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AP English Literature Study Guide

1
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Understanding literary devices and common terms are essential for analyzing and
interpreting a text
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Symbolism is the use of
symbols to represent ideas or qualities
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An example of a literary metaphor is "All the world's a stage" from Shakespeare's
"As You Like It
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An example of literary symbolism is the use of a white whale in Herman Melville's
"Moby-Dick
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An example of allusion in literature is the reference to "the green light" in F
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" The green light represents Gatsby's longing for
his lost love, Daisy, and alludes to the "green light" in the final lines of T
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Eliot's
"The Love Song of J
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"

Another example of Allusion is "The Garden of Eden" in John Milton's "Paradise
Lost" In this case, The Garden of Eden alludes to the biblical story of the creation
of man and the first sin
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They are used to add depth and meaning to a text,
making it more interesting and engaging for the reader
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Practice close reading and analysis of texts to understand the author's purpose
and meaning
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This includes analyzing the author's use of literary
devices, the structure of the text, and the characters and themes presented
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Close reading and analysis of texts is an essential step in understanding literature
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For example, when analyzing the text "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, a
close reader might examine the author's use of symbolism, such as the
mockingbird representing innocence, and how it relates to the themes of racial
injustice and coming of age
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Another example is when analyzing "The Great Gatsby" by F
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T
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Eckleburg, and how it relates to the themes of love,
wealth and the loss of the American Dream
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In both examples above, the close reader would also analyze the characters and
their development throughout the novel, including their motivations, conflicts,
and how they relate to the novel’s themes
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It includes analyzing the author's use
of literary devices, the structure of the text, and the characters and themes
presented
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3
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For example, when studying the text "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by
Mark Twain, understanding the historical context of the novel, specifically the
period in which it was written, which is pre-civil war America, is crucial to
understanding the themes of slavery and racism in the novel
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Another example is when studying "The Catcher in the Rye" by J
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Salinger,
understanding the cultural context of the novel, specifically the post-World War II
America, is crucial for understanding the themes of disillusionment, alienation,
and the search for identity in the novel
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In both examples above, understanding the historical and cultural context of the
texts also allows readers to understand better the language and literary
techniques used by the authors and how they relate to the themes and meaning
of the text
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It
includes understanding the social, political, and economic context in which the
text was written and the historical events that may have influenced the author
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4
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Understanding literary genres and their conventions is important for analyzing
and interpreting a text
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Each genre has its conventions, such as specific structures, themes,
and writing styles, and understanding these conventions allows readers to
understand how the text fits within the genre
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For example, in the poem "The Road Not Taken" by Robert
Frost, the use of the metaphor "Two roads diverged in a wood" and the imagery
of "And sorry I could not travel both" helps the reader to understand the theme
of choices and regrets
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For example, in the play "Death of a Salesman" by
Arthur Miller, dialogue and stage directions help the reader understand the
themes of the American Dream and its failure
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In conclusion, Understanding the different literary genres and their conventions is
important for analyzing and interpreting a text
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Understanding these
conventions allows readers to understand how the text fits within the genre and
how the author uses literary devices to convey meaning and emotion
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Develop your critical thinking and argumentation skills to write analytical
essays
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This includes identifying and evaluating evidence, developing
logical arguments, and presenting them clearly and concisely
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For example, when analyzing a text, identifying and evaluating evidence, such as
literary devices, historical and cultural context, and the author's purpose, allows
you to develop a logical argument about the text's meaning
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Another example is when evaluating an author's use of symbolism in a text, being
able to identify and evaluate the symbols used, their meanings, and how they
relate to the themes of the text allows you to develop a logical argument about
the author's use of symbolism and how it contributes to the overall meaning of
the text
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In conclusion, Developing critical thinking and argumentation skills is important
for writing analytical essays
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These
skills are essential for being able to analyze and interpret a text and for being able
to communicate your analysis in writing effectively
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6
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Practicing timed writing essays is a way to improve your speed and organization in
writing
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By practicing timed writing essays,
you'll become more efficient at organizing your thoughts and writing quickly,
which can help you perform better on the exam
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Another example is when you are given a 30-minute time limit to write an essay
analyzing a text’s historical and cultural context
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In both examples, practicing timed writing essays can help you develop the skills
