AP Literature
Summer Reading Assignment
This is a required assignment for AP Literature and will be the first graded
assignment of the first semester. All work is due the first day of school.
#1 — Introduction to How to Read Literature Like a Professor
Read this short introduction (attached). Notice Foster’s discussion of “pattern recognition” when reading
literature. You’ll use this in your reading of Life of Pi.
#2 — The Life of Pi
Read The Life of Pi by Yann Martel. Please get your own copy since you’ll need it in class the first week
of school. If this is a book that you have already read, you should re-read it. Also, the movie is good, but
it leaves out critical elements of the story. The beauty of the movie also attempted to capture the narrative
of the book but often fell so very short. In other words, the movie isn’t going to get you very far with this
assignment.
As you read, notice patterns! You can decide on your own system (post-its, annotations, color coding,
etc). After you have read the book, but before the first day of school, create a three-columned chart in a
document. In the first column, identify FIVE patterns you noticed in the novel. In the second column, give
THREE quotations from the novel in which the pattern you noted in the first column was used (you can
use an ellipsis to shorten the quote, but make sure to provide the page number in MLA format). Finally, in
the third column, write a 100-150 word paragraph for each pattern, explaining its symbolic importance to
the novel. Make this analysis meaningful!
#3 — Novel Flashcards
You will share these with your classmates, but more importantly, these will help you as you begin to
prepare for the AP test.
Create two flashcards each on a 5 x 8 lined note card.
• Choose one novel and one play of literary value that you have read.
• Write the title and author for each of the works on the top of the cards (one for each card).
• Then, include the following information, filling up the card. You can use both sides of the card, but
you can only use one card per book...
o brief summary of the book
o major theme(s)
o main characters and the significance of their relationships in relation to the theme(s)
o main conflict between protagonist and antagonist and its contribution to the theme(s)
o three significant quotes from the book and each of their connections to the theme(s)
• Again, you can use both sides of the card, but write out (do not type) these cards.
#4 — Sign up on Quizlet
Go to https://quizlet.com/join/YMYKadGn4. This will give you access to the literary terms and definitions
for this class. You may need to create a log in. We will be doing work with these terms throughout the first
semester.
Remember, these assignments are meant to enrich your education while on break from school. Do not
wait until the last minute. Leisurely complete the reading and assignments over the whole summer, and it
will be much more profitable. Please feel free to email me at brown@sccs.cc if you have any question
concerning these assignments.
See you next year!
Mr. Brown