AP English 151934v1

Syllabus for AP English Literature 11
EMAIL IS MY FAVORITE WAY TO BE CONTACTED
Voice mail x425
What are some of the major literary works humanity has produced? What are
they about? Why are they important? This course will consider these fundamental
questions as well as the context of literature, seeking to understand and draw
connections between historical and cultural context and written expression. To this
end, we will read the masters of the day moving from the Greeks to Contemporary
Literature. We will move chronologically paying attention to how literature has
evolved. We will learn to write better, without fear and with clarity and accuracy. We
will learn to recognize and avoid common usage errors as well as how to appreciate
the magic and beauty of language. Our work in this course will prepare students for
the AP Literature exams. There will be an emphasis on participation and independent
original thinking. Bring your brain.
Goals:
o To deepen our reading abilities and develop an appreciation of literature
and its role in our lives.
o To learn literary terms and how to use them.
o To develop critical thinking abilities for reading and analysis of literature.
o To know how to write a formal outline and a variety of essays including
persuasive, compare and contrast and expository.
o To improve vocabulary, grammar, and punctuation skills.
o To learn how to take notes in class that help you recall information
conveyed in a lecture.
o To learn and practice different styles of creative writing.
o To practice revision and discover the importance of strong writing skills.
o To familiarize ourselves with the content and form of the AP English
exams in Language and Composition and Literature and Composition.
o To deepen our knowledge of ourselves and the human condition.
We will read the poetry of Rumi, Blake, Shelley, Keats, Wordsworth, Coleridge,
Matthew Arnold, Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, T.S. Eliot, Robert Frost, Langston
Hughes Dylan Thomas, Seamus Heaney, Pablo Neruda, Garcia Lorca, William Carlos
Williams, Allen Ginsberg, Slyvia Plath, Anne Sexton, Robert Lowell, Denise Levertov,
Audre Lorde, Charles Bukowski, Adrienne Rich, William Stafford and others.
Our main texts
Novels and plays
1. The Great Gatsby (summer reading text) F. Scott Fitzgerald
2. Agamemnon Aeschylus
3. The Poetics Aristotle
4. Hamlet Shakespeare
5. The Tragedy of Dr. Faustus David Mamet
6.The Death of Ivan Ilych Leo Tolstoy
7. Les Miserables Victor Hugo
8. Heart of Darkness Joseph Conrad
9. Death of a Salesman Arthur Miller
10. On Writing Stephen King
Short stories
1. The Mark on the Wall byVirginia Woolf
2. Escapes by Joy Williams
3. A Perfect Day for Bannafish by JD. Salinger
4. A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O’Connor
5. So Much Water so Close to Home by Raymond Carver
6. Popular mechanics by Raymond Carver
7. I stand here Ironing by Tillie Olsen
8. That Evening Sun Go Down William Faulkner
9. Bonedaddy Quincy Nell and the 5000 Watt BTU by William Gay
10. You can’t Kill the Rooster by David Sedaris
11. View From a Headlock by Jonathan Lethem
12. A Village after Dark by Kazou Ishiguro
13. The Smoothest Way is Full of Stones by Julie Orringer
14. All that you love will be carried away by Stephen King
15. What you Pawn I will Redeem by Sherman Alexie
16. Bright and Morning Star by Richard Wright
17. At the Bunchgrass Edge of the World by Annie Prouix
18. Werewolves in their Youth by Micheal Chabon
19. A Dog called Hopi by Sybil Smith
20. Field Burning by William Wharton
Required Materials:
Notebook ( a binder that will keep handouts safe all year)
Paper and Pen (preferred) or pencil
Dictionary and thesaurus at home
Grading:
50% of your grade will be on:
daily reading quizzes, vocabulary and grammar worksheets and quizzes, note
taking abilities, notebooks and class participation/attitude.
50% of your grade will be on:
homework assignments, essays, exams and creative writing.
This is an AP class: Advanced Placement work is different both qualitatively
and quantitatively. To be in AP Literature you need an A in your previous
semester of English. Overall, the AP course is more difficult than English 11. It
requires more writing, reading, critical analysis and strong time management
skills. You will read at least one extra novel and write at least one additional
essay on a book from the honors book list per semester. You will also be asked
