Dear Sophomore Honors Student and Parent:
Greetings! Summer reading is a requirement for the honors English program. This summer you
need to acquire and read the following books:
1.
Siddhartha by Herman Hesse
2.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
3.
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Summer reading journals are due on the first day of school.
For each novel, find three quotes that summarize the major themes. In your discussion of each quote,
explain the situation in which the quote appears and then analyze the quote in relationship to the theme
and that situation.
Apply and discuss the hero cycle and its stages to each of the three novels. See the back of this sheet
for further explanation. (Siddhartha has small hero cycles within each chapter and a hero cycle for the
entire novel.)
Read On Self-Respect by Joan Didion and The Necessary Enemy by Katherine Anne Porter. Answer
the questions following each essay. ETHOS deals with the credibility of the author. PATHOS
evokes a feeling to the audience. And LOGOS is the argument. Analyze and discuss each of these
three as they relate to each essay.
Failure to complete the summer reading and journal by the first day of school will result in a zero
and will also affect assignments and grades pertaining to these novels during the first weeks of school.
This could result in a failing grade for the first quarter. The honors class policy is that no credit is
given for late work. The Larkin High School English Department wants students and parents alike to
be aware of these policies. We take summer reading seriously and hope you will too.
Enjoy your summer and the novels!
Mrs. Banwart (ext. 8355) and Miss Rees (ext. 4584)