11th & 12th Grade Advanced Placement English Literature
Summer Reading Packet
2015-2016
PLEASE NOTE:
The final step of being accepted into the AP Literature course is to successfully complete all
summer reading requirements by the deadline of JULY 27th, 2015. Your assignments
should be brought to the ACA office on or before 3:00 p.m. on July 27th to be considered
“on time.” If you do not meet the summer deadline OR if it is clear that you did not do the
reading through the quality of the work you submit, your schedule will be immediately
changed to the regular English grade level course offered at ACA. (You will not be allowed
to take online English, and it will also be past the deadline to register for dual enrollment.)
Additional summer reading packets will be available through the link on the ACA website
under “current students” and then under the appropriate course heading. You will be
given a written exam over A Lesson Before Dying and Of Mice and Men upon return to
school in August during the first week of classes.
In addition, your enrollment in AP Literature is probationary during the first three weeks
of school. You have the opportunity to change your own schedule (drop the course), and
the teacher has the option at his or her discretion to make changes if it is apparent that you
will not be successful in AP Literature and Composition. (For example, if you do not pass
the summer reading exams, are not attending class regularly, or are clearly not doing well
on other course work, you might need to change to the standard English course.)
So, what will you be reading this summer?
ASSIGNMENT ONE: A Lesson Before Dying
Novel Overview:
A Lesson Before Dying is set in a small Cajun community in the late 1940s. Jefferson, a young
black man, is an unwitting party to a liquor store shoot out in which three men are killed; the
only survivor, he is convicted of murder and sentenced to death. Grant Wiggins, who left his
hometown for the university, has returned to the plantation school to teach. As he struggles with
his decision whether to stay or escape to another state, his aunt and Jefferson's godmother
persuade him to visit Jefferson in his cell and impart his learning and his pride to Jefferson
before his death. In the end, the two men forge a bond as they both come to understand the
simple heroism of resisting and defying the expected. Ernest J. Gaines brings to this novel the
same rich sense of place, the same deep understanding of the human psyche, and the same
compassion for a people and their struggle that have informed his previous, highly praised works
of fiction.
Please be aware that this is college level reading for a college level course. Although this work is
considered a classic and is recommended for the AP exam, it does contain one scene with brief
sexuality. I do believe the merit of the literature far outweighs the adult material in this one short
paragraph. It is an excellent novel!
Also, here’s a good reminder: YOU SHOULD ANNOTATE IN THE MARGINS AS YOU
READ THIS NOVEL! (Your novels WILL NOT be collected and graded based upon
annotations. This suggestion is simply good work ethic advice for an AP student.) What the
reader gets from annotating is a deeper initial reading and an understanding of the text that lasts.
You can deliberately engage the author in conversation and questions, maybe stopping to argue,
pay a compliment, or clarify an important issue—much like having a teacher or storyteller with
you in the room. When you come back to the book later, that initial interchange is recorded for
you, making an excellent and entirely personal study tool.
ASSIGNMENT PROCEDURE:
1. BEFORE reading the novel, complete the pre-reading questions that are in this packet.
Type your responses. Be detailed.
2. After reading and annotating the novel, read and annotate the article by author Ernest
Gaines entitled “Writing A Lesson Before Dying.”
3. Select ONE of the essay prompts below and type a 2-3 page) response. Be sure to
parenthetically cite any direct quotes or outside source material (including the article by
Gaines) and include an MLA formatted works cited page. I have included the properly
formatted citation for the works cited page below for the Gaines article here:
Gaines, Ernest J. "Writing A Lesson Before Dying." The Southern
Review 4 (2005): 770. General Reference Center Gold. Web. 9 Apr.
2015.
*Per MLA, in your parenthetical citation for this source, you would refer to
author’s last name and page number. For example: Author Ernest Gaines asserts that he
“initially…wanted the story to take place in the eighties and that the narrator, Grant, would come
from California” (Gaines 774).
A. Prompt One: For those of you who write creatively (or who simply enjoy learning
about the "process" that goes into writing a novel), Ernest Gaines's "Writing A Lesson
Before Dying" is an amazing peek inside of a writer's head as he imaginatively constructs
a novel. In this essay, Gaines tells us that he originally intended for ALBD to be set in the
1980s, but a series of factors led him to change the time setting to the 1940s. Briefly
recapitulate (recap/summarize) the reasons Gaines gives. Then offer your own analysis
based on the information Gaines provides. Obviously Gaines felt comfortable going back
into the past, but was it merely "comfort" with the era that led him back? (In other words,
why is the setting he chose significant?)
