AP English Literature and Composition Suggested Summer Assignments for 2014-15
Thank you for accepting the challenge of AP English Literature and Composition. To better prepare for the new
school year I suggest students complete the summer assignments before school starts; at the very least I suggest you
obtain, read and re-read the assigned texts. If you are prone to procrastinate, be aware that this work will make up the
bulk of your grade for the second six-weeks (this gives late students time to panic, procrastinate and complete the work).
Please use the summer to get a head start on school assignments, and avoid the stress. I hope to see you in class in after
Labor Day, and I hope your summer will be productive and restful. – Mr. Rodebaugh
Assignments for the Summer
Exact due dates will be discussed once class starts, but these general guidelines will be followed so you know
the order assignments should be completed.
1. The Literary Devices Flashcards are due the first Friday of the first full week in class in September.
2. The Awakening – This book can be checked out from the Century’s library
3. One novel from List #1
4. One novel from List #2
5. All School Read novel (yes it should be read, but more on this in class.)
Literary Device Flashcards
Please make flashcards for the following list of words and word phrases. Write the word or words on one side of the card and
the literary definition on the other side (Make sure you understand the definition and find a literary example as well). PLEASE use a
dictionary of literary terms (I used the Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms). The flashcards will be checked in September,
and knowing these words will help you throughout the school year –Quizzes on the terms will happen throughout the school year.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Alliteration
Allusion
Antagonist
Anachronism
Analogy
Antithesis
Archetype
Aside
Cacophony
Catharsis
Characterization
Conflict
Connotation
/Denotation
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
Dramatic monologue
Dystopia
Epilogue
Extended metaphor/
Metaphor
Flashback
Foil
Formal diction
Foreshadowing
Frame Story
Hyperbole
Informal diction
Colloquial diction
Irony, Dramatic
Irony, Situational
27. Irony, verbal
verses sarcasm
28. Motif
29. Narrative structure
30. Nemesis
31. Oxymoron
32. Paradox
33. Parallelism
34. Matriarchal/ Patriarchal
society
35. Personification
36. Point of View
37. Prologue
38. Protagonist
39. Puns
40. Satire verses parody
verses farce
41. Setting
42. Simile
43. Soliloquy
44. Style/Syntax
45. Symbol
46. Synecdoche
47. Theme
48. Tone
49. Tragedy verses
Comedy
50. Tragic flaw/ Hamartia/
Hubris
The Awakening Assignment
Read the novel and annotate the novel as you read it. Identify three potential themes for the novel, and note symbols, motifs,
characterization and the overall narrative structure.
Theme = A central idea that goes beyond the story; it is expressed in a complete sentence. Love is a thematic topic, but
what the author expresses about love in novel is a theme. Good pieces of literature have multiple themes.
Here’s how to identify the theme in a piece of literature.
1. determine the topic/subject of the story answer what the story is about? What the story is about is the topic or subject.
Example: In The Fault in Our Stars a subject is Love
2. Answer what it the writer trying to say about the topic/subject
A theme of the book could be “Love impacts people at any stage of life with no regard to their condition, position or health.”
Symbolism = a person, place, object, or activity that stands for something beyond itself (examples black=evil. Rain =
cleansing/change in emotions.)
Motif = a pattern or repeated item color, event
Characterization = how the author describes the characters both through direct description or indirect evidence.
Two Novel Choices
For each novel students should do the following:
1. Choose a book. Read the book.
2. Annotate the book as you read. You will show your annotated book to the teacher. If you purchase a copy of the
book you can write in the book otherwise you post-it or sticky notes.
3. Students will prepare a 5-10 minute lesson to teach in class- Perhaps something you learned? (Think in terms of
themes).
4. PRESENT LESSON During the Second six weeks of school
Annotations of your texts (all novels)
Please note that annotations and marginalia (notes in the margin) should be done for all texts/works
(novels, plays short stories) read in class. This is the suggest system for this class.
This website has more information on annotation http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/courses/teachers_corner/197454.html
Annotation chart in Mr. Rodebaugh’s class.
*
Mark if something is
important.
Mark if you have questions
?
______
Underline/highlight
interesting info
Circle unfamiliar words
TC
FG
LD
Write responses in the margins
for theme and conflict
Identify figurative language or
literary devices
Choose ONE work from EACH list.
List #1
My Choice =
Author
1.
Jane Austen’s
Title
Pride and Prejudice
2.
Jane Eyre
3.
Charlotte
Bronte’s
Emily Bronte’s
4.
George Eliot's
Silas Marner
5.
Louisa May
Alcott’s
Little Women
6.
John Louis
Stevenson’s
Master of Ballantrae
Wuthering Heights
Description
Young ladies in Victorian society grow up and look for marriage and love in rural England. However, they are too
poor to offer any type of dowry so they are at the mercy of the men who desire them. It’s a classic romance novel
that has held readers attention for years.
Jane is orphaned grows up and works as a governess. The master of the house falls in love with Jane and they
plan to marry, but Jane’s future husband is hiding a terrible secret.
On the moors of England Heathcliff is found, adopted and rejected when the master of the house dies. A complex
love affair with Catherine starts, but of course she marries another.
Silas, wrongly accused by his best friend, moves away, and becomes a miser who loves only his gold. A young
orphan enters his life and changes Silas forever. It’s a good one kids.
It’s not a story about munchkins. During the American Civil War a family of women (hence the title) must deal
with life without the father of the house. Lorrie, Jo and the other girls have many adventures and romance for a
few of women ensues. It’s an American classic.
Two brothers, one evil and one good, battle against each other in England and in America. The evil brother is
killed or is he? This complex adventure story will challenge you.
List #2 Novels from District Reading list 9-12
My Choice =
Title
1. Fahrenheit 451
2. To Kill a Mockingbird
3. Lord of the Flies
4. All Quiet on the Western
Front
5. A Separate Peace
6. Of Mice of Men
7. The Great Gatsby
8. The Bean Trees
Author
Ray Bradbury
Harper Lee
William Golding
Erich Maria Remarque
Description
Future world were reading is banned and books are burned.
Lawyer in the South defends an innocent black man who is accused of raping a PWT girl.
Boys on island strive to live with no adult guidance.
World War I tale of German soldiers on the front lines of the battlefield.
John Knowles
John Steinbeck
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Barbara Kingsolver
9.
Sylvia Plath
Coming of age story of boys at a private school during WW2.
Workers during the Depression dream of owning their own farm.
During the 1920’s a man becomes rich and famous and mystery ensues.
Single mom tries to raise her adopted daughter while the biological family tries to take the
daughter away.
Young girl goes to New York and tries to make in the business world during the 1950’s and
she has issues.
Poor Oklahoma family heads to California during the Dust Bowl and Great Depression.
The Bell Jar
10. The Grapes of Wrath
John Steinbeck
Summer Contact Information
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at school (room 315), e-mail me at school
gary.rodebaugh@sausd.us Please note that this is the school e-mail system, and some or most junk mail gets
filtered. Type “AP Summer work” in the heading otherwise your e-mail will be ignored