to challenge yourself intellectually and be expected to articulately express what
you learn.
Late work policy: If you do not hand in an assignment on the due date you
will lose points. If you contact me at least 24 hours in advance of a due date, I
will consider the circumstances and respond fairly. If you tell me when you
walk in the door that you didn’t do your assignment it will be considered late
and marked down.
Class Expectations:
Homework. Readings and assignments are due at the beginning of class on the
dates specified. There will not be time during class to finish your
homework. Homework is designed to further your understanding of the
text and to deepen your critical analytical abilities. Each question asks you
to explore thoroughly aspects of the author’s meaning and how it is
communicated.
Essay assignments must be typed with 12 point plain font (Times New
Roman). and DOUBLE SPACED. Your name and the date should be on
the top right corner and multiple pages should be stapled together. If an
assignment is given a word count, you must keep to the limit. If the
assignment is given the phrase approximate, that means within 20%,
(approximately 500 words means between 400 and 600 words, not 300 or
700). Moderate deviations will lower the grade; significant deviations will
have the essay returned unread and considered late. No essay grade is ever
final. You may rewrite essays as often as you like within the semester,
with the rewrite grade replacing the previous grade. Rewriting is
rewarded, and generally necessary.
Writing will be evaluated according to six criteria: Ideas (clear, relevant),
Organization (catchy beginning, relevant content, timely ending), Voice
(genuine, appropriate, creative), Word choice (precise, original), Sentence
fluency (transitions, variation), and conventions and presentation (overall
correctness, attention to detail).
Working alone and together: I hope and expect that you will discuss the
readings and assignments with your classmates. Most great insights come
from some form of collaboration. Yet, everything you turn in under your
own name should be only your work. Plagiarism and cheating on quizzes
and/or tests will have serious consequences.
Classroom attitude: You should come to class every day prepared to
participate and actively learn. There will be an attitude of respect and
accountability in class. You must raise your hand to speak. Everyone has a
right to their own opinion, and in an academic setting, opinions should be
defended with evidence and clear argumentation. Evidence and
argumentation may be critiqued, not personal opinions.
Extra help: You may contact me for extra help on any assignment. My goal is
to have you succeed, and different students require different types and
levels of support. Last minute work is highly discouraged, so early
requests will be met with more enthusiasm. I have high expectations, and
accommodations can usually be made for unusual circumstances, but
contacting me at 9 pm about an essay assigned the previous week and due
the next morning will be met with less flexibility on my part.
Week 1:
9/11—9/13
Mon: No Class
Wed: Great Gatsby test
Lecture, analysis and discussion on The Great Gatsby
Rough draft of your Great Gatsby essay due
Gatsby Vocabulary list DUE
Week 2
9/189/20
Mon: The Great Gatsby essays DUE
In class; begin Agamemnon.
Hand out text and Home Study #1
Lecture on Aeschylus, the Oresteia, Greek Tragedy, House of Atreus.
Review in discussion the relevance of studying classic Greek drama to current literature.
Assignment: Read Handout on House of Atreus AND read the text of Agamemnon
p.3558 to Agamemnon’s entrance.
Wed: Agamemnon HW#1 DUE
Agamemnon Quiz #1
In class discuss personal essay form.
Hand out The_____ that changed my life, sample personal essays and first lines.
Hand out Agamemnon Home Study #2
Assignment: Read text of Agamemnon p.5990 (the end)
Write a new or significantly revised draft of a personal essay. Topic possibilities include;
What distinguishes me from the rest of humanity, What I know for sure, Laughter, Size,
etc. (review the list of topics handed out in class.) Be creative, brave and honest.
Week 3
9/25—9/27
Mon: Agamemnon HW #2 Due
Agamemnon Quiz #2
Discuss themes and meaning in Agamemnon
Assignment: Agamemnon essay
Also; read handout on MLA documentation standards.
Wed: New draft personal essays DUE. In class reading and discussion of Agamemnon
and Rumi.
Agamemnon Vocabulary list DUE
