A Thousand Splendid Suns
Winter Assignments
1. Complete a Double-Entry Journal
For each chapter, you will need to identify 2 to 3 quotations that have some sort of meaning. They can
include symbolism, metaphor, imagery, or life lessons; they might also be descriptions of characters,
places, and/or events. In the left hand column, you will write the quotation (word for word), the page
number, and if it is the words of a character, who said them. In the right hand column, you will explain
why the quotation is significant and explain its meaning. [I recommend that you make comments about
the relationships that Mariam and Laila have (with their parents, husbands, children, and each other) and
that you focus on language in order to prepare for an assignment you will work on when class starts.]
Sample:
Quotation & Page Number
“Nana said, “Learn this now and learn it well, my daughter:
Like a compass needle that points north, a man’s accusing
finger always finds a woman. Always. You remember that,
Mariam.” (7)
Importance and/or Meaning of Quotation
Because Mariam’s mother had a negative relationship with
Mariam’s father, she has become disillusioned. She believes
that all men will put the blame for anything (that has gone
wrong) on the female that is in the picture, and she passes this
on to her daughter. It is important to note that she uses a
simile in her directives to Mariam to make it easier for a young
girl to understand.
2. Write a Free-Response Exam Essay
Choose one of the essay prompts below and write an essay that fully responds to the prompt. You should
read the PowerPoint about responding to a free-response prompt found at
http://portal.bentonvillek12.org/rcantey/AP%20Literature%20and%20Composition/The%20Free%20Res
ponse%20Essay.pdf or the Prezi found at http://prezi.com/exko4jddex_e/ap-lit-free-response-essay/ .
This should be at least two pages typed (double-spaced and in 12 point font with 1” margins). Please note
that this must be ABOUT A Thousand Splendid Suns.
Your Options:
2007 Prompt: In many works of literature, past events can affect, positively or negatively, the present activities, attitudes,
or values of a character. Choose a novel or play in which a character must contend with some aspect of the past, either
personal or societal. Then write an essay in which you show how the character’s relationship to the past contributes to the
meaning of the work as a whole.
2012. “And, after all, our surroundings influence our lives and characters as much as fate, destiny or any supernatural
agency.” Pauline Hopkins, Contending Forces Choose a novel or play in which cultural, physical, or geographical
surroundings shape psychological or moral traits in a character. Then write a well-organized essay in which you analyze
how surroundings affect this character and illuminate the meaning of the work as a whole.
Extra Credit: Complete the Study Guide (It must be fully completed in order to receive credit; however, I
advise you use it to help you understand sections that are confusing you! You can also find important
quotations for your journal.) The study guide can be found on the AP English Literature website that is
accessible through Teacher Webpages.