AP Literature
Summer Reading Assignment
This is a required assignment for AP Literature and will be the first graded
assignment of the first semester. All work is due the first day of school.
Assignment 1: The Novel
You must read The Life of Pi by Yann Martel (please get your own copy). If this is a book that you have
already read, you should re-read it. Also, the movie is good, but it leaves out critical elements of the
story. The beauty of the movie also attempted to capture the narrative of the book but often fell so very
short. In other words, the movie isn’t going to get you very far with this assignment.
As you read…take notes! You can decide on your own system (post-its, annotations, color coding, etc).
Whatever you do, make sure that you pay particular attention to the following topic focus:
It has been said that “challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes
life meaningful.” Identify the challenges that Pi faces and how he responds to these challenges.
Look especially at how the challenges he faced and overcame made his life meaningful.
Please note, that the word meaningful does not necessarily suggest a life that is happy or even complete.
Take time to consider what it really means to have a meaningful life. (Even consider the Biblical
perspective on what makes life meaningful.)
After you read the book, but before the first day of school, take a 5 x 8 lined note card and write out (don’t
type) the top five passages from the book that are related to the topic focus for the reading. You can use
both the front and back of the card to write out these quotations, but you can only use one card. You will
turn in this card on the first day of school. Make sure these quotes reveal a complete reading of the book.
There will be an in-class essay on this book the first week of school. You will be able to use your book for
this essay, which will make your entire note taking worthwhile. This book will also be discussed in class.
Be prepared to share and participate in the discussion.
Assignment 2: Novel Flashcards
You will share these with your classmates, but more importantly, these will help you as you begin to
prepare for the AP test.
Create two flashcards each on a 5 x 8 lined note card.
• Choose two novels and/or full length plays of literary value that you know really well. Books you
covered in Honors Brit Lit or Honors World Lit would be my recommendation.
• Write the title and author for each of the works on the top of the cards (one book for each card).
• Then, include the following information, filling up the card. You can use both sides of the card, but
you can only use one card per book...
o brief summary of the book
o main characters
o main conflict(s) with protagonist(s) and antagonist(s) clearly indicated
o major themes
o major symbols and their meanings
o three to five significant quotes from the book
• Again, you can use both sides of the card, but write out (do not type) these cards.
Remember, these assignments are meant to enrich your education while on break from school. Do not
make this a miserable part of summer by waiting until the last minute. Leisurely complete the reading and
flashcards over the whole summer, and it will be much more profitable.
Please email me at brown@sccs.cc if you have any question concerning these assignments.
See you next year!
Mr. Brown