Assignment: read the selection of Rumi poems handed out in class. Use your knowledge
of figurative language to write a 500 word analysis of one or two of the poems. Don’t
forget to say what the poem means to you and how Rumi communicates that meaning.
Use the analyzing poetry skills we practiced last year. If you need a new handout on
Literary terms, see me.
Week 4
10/210/4
Mon: Agamemnon Essays DUE
In class; begin Hamlet. Shakespeare lecture and discussion
Assignment: Hamlet Home study #1, Rumi poetry analysis DUE.
Wed: Hamlet quiz #1
Hamlet Home Study #1 DUE
In class line by line Shakespeare critical analysis
Assignment: Hamlet Home Study #2 and Hand out Will in the World.
Week 5
10/910/11
Mon: NO SCHOOL
Wed: In class discuss Hamlet and Hand out Will in the World
Hamlet Quiz #1 and #2
Assignment: Hamlet Home Study #3
Read the selection of Shakespeare’s sonnets handed out in class.
Write a 750 word analysis of how Shakespeare uses the sonnet form to communicate his
meanings. Be sure to be specific in your explanation of how the form contributes to the
meaning.
Week 6
10/1610/18
Mon: In class; Hamlet Quiz #3
Hamlet language discussion.
Come to class with a passage you don’t understand or one you love.
Agamemnon essay REWRITES DUE
Wed: In class Hamlet Home Study #4 DUE
Hamlet Quiz #4 Shakespeare’s Sonnets poetry essay DUE
Discuss—“To be or not to be” as it pertains to the themes in the play.
Week 7
10/2310/25
Mon: In class Hamlet Home Study #5 DUE
Hamlet Quiz #5
Discuss Polonius’ adviceis it solid? Can you imagine speaking to your mother the way
Hamlet does?
Shakespeare Vocabulary list DUE
Hamlet Quiz #6
Discuss honor as Hamlet describes it.
Week 8
10/3011/1
Mon: In class Hamlet Home Study #7 DUE
Hamlet Quiz #7
Bring to class lines you love. Be prepared to explain why/how the language moves you.
The scene with Osric may at first seem unnecessary or at least overblown, for all that
really happens is Osric requests Hamlet on behalf of the King to fence with Laertes for a
friendly wager (we can assume that such a thing was not uncommon in that day). But
Shakespeare uses over 100 lines. Name at least two other purposes he may have had for
such a long interchange. Hamlet’s lines 5.2.233238 are significant. Hamlet is to fight
Laertes and both he and Horatio have misgivings. Horatio encourages him to reconsider.
What does Hamlet say in these lines in response? In what way is this response a marked
change from Hamlet earlier in the play? Some say this indicates Hamlet’s heroism. Why
do you think they say that? Paraphrase the interchange between Hamlet and Laertes in
lines 5.2.240270 in your own words. What does this say about the two men? What
happens to Laertes in lines 5.2.344363? How and why does he change?
How lines 5.2.313341 are played (for there is much nonverbal action) dramatically
changes according to the interpretations of Gertrude’s role. Some have her drinking the
poisoned cup intentionally to save Hamlet, some have her drink innocently but as soon as
she feels the poison she comes to realize all that has happened, and some have her dying
ignorant of who did it. Which do you think would be the most accurate, and why? In
5.2.422427, Horatio summarizes the tragedy. Identify each of the components of his list
(i.e. accidental judgments, casual slaughters, etc.) with at least one example from the text.
Hamlet Quiz #8
Discuss themes, symbols and connections between Hamlet and other texts we’ve read.
(Hint: Agamemnon, Oedipus Rex, Dante, The Scarlet Letter…others?)
Also begin (if we haven’t already) to REWRITE the personal essays.
Assignment: Hamlet essays
Week 9
11/611/8
Mon: In class Hamlet Essays DUE
Watch the film Hamlet
Assignment: Nothing! Breathe deep and relax. Catch up if you are behind.
Wed: Begin The Tragedy of Doctor Faustus by David Mamet, based on Goethe’s Faust.
Lecture and introduction to Goethe, Marlowe and Mamet.
Read The Rake by Mamet. Hand out Faustus Vocabulary.
Assignment: Read The Tragedy of Doctor Fautus p 128 until the Magus Enters.
Write a 500 word essay (based on my lecture and your research) on the cultural and
social forces influencing the Faust myth.
Week 10
11/13 11/15
Mon: In class line by line analysis of Mamet’s language.
Assignment: Read The Tragedy of Doctor Fautus p. 29 54 up to Act II.
REWRITE Hamlet essays if needed.
Wed: In class we will discuss the difficult language and what’s happening in the play.
What is Faustus’ major mistake? Can you think of anything you are so certain of you
