To: Students and Parents of AP English Literature 12 StudentsFrom: Mrs. Amy Lohmann, AP English Literature 12 TeacherDate: May 11, 2015Re: Summer Reading Assignments

Dear Students and Parents or Guardian:

Your child has enrolled in Advanced Placement English Literature for the 2015-2016 school year. As a requirement of the class, he/she must complete summer reading assignments. The assignments are attached.

Please review the reading selections and assignments that accompany them and sign the attached permission form.

If you have any questions regarding either the reading selections or accompanying assignments, please feel free to contact me at amylohmann@aol.com or Bridgeport High School. My email is the best way to reach me during summer if questions arise.

Please return the permission form by May 20, 2015.

Sincerely,

Amy W. Lohmann

Parent/Student Form for AP English 12 Summer Reading

I , _______________________, parent of __________________________, give my son/daughter permission to read the AP summer reading selections: The Stranger by Albert Camus and The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. Additionally, I understand my child may choose to read an approved selection from the attached list during the summer. I also understand that my child will be responsible for completing the summer assignments, which will be graded.

I understand that the individual literature selection does not have to be completed until the beginning of the 2nd six weeks. Titles will be assigned based on who claims them first, so it is beneficial to decide the title now (even if not planning to read the work during the summer). This may not be a novel or play that has been read for a past class and should be one that is entirely new to my son/daughter in order to increase his/her preparation for the AP Literature Exam.

Parent Signature: __________________________________________________Date:____________

Student Responsibility Statement:

I, _____________________________________, acknowledge that I am required to read and complete the AP summer reading requirements, which will be graded assignments.

Student Signature: ________________________________________________Date:______________

Additional Novel Choice See me by 5/27/15 for approval of the work. Multiple students may not read the same title, so you should return this form as soon as possible.

1st Choice: Title/Author _______________________________________________________________

2nd Choice: Title/Author _______________________________________________________________

Student email/contact information:

Vote: ________ Wuthering Heights or _______ The Joy Luck Club

2015-2016 AP ENGLISH 12 SUMMER READINGS/ASSIGNMENTS (If you have questions, I may be reached at 842-0259 or amylohmann@aol.com.)

AP OverviewPlease be aware that the AP Literature exam tests all your years of English study; therefore, the

more you have read and analyzed, the better. If you would like to read beyond the required summer assignments, I recommend using the attached list of suggested authors/works.

Required WorksList of literary elements/terms (this can also be accessed through the guidance page on BHS’s website)The Stranger—Albert Camus The Kite Runner—Khaled HosseiniThe novel of your choice—this is not due until the beginning of the 2nd 6 weeks grading period

AssignmentsAssignments have been chosen based on current juniors’ requests and current seniors’ and former

students’ recommendations. For example, I recently talked to a student who is preparing for law school who read The Stranger for my AP class several years ago. She said she did not try hard enough to appreciate the novel when she completed her summer reading but has since had exposure to it in philosophy, religion, and criminal justice classes. It is definitely a title that you could encounter again in an academic setting. Also, many of my students from this year have mentioned that they find themselves lacking in overall vocabulary development; therefore, we will focus on vocabulary acquisition for both The Stranger and The Kite Runner.

Written assignments are due the first day of school (even if you don’t have the class that day) and will be part of the 1st six weeks’ grade, with the exception of the individual novel choice.

You will be evaluated on the following and other assignments related to the reading such as class discussion, additional writings, group projects, quizzes, and tests.

The Stranger—Background Notes/Assignments The Stranger, by Albert Camus, was written during World War II, in French

and published in 1942. The setting of the novel is the north African country of Algeria and its capital, Algiers, which is near where the author was born and raised.

The Stranger has been called an “existential” or “nihilistic” novel. Existentialism is a philosophy professing the belief that the universe is indifferent to mankind and that most of life is futile, absurd, and incomprehensible. Existentialism sees the individual as existing in a meaningless universe where events are beyond his or her control. Nihilism is not unlike existentialism, but nihilism goes further: it rejects all positive values, and its followers believe in nothing.

There are elements of both of these philosophies in The Stranger. Camus himself was said to believe that individuals are seeking beliefs or value systems, but the world offers them none, forcing human beings into an absurdist or meaningless life. Existential thought will factor in to your understanding of and our discussion of The Stranger. I would recommend researching this prior to reading the novel.

1. Be prepared to be evaluated on the list of vocabulary words from The Stranger. Although there is no formal summer assignment attached to these words, you will be responsible for them upon your return to school.

