AP Lit
Mr. Ragasa
3rd MP Essay Options
A) Compare and contrast the underground man with the narrator from the short story,
“Edison, NJ” by Junot Diaz. Discuss in what ways are the characters similar and/or
different.
A successful essay will contain:
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Explanations that illuminate their behavior or actions.
Proper application and use of terms like “man of action” and “hyperconscious
man”
Be sure to answer why? or how? Why are these two the different or the same?
How are these two the different or the same?
B) In exploring the cultural context of the Jane Eyre passage, consider what motivates
Brocklehurst to apply one standard to himself and his family, and another to the charity
students.
A successful essay will explore what the passage reveals about the class system and the
attitude of the rich toward the poor. Develop each of the following points, using
examples from the passage:
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Brocklehurst’s double standard is displayed by the rules that he tries to impose on
the charity students and by his manner of imposing them
The attitude of Miss Temple and the students toward the Brockelhursts, expressed
in both words and gestures, reveals much about the double standard they live by
A sound conclusion will summarize the implicit hypocrisy of Brocklehurst as a
representative of his class, which reflects the double standard that creates the tension in
the passage.
C) Analyze Collins’ use of language, including diction, hyperbole, and syntax, and
explain how his language largely produces dramatic irony.
irony - a device that develops meaning by putting together seemingly contrasting concepts or
ideas. Irony occurs when there is a difference between what is asserted or believed, and what is
actually the truth. There are many types of irony; below are examples of the most common forms
of irony:
o
verbal irony - something is said that is the opposite of its intended meaning.
Example:
"Susan wrecked her car and then exclaimed, 'I am having a wonderful night!'"
Susan did not mean that she was having a great evening. She actually meant the opposite
of that, that her night was not going well.
o
situational irony - occurs when events turn out opposite than what is expected or
desired due to circumstances beyond human control.
Example:
John stayed up all night working on his paper. It was going to be his best work yet.
However, at 8:00 a.m., just before the paper was due, his computer crashed and he lost all
of his work.
Here, John and the reader expect for the passage to end with John turning in his paper and
getting a good grade. However, the situation is ironic because it ends opposite what was
expected.
o
dramatic irony - when the reader or audience knows information that the
character does not know, and thereby witnesses the impact of what the character
says or does. There is a discrepancy between what the reader knows, and what
the character believes to be true.
Example:
In Sophocles' Greek tragedy, Oedipus the King, Oedipus puts a curse on his father's
murderer. The audience is aware at the time that Oedipus himself is actually the
murderer, but Oedipus does not yet know this fact.
* It is important to remember that nothing is inherently ironic. The author must
write in a way that can be interpreted as ironic, and the reader must be skilled
enough to pick up on it.
A successful essay will provide relevant evidence in support of the thesis, which is
implied in the prompt: the dramatic irony of this passage is largely produced by Collins’s
use of language, such as diction, connotation, hyperbole, and syntax. The essay may be
organized around several literary devices or in the order in which the evidence is
presented in the passage. Consider:
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The effect of Collins’s diction on the production of dramatic irony
The effect of Collins’s hyperbole on the reader
The complicated syntax of Collins’s sentences and its unintended effect on the
reader
A conclusion will sum up the disparity between the impression Collins intends to make
and what he actually reveals about his character through his use of language.
D) What does the first half of the short story, “Eveline” foreshadow about Eveline’s
eventual decision to remain in Dublin? Consider the feelings and attitudes revealed
during her internal struggle.
The thesis will make a clear statement about what we learn from the first half of the story
that foreshadows Eveline’s decision to stay home. The memories and feelings that come
to Eveline on the eve of her departure are clues to her eventual decision. In your essay,
refer to the following:
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Evidence of Eveline’s acquiescence to the values and mores of her home,
including her duty as the eldest daughter, supports an interpretation of her
character
Evidence of Eveline’s devotion to the past and to her mother’s memeory supports
the general characterization
Examples of Eveline’s ambivalent attitude toward her father’s behavior helps
explain her decision
Eveline’s level of comfort in her present situation and her fear of the unknown
provides evidence of her timidity
Your conclusion will weigh the evidence in favor of staying against the promise and
the potential problems of a new life.
Due Date: Friday, April 3rd. If you need an extension, let me know. Certainly, I can
accept papers during the break as grades will be due the following week when we
return. But, we need to settle on a reasonable date for me to read and get the grade
into my book.
Let me know if you need a conference.