would bet your life on it?
Faustus Quiz on Act I
Assignment: Read The Tragedy of Doctor Fautus p. 5588 to the end. Write a short
story, poem, or essay using at least 25 of the words from the Faustus vocabulary list.
Week 11
11/2011/22
Mon. Faust vocabulary writing DUE
In class begin The Death of Ivan Ilych.
Lecture on Tolstoy and overview of Russian literature.
Handout on the Romantic poets.
Assignment: Faustus essays.
Read the poems p. 117. (Blake, Shelley, Keats, Coleridge, Wordsworth)
Write a 2 page essay on either the major themes shared by the poems OR on elements of
form shared by the poems
Read Death of Ivan Ilych
Home study #1
Chapter 13 p. 3561
Wed: In class Death of Ivan Ilych Quiz 1.
discuss the essence of comme il faut
Assignment: Read Death of Ivan Ilych Home study # 2
Chapter 35 p. 6185
Week 12
11/27 11/29
Mon: Faustus essays DUE
In class Death Quiz #2 (I just love the books whose titles naturally lend themselves to
Death quiz.)
Continue with Death of Ivan Ilych discussion. What is he doing wrong?
Assignment: Death of Ivan Ilych Home study # 3
Chapter 58 p.85107
Write a 750 word essay on similarities between The Death of Ivan Ilych and Plato’s The
Apology. Explore the theme of the unexamined life.
Wed: In class Death Quiz #3
Assignment :Death of Ivan Ilych Home study # 4
Death of Ivan Vocabulary list DUE
Chapter 812 p. 107134 The end
Write Death of Ivan Ilych essays
Week 13
12/4 12/6
Mon: Begin Les Miserable by Victor Hugo. In class review the principles of the
Romantic Literary movement.
Assignment: Les Miserable Home study #1.
Wed: Les Miserable Quiz #1 Discuss the characters as caricatures.
Assignment Les Miserable Home study #2.
Week 14
12/ 1112/13
Mon: Discuss Les Mis, what’s happening? In what way does Hugo resemble a modern
page turner? How does he achieve this? Is he a reliable narrator?
Assignment: Les Miserable Home study #3
Wed: Les Miserable Quiz #2
Assignment Les Miserable Home study #4.
FIRST Les Mis Vocabulary list DUE
Week 15
12/1812/20
Mon: Les Miserable. What is the theme of the interaction between Jean Valjean and
Cossette. How do you support your conclusion?
Assignment: Les Miserable Home study #5.
Wed: Les Miserable Quiz #3
Assignment Les Miserable Home study #6. Over the break, finish the book.
VACATION 12/221/8
Week 16
1/8 1/10
Cumulative Review for finals
Week 17
FINALS WEEK NO ASSIGNMENTS END OF 1st SEMESTER! Yay!
FINISH Les Miserable OVER THE BREAK!
SECOND SEMESTER
NOTE: During the second semester we will add a focus on writing to our reading of
literature in preparation for the AP exams. Each week will focus on a different element in
literature and will have a creative writing assignment designed to help you learn through
practice and a reading assignment to show you the element in action.
In addition to your regular work in this class, you will be required to accomplish 10
Reader Responses: 250500 word typed doublespaced responses to the readings. This
will be fun for you; writing with only a few guidelines. Respond to the readings
answering the questions; what did you learn from this reading? Was it important to you?
Why or why not? Address the themes of the week so I can assess whether or not you are
making the intended connections and doing the reading.
You will also be required to accomplish 8 Creative Writing Assignments. Your work
needs to be typed, doublespaced, titled and edited for grammatical and spelling errors.
These assignments will be evaluated on the power and artistry of the interpretation of the
assignment, as well as on the form, language, character, theme, and original creativity
involvedmeaning, how willing are you to take chances and try something new? You
will need to keep first drafts of these pieces to be handed in with the second drafts.
Week 1
How and why to write
1/9
Watch Writing Women’s Lives
Assignment: 250500 word written response on what did you like about the film? What
resonated with you regarding the creative process?
Begin reading On Writing, King (p.17105 DUE 1/16)
1/11
Writing Women’s Lives responses DUE
Assignment: keep reading On Writing, King (up to p.107) and read Aristotle’s
Poetics(excerpt, handed out in class) and choose one title from the SUN Readers Write
section, (example; Blessings in Disguise, Blindspots, etc) to read.
How does Aristotle's definition of "poetry" differ from our own? Explain Aristotle's
concept of mimesis. In what way is poetry imitative? Why, according to Aristotle are we
