Colegio Karl C. Parrish
A Tradition of Excellence
AP Literature
Curricular Standards and Pacing Guide
Grade 12
Adopted from California State Standards and College Board (2012)
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/Controller.jpf
http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/
Prepared by A. Morgan, Curriculum Coordinator
Unit
Time
Essential Questions
What does it mean to be truly
successful?
What is a meaningful
relationship?
Writing to understand: Informal,
exploratory writing activities that
enable students to discover what
they think in the process of
writing about their reading
Writing to explain: Expository,
analytical essays in which
students draw upon textual
details to develop an extended
explanation/interpretation of the
meanings of a literary text
Writing to evaluate: Analytical,
argumentative essays in which
students draw upon textual
details to make and explain
judgments about a work's artistry
and quality, and its social and
cultural values
◦The social and historical values
What are the elements of
it reflects and embodies
literature?
◦Such elements as the use of
figurative language, imagery,
How do the elements of
literature effect interpretation? symbolism, and tone
What can Literature teach us
about History?
The Great
Gatsby
Short
Stories
3-4 weeks
5-6 weeks
College Board Curricular
Requirement
◦The social and historical values
it reflects and embodies
◦Such elements as the use of
figurative language, imagery,
symbolism, and tone
Resources
Detailed Theme
Discussion
Questions
Surrealism
Jazz Tone and
Mood
Google Earth
Project
Short Story Unit
Scoring guidelines
for pros response
question
A Brave
New World
Sidhartha
5-6 weeks
2-3 weeks
How can I effectively evaluate Writing to understand: Informal,
exploratory writing activities that
a piece of Literature?
enable students to discover what
they think in the process of
How are setting, tone,
structure, characters, author’s writing about their reading
attitudes, symbols, and theme Writing to explain: Expository,
analytical essays in which
created and how are they
students draw upon textual
connected for interpretation.
details to develop an extended
explanation/interpretation of the
meanings of a literary text
Writing to evaluate: Analytical,
argumentative essays in which
students draw upon textual
details to make and explain
judgments about a work's artistry
and quality, and its social and
cultural values
◦The social and historical values
What is dystopia?
it reflects and embodies
Writing to evaluate: Analytical,
How do we evaluate our
argumentative essays in which
society?
students draw upon textual
details to make and explain
What is Sociology? Address
judgments about a work's artistry
and quality, and its social and
How does Literature
cultural values
comment on society?
◦The social and historical values
How do we find ourselves
it reflects and embodies
spiritually?
◦Such elements as the use of
figurative language, imagery,
What is spirit?
symbolism, and tone
Writing to explain: Expository,
What is Diction and Syntax’s
Stories are found
in
Literature AP ed.
Roberts and Zweig
And
Perrine’s
Literature:
Structure, Sound
and Sense 11 ed.
Arp and Johnson
A Comprehensive
Unit from another
AP teacher
Comprehension
questions
BBC life of Buddha
Allegory writing
effect on Tone?
What are the causes and
consequences of
imperialism?
What is human nature?
Heart of
Darkness
4-5 weeks
How is a story’s setting a
reflection of a story’s theme?
How can I analyze an entire
work without summarizing?
3x3
independent
novel
project
Independent
ongoing
project
during
second
semester
analytical essays in which
students draw upon textual
details to develop an extended
explanation/interpretation of the
meanings of a literary text
◦The social and historical values
it reflects and embodies
assignment
Writing to evaluate: Analytical,
argumentative essays in which
students draw upon textual
details to make and explain
judgments about a work's artistry
and quality, and its social and
cultural values
Vocabulary
◦The social and historical values
it reflects and embodies
◦Such elements as the use of
figurative language, imagery,
symbolism, and tone
Writing to understand: Informal,
exploratory writing activities that
enable students to discover what
they think in the process of
writing about their reading
Writing to explain: Expository,
analytical essays in which
students draw upon textual
details to develop an extended
explanation/interpretation of the
Setting Analysis
Question
Setting analysis
History of
Imperialism in
Congo
Freud’s stages of
consciousness
3x3 prompt and
rubric
meanings of a literary text
Writing to evaluate: Analytical,
argumentative essays in which
students draw upon textual
details to make and explain
judgments about a work's artistry
and quality, and its social and
cultural values
AP Literature follows the English 12 Course. The units and on-going class structures outlined in this document are done in addition to those in the
English 12 document. Supplemental assignments for units in English 12 are given in this document as well. The AP Literature course is accredited by the
College Board, who has outlined specific curricular requirements for this course.
