Hillgrove High School English Department Honors and AP Pre-­‐Course Reading 2015-­‐2016 To help establish the necessary foundations and facilitate initial classroom instruction for both honors and AP level classes, each student is required to complete a pre-­‐course reading assignment prior to the start of their English class next year. This reading requirement is different than traditional summer reading in that the text(s) will be an integral part of the semester curriculum, specifically the first unit of study. There will be multiple graded assignments based on the assigned pre-­‐course reading rather than one stand-­‐alone assessment of your reading. It is imperative that students have a copy of the required text the FIRST week of the semester. Teachers will provide more information regarding curriculum implementation of these texts at the start of the class. Reading Assignments Read the assigned text(s) for the course you are taking in the 2015-­‐2016 school year before the start of the semester. Additional assignments and/or guidance for your reading are provided on the following pages. 9th Grade Honors Literature and Composition Romeo and Juliet William Shakespeare (original version, NOT No Fear Shakespeare) 10th Grade Honors World Literature and Composition Things Fall Apart by China Achebe Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer Roy Peter Clark 11th Grade AP Language and American Literature The Thirteen American Arguments: Enduring Debates that Define and Inspire our Country by Howard Fineman How to Write a Sentence, And How to Read One by Stanley Fish 12th Grade AP Literature Macbeth William Shakespeare (original version) How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster (The Introduction and Chapters 21, 22, 25, 27) v 9th Honors Literature and Composition The following study guide is provided to help your understanding of Shakespeare’s play. While this is not required, you are expected to know the terms and content that these questions cover. Romeo and Juliet
Study Guide
Act I
1. What is a dramatic foil?
2. What are round and flat characters?
Prologue
3. What does the Chorus mean by the phrase “star cross’d lovers”?
Scene I
4. Look back at lines 6-20. What does this conversation reveal about the
Capulets and Montagues?
5. What does Sampson mean when he says “Let us take the law of our sides; let
them begin.”? (line 34)
6. Who said, “I do but keep the peace. Put up thy sword or manage it to part
these men with me.”?
7. Which contrasting traits do Benvolio and Tybalt have? (lines 55-63)
8. How are the responses of Lady Capulet and Lady Montague different?
9. Why do you think Shakespeare starts the play with a sword fight?
10. How does the Prince respond to the fight between Benvolio and Tybalt?
11. Why is Romeo sad?
12. What can you infer about Benvolio based on his interaction with Romeo’s
parents?
13. What contrasting attitudes are revealed in the exchange between Romeo and
Benvolio in lines 216-229?
14. What is Benvolio’s advice to Romeo starting on line 216?
Scene ii
15. What does Lord Capulet discuss with Paris?
16. What does Capulet tell Paris he wishes for his daughter?
17. Why does the servant need Romeo and Benvolio’s help?
18. What does “rest you merry” mean?
19. How does Romeo feel about Rosaline? (lines 82-93)
Scene iii
20. Which character traits does Nurse reveal in her speech?
21. In what ways does the Nurse’s character contrast with that of Juliet and Lady
Capulet?
22. How old is Juliet?
23. What does “he’s a man of wax” mean? (lines 75 and 76)
24. How do you interpret Lady Capulet’s advice to Juliet?
25. Why has Lady Capulet called Juliet in to talk to her?
Scene iv
26. Restate Romeo’s questions in lines 1 and 2 in contemporary English.
27. In what way is Mercutio a foil to Romeo?
28. What advice does Mercutio give to Romeo? (lines 53-95)
29. What do lovers and lawyers dream of after Queen Mab gallops through their
dreams? (lines 71-73)
30. Give an example of foreshadowing from this scene.
Scene v
31. How do Romeo’s feelings for Rosaline change when he notices Juliet?
32. What does Tybalt mean in lines 53-58?
33. How does Capulet respond when Tybalt says that he will not tolerate
Romeo’s presence at the party?
Act II
Prologue
34. What does the chorus mean by, “Now old desire doth in its deathbed lie,”
Scene ii
35. To what objects does Romeo compare Juliet? (lines 2-23)
36. Whom does Romeo see at the window?
37. What does Juliet mean when she says that she will “frown and be perverse..”
(line 96)
38. Why does Romeo say his name is hateful to himself?
39. What does Juliet ask Romeo to swear by?
40. Juliet says, “Three words, dear Romeo,” What does she mean?
41. What plans do Romeo and Juliet make for the next day?
42. What is a hyperbole?
Scene iii
43. Interpret lines 21 and 22.
44. What is your first impression of Friar Lawrence?
45. Interpret lines 41 and 42.
46. Discuss lines 65-80.
47. What is the difference between loving and doting?
48. What favor does Romeo ask from Friar Lawrence? Does the Friar agree to
do it? Why?
