Link to AP Prompts and Rubrics

https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/ap/pdf/ap18-frq-english-literature.pdf

https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/ap/pdf/ap18-sg-english-literature.pdf

Blizzard Bag III

For English 12 AP (A1 and A2): Read “Ajarry” in Underground Railroad, and participate in our Google Classroom online discussion ... including your initial post and at least one additional comment or question related to another post.

For English 12 CTP:                                                                            

Beowulf: Grendel’s Mother Ch 19-20                                                      

For the following questions, please include quotes (and line #’s) in your answers.  Use [  ]  ...  / as needed.

Ch. 19

1.      Why does Grendel’s mother come to Herot?

2.      Grendel’s mother is less powerful than Grendel.  How do you know?

3.      What act of violence does Gredel’s mother commit before she escapes?

Ch. 20

4.      Who is Esher?

5.      This chapter is Hrothgar speaking.  According to Hrothgar, where do Grendel and his mother live? What is it like? 

6.   Extra Credit: create a sketch of the monsters’ dwelling place, based on the description.  Label the important parts with “quote words” (w/line#s) from the book.  

HW 2/4: AP Prompt Highlighting

1. Please read through the "Question 3" prompts from AP Lit 1970-2017. 
2. For each one, highlight or underline the word or phrase that contains the essence of the prompt.
3. In the margin, please indicate a novel or play (abbreviations are fine) that would be a good choice to use in answering the prompt.
4. If you are unsure what a particular prompt is asking, or if you can't think of a novel which applies, please leave that prompt blank.  We can talk about it in class :)

Example (original):

1982. In great literature, no scene of violence exists for its own sake. Choose a work of literary merit that confronts the reader or audience with a scene or scenes of violence. In a well-organized essay, explain how the scene or scenes contribute to the meaning of the complete work. Avoid plot summary.

Example (marked up):

Their Eyes
1982. In great literature, no scene of violence exists for its own sake. Choose a work of literary merit that confronts the reader or audience with a scene or scenes of violence. In a well-organized essay, explain how the scene or scenes contribute to the meaning of the complete work. Avoid plot summary.

Please be prepared to explain your choice(s) in class.  We'll talk about the ones you feel most comfortable with -- and the ones that seem the toughest.

Example:

"I chose Their Eyes because each of the three major scenes of violence in the novel explore the question of trust and jealousy in romantic relationships -- an important stepping-stone to Janie's development as an independent character with a healthy romantic identity."

The Awakening Reading Schedule

.pdf available here 

Reading Assignments:

1/18  Ch. I-XV  p.1-45

Quiz and discussion on 1/22

1/22 Ch. XVI-XXVII p.45-83

Quiz and discussion on 1/25

1/25 Ch. XXVIII-XXXIX p. 83-116

Discussion 1/31, Written Exam 2/1

NOTE: Midterm Exams for English 12 AP are Tues. 1/29 (A1) and Wed. 1/30 (A2)

Make-Up Classwork 1/10: Hamlet IV.vi-vii Q's

1.       Hamlet left for England after declaring that he was going to think only “bloody” thoughts from this point onward.  It was going to be pretty difficult to do anything about Claudius from England, though.  What odd, offstage plot device sends Hamlet back to Denmark (IV.vi)?

2.            How are the tone and content of Hamlet’s two letters (to Horatio and Claudius) different?  In particular, what is does Hamlet’s diction (word choice!) imply in his letter to Claudius (IV.vii)?

3.            Claudius thinks perhaps that Laertes could kill Hamlet “accidentally” in a fencing match.  Claudius suggests that Laertes could just sort of happen to choose a sword “unbated,” or sharp, as opposed to the blunted weapon Hamlet would be using.  Pretty crafty, Claudius.  What does Laertes add to this plan in IV.vii.152-161?

4.            OK, so Laertes is crafty too.  But Claudius suggests they should have a “second” option, which is … (162-176)?

5.            Ophelia’s death, described in a hauntingly sad, sweet monologue by the Queen (IV.vii.181-198) dominates the ending of Act IV.  Does is come across as swift karma for Laertes’s evil plotting?  Does it seem like a logical or inevitable extension of her descent into madness?  Does she, perhaps, take her own life?  Is she finally taking charge of her life, but in an ultimately tragic way?  Why does Ophelia have to die??

6.            Water is sometimes a symbol of purification, sometimes destruction, sometimes cognition or deep intellect -- sometimes simply a natural, elemental symbol.  Which is it here, in relation to Ophelia’s death?  Use specific text details (w/line#’s) to support your thinking.

7.            Feeling bold?  Sketch a little image of Ophelia’s death and label some of the key details. (Not feeling bold?  Do a google search of Ophelia or Ophelia’s death and annotate a classic rendition of this scene … or several of them if this is intriguing to you.  Which parts are right out of the text, and which parts does the artist embellish?)

8.            Note: this “sentence completion” question is an attempt to get you to consider the significance of the juxtaposition of the death of Ophelia with the Gravedigger scene (V.i.).  We no sooner have processed the tragic death of Ophelia, then we have the “Clown” gravediggers debating whether or not Ophelia … (V.i.1-10)!

Make-Up Classwork 1/3: Hamlet Act IV

If you were absent on 1/3, please read Hamlet IV (scenes i-iv) and provide evidence for the following "Prove It!" statements:

1. (IV.i.) Gertrude tells Claudius that Hamlet is really crazy.

2. (IV.ii) Hamlet accuses Rosencrantz of working for the king.

3. (IV.iii) Hamlet refuses to give a straight answer about the whereabouts of the dead body.

4. (IV.iv) In Hamlet's soliloquy, he compares himself unfavorably to Fortinbras. (Note: Fortinbras makes a cameo appearance earlier in the scene, and Hamlet learns that Fortinbras will be going to war over a pretty much worthless piece of land just for the glory of it.)  

12/21: Blizzard Bag Day #2!

Well, we’re having an ice storm on the first day of Winter ... and it’s a Blizzard Bag Day.  Here are the assignments:

D-Block Public Speaking:
One good story deserves another.  You’ve now heard great examples of character development, the use of multiple settings, conflict-fueled storytelling, show-don’t-tell details, time-slows-down tension-building techniques, and — sometimes — a larger lesson learned about what really matters in life.  Let’s do it all again: your assignment is to brainstorm another good idea for a story, write the script with all six storytelling elements, and prepare to share with your class when we return.

A1&A2 English 12AP:
1) Complete your official Poetry Out Loud poem memorization.  You’ll be expected to have it ready when we return in January.  Remember: for our class you MUST have a new poem for this year.  I’m not interested in giving you credit for the poem you learned last year.
2) Complete Act III in Hamlet and respond to the following “Prove It!” statements.  For each statement, provide textual support, comments, and analysis to demonstrate its validity.
          1. III.i. — The Queen approves of Ophelia.
          2. III.i  — Ophelia expresses pity and empathy for Hamlet.
          3. III.ii. — Hamlet is sending mixed-messages to Ophelia.
          4. III.ii  — Hamlet knows Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are working against him.
          5. III.iii — Claudius has mixed feelings about his crimes.
          6. III.iv — Gertrude doesn’t know about the murder.
          7. III.iv. — Gertrude believes Hamlet.