to organize your thoughts quickly, identify and evaluate evidence, develop logical
arguments, and present them clearly and concisely within a limited time frame
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It helps you to simulate the conditions of the AP English
Literature exam, where you'll have a limited amount of time to write your essay
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It
allows the writer to develop the skills to organize their thoughts quickly and
present them clearly and concisely within a limited time frame
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Understand the scoring rubric for the AP English Literature exam and what is
required to earn a high score
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The AP English Literature exam is
scored based on a rubric that evaluates your ability to analyze and interpret
literature and your writing skills
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For example, the scoring rubric for the AP English Literature exam includes
categories such as reading comprehension, analysis of literary elements, and
writing skills
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In analyzing the literary elements category, you will be evaluated on your ability
to identify and interpret literary devices, such as symbolism, imagery, and
metaphor
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In the writing skills category, you will be evaluated on your ability to organize your
thoughts, use evidence to support your analysis, and present your arguments
clearly and concisely
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In conclusion, understanding the AP English Literature exam scoring rubric is
important to know what is required to earn a high score
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The scoring rubric includes
categories such as reading comprehension, analysis of literary elements, and
writing skills
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8
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Reading widely and diversely helps expose you to various literary styles and
perspectives
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For example, reading a diverse range of literature can expose you to different
cultures, historical periods, and social issues
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It can also broaden your understanding of the world
and how people experience it
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For example, reading a work
from the Renaissance can give you a better understanding of the intellectual and
artistic movements of the time, while reading a work from the Victorian era can
give you a better understanding of the social and moral values of the time
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For example, reading a novel about racism or
poverty can help you understand the issues people face today
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Reading
poetry, drama, fiction, and nonfiction will give you a broader understanding of the
different conventions, techniques, and styles that different genres use
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In conclusion, reading widely and diversely can expose you to various literary
styles and perspectives; it can help you become a more well-rounded reader and
allow you to understand better and appreciate different types of literature
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9
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Creating flashcards with important quotes and analyzing them can help memorize
and understand them
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Creating flashcards can
be a good way to review and memorize these quotes and also to analyze and
understand the meaning of the quotes
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This way, you will be forced
to think critically about the quote and its meaning when you review the
flashcards
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Another way to analyze the quote is by looking at the literary devices used
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By identifying and
analyzing the literary devices used in the quote, you will have a deeper
understanding of it and its meaning
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By reviewing the flashcards regularly, you will become more familiar with
the quotes and be better prepared to identify and analyze them on the AP English
Literature exam
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It can help you review and memorize
the quotes and also force you to analyze and understand the meaning of the
quotes
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10
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Learning how to write a thesis statement and support it with evidence from the
text is essential for writing analytical essays
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It's important to learn how to write a
clear and specific thesis statement that can be supported with evidence from the
text
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Scott Fitzgerald uses the character of Gatsby to
symbolize the American Dream and the corruption of its ideals
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In "The Crucible," Arthur Miller uses the characters and events of the Salem witch
trials to comment on the Red Scare and the dangers of mass hysteria
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11
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Studying the different elements of poetry, such as imagery, metaphor, and tone,
is important for understanding and analyzing poetry
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A
metaphor compares things that are not alike but has something in common
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Understanding these elements will help you to analyze better and understand the
poem
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Understand the different elements of drama, such as stage directions, setting,
and character
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Stage
directions refer to the playwright’s instructions about how the scene should be
staged
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Character refers to the people who inhabit the play and their roles
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13
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Learning to write a literary analysis essay and practice it with different texts is
important for analyzing and interpreting literature
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You'll become more
proficient at analyzing and interpreting literature by practicing writing literary
analysis essays
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Understand the different literary movements and how they shaped literature
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Literary movements are groups of authors who wrote during a specific period and
shared similar literary styles and themes
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15
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Practice active reading is a technique for engaging with the text more
meaningfully
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This helps you understand and remember
the text better, and it's a good way to prepare for the AP English Literature exam,
where you'll be expected to analyze and interpret the texts you've read

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