naturally disposed toward imitation? What is catharsis? How does it work in the context
of tragedy? What purpose does it serve? What does it mean to say that a plot must have a
beginning, middle, and end? Is such tight structuring is always necessary to a good plot?
How do peripeteia and anagnorisis contribute to a good tragedy? How necessary are they
to a successful plot? Compare and contrast the Greek notion of hamartia with our modern
conceptions of guilt and moral failure. To what extent are Aristotle's remarks on
character universally applicable? What, according to Aristotle, is the primary purpose of
tragedy?
Writing Assignment write a 13 page piece that begins “Baby, I’m already cool” or
“You think I’m _______, but I’m really ______.” Or choose ONE topic from the SUN
Readers Write section, (Blessings in Disguise, Blindspots, Visiting Relatives, etc.) and
write about it as if you are the absolute authority on the subject.
Week 2
Monologues, Dialogues and Characters
1/16
Writing Assignment #1 DUE
250500 word responses to the readings DUE
In class analyze and discuss The Sun Readers Write, the Poetics and On Writing.
Assignment: Read Popular Mechanics and So Much Water So Close to Home by
Raymond Carver.
Read the poems handed out in class Dover Beach by Matthew Arnold and Young by
Anne Sexton. Pay attention to the figurative language in both.
Writing Assignment write a 13 page dialogue.
Poetry Assignment: Analyze the similarities and differences in the images of light in
Sexton and Arnold’s poems.
1/18
Poetry essays DUE
Assignment: read A perfect day for Bananafish by JD Salinger and
That Evening Sun go Down by William Faulkner and On Writing p.111137
Week 3
Character defining moments
1/23
Assignment: read Escapes by Joy Williams and On Writing p. 141163
Writing Assignment #3 a character defining moment. Write a 13 page scene where a
character is defined or revealed, include the rising action.
1/25
Assignment: read Bonedaddy, Quincy Nell and the 500 Watt BTU by William Gay and
On Writing p.163208
Also read The Waking by Rothke and A Ritual to read to each other by William Stafford.
Write an essay that analyzes and discusses the theme of consciousness shared by these
two very different poems.
Week 4
Voice, Style and Tone
1/30
Poetry essays DUE
Assignment: read You can’t Kill the Rooster and A plague of tics by David Sedaris and
On Writing p. 208249
Writing Assignment #4 Write the same scene where a character was defined or revealed
from a different point of view.
Poetry assignment read Emily Dickinson, William Carlos Williams and TS Eliot poems
handed out in class. Write a 500 word essay on how each poet uses voice to communicate
their meaning.
2/1
250500 word responses to the fiction readings DUE
Assignment: Read A Village after Dark by Kazou Ishiguro and The Mark on the Wall
Read the On living postscript in On Writing p. 253284
Week 5
Theme and Symbol
2/6
Assignment: read A good man is hard to find by Flannery O’Connor
Writing Assignment #5 Significantly revise an assignment you’ve already written or
write a new 13 page scene
2/8
Assignment: read The Birthmark by Nathaniel Hawthorne and The Haunted Boy by
Carson McCuller’s
Poetry assignment: Read Walt Whitman and Dylan Thomas poems handed out in class.
Do you see the use of symbolism? How does it contribute to the poem’s overall meaning?
Week 6
Story and Plot
2/13
Poetry assignment DUE
Assignment: read Werewolves in their Youth by Micheal Chabon and What you Pawn I
will redeem by Sherman Alexie
Writing Assignment #6 write a short story.
2/15
Assignment: read The Smoothest Way is full of stones by Julie Orringer
Week 7
Original creativity
2/20
In class discuss CONTEXT in Literature
Assignment: read At the Bunchgrass edge of the world by Annie Prouix
Writing Assignment #7: create an annotated bibliography of research for a short story
you would like to write.
Poetry Assignment: read Garcia Lorca, Pablo Neruda, and Charles Bukowski. Why did I
assign these poets during our focus on original creativity? Write an essay that shows how
these poems express original creativity.
2/22
All that you love will be carried away by Stephen King
Week 8
Fiction so real it reads like memoir
2/27
Poetry assignment DUE
Assignment: read: A Dog called Hopi by Sybil Smith
3/1
Assignment: read Field Burning by William Wharton
Writing Assignment #8 significantly revise the short story you submitted, another
writing from the quarter, or write an entirely new short story.
Week 9