2. You will complete at least 10 reader’s response log entries for The Stranger. Make sure that these are meaningful, thought-provoking questions and comments. You may do this on a separate sheet of paper or on larger Post-Its in the book.

3. Choose one of the following to answer in essay format (2 typed pages minimum).

How do the many descriptions of the natural world add to or subtract from the tone of the novel and the character of Meursault?

Both Salamano and Raymond are violent toward those they profess to care about. Discuss the ways each is violent and what the possible reasons for this violence may be.

Write an essay about Marie Cardona. This could include any of her characteristics such as, her physical appearance, the type of nature she has, her attitude toward life, her emotions before and after Meursault is arrested, and what qualities she shows throughout Meursault’s imprisonment and trial.

Throughout Albert Camus’s The Stranger, Meursault demonstrates no human emotion whatsoever, indicating his alienation from society. Only near the end of the book, when he becomes angry with the priest in his cell, does he demonstrate emotion. Does this display of emotion put an end to his alienation or merely confirm it?

In Albert Camus’s The Stranger, Meursault is condemned to die, not for his act of murder, but for violating the standards of society. A rebel must of necessity flout society’s conventions, but he must also have a “higher” moral code to which he scrupulously adheres. Is Meursault a rebel in this sense of the word?

Discuss the following comment on Albert Camus’s The Stranger: “Meursault is a body without a soul. His pleasures and discomforts are purely tactile and sensory, with no emotion or spiritual awareness.”

One of the central themes of Albert Camus’s The Stranger is alienation. Discuss some of the ways in which the author communicates the alienation of Meursault from the world around him. Be sure to include comments on plot, dialogue, style, and imagery in your discussion.

In the trial of Meursault in Albert Camus’s The Stranger, much is made of his actions at his mother’s funeral. Are these actions relevant to the crime for which he is being tried? Why or why not? Support your arguments with specifics from the novel.

The Kite Runner—Background Notes/AssignmentsThe Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, follows the story of Amir, the privileged son of a wealthy

businessman in Kabul, and Hassan, the son of Amir's father's servant. As children in the relatively stable Afghanistan of the early 1970s, the boys are inseparable. They spend idyllic days running kites and telling stories of mystical places and powerful warriors until an unspeakable event changes the nature of their relationship forever, and eventually cements their bond in ways neither boy could have ever predicted. Even after Amir and his father flee to America, Amir remains haunted by his cowardly actions and disloyalty. In part, it is these demons and the sometimes impossible quest for forgiveness that bring him back to his war-torn native land after it comes under Taliban rule. (summary from Amazon.com)

1. Be prepared to be evaluated on the list of vocabulary words from The Kite Runner. Although there is no formal summer assignment attached to these words, you will be responsible for them upon your return to school.

2. You are not required to do RRLs for this novel; however, you may want to do so or simply mark passages that you like or have questions about. You may find this helpful in completing the required assignments. When you have finished reading, select your favorite passage from the novel and be prepared to talk about it during class discussion and future assignments.

3. Discussion Questions—Below are eighteen (18) discussion questions from the back of the Riverhead Books publication. After reading, please select ten (10) of the discussion questions to answer in well-organized and thoughtful responses. Your responses need not be extremely lengthy, but they should be complete and succinct. A well-developed paragraph would be appropriate for each. Keep in mind that a paragraph for an AP level senior is different from a 5 th-grade level paragraph. When choosing your discussion questions, please make sure on your responses that you indicate to which questions you are responding.

DISCUSSION QUESTION LIST (choose 10) 1. The novel begins with Amir’s memory of peering down an alley, looking for Hassan who is

kite running for him. As Amir peers into the alley, he witnesses a tragedy. The novel ends with Amir kite running for Hassan’s son, Sohrab, as he begins a new life with Amir in America. Why do you think the author chooses to frame the novel with these scenes? Refer to the following passage: “Afghans like to say: Life goes on, unmindful of beginning, end… crisis or catharsis, moving forward like a slow, dusty caravan of kochis [nomads].” How is this significant to the framing of the novel?

2. The strong underlying force of this novel is the relationship between Amir and Hassan. Discuss their friendship. Why is Amir afraid to be Hassan’s true friend? Why does Amir constantly test Hassan’s loyalty? Why does he resent Hassan? After the kite running tournament, why does Amir no longer want to be Hassan’s friend?