B. Prompt Two: Is A Lesson Before Dying a "religious" book? Religion is one of the
most prevalent topics in Southern literature as well as one of the most significant
phenomena in both the life of the individual Southerner and the Southern community. If
you argue that ALBD is religious, does Gaines promote a particular orthodoxy? Let's play
debate team: try your hand at BOTH sides of the argument--give reasons why and how
this novel could be interpreted as promoting a particular set of Christian values; then
argue why and how this novel could be interpreted as a rendering of one man's journey
toward faith in a manner more humanistic than religious.
C. Prompt Three: Besides religion, another topic that is important to this novel is
gender, especially gender ideas as affected by race and class in the South. In what ways
does A Lesson Before Dying present an ideal of and for manhood, particularly black
manhood, within the historical and fictional contexts of the novel?
D. Prompt Four: Education is very important in this novel – both its attainment and the
lack of it. Tante Lou continually refers to Grant as “the teacher.” The other men call him
“Professor.” However, Grant hates teaching, echoing the feelings of his own teacher,
Matthew Antoine. Contrast the opinions of education presented in this novel. Why do
some seek it and others consider it a burden? What role does it play in the character’s
lives and the life of the community?
(Again, be sure to properly cite any borrowed material, including direct quotes, paraphrase, or
summary from an outside source. Do not copy and paste or use someone else’s essay. By
submitting your summer work, you are stating that you have read the novel in its entirety. To
utilize the ideas of another (be they your brother or Sparknotes) without giving proper credit is
considered plagiarism, and will result in a failing grade for the assignment. Using outside sources
such as Sparknotes, Cliffnotes, echeat.com or any other literary study guide is NOT permitted for
these assignments. Your teacher wants to read YOUR thoughts, reactions, and interpretations.)
Be prepared for a novel exam and a potential in-class essay upon return to school in August!
ASSIGNMENT TWO: Of Mice and Men
Novel Overview:
John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men is a touching tale of the friendship between two men--set
against the backdrop of the United States during the depression of the 1930s. Subtle in its
characterization, the book addresses the real hopes and dreams of working-class America.
Steinbeck's short novel raises the lives of the poor and dispossessed to a higher, symbolic level.
Its powerful ending is climactic and shocking to the extreme. But, we also come to an
understanding of the tragedy of life. Regardless of the sufferings of those who live it, life goes
on.
DISCLAIMER: This novel does contain some profanity; however, the main characters are
“rough men” – migrant workers who live difficult, physically challenging lives. While your
teacher does not condone the use of profanity, it is part of the overall context and effect of this
novel. The novel is also excellent preparation for the AP Literature exam. We will be mature in
our discussions, and will address profanity in class from a Christian worldview.
Reminder: again, YOU SHOULD ANNOTATE IN THE MARGINS AS YOU READ THIS
NOVEL! (Your novels WILL NOT be collected and graded based upon annotations. This
suggestion is simply good work ethic advice for an AP student.)
Assignment Procedure:
1. Read and annotate the novel carefully. It is short and a very engaging story. The end will
surprise you!
2. Complete the packet about the novel. WORK INDEPENDENTLY!
Be prepared for a novel exam and a potential in-class essay upon return to school in August!
Final Thoughts:
1. Be sure to follow MLA formatting for your essay. (Times New Roman, double spaced,
12 point font, header, title, pagination, works cited page) If you need help with
formatting, the website www.purdueowl.com can help with MLA citation information.
2. Read both novels carefully and critically. You will be testing over each novel, as well as
working with analysis of each novel after you return to school. Both of these books are
wonderful preparation for the AP Literature exam.
3. ENJOY the reading! You are finally getting to delve in deeply. (If you were in AP
Language last year, I know you were missing fiction!) Both summer books will allow for
some interesting discussion in class. Be ready to share your insights.
4. Be proud of your work. Quality is just as important as quantity. Turn in your best work!
Do not settle for anything less. Do not rely on someone else’s analysis.
5. All summer work is due to the front office by the deadline of July 27th. Make sure
everything is clearly labeled by name and put in either a folder or large manila
envelope. (You do NOT have to turn in your annotated novels. Bring them to school with
you in August, however!)
It’s going to be a great year in AP English Literature & Composition!
“Literature is a luxury; fiction is a necessity.” ― G.K. Chesterton