AP English Literature Summer Assignment
AP Literature students,
I hope you are enjoying a delightful summer holiday. To make it even better, I have
selected some superb Anglo-Saxon history and poetry for your summer reading and
note-taking assignment. I hope you enjoy it!
Instructions:
1. Students should sign in to their Gray Stone account and access the British
Literature text linked here:
Preface:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B9G7DPpfnKOLMmdGX2JRalgxelU&authuse
r=0
Unit 1, Part 1:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B9G7DPpfnKOLemMzOUxETDdlOG8&authu
ser=0
They should then read the passages described in the attached “Calendar #1”
document. As they read, they will use the attached “Journaling Guide” to direct
their note-taking, rendering thorough summary of the expository material and
insightful analysis of the epic poetry.
2. Students will also explore the two Beowulf sites listed below. They will take
thorough notes on the first (it contains twenty-one panels), and use the second
as a supplementary resource.
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/beowulf/
http://www.humanities.mcmaster.ca/~beowulf/main.html
When completed, this initial set of journaling notes should be between 30 and 50 pages
in length (depending on students’ handwriting, page size, organization, etc.).
AP English Lit – Old English Period Calendar
Calendar # 1
Thoroughly summarize and analyze what you are reading. What is its effect? Each page of poetry will require more attention
than a page of prose in a novel – use the guide wisely. Remember to record quotes, analysis, and your questions, too!
Due
Page #
Date
in Text
Summer
Summer
Summer
Content and Instructions for Journal
12-17
A map, a tapestry, and a timeline (record the most important information from these items)
18-26
“Historical Background of the Anglo-Saxon and Medieval Periods”
27-31
Introduction to “the epic,” Anglo-Saxon poetry, and Beowulf
32-35
“Grendel” section of Beowulf – Note the importance of setting throughout this epic.
36-39
Introduction of the hero – “Beowulf” What do the names in this epic mean?
40-44
“The Battle with Grendel” – What qualities of Grendel and Beowulf are set at odds? Where
and when does Grendel die? What happens to the point of view at the end of this
section? (The text of page 44 would serve as an excellent essay test excerpt.)
Summer
45-46
“Grendel’s Mother” – What does she remove from the hall?
47-51
“The Battle with Grendel’s Mother” – What protects Beowulf from the Mother? What does
it symbolize?
Summer
52-55
“Beowulf’s Last Battle” – Note the heavy foreshadowing at work here.
56-59
“The Death of Beowulf” – Note the effect of sound devices.
60
61-62
63
Summer
“Mourning Beowulf”
“A Collaboration Across 1,200 Years”
Use the questions, prompts, and “Literary Analysis” on p.63 to inspire thorough and
discerning notes in your journal.
64
Complete a Venn diagram in your journal (like the one on p. 64) to compare Beowulf to two
other “heroes” of your choosing (“real” or fictional).
65
“The Beowulf Poet” – notes on the composition, transcription, and manuscript of Beowulf
English Reading Journal Guide – Mr. Hodges
Your Reading Journal represents much of your daily homework each quarter and approximately 20% of your trimester
grade. You will be expected to compose an original, organized reading journal entry for almost every piece of literature you
read this trimester. A complete entry should address the most important of the following questions. Please remember, these
notes should represent your own ideas; if you do use outside research, you must clearly and accurately attribute your
sources. You should print this document as an upside-down, double-sided sheet and glue it inside the cover of your journal.
Essential Information – The vital items you must know in order to contextualize the piece
1.
What is the title of the piece? When was it written? Of what movement/philosophy is it a part?
2.
Who is the author? What important biographical information should inform our reading of the piece?
3.
What is its form/genre? (essay, poem, novel, short story, drama, autobiography, nonfiction, etc.)
What is its purpose? (narrative, expressive, expository, argumentative/persuasive, etc.)
Literary Elements – The ingredients of the piece, and the effect of each on the work as a whole
4.
What is its point of view? What is the setting? Consider how the setting “frames” the action.
5.
Who are the important characters? What methods of characterization are employed? (i.e. How
does the reader learn about the characters?)
6.
What occurs in the course of the plot? What plot devices are used? (e.g. suspense, foreshadowing,
fragmented or circular plot)
7.
What is the tone of the piece? Who is its intended audience?
8.
What rhetorical techniques are employed in the piece? To what effect?
9.
What subject is being examined? What thesis or theme is being suggested? (for our purposes, a
thesis or a theme may be viewed as a unifying idea about the subject)
10. How is the thesis or theme expressed? What levels of meaning are being used? Literal; symbolic;
figurative (metaphor, simile, personification); allegorical? How do the various literary elements
contribute to the effect of the piece?
Miscellany
11. What are some of the most important or exemplary quotes from this piece? With what are they
concerned? What do they mean? Why are they important? What literary elements are on display in
these quotes? What are their effects?
12. What does a second, careful reading reveal in this piece? Shorter works of poetry should be read
several times.
13. How does it connect to your life (either in general or through specific experiences you have had)?
14. What questions do you have regarding this piece? What answers were you able to find?
Important Points to Remember
The Notebook
1.
You must use a spiral-bound notebook or sturdy composition book. I recommend a spiral notebook that measures
8½” x 11”. Those students with larger handwriting should definitely use journals with pages of this size.
2.
This reading journal must be reserved exclusively for the purposes of recording the notes described above for your
English course, and it should accompany you to all of our meetings.
The Layout
1.
You should draw a heavy line, approximately three-quarters of the way down the pages of your journal, and take your
reading notes above this line. You will record class notes below that line when we discuss the work as a group.
New Piece = New Page
1.
You will begin a new page in your reading journal for each new piece (or new section in larger pieces like Beowulf)
we read this year.
More than Plot Summary
1.
Although plot summary may represent a large portion of entries on narrative prose or drama, ensure you do more
than simply summarize the reading. Record noteworthy quotes, and examine the effect of all the significant literary
elements being used.
2.
Reference chapter, page, or act and scene numbers to stay organized (after all, you want to be able to refer to this
info for discussion and study purposes). F.Y.I., students are typically allowed to use their journals on pop quizzes
and essay tests.
Organization
1.
Use various formatting options on the page to indicate different levels of organization in your notes.
2.
Consider using margins, blank lines, roman numerals, Arabic numbers, letters, underlining, highlighting, different
colors, etc. to structure your notes and keep them organized and easy to understand. Also, before handing in your
journal, use a post-it note to mark the beginning of the portion to be graded.
Fold Here
Place Glue Here