3. Early in Amir and Hassan’s friendship, they often visit a pomegranate tree where they spend hours reading and playing. “One summer day, I used tone of Ali’s kitchen knives to carve our names on it: ‘Amir and Hassan, the sultans of Kabul.’ Those words made it formal: the tree was ours.” In a letter to Amir later in the story, Hassan mentions that “the tree hasn’t borne fruit in years.” Discuss the significance of the tree.

4. We begin to understand early in the novel that Amir is constantly vying for Baba’s attention and often feels like an outsider in his father’s life, as seem in the following passage: “He’d close the door, leave me to wonder why it was always grown-ups time with him. I’d sit by the door, knees drawn to my chest. Sometimes I sat there for an hour, sometimes two, listening to their laughter, their chatter.” Discuss the significance of this passage.

5. After Amir wins the kite running tournament, his relationship with Baba undergoes significant change. However, while they form a bond of friendship, Amir is still unhappy. What causes this unhappiness and how has Baba contributed to Amir’s state of mind? Eventually, the relationship between the two returns to the way it was before the tournament, and Amir laments “we actually deceived ourselves into thinking that a toy made of tissue paper, glue, and bamboo could somehow close the chasm between us.” Discuss the significance of this passage.

6. As Amir remembers an Afghan celebration in which a sheep must be sacrificed, he talks about seeing the sheep’s eyes moments before its death. “I don’t know why I watched this yearly ritual in our backyard; my nightmares persist long after the bloodstains on the grass

have faded. But I always watch, I watch because of that look of acceptance in the animal’s eyes. Absurdly, I imagine the animal understands. I imagine the animal sees that its imminent demise is for a higher purpose.” Why do you think Amir recalls this memory when he witnesses Hassan’s tragedy in the alleyway? Amir recollects the memory again toward the end of the novel when he sees Sohrab in the home of the Taliban. Discuss the image in the context of the novel.

7. America acts as a place for Amir to bury his memories and a place for Baba to mourn his. In America, there are “homes that made Bab’s house in Wazir Akbar Khan look like a servant’s hut.” What is ironic about this statement? What is the function of irony in this novel?

8. What is the significance of the irony in the first story that Amir writes? After hearing Amir’s story, Hassan asks, “Why did the man kill his wife? In fact, why did he ever have to feel sad to shed tears? Couldn’t he have just smelled an onion?” How is this reaction to the story a metaphor for Amir’s life? How does this story epitomize the difference in character between Hassan and Amir?

9. Why is Baba disappointed by Amir’s decision to become a writer? During their argument about his career path, Amir thinks to himself: “I would stand my ground, I decided. I didn’t want to sacrifice for Baba anymore. The last time I had done that, I had damned myself.” What has Amir sacrificed for Baba? How has Amir “damned himself”?

10. Compare and contrast the relationships of Soraya and Amir to their fathers. How have their upbringings contributed to these relationships?

11. Discuss how the ever-changing politics of Afghanistan affect each of the characters in the novel.

12. On Amir’s trip back to Afghanistan, he stays at the home of his driver, Farid. Upon leaving, he remarks: “Earlier this morning, when I was certain no one was looking, I did something I had done twenty-six years earlier: I planted a fistful of crumpled money under the mattress.” Why is this moment so important in Amir’s journey?

13. Throughout the story, Baba worried because Amir never stands up for himself. When does this change?

14. Amir’s confrontation with Assef in Wazir Akbar Khan marks an important turning point in the novel. Why does the author have Amir, Assef, and Sohrab all come together in this way? What is the significance of the scar that Amir develops as a result of the confrontation? Why is it important in Amir’s journey?

15. While in the hospital in Peshawar, Amir has a dream in which he sees his father wrestling a bear: “They roll over a patch of grass, man and beast…they fall to the ground with a loud thud and Baba is sitting on the bear’s chest, his fingers digging in its snout. He looks up at me, and I see. He’s me. I am wrestling the bear.” Why is this dream so important at this point in the story? What does this dream finally help Amir realize?

16. Amir and Hassan have a favorite story. Does the story have the same meaning for both men? Why does Hassan name his son after one of the charters in the story? Baba and Amir know that they are very different people. Often it disappoints both of them that Amir is not the son that Baba had hoped for. When Amir finds out that Baba has lied to him about Hassan, he realizes that “as it turned out, Baba and I were more alike than I’d ever known.” How does this make Amir feel about his father? How is this both a positive and negative realization?

17. When Amir and Baba move to the States, their relationship changes, and Amir begins to view his father as a more complex man. Discuss the changes in their relationship. Do you see the changes in Baba as tragic or positive?

