellen.com/cybereng/lit_terms/
Due dates:
• Reading must be completed before the first day of school.
• All three worksheets will be collected on the second day of classes.
• Short, objective tests will be administered on the books within the first week of school.
• An in-class writing assignment will be given within the first week of school.
o There will several different questions dealing with character development, the believability of
the plot, and the theme of the novel. You will choose one to respond to.
•
•
Summer selections should be purchased—you WILL be using them in class.
Books can be purchased from retailers such as Bookman’s, Barnes and Noble, or Amazon.com.
Questions? See Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
English I Summer Reading FAQs
Why do I have to do summer reading?
1) To read two outstanding selections of literature and broaden my literary horizons
2) To create a common set of reading selections to discuss as the other students in my class
3) To begin developing an understanding of common literary terms and vocabulary as the other students in my class
What do I have to read?
Fahrenheit 451by Ray Bradbury AND Heroes, Gods, and Monsters of the Greek Myths by Bernard Evslin.
Do I have to read both books?
Yes. We will be discussing both books in class during the first few weeks of school.
Should I buy the book, or can I check it out from the library?
We will be referring these books frequently in class during First Quarter, so please purchase them both.
What do I have to do? What is the assignment?
1) Read two (2) novels: Fahrenheit 451 and Heroes, Gods, and Monsters of the Greek Myths
2) Complete appropriate Note Sheets for each novel
3) Define the literary terms
4) Find examples of the literary terms from the books—you will find the best examples in Fahrenheit 451
When is the assignment due?
1) The reading should be completed before the first day of school.
2) The worksheets will be collected on the second day of school.
Will I be tested on this book?
Yes. There will be two assessments on the required summer reading.
1) A short objective test will be given on the reading selections.
2) A writing assignment (in-class or take-home) about Fahrenheit 451.
Where should I look up the literary terms?
Use an online glossary of literary terms like the two listed below.
If you use a regular dictionary, you may not get definitions relating to literary terms.
http://www.tnellen.com/cybereng/lit_terms/
http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/lit_terms_M.html
http://literary-devices.com/
http://www.k-state.edu/english/baker/english320/cc-static_vs_dynamic_characterization.htm (for dynamic & static characters)
Can I copy and paste the definitions?
NO. Please write the definitions in your own words.
How do I remember all of the information in the book?
Take thorough notes. Review them the week before school starts to that the content of the book is fresh in your mind.
How long should my summaries be?
They should be NUTSHELL summaries—limit yourself to the space available by focusing on the key idea!
How do I cite the examples of literary terms from the novels?
Once you have found your example, copy the example word-for-word from the novel. Put quotation marks around the
example. After the example, put the author’s last name and the page number the example appeared on in parenthesis.
Example: (do NOT use this as your example of a simile on the Literary Terms—find your own example!)
Simile: “His hands, by themselves, like two men working together, began to rip the pages from the book” (Bradbury 88).
Since these books are listed on the book list for the course, do I need to purchase two copies of them?
No—you only need to buy one copy of each title. We will be using each selection frequently during the first quarter, so you
must have a copy to refer to in class.
Fahrenheit 451 Note Sheet
Student Name: _____________________________
1) In column A, define each term in your own words. Use definitions that are related to the study of literature. 2) In
column B, identify the appropriate information for each category.
A. Term: (define here)
Setting:
Fahrenheit 451:
Characters:
• Protagonist
•
Antagonist
Plot:*
Rising Action:
Climax:
Falling Action:
Resolution:
Major Conflict:**
What social issue is
being challenged?
(e.g. individual vs.
society, man vs.
nature, etc.)
Explain!
*Plot: define each term in column A, then do a bullet list (7-10 steps), including each of the stages defined.
**Nothing to define for this one!
Heroes, Gods, and Monsters God Chart
Name ____________________________________
Find the answers in your book—if you look them up online, you may not find the stories I am looking for.
God
Zeus
Parents
Cronus &
Rhea
Realm of power/influence
(What is he/she god of?)
King of gods
Sky god
Key Story
(Summarize the story of his birth & war against Cronus—write it
here!)
Hera
Poseidon
(Persephone)
Demeter
(Summarize the story of Daphne—write it here!)
Apollo
Artemis
Athene
Hermes
Hephaestus
Aphrodite
Hades
(Who created her?)
Pandora
X
Prometheus
Phaeton
X
Narcissus
& Echo
X
Asclepius
Arion
X
Additional Note space:
*Remember, you are responsible for all the myths in the book, not only the ones listed here.
Lite rary Te rms Worksheet
Name: _______________________________
1) Look up the following Literary Terms on one of the websites listed below and define them IN YOUR OWN WORDS:
http://www.tnellen.com/cybereng/lit_terms/
http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/lit_terms_M.html
http://literary-devices.com/
http://www.k-state.edu/english/baker/english320/cc-static_vs_dynamic_characterization.htm (for dynamic & static characters)
2) Give one example from either Fahrenheit 451 or Heroes, Gods, and Monsters. Cite the author and page number of each example.
You do NOT need examples from both books!
3) Some terms don’t need an example. Instead, answer the question in the example box.
Literary Term
Definition
Example
Can you give an example of an allegory? Why is it
an allegory?
Allegory
Alliteration
They took “their case of liquid melancholy and the slow
dark sludge of nameless stuff, and strolled out the door”
(Bradbury 16).
Now you find one:
Allusion
Apostrophe
(careful, it’s not just a
punctuation mark!)
Find a passage that informs the reader about a
character:
Characterization
What is the major conflict in Fahrenheit 451?
Conflict
What is the major conflict in one of the myths in
Heroes, Gods, and Monsters? Identify the myth.
Dialogue
Give an example of a dynamic character from one
of the books. Why is he/she dynamic?
Dynamic Character
Who is a foil character? Who are they contrasted
with? How so?
Foil (Character)
Foreshadowing
What genre is Heroes, Gods, and Monsters?
Genre
What genre is Fahrenheit 451?
Hyperbole
Imagery
Irony
Situational Irony/
Irony of Situation
Verbal Irony
Dramatic Irony
Metaphor
What might be considered ironic in one of the
books? Give an example if you can.
(You don’t have to find an example for each type.)
Onomatopoeia
Oxymoron
Personification
Simile
Give an example of a static character from one of
the books. Why is he/she static?
Static Character
Symbol/
Symbolism
What is an important symbol in one of the novels?
Why? What does is represent?
What is the theme of Fahrenheit 451?
Theme