Important AP documents consulted year-round:
Syllabus
Tone and Mood Words
Common root words, Suffixes, and Prefixes
Annotation
Literature Devices
Syntax
Major Works Data Sheets
Old AP Literature Open Response Questions and multiple choice questions
Theme Discussion Question
Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.
What is the meaning of the epigraph by Thomas Parke D’Invilliers? How does it relate to the major
themes of this book?
In the very last line of Chapter Three, Nick Carraway claims: "I am one of the few honest people that I
have ever known." By the end of the book, Jordan Baker decides that this statement itself a lie. Is Nick
Carraway honest or dishonest?
Is Nick Carraway a necessary character in this story? If we were not given the story mediated through his
perspective, what would we gain? What would we lose?
According to the novel, what is it about the past that draws us both forward and leaves us stuck where
we are? How are we to be set free from this constant revision of the past, which clouds the future?
Religion is notoriously absent until the very end, when Myrtle Wilson’s husband claims that he told his
wife that she couldn’t fool God. Why is this the first mention of God? How does this sudden invoking of
religious morals function within the rest of the story and why?
Could this story have taken place in other parts of the United States – for example, Chicago – or were
Long Island and New York City the necessary setting?
Are Nick and Gatsby more similar than Nick would like to admit?
What might be the "something" that Nick is reminded of, yet cannot recall, at the end of Chapter Six?
What is the effect of us getting the information out of order? We don’t know the truth about Gatsby
until Chapter Six, and we don’t know the rest of the truth until Chapter Eight. We get even more
information when Jay’s father shows up; what’s the deal?
Is Gatsby great? In what way? How might he not be great? Does his greatness evolve over the course of
the novel? What is the difference, in this text, between perceived greatness and actual greatness?
How does the character of Nick (inside the story, not the voice telling it) change over the course of the
novel? What about the narrative voice? Although the entire story is told in retrospect, does the act of
telling it create changes in his narrative style? Could it be that both character-Nick and narrator-Nick are
changed?
Who really was driving when Myrtle was struck and killed? Can Nick be sure? Can we? If Nick insists that
a person shouldn’t criticize others, then why does it matter who killed her?
Take a look at Nick’s opening lines. If this advice is the lens through which we read The Great Gatsby,
how does it affect our view of the events that transpire? Does refraining from criticism promote
compassion, or amorality?
Jazz Tone and Mood
Google Earth Project
Google Earth Project
Find a map of Manhattan and Long Island on the Map.
Fitzgerald himself along with his family lived on Manhasset Neck for a period of time. At that time many
new mansions were being built. Many speculate that this is his inspiration for the West Egg.
Your job:
1.
Mark the East and West Egg, and the Valley of Ashes on the map.
2.
Next think of all the famous landmarks in New York City and Long Island (Wall Street, Broad
Way, Park Ave, The Empire State Building, The Statue of Liberty, Elis Island, The Hamptons etc…) and
mark them on the map.
3.
What ideas do these landmarks represent?
After you have marked these icons, consider why Fitzgerald creates this semi fictional setting.
Respond to this Question:
How does the geography of the story follow the story’s theme?
Short Story Unit
Short Story Unit
Point of View
Key concepts:
1.
2.
3.
4.
First, Second, and Third Person- Limitations and affect they create.