Scene iv
49. What news do we learn from Mercutio and Benvolio’s discussion at the
beginning of this scene?
50. Where does Mercutio think Romeo was all night?
51. How does Romeo respond when Mercutio accuses him of giving them “the
slip” the night before?
52. Identify the line where Mercutio stops joking with Romeo and gets serious.
53. How does Shakespeare reveal Mercutio’s intelligence despite the fact that he
does not speak in blank verse?
54. Apart from providing more humor, what is Nurse doing in this scene?
55. Why are the Nurse’s lines written without attention to blank verse?
56. Rephrase lines 170 and 171.
57. How are Friar Lawrence and the Nurse similar?
Scene v
58. What does Romeo ask the Nurse to tell Juliet?
59. Paraphrase lines 31-34
60. What might Shakespeare be saying about her character by having the Nurse
switch between prose and blank verse?
61. How does the Nurse describe Romeo?
62. Why does the Nurse ask where Juliet’s mother is?
63. What does “coil” mean?
64. What does “wanton” mean?
Scene vi
65. What is the main event of this scene?
Act III
66. What is a soliloquy?
67. What is an aside?
68. What is a monologue?
Scene i
69. Why does Benvolio want to get off the street?
70. Re-read lines 15-27. Is this an example soliloquy, aside, or monologue?
71. Paraphrase the exchange between Mercutio and Tybalt.
72. What does “Zounds” mean?
73. Explain Romeo’s motive for going to the Capulet party.
74. Why does Tybalt think Romeo crashed the Capulet party?
75. What is the outcome of the duel between Tybalt and Mercutio?
76. Re-read lines 104-110. Is Romeo sorry about what happened? Why or why
not?
77. How does Romeo say Juliet has changed him? What does he mean?
78. What urgent warning does Benvolio give to Romeo?
79. Re-read lines 135-169. Does Benvolio report the facts accurately? Why
does it matter?
80. What does Lady Capulet ask the Prince to do?
81. Restate lines 177-179 in your own words.
Scene ii
82. Who are Phoebus and Phaeton? Why are they referred to at the beginning of
this scene?
83. Classify lines 1-31 as soliloquy, aside, or monologue.
84. What punishment does Prince order for Romeo?
85. What is a cockatrice?
86. Paraphrase lines 78 and 79.
87. Initially, who does Juliet think is dead?
88. Classify lines 97-127 as a soliloquy, aside, or monologue.
89. What instruction does Juliet give to the Nurse at the end of this scene?
90. What is the Nurse supposed to bring to Romeo (from Juliet)?
Scene iii
91. Paraphrase the Friar’s opening lines.
92. What is Romeo’s complaint in lines 29-33?
93. Summarize what Romeo says in lines 57-60.
94. What word does Romeo repeat while talking to the Friar? What does that
word mean?
95. Summarize the Friar’s message to Romeo in his monologue. (Lines 108158)
96. What does “sojourn” mean?
Scene iv
97. What decision is made by the Capulets in this scene? Why?
Scene v
98. Why does Romeo speculate about the birds? ( Is it a lark or a nightengale?)
What is the significance of the the two birds?
99. Paraphrase lines 48-53.
100. Why does Juliet use an aside in lines 82-84?
101. Who leaves Juliet’s room right before Lady Capulet arrives?
102. How are Lady Capulet’s words about “joyful tidings” ironic?
103. What is “chopped-logic”?
104. What does Capulet threaten Juliet with if she doesn’t marry on Thursday?
105. Juliet makes a plea to her mother in lines 200-204. What does she ask for?
Does her mom help her?
Act IV
Scene i
106. Why is the word “Thursday” important in the Friar’s words to Paris?
107. In what way does Paris’ comment show that he does not understand the real
reason that Juliet is crying?
108. What do you predict Juliet will do if there is no way to prevent the marriage
to Paris?
109. What are the Friar’s instructions to Juliet? (Include all steps)
110. What information does Juliet know that Romeo does not?
Scene ii
111. What is going on in this scene?
Scene iii
112. What does Juliet pretend to do to prepare for the next day?
113. What reason does Juliet use to ask the Nurse to leave her alone? What is the
real reason?
114. In your own words, describe Juliet’s fears regarding the potion.
115. What does Juliet do at the very end of scene iii?
Scene iv
116. What is going on in this scene?
117. Why does Shakespeare include this scene in the play? Why is it important?
118. What instructions are given to the Nurse at the end of this scene?
Scene v
119. What are Capulet and Lady Capulet’s responses to Juliet’s “death”?
120. What is Paris’ response to Juliet’s “death”?
121. Why does Shakespeare end this scene with the bantering of musicians?
Act V
122. Define “tragedy.”
123. What is a character’s motive?
Scene i
124. Where is Romeo? Why?
125. Why is Romeo asking so many questions?
126. What news does Romeo hear from Balthasar?
127. What does he want to buy from the apothecary?
128. Why does the apothecary refuse to sell it to Romeo? What does Romeo use
to motivate him to sell it?
