KERR HIGH SCHOOL
AP ENGLISH LITERATURE
SUMMER READING
2014
EVOLVING CANON --- EMERGING LITERACIES
What makes a novel or play a work of literary merit?
Purpose: To prepare you for the transition to AP Literature and to provide you with an
opportunity to experience contemporary and traditional fiction that is rich in meaning and
technique.
This summer you will be reading one play and two novels: a play of my choice, one novel from a
list of contemporary titles, and the last piece is a novel of your own choice.
In the spirit of self-determination, you are encouraged to choose books that interest you;
however, you will be given tools to evaluate these self-selected novels and develop a critical
opinion about these works. You will have the burden of proof, so choose wisely, and enjoy your
summer reading.
There will be a blogging component for one of the pieces. Please register on Turnitin.com before
we leave for summer break. The class ID is: 7960716 and the password is: juice.
ASSIGNED READING # 1: The Importance of Being Earnest---A Serious Comedy
for Trivial People by Oscar Wilde
You can find the text of this play online at www.online-literature.com/wilde/being_earnest .
You will be blogging on the turnitin.com class page over a period of three weeks with one blog
per week for a minimum total of 8 posts per blog: 4 original posts per week and 4 response
posts per week which are thorough, insightful, and creative. Each question qualifies as a post.
In order to receive a B, you will be required to post a minimum of 24 blogs for the three weeks
we are blogging. You will have to post more than 24 blogs if you wish to receive a higher grade.
All three blogs will start on the same date and run simultaneously. We will begin on
Monday, June 16. If you are interested in being a blog leader or facilitator, please see me
by May 16. All blogging will end on Thursday, July 3.
(Blog questions/ideas taken from litstudies.org)
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BLOG ONE TOPIC:

What is it to “be Earnest,” and what is the importance of doing so?

Now that we know Jack was always Earnest, what are we supposed think?

How is “Earnest” still present among people we know in today’s society?

How does money affect a person’s status in a society?

Why is it no longer an acceptable practice to openly request materialistic things such
as annual income for marriage? Is it a sign of improved civility? Why?
BLOG TWO TOPIC:

How does Oscar Wilde use comedy to comment on the values of his Victorian
culture?

What devices does Wilde use to satirize the Victorian notions of respect and
reputation, social order, social rank or wealth, gender roles, marriage and courtship,
sexual double standards, attitudes towards illness and death?

How do literary devices help a writer convey his or her message more effectively?

Identify several examples where characters say something paradoxical to give a
comedic effect.

What is the effect of juxtaposing a serious situation and trivial one?

How is the play a comedy of manners? (What are the main themes? What are the
characters’ foibles? What do they value most? How are they---characters, foibles,
values---treated?)
BLOG THREE TOPIC:

Wilde originally subtitled The Importance of Being Earnest “A Serious Comedy for
Trivial People” but changed that to “A Trivial Comedy for Serious People.” What is
the difference between the two subtitles?

In Wilde’s essay, “The Decay of Lying,” he insists that art (which he aligns with
lying---spinning stories and creating beautiful images to serve as forms for the
imagination) is superior to everyday life. Do you agree or disagree? Why?

What are the superficial or trivial things that are considered serious by the characters?
What are the serious things that get trivialized? What do you think are the serious
problems these characters have? Does the play itself suggest that we should be
serious about anything?

