Advanced Placement English 12
Indian River High School
Mr. Borbie L. Davis, Instructor
Summer Reading List
2015
Dear Student:
Welcome to AP English 12, an exciting and enjoyable college level course that requires
advanced critical and analytical reading, writing, and thinking skills that will be finetuned and enhanced throughout the course. We embark on a journey that you will
neither regret nor forget as you are carefully prepared to pass the AP English
examination in May of 2016.
For this summer, you are to read the following texts:
Hamilton, Edith. Mythology
Dostoevsky, Fyodor. Crime and Punishment
Rhys, Jean. Wide Sargasso Sea
Obtaining the books:
• You may pick up a copy of Wide Sargasso Sea from Mr. Davis in G20 or Mrs.
Kenneday in G12 beginning June 5th.
•
Both Mythology and Crime and Punishment may be purchased at Barnes and Noble
or obtained at the public library. I, however, recommend that you purchase a
personal copy so that you may mark it up and include helpful marginal notes.
Suggested Reading Schedule and Assignments:
•
June – Wide Sargasso Sea Assignment Due: 9/ 25/15
This is very quick read that you should be able to knock out by the end of June.
Assignment: In a short essay with an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a
conclusion that goes beyond summary, discuss how the novel in two important
ways deals with betrayal and unfulfillment.
•
July – Crime and Punishment Assignment Due: 9/ 18/15
Take your time to read closely and carefully, taking copious notes about the
central character, Raskolnikov, his superman theory, and his interactions with
other characters. Assignment: The word raskol in Russian means schism and
split. Based on the careful notes and close reading of the text, write a short essay
(brief introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion which goes beyond
summary) that examines the duality of Raskolnikov’s character, giving specific
examples of how he is torn between the desire to do evil and the desire to do
good.
•
August – Mythology Assignment Due 9/28/15
Reading Hamilton will allow you to somewhat relax from the intensity and
heaviness of Crime and Punishment as you enjoy intriguing and timeless tales of
gods, demi-gods and humans. Reach some conclusion as to how they are
relevant to explaining our way of life, our thinking and/or our belief systems.
Assignment: Construct a chart which categorizes the gods, their characteristics,
their adventures, and lessons that their experiences teach the modern reader. Be
sure to include specific page numbers which should be enclosed in parentheses.
Your chart should look something like the one below:
Gods/Demi-gods
Cupid & Psyche
Characteristics
Adventures
God of Love & Romantic
Irresistible
relationship
Attraction
involving trust
Lessons/Theme
Love cannot live
where there is no
trust ( )