129. Where is Romeo going at the end of this scene?
Scene ii
130. What favor does Friar Lawrence ask of Friar John?
131. Why was Friar John unable to do the favor?
132. What is the major consequence of this?
133. What motivates Friar Lawrence to go to the monument?
Scene iii
134. Why is Paris at Juliet’s tomb?
135. Why is Romeo at Juliet’s tomb?
136. What happens when they see each other?
137. What is Paris’ last request? Does Romeo honor it?
138. What does Romeo do after he kisses Juliet’s “dead” body?
139. Who else shows up at the tomb?
140. What does Friar Lawrence tell Juliet she should do when she wakes up?
Does she listen to him?
141. What is Juliet’s reaction to seeing Romeo?
142. Who finds Juliet and Romeo?
143. How did Romeo’s exile affect his mother?
144. What could the Friar have done differently that might have prevented the
tragedy from happening?
145. Did any good come out of the deaths of Romeo and Juliet? Explain.
146. What message does Shakespeare attempt to convey through the tragic events
of the play?
v 10th Grade Honors World Literature and Composition Book One: Things Fall Apart (Chinua Achebe) Use the following questions to guide your annotations and your reading of Things Fall Apart: A tragic hero is a literary character who makes a judgment error that inevitably leads to his/her own destruction. The Aristotelian tragic hero must possess specific characteristics – some of which are listed below. Consider these characteristics and annotate with them in mind. Be prepared to answer the two questions (within the first week of school). Aristotelian tragic hero characteristics Reading Focus Questions (Use to guide your annotations) 1. He must be of noble stature and be highly 1. How is Okonkwo a tragic hero? regarded. 2. What contributes most to the final tragedy of 2. Has a tragic flaw (usually caused by a simple Okonkwo? Could his fall have been averted? mistake or a character flaw) 3. Experiences a Reversal of Fortune (falls from high to low) 4. Misfortune is not wholly deserved 5. Recognition of mistake/flaw (through catharsis or purging of pity and fear) 6. Not perfect 7. Excessive pride (hubris) Book Two: Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer (Roy Peter Clark) Read the book in chunks. Consider trying some of the activities provided at the end of each chapter. While these are not required, they are encouraged. We will work with this book in the same way throughout the semester. You will need the book within the first week of school. v 11th Grade AP Language and American Literature Book One: The Thirteen American Arguments: Enduring Debates that Define and Inspire our Country (Howard Fineman) Each chapter presents an enduring debate of American society. Complete the introduction questions and the chart as prescribed below. While this is not required, understanding of these essential concepts will be expected at the start of class. The more you engage with the text as you read, the better prepared you will be for initial discussions and assignments. You will need the book within the first week of school. Introduction Questions: 1. How does Fineman define an argument? Why does he believe arguments are valuable? 2. Fineman lists 6 goals that he has in writing this book. What are they and which do you find most valuable? Why? For each chapter (argument) Chapter Summary of the claims made on each side of the argument. Explain why you think this argument still endures today. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 In each chapter Fineman “lays out a menu of the arguments as they exist in nature.” Either respond to one argument in the chapter or come up with an original perspective to the debate. Book Two: How to Write a Sentence, And How to Read One (Stanley Fish) Consider practicing the strategies and skills discussed in each chapter by creating your own sentences in the styles discussed. Better yet, find 10 interesting sentences from your casual reading/viewing in the “real-­‐world” that are good examples of the topics covered in this book. While these are not required, they are encouraged. We will work with this book in the same way throughout the semester. You will need the book within the first week of school. v 12th Grade AP Literature Book One: Macbeth (William Shakespeare) Annotate the text as you read and complete the theme/imagery chart as prescribed on the next page. Themes of Macbeth As you read through the drama, find supporting quotes that correspond to each of the major themes. Use parenthetical doc. for your entries: (Mac. Act. Scene. Lines) Psychological Effects Fate vs. Free Will Disturbances in the Human Blind Pursuit of Appearances vs. of Guilt World Mirrored in Nature Power Reality Imagery in Macbeth As we read through the drama, find supporting quotes that correspond to each of the major images. Birds/Animals/plants Blood Light/Dark Milk Clothing Book Two: Selected sections from How to Read Literature Like a Professor (Thomas C. Foster) Annotate the text as you read.