High School for Math Science and Engineering
Department of Literature and English
Advanced Placement (AP) English Literature and Composition
Dear Juniors,
Welcome to Advanced Placement English!
Your summer assignment is to read the novel Silas Marner, by George Eliot, and “Structure and Quality in
Silas Marner,” an essay by Ian Milner.
Please follow the guidelines below:
Step I
Read the novel
Step II
Read “Structure and Quality in Silas Marner,” by Ian Milner
Step III
As you read Milner’s essay, annotate for:
 Milner’s key ideas
 Milner’s use of literary terms in his analysis as he supports his ideas
Step IV
Utilizing your annotations, select one key idea from the Milner essay for the purpose of creating a chart
(explained below):
 On the TOP of your chart clearly articulate your chosen key idea from Milner.
 Then return to Silas Marner and find five quotes from the novel (with page numbers) that support
Milner’s argument. Place these quotes in the LEFT column of your chart.
 In the RIGHT column of your chart you will discuss the five selected quotes. Your discussion of
the quotes should focus on the text. Use Milner as a model and integrate literary terms into your
comments. Your comments should be short (one to four sentences per quote), and analytical.
An Example of the Chart Discussed in Step IV
(See below)
Milner’s Idea
“George Eliot, in a few pages of Ch. II, builds up a powerful sense of the cumulative process of Silas
estrangement from his former humanity: his faith, trust, sense of purpose as a human being” (p. 719)
Quotes from the Novel
“Nothing could be more unlike his native town…”
(p.12)
“…he felt hidden even from the heavens by the
screening trees and hedgegrows” p. 12.
“…centering in Lantern Yard, which had once been
to him the alter place of high dispensations” (pp 1213).
“…be out of reach of his native gods…” (p. 13)
“It seems to him that the Power in which he had
vainly trusted … was very far away from this land
in which he had taken refuge…” (p.13)
Discussion of Quotes
The narrator depicts Raveloe as a radically different
place; in fact “[n]othing could be more unlike his
native town…” (p.12)
The narrator uses the setting of “trees and
hedgegrows” to depict Marner’s growing isolation,
“even from the heavens” p. 12
Marner’s saw Lantern Yard, his old home as “the
alter place of high dispensations” (pp 12-13).
Silas feels like a “primitive man” who is “out of
reach of his native gods” (p.13).
The author’s choice of capitalizing the word
“Power,” emphasizes Silas’ estrangement, not just
from his hometown and his friends, but from God as
well.
Step V
You are almost ready to write a paragraph on the idea that you selected above. Before you begin, read the
sample paragraph below, then follow the guidelines and write your own paragraph. It should be
approximately 150 words long.
Sample Paragraph
Ian Milner, in his essay “Structure and Quality in Silas Marner” argues that “George Eliot, in a few pages
of Ch. II, builds up a powerful sense of the cumulative process of Silas estrangement from his former
humanity: his faith, trust, sense of purpose as a human being” (p. 719). The narrator exposes this
“estrangement” when she emphasizes his sense of religious alienation. Marner feels that “[n]othing could
be more unlike his native town…” (p.12). His old home “had once been to him the alter place of high
dispensations” (pp. 12-13). But now, Silas feels like a “primitive man” who is “out of reach of his native
gods” (p.13). Moreover, Silas feels abandoned: “It seems to him that the Power in which he had vainly
trusted … was very far away from this land in which he had taken refuge…” (p.13). The author’s decision
to capitalize “Power” accentuates Silas’ sudden isolation, not just from his hometown and his friends, but
from God as well.
Writing Guidelines:
 Clearly establish the topic of the paragraph and contextualize it
 In this case, the topic will include the key idea from Milner; cite him!
 Insightfully organize the sequence of ideas according to the purpose of the paragraph
 Present a clear, thorough, explication of the passage
 Cite the text using short quotes (at least 3)
 The quotes have to be weaved into your narrative
 Use clear, precise, and appropriately varied sentences to convey meaning and create effects
 Use precise and effective vocabulary extremely well-suited to the subject and the audience
 Avoid all or virtually all grammar usage errors
 Type the paragraph using Times New Roman, size 12 font, and double space the document
 Use present simple tense
I am confident that you will both enjoy and do well in this course. We look forward to seeing you all in the
fall.
Upon your return, we will collect the annotated Milner essay, the chart, and the typed paragraph.
If you have any questions you may email me anytime during the summer
rstern1948@gmail.com
Dr. Stern