Reliable/ Unreliable Narrator
Major Participant/Minor Participant/Non-Participating But Identifiable
Dramatic Third Person/Omniscient/ Limited Omniscient
Stories:
•
•
•
“Neighbors” Raymond Carver
“Luck” Mark Twain
“How to Become a Writer”
Date of in class writing:
Characterization
Key Concepts:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Implied character traits/dialect
Archetype/stock character
Round/flat
Protagonist /Antagonist… Hero/Antihero
Foil
Persona
Epiphany
Stories:
•
•
•
“Cathedral” Raymond Carver
“A Jury of Her Peers” Susan Glaspell
“The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” Mark Twain
Date of in class writing:
Tone and Style
Key Concepts:
•
Irony/verbal/situational/ dramatic
•
•
•
•
•
Sarcasm
Melodramatic/Sentimentality
Dramatize/editorialize/poeticize
Diction
Syntax- See handout in “Important Ap Lit documents
Stories:
•
•
•
“Harrison Bergernon” Kurt Vonnegut
“Rape Fantasies” Margret Atwood
“A and P” John Updike
Date of in class writing:
Symbolism and Allegory
•
•
“Young Goodman Brown” Nathaniel Hawthorn
“A Hunger Artist” Franz Kafka
o The cage is a symbol, being in the cage is an allegory
Historical and Cultural Context
Key Concepts:
•
Anachronism
Stories:
•
•
“My Kinsman, Major Molineux” Nathaniel Hawthorn
“The Things they Carried” Tim O’Brien
Date of in class writing:
Theme or Idea
•
•
“The Tell Tale Heart” Edger Allen Poe
“The Horse Dealer’s Daughter” D H Lawrence
Date of in class writing:
Comprehension questions
Siddhartha Study Guide Questions
Chapter 1 – The Brahmin’s Son
1. Why is Siddhartha unhappy? Why is his spirit like a “waiting vessel”?
2. Why is Govinda willing to follow him?
3. How are the Samanas described? From his description, how does the author feel about them?
4. How did Siddhartha convince his father? Why didn’t he just go?
5. Why, do you suppose, Siddhartha’s mother doesn’t have more of a role in the decision?
Chapter 2 – With the Samanas
1. How does he act when he is with the Samanas?
2. What is his goal? What happens when he reaches that goal?
3. How does Siddhartha meditate?
4. What frustrates Siddhartha?
5. Complete the quote: “I could have learned more quickly and easily ________________.” Explain this.
6. According to Siddhartha, what can one learn? Explain this.
7. Who is Gotama? What does the author think of him?
8. What does Siddhartha do with the oldest Samana? What does that feat show?
Chapter 3 - Gotama
1. How is Gotama different from the Samanas?
2. How do they recognize him?
3. Why does Govinda choose to join him? Why won’t Siddhartha join him?
4. According to Siddhartha, how will he find enlightenment?
5. Gotama asks him if his, Gotama’s, followers will also find enlightenment. Siddhartha dodges this
question. How?
6. What has the Buddha robbed from him? What has he given?
Chapter 4 - Awakening
1. What does Siddhartha decide to study? How is that the one field he has been ignorant in?
2. Why does he feel an “icy chill”? He compares himself to a star. How is that so?
3. How is he different now?
4. What is the “Self”? Why has it occupied Siddhartha so?
5. When Siddhartha “awakes” from his dream, what does he see for the first time?
Chapter 5 - Kamala
1. How has his point of view changed? How does the writing style reflect this?
2. Complete the quote: “To obey no other eternal command __. Nothing else was necessary.” What
does this quote mean?
3. What dream does Siddhartha see? Will this woman lead him to enlightenment?
4. What does Siddhartha think of the Ferryman and of the river?
5. Why doesn’t Siddhartha “ascend the tree” with the woman?
6. Hesse uses a simile to describe the woman’s (Kamala’s) mouth. What is it? What does that say about
the woman?