For George Bernard Shaw, the play is “rib-tickling” but lacking in “humanity.” Do
you agree with Shaw’s criticism of the play?
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ASSIGNED READING #2: Choose one book from the list of contemporary novels I
have carefully, painstakingly selected. This is step one in
arming you with criteria to evaluate literary merit and
explain your critical opinion about a text. For step two you
will provide evidence that your selected novel meets (or
doesn’t) the ten characteristics of what constitutes
literary merit.
Step One: Choose one novel from the following list:
• The Wasted Vigil by Nadeem Aslam
 The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
 And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini
 The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
 Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
 The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri
 House Rules by Jodi Picoult
 Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloane
 The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
 The Assembler of Parts by Raoul Wientzen
Step Two: Burden of proof: provide evidence for every item on the following list.
1. Entertains the reader and is interesting to read.
2. Does not merely conform to the expectations of a single genre or formula.
3. Has been judged to have artistic quality by the literary community (teachers, students,
librarians, critics, other writers, the reading public).
4. Has stood the test of time in some way, regardless of the date of publication.
5. Shows thematic depth: the themes merit revisiting and study because they are
complex and nuanced.
6. Demonstrates innovation in style, voice, structure, characterization, plot, and/or
description.
7. May have a social, political or ideological impact on society during the lifetime of the
author or afterward.
8. Does not fall into the traps of “pulp” fiction such as clichéd or derivative descriptions
and plot devices, or sentimentality rather than earned emotion.
9. Is intended by the author to communicate in an artistic manner.
10. Is universal in its appeal (i.e., the themes and insights are not only accessible to one
culture or time period).
(from Barry Gilmore, Standing on Merit: The Role of Quality and Choice in Student Reading)
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ASSIGNED READING #3: Choose one other novel of literary merit. This work may
be contemporary or classic, but you will be required to
defend your choice and to analyze and refer to it in class
discussions and writing assignments. Choose a novel you have not
yet read; be honest and show integrity. For ideas, visit the
College Board website, Google strings such as “literary novels,”
“award-winning novels,” etc., or talk to your local librarian and
others you know (not the English teachers).
After reading the novel, choose three passages (of AP-worthy
length) for close reading that exhibit an author’s innovative
style, structure, or any other of the ten characteristics that
you contend make the novel one of literary merit. Annotate
and analyze the passages accordingly.
DEADLINES:
1. Assigned work for both novels is due Tuesday, August 26. Regardless of Fall or Spring
semester enrollment, your work must be submitted on this date. Don’t forget that blogs
for The Importance of Being Earnest are due by Thursday, July 3. The blogs will count as
one major grade. Each assignment for the novels will count as a major grade.
2. Ten reading record cards are also due on Tuesday, August 26. The cards will count as one
major grade. See instructions below.
3.
If you are enrolled for the Spring semester, please make arrangements to take the
exam during any period on Tuesday, August 26. Your exam will be in an AP-style
multiple choice and timed writing format over your summer reading. The exam will
count as one major grade.
READING RECORD CARD INSTRUCTIONS
One of the major problems confronting students taking the AP English Literature Exam is the
request on some prompts that asks for the students to provide examples from what they have read
to support their answers. One means to help you is the use of a memory system called Reading
Record Cards. You may use either 4”x 6” or 5” x 8” index cards or make cards of these sizes on
card stock. Use these cards to record information about the books that you have read this year, in
past school years, or at home: one book per card / back and front. You will use these cards as a
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flashcard review system when it comes time for studying for your exam. The format for the card
follows. You may either write neatly or type your cards.
Title of Text
Author
Date of Publication
Genre
Setting (time, place, significance)
Point of View / Narrator
Characters (for each character include brief descriptions; identify protagonist,
antagonist; designate major and minor characters; textual evidence to
support your description)
Conflict(s) facing the protagonist
Theme(s) and Motif(s): list significant ones along with short description
Summary / Plot synopsis: be brief but write enough to help you remember details
Irony---is there any and what does it contribute to the story
Significant Symbols or other literary elements: label, give a specific example, and
brief explanation of its relevance to the work
Significant syntactical passages
Major quotes (3-5)
Please feel free to contact me at harrisonhouse@windstream.net or message me at my
Facebook which is: KathleenAnnSchreiberHarrison should you need help or clarification.
(Please note that you can “message” me on Facebook without having to “friend” me.) I look
forward to having you in my class next year. Have a wonderful summer!
Ms. Harrison
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