Endings and resolution
3/6
Assignment: read View From a Headlock by Jonathan Lethem
Read poems by Slyvia Plath, Denise Levertov, Audre Lourde, Seamus Heaney, Adrienne
Rich.
How doe these poets masterfully end their poems? What is common between them? Why
is their choice of an image for resolution important?
3/8
Begin Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Assignment: Home study #1
Consider: How is Marlow described? What is his physical appearance like? How is he
viewed by the others? What do they expect him to talk about? In the 1800’s, not all the
world had been charted, and these areas appeared on maps as blank or white spaces. How
does Marlow feel about maps and their white spaces? What do rivers look like on maps?
How significant is this symbolism? Why? What does it mean that the heart of darkness is
white on the map? What is the final advice the doctor gives to Marlow? Why do people
lose their equanimity?
Week 10
3/13
In class writing assignment on a surprise prompt followed by a discussion of your
favorite stories this quarter. What makes the story dear to your heart?
3/15
Creative Writing reading in class
Everyone will read a piece written this quarter which they are at least minimally satisfied
with. Please keep it to 35 pages, 5 minutes tops.
Week 11
CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF LITERATURE
3/20 Read Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Assignment: Home study #2 The “agent” is supposed to be the brickmaker of the station,
but no bricks are made. Why is this significant? What does it say about the operation as a
whole? What does this mean for Kurtz and his opportunities?
3/22 Home study #2 DUE
1. Assignment: Home study #3The attack on the steamer. What was the strange
about all the weapons used against the steamer save one? Who was hit by that one?
How is his death described? How is the attack ended? There are so many metaphors
in this scene: the fog, the invisible attackers, who the one person killed is. What do
you think they mean? They presume Kurtz dead. What about it strikes Marlow as the
most tragic? Why was he looking forward to meeting Kurtz? What was the effect on
Marlow? Why does Conrad pause the story here? After he pauses how does Marlow’s
tone change? How does he describe himself? The Intended? How is the relationship
between Kurtz and ivory described? How does Kurtz relate to the ivory and
everything else around him? Why can’t the listeners understand? Conrad describes
the harlequin as an “enigma.” What role does the harlequin play in the novel (what
does he represent)? How are we to relate to him? Is the fact that Kurtz “enlarged his
mind” a sign of strength or weakness? Watch the idea of restraint throughout this
section. How is it used with the helmsman? In what ways is Kurtz’s lack of restraint
his greatest downfall? Give three examples of his lack of restraint.
Week 12
3/27 Heart of Darkness.
Heart of Darkness Quiz #1
In class discuss symbolism and Imperialism. Lecture on Conrad. Remember The
Tempest?
Heart of Darkness Home study #3 DUE
Heart of Darkness Vocabulary list DUE
Assignment: Read Heart of Darkness. Home study #4
3/29 Heart of Darkness Home study # 4 DUE
Assignment: Heart of Darkness essays.
Week 13
4/3 Heart of Darkness essays DUE
Begin Death of a Salesman
Assignment: Death of a Salesman Home study #1
In the opening stage directions the set is described as “wholly or in some places partially,
transparent.” Why is this stage description important? What do you think the author,
Arthur Miller, meant to symbolize? What are the many references to how the Loman
house has been closed in by other buildings about? On p.23 Biff and Happy talk about
work. What are they saying? Why is Biff attracted to working outside on a farm? How
does Happy feel about his job? What is Biff referring to when he says “everytime I come
back here I know that all I’ve done is to waste my life”?
Willy tells Biff and Happy, “be liked and you will never want.” What do you think he
means?
4/5 Death of a Salesman quiz #1
What is the meaning of the flute music heard at various points throughout the play?
What/who is this music associated with? Why is it significant that Willy's father was
supposedly a flute maker and salesman? What is the significance of Willy's brother Ben?
What role does Ben play in the story? Is Ben dead or alive? What were his business
activities? What is the meaning of the imagery of the jungle, Africa, Alaska, gold, and