18. Discuss the difference between Baba and Ali and between Amir and Hassan. Are Baba’s and Amir’s betrayals and similarities in their relationships to their servants (if you consider Baba’s act a betrayal) similar or different? Do you think that such betrayals are inevitable in the master/servant relationship, or do you feel that they are due to flaws in Baba’s and Amir’s characters, or are they the outcome of circumstances and characters?

4. The Kite Runner Short Essays—Choose TWO of the following topics and respond in a short essay format for each (1 page minimum for each) after you finish reading The Kite Runner.

Use the questions in each category to guide and prompt your thinking. The questions for each category are meant to guide you. Please do not answer every question listed for each section. Choose a focus and address it completely. Provide examples from the text, but make sure that you analyze the text you are including. Only #3 may use any outside sources, and they must be cited accurately in MLA format.

1. Characterization: Identify the protagonist, antagonist(s) and any foils or parallel characters. How is characterization generally achieved – direct/indirect (through action, dialogue, physical description, comments from other characters, direct telling by the author)? How does each key character illustrate some aspect of the theme? What quotes capture who the main characters are and the ideas their struggles are meant to represent? 2. Technique(s): How does the author convey his or her thematic message? What point of view (1st or 3rd ) is used? What effect does it have? Is the narrator reliable? Does the author use intruding narrative devices such as letters, author comment, diaries, internal narration or flashbacks? What is the effect on theme? Does the author use irony – either situational or dramatic (look them up)? Does the author use humor? Pathos (look it up)? Does the author use symbols? What do they signify? Note the author’s use of imagery. What colors, sounds, smells or other images are significant? Are any repeated as a motif? What figurative language (simile, metaphor, personification, irony) does the author use? What is the thematic effect? 3. Setting: How is the story’s time or place important to the conflict or thematic ideas of the novel? Also consider when and where the novel was written. Did any events inspire the author? What historical events or cultural developments helped influence or shape the novel? Is the novel in any way autobiographical? What should we know about the author in order to fully understand the work? What writers or thinkers influenced the author? What do critics have to say about the work? 4. Style: Consider the language and attitude of the author. What seems to be the author’s personality as demonstrated in the work? What can you say about the author’s syntax (sentence structure)? Do sentences tend to be long, short, concrete, abstract, direct, indirect? What effect does this have on the reader and the theme? Look at the diction (word choice). Is it direct, forceful, colloquial, vulgar, sensuous, satirical? What is the tone of the writing? What seems to be the author’s attitude about the theme? Try to come up with at least two unique adjectives that describe the author’s tone/attitude. How does this tone help shape the theme? 5. Theme or Thesis argument(s): What argument or idea is being asserted through the work? What abstract concept is being made concrete through its representation in person, action, or image within the work? What generalization does the work make about the human condition?

What is the author’s purpose in writing? What is the thematic climax of the work and how is the thesis argument resolved? Where does the author leave us in terms of the theme? A few words on thesis statements: A good thesis statement is an assertion (yours) of what you feel to be the author’s main argument (philosophical, moral, world-view, etc.) in the work. If your paper had to be reduced to a single sentence, it should be your theme statement. This should be strongly worded and assert original thought.

Individual Approved Choice1. This does not need to be finished until the beginning of the second six weeks; however, many

people like to complete this before the chaos of the school year begins.

2. You will complete reader response logs for this novel as well. While there is no maximum number of entries, you must have at least 20—and they must be well developed and show depth of thought (if you choose a longer worker, you may obviously need more entries). These should be done in the novel on Post It Notes. This will help you later in the year when we use these works for the basis of individual literary analysis. Because you will work with this novel all year, I recommend having your own copy instead of checking one out from a library. Most of the approved titles can be purchased for nominal cost at local bookstores or online sources.

3. Be prepared for an AP in-class writing and quizzes based on the work of your choice.

The Joy Luck Club/Wuthering HeightsOn the permission form, you will find an area to vote for which one of the novels listed above

interest you most. As I plan for next year’s reading, I want to take your opinion into consideration. Since both novels may not fit into our syllabus, I would like to know which sounds more appealing to you. Both are excellent works in terms of preparation for the AP exam, and past students have recommended them both. I have included brief summaries of each from Amazon to aid you in your decision.