7. How does Siddhartha prepare for Kamala? What does he want from her?
8. Why might the portrayal of Kamala be politically incorrect?
9. What three things can Siddhartha do?
10. When Siddhartha receives his first kiss, the style changes. How? Why?
11. Who is Kamaswami?
12. Siddhartha compares himself to a stone. How is this so?
Chapter 6 – Amongst the People
1. How does Siddhartha take control of the interview?
2. For all of his holy skills, in the end, why does Kamaswami hire him?
3. In your own words and thoughtfully, what did Kamala teach him?
4. What makes Siddhartha good at business? Why might he be an excellent partner for Kamaswami?
5. What does his four day trip to the village show about Siddhartha? How could that be good business?
6. What does Siddhartha’s inner voice say? How is life “flowing past” him?
7. What do you suppose a Samana heart is?
8. How are Siddhartha and Kamala similar?
Chapter 7 – Samsara
1. Does Siddhartha have a bad life? What is good about it?
2. What had Siddhartha learned “amongst the people”?
3. What happened when the property finally became chain and a burden?
4. How does his dice playing echo his real life?
5. What was his Kamala dream about?
6. What was the Bird dream about? What does it mean?
7. Why does he feel dead?
8. Why is it important that Kamala is pregnant? Why out of that last trip?
Chapter 8 – By the River
1. Why does Siddhartha wish to kill himself?
2. What is the tone of this section. is it entirely serious?
3. What sound does he here? How does he react?
4. How is he different when he wakes up? Who is sitting with him?
5. What does Siddhartha start lecturing his friend about?
Chapter 9 – The Ferryman
1. What does Siddhartha learn from the Ferryman?
2. How are the skills he is learning now important to him for life?
3. What do people say about Siddhartha and the Ferryman?
4. How are they becoming alike? Is this a good thing?
5. Describe the events surrounding Kamala’s meeting Siddhartha again.
6. How has Siddhartha changed since their last meeting? How has Kamala changed?
7. What happens to Kamala? How does this effect Siddhartha?
Chapter 10 – The Son
1. What about Siddhartha would make him a lousy father?
2. How does young Siddhartha take advantage of the father?
3. What does he try and do for his son? Why won’t it work?
4. Why doesn’t he punish the boy?
5. Why is the river laughing? How has Siddhartha gotten “his own”?
6. How can love be “Samsara”?
7. Why does the son hate the father?
8. Why did he break the oar?
9. In losing his son, what might Siddhartha have gained?
Chapter 11 – Om
1. What “wound” does Siddhartha have? What is the different light that he sees people in?
2. What has been his biggest change since becoming a ferryman? As a result, how does the tone of the
book change?
3. What does the river do when Siddhartha goes to see his son? Whose reflection does he see?
4. Siddhartha and Vasudeva listen very, very closely to the river. What do they hear? Why is everything
interconnected?
5. Where does Vasudeva go? (Hint: not just the woods)
Chapter 12 – Govinda
1. Why is there still restlessness in Govinda’s heart?
2. What is wrong with seeking, according to Siddhartha?
3. Why doesn’t Siddhartha have a doctrine? How can wisdom not be communicable? Can you
communicate knowledge?
4. What is the symbolism of the stone?
5. How can Nirvana and Samsara be the same?
6. What does Govinda see Siddhartha do? What does this show about Siddhartha’s final change?
Allegory writing assignment
Explain Siddhartha’s journey in terms of a “quest;” at the same time explain how Siddhartha is an
allegory for Buddhism itself.
Reading Question
Heart of Darkness analysis questions
Directions: For each topic, compose a paragraph that begins with a focused topic sentence. Make sure
to include accurate citations for all supporting quotations.
For questions that require multiple quotations, you may create a bulleted list; however, your analysis
must be in the form of a paragraph.
1. Heart of Darkness is a frame story. An unnamed narrator begins the story on the deck of the Nellie in
London on the Thames River and listens to Marlow recount his journey. Explain the significance and
impact of the frame narrative to the story. Identify three shifts within the novella between this narrator
and Marlow who narrates most of the story. Why are these particular points of change significant?
2. Chiaroscuro is the contrasting of light and shade. From Italian, meaning “bright dark,” it is a term
referring to the effect obtained in a painting or literary work when light and dark images or patterns of
imagery are contrasted or emphasized. Conrad repeatedly utilizes chiaroscuro and often uses reverses
of the traditional symbolism of black and white in Heart of Darkness. Analyze the effect of this technique
on meaning and purpose. Provide evidence through two examples where he uses traditional symbolism
and four examples where symbolic value is inverted.
3. Conrad often employs impressionism to depict how scenes appear—or what they seem to be. Discuss
the impact of literary impressionism on Conrad’s message. Illustrate your ideas with four examples
where he refers to a person, place, or object using this conflict—the conflict of illusion versus reality.
(seems, appears, looks like)
4. What does Conrad suggest about the concept of work in Heart of Darkness and its relationship to
civilization? Find four references to work in the novella; these will be explicit references to work or
labor, usually observations by Marlow. What conclusions can you draw from these references? In your
analysis, consider that most of the novel's characters are given only descriptive titles of their jobs—not
actual names (doctor, brickmaker, accountant, manager, or helmsman, for example).
5. Invent titles for each of the three chapters, and provide a brief defense for each of your titles. Make
sure that you explain how these titles relate to the novella title and provide specific textual support.
Vocabulary
Heart of Darkness Vocabulary
For each chapter of Heart of Darkness, find 20 words that are unfamiliar to you.