diamond mines? Why does Ben say that he "never kept books" (47)? What is his attitude
toward the other members of the family? What story does he offer about himself?
What seem to be Willy's most pressing needs? Are those needs only material and
financial or also psychological? What does Willy want? Does his last name have
symbolic meaning? What does it mean?
What does Linda want Biff and Happy to do for Willy towards the end of Act I? Why
does Biff accuse her of making excuses for Willy all the time? Why does Linda
encourage Willy? Do you think she really believes what she says?
SPRING BREAK!
Week 14
4/17 Heart of Darkness essay rewrites due.
Why does Biff decide to visit Mr. Oliver? At the beginning of Act II what does Linda
think is going to work out? How is Willy treated by the company he works for? What are
his expectations? Is his boss, Howard’s name significant? Who named him and why is it
important? How does Howard feel about Willy? What is the significance of the scene
where Howard is playing with a recorder while Willy is trying to talk to him? What do
we learn about Howard's family life through the voices heard from the recorder? What
was Willy trying to get from Howard? What does he actually get?
On p. 81 the title phrase “death of a salesman is used, what does it refer to specifically
and what does it symbolize for Willy? Who is "Dave Singleman"? What is the
significance of his name? What is Willy's attitude toward him? What does he find
admirable in him? Why is Willy attracted to the figure of Singleman and his profession?
Why does Willy tell Bernard that Biff has been doing great things out west? Why does
Bernard ask what happened in Boston? What does he think happened?
Why does Charley tell Willy to “grow up” after Willy turns down his job offer? What
does he want Willy to do?
In his conversation with Charley on p.95 Willy is amazed that Bernard is so successful
but Charley “never took any interest in him.” What was Willy’s interest in Biff? How did
it affect him?
4/19
What happens to Biff during his visit to Bill Oliver? What does he steal and why? What
discovery does he make as he runs downstairs in the office building? How is Willy's
adultery with the woman connected to the other issues in the play? Was that infidelity to
blame for Biff’s subsequent worklife failures? How does Biff feel about Willy after his
trip to Boston? Why do Biff and Happy leave Willy at the restaurant? Why does Willy
have a sudden urge to plant seeds after that incident?
The Lomans were habitually dishonest; they were even dishonest with themselves about
their dishonesty. What are some examples from the play of their dishonesty? Why does
Willy habitually lie about his business deals and other things? What happens eventually
to his understanding of his own lies? How is this related to Willy's increasing loss of
touch with reality throughout the play? What is the meaning of Happy's comments at
Willy's funeral? Why do you suppose no one came to his funeral? How do you imagine
the family feels? How about Linda's final words, "We're free ... We're free ..." Why is the
flute music the last sound to be heard in the play? What commentary on modern life do
you think that Arthur Miller means to make with his play? Is Willy Loman a tragic or
pathetic character? Why? What are the forces that trap Willy and drive him to self
destruction?
Week 15
4/24 Assignment: DEATH OF A SALESMAN essays
4/26 Assignment: Read David Mamet’s Eulogy of Arthur Miller. Write a 500 word
response to the idea that Death of a Salesman is about the demise of the American
nuclear family.
Week 16
5/1 Death essays DUE
In class AP PREP—Sample multiple choice test
Assignment: Read the hand out Scoring the AP exam
5/3 In class AP PREP—Sample essays test
Assignment: Read the hand out Organizing ideas for Successful AP essays.
(I know you already know all this, but it’s a good review)
Week 17
5/6 Assignment: Relax, get lots of rest and eat well
5/10 AP Lit Exam
Week 18
Cumulative review
AP Language Exam
Finals begin

AP English 151934v1

Hochgeladen von

Dokumentinformationen

Originalbeschreibung:

Copyright

Verfügbare Formate

Dieses Dokument teilen

Dokument teilen oder einbetten

Freigabeoptionen

Stufen Sie dieses Dokument als nützlich ein?

Sind diese Inhalte unangemessen?

Copyright:

Verfügbare Formate

AP English 151934v1

Hochgeladen von

Copyright:

Verfügbare Formate

Syllabus for AP English Literature 11

Das könnte Ihnen auch gefallen