The Joy Luck Club: Four mothers, four daughters, four families whose histories shift with the four winds depending on who's "saying" the stories. In 1949 four Chinese women, recent immigrants to San Francisco, begin meeting to eat dim sum, play mahjong, and talk. United in shared unspeakable loss and hope, they call themselves the Joy Luck Club. Rather than sink into tragedy, they choose to gather to raise their spirits and money. "To despair was to wish back for something already lost. Or to prolong what was already unbearable." Forty years later the stories and history continue.

With wit and sensitivity, Amy Tan examines the sometimes painful, often tender, and always deep connection between mothers and daughters. As each woman reveals her secrets, trying to unravel the truth about her life, the strings become more tangled, more entwined. Mothers boast or despair over daughters, and daughters roll their eyes even as they feel the inextricable tightening of their matriarchal ties. Tan is an astute storyteller, enticing readers to immerse themselves into these lives of complexity and mystery.

Wuthering Heights: Considered lurid and shocking by mid-19th-century standards, Wuthering Heights was initially thought to be such a publishing risk that its author, Emily Brontë, was asked to pay some of the publication costs. A somber tale of consuming passions and vengeance played out against the lonely moors of northern England, the book proved to be one of the most enduring classics of English literature.

The turbulent and tempestuous love story of Cathy and Heathcliff spans two generations — from the time Heathcliff, a strange, coarse young boy, is brought to live on the Earnshaws' windswept estate, through Cathy's marriage and Heathcliff's plans for revenge, to Cathy's death years later and the eventual union of the surviving Earnshaw and Linton heirs.A masterpiece of imaginative fiction, Wuthering Heights (the author's only novel) remains as poignant and compelling today as it was when first published in 1847.

READ FOR PLEASURE THIS SUMMER!!

The Stranger Vocabulary1. amplify to intensify2. athwart from side to side3. aversion dislike4. befuddlement confusion5. benign favorable6. bier a stand7. bilious peevish, irritable8. callousness insensitivity9. cogent forceful and convincing10. collusion a secret agreement, a conspiracy11. compunction feeling of uneasiness, remorse12. cordial warm and friendly13. curtly concisely, sometimes perceived as rudely14. destitute without any means of support15. dispatch a report16. execration curses, loathed17. expostulate to reason by way of warning18. flout to ignore, to show contempt19. impartial unbiased, fair20. implacable relentless21. inexorable unalterable22. infirmity weakness, illness23. ingenuousness innocence, sincerity24. irksome annoying, irritating25. odious hateful, despicable26. palavering chattering27. pallor paleness of skin28. parricide killing one's father29. pendulous hanging down loosely30. perturbed bothered, troubled31. peruse to examine with great detail32. pince-nez spectacles33. plausible believable, reasonable34. privation lack of comforts of life35. prostrate to cast oneself down on the ground in submission or humility36. reproachful disapproving

37. respite a break from something38. solicitous concerned about another's welfare39. sordid morally degraded40. squalid filthy, repulsive41. squeamish easily disgusted42. strident harsh or shrill43. taciturn saying very little, reticent44. tirade a rant, long angry violent speech45. tremulous vibratory, quivering

The Kite Runner Vocabulary1. abashed vb. to make self- conscious and embarrassed; disconcerted2. abhor vb. to shrink from in fear, disgust or hatred3. adulterated adj. made inferior, impure 4. albeit conj. although, even though5. affable adj. easy to approach or talk to; pleasant, polite6. arduous adj. difficult to do; requiring exertion 7. chasm n.. a deep crack in the earth’s surface, abyss; wide divergence or rift8. congenital adj. present from birth9. conjure vb.to summon a spirit, to practice magic; to cause to appear10. contrite adj. feeling/expressing remorse11. coup d’etat n. a sudden strike in politics; the overthrow of a government.12. cursory adj. hastily done or doing rapidly without attention to details13. curt adj. so brief as to be rude; terse and abrupt14. daunt vb. To make afraid, intimidate, to dishearten15. disdain n. aloof, contempt or scorn16. entourage n. environment, a group of associates or attendants, retinue, followers17. façade n. the front face of a building; deceptive outward appearance, fake18. feign vb. To make up ( a story), to imagine, to make a false show, to pretend 19. flinch vb. to draw back, as from a blow or from anything dangerous or painful20. furtive adj. done or acting in a stealthy manner, shifty, sly, sneaky, crafty21. garrulous adj. talking much or often about unimportant things, rambling22. havoc n. great destruction and devastation , to lay waste; devastate23. imminent adj. likely to happen without delay, impending, approaching24. impunity n. freedom from punishment, penalty or loss25. leered vb. to look or gaze in an unpleasant way26. lucrative adj. profitable27. luminous adj. giving off light; clear, readily understood28. lurch vb. stagger, rock, wobble, heave29. malady n. an ailment, disease or illness, trouble, woe30. melee n. a confused, general hand to hand fight between groups; a skirmish31. meticulous great attention to detail; careful or precise32. morose adj. gloomy, sullen, surly, fretful33. nemesis n. one who imposes vengeance; opponent, adversary34. obliterate vb. to blot out, leaving no traces; efface 2. to do away with; destroy35. oblivion n. state of being unaware36. oscillating vb. move or swing back and forth37. palliatate vb. to lessen the pain or severity of without curing; alleviate 38. periphery n. a boundary line or outside surface39. plummet vb. to fall straight downward40. pragmatic adj. practical; businesslike41. presumptuous adj. assuming; overconfident42. query n. a question, an inquiry; a doubt, a question mark43. reputable adj. having a good reputation, being well thought of; respectable