1. Provide the proper citation.
2. Write a definition
3. From the list of words below find a synonym.
Abject
Alacrity
Allude
Apparition
Ascetic
Askew
Aspiration
atrocious
Audacity
August
Beguile
Benevolence
Brusque
Circumvent
Conflagration
Confound
Declivity
Desolation
Diaphanous
Discourse
Disparagingly
Edifying
Emissary
Enigma
Evanescent
Exultation
Farcical
Fecund
Guileless
Harlequin
Immutability
Impalpable
Impudence
Indefatigable
Inexorable
Innate
Inscrutable
Insidious
Insipid
Interminable
Intrepidity
Joviality
Languidly
Lugubrious
Luminous
Malevolently
Moribund
Morose
Noxious
Obsequiously
Ostentation
Pacifically
Perceptible
Perdition
Pestilence
Philanthropic
Placidity
Precarious
Prevaricator
Primeval
Propensity
Prudently
Pulsating
Rapacious
Repose
Reproachful
Sedentary
Sententiously
Sepulcher
Servile
Somber
Superciliousness
Taint
Tepid
Traverse
Trenchant
Tumult
Venerable
Vivaciously
Setting analysis
“We glided past like phantoms, wondering and secretly appalled, as sane men would before an
enthusiastic outbreak in a madhouse.”
This simile is comparing principally
a. The bemused look of the men on the steam boat to the hysterical uproar of an insane asylum.
b. The men’s confusion of the river to the awkwardness of insane people.
c. Marlow’s perception of the steamboat as is passes through the river to a group of socially
incompatible people.
d. the insanity of their mission to the commotion of a riot in a prison.
Find a paragraph in which you could derive an answer from this question:
In a well written essay discuss how setting and landscape provide symbolic meaning.
History of Imperialism in Congo
Class assignment:
Research the Colonialism in Africa. Make a presentation.
Your presentation needs to include:
•
•
•
•
•
Countries involved and where
Reasons for colonizing $ and God
Products and goods involved in trade
Effects on Africans
Effects on Europeans
During our reading find 5 quotes which are a reflection of the themes from the 5 topics of the
presentation.
Write a paragraph sandie for each explaining how the quote is a reflection.
Freud’s stages of consciousness
3x3 prompt and rubric
Open Response: Open Essay Strategy
William Melvin Kelly, a prominent African American writer, suggests that writers of fiction should create
three, three-word sentences that summarize a prospective plot to be sure that the story contains a
beginning, middle and an end. This is called a “Literary 3x3.” These are three three-word thematic
statements that capture the essence of the work of literature.
You are going to create a “book talk” presentation where you expose the wisdom and powerful life
lessons that great literature exposes.
Part One
1. For you independent novel create a literary 3x3.
2. After you have created your literary 3x3 think of the over-arching question which the work is
asking about the human condition; and specifically of which subject of the human condition:
society, love, death, etc. See the “list of subjects” for ideas.
3. For each 3x3 think of 3 events or details from the story which work as evidence for each 3-word
theme statement.
4. After you have pondered over the events and details of your story, consider the question you
made; what is the answer? You answer should be a very convincing “theme statement” ☺
Part 2
How is the theme and wisdom exposed in your story relevant in our lives?
Draw, from you thematic study you just completed, parallels to the real word.
This can be:
•
•
•
•
•
•
A current event
A story in Politics/Geo-politics
A social movement
A historical figure
A historical event
A government policy
• Or something you run by me that I think is cool.
Notice the “A’s”
Explain how the themes in your novel are the same in your ‘real life’ event. You should be able to make
connections not only to the overarching theme of your story but each mini 3-word theme statements.
Rubric
5
3X3 WITH 3
SUPPORTING
DETAILS OF
FOR EACH
THEME
QUESTION
CAN BE
CONNECTED
TO THE ALL 3
3X3-THEMES
THEME
STATEMENT
HAS A SUBJECT
AND AN
EVALUATION
EXPLANATION
OF ‘REAL LIFE’
EVENT IS
THOROUGH
AND DETAILED
CONNECTIONS
TO THE REAL
LIFE EVENT
ARE
CONVINCING
AND
COMPLETE
(CONNETING
10
11-13
14-17
18-20
TO THE 3X3)
100 points