44. reticence n. quality or state of being reserved; being disinclined to speak readily45. rueful adj. causing sorrow or pity; feeling remorseful or regretful.46. ruminate vb. to meditate or reflect, to ponder or mull over47. sallow adj. of a sickly, pale, yellowish complexion, washed out pallid 48. stupefy vb. to stun; make stupid, dull or lethargic; to amaze; astonish49. sultry adj. oppressively hot and moist; passionate or lustful50. squalid adj. foul, unclean, filthy, neglected; wretched; sordid51. trepidation n. fear, anxiety, dread, apprehension52. veracity n. accuracy; truthfulness 53. viable adj. possible, workable, feasible, practical54. vindication n. to clear from criticism, suspicion, blame; to defend 55. vitreous adj. like glass in appearance

AP Literature and Composition Literary Terms

*These terms and definitions should be studied and well known by the second six weeks. Below are terms you will use voraciously both to analyze literary fiction and to answer discussion questions, writing prompts, and in-class timed essays. This list is extensive; we will narrow it down before quizzes.

act:  a major unit of action in a drama or play.  Each act can be further divided into smaller sections called scenes.

allegory: a story in which people, things and actions represent an idea about life; allegories often have a strong moral or lesson.

alliteration: the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words (tongue twisters)allusion:  a reference in a literary work to a person, place, or thing in history or another work of literature. Allusions are often indirect or brief references to well-known characters or events.

ambiguity: vague expression or single word that could express two meanings

analogy: a comparison of two or more like objects that suggests if they are alike in certain respects, they will probably be alike in other ways as well. anecdote:  a brief account of an interesting incident or event that usually is intended to entertain or to make a point.antagonist :  see character

antithesis: opposite of

apostrophe: addressing something/someone that is unable to answer

aside: an actor’s speech, directed to the audience, that is not supposed to be heard by other actors on stage. An aside is used to let the audience know what a character is about to do or what he or she is thinking.

assonance:  repetition of vowel sounds within a line of poetry.

atmosphere: emotional tone pervading the work

audience:  the particular group of readers or viewers that the writer is addressing.  A writer considers his or her audience when deciding on a subject, a purpose for writing and the tone and style in which to write.

author: the writer of a book, article or other text.

author’s purpose:  an author’s purpose is his or her reason for creating a particular work.  The purpose can be to entertain, explain or inform, express an opinion, or to persuade.

autobiography: a form of nonfiction in which a person tells the story of his or her life.ballad: is a poem that tells a story and is meant to be sung or recited.

 biography:  the story of a person’s life that is written by someone else. blank verse:  unrhymed iambic pentameter (see meter) caesura: a pause or a sudden break in a line of poetry

character:  a person who is responsible for the thoughts and actions within a story, poem, or other literature. Characters are extremely important because they are the medium through which a reader interacts with a piece of literature. Every character has his or her own personality, which a creative author uses to assist in forming the plot of a story or creating a mood.

                   Terms Associated with Character:

1.  antagonist:  a character in a story or poem who deceives, frustrates, or works against the main character, or protagonist, in some way. The antagonist doesn’t necessarily have to be a person. It could be death, the devil, an illness, or any challenge that prevents the main character from living “happily ever after."

2.      caricature: a picture or imitation of a person’s habits, physical appearance or mannerisms exaggerated in a comic or absurd way.3.      foil: a character who serves as a contrast or a conflict to another character4.      hero/heroine: a character whose actions are inspiring or noble; often the main character in a story. 5.      main characters:  the characters who are central to the plot of a story; main characters are usually dynamic and round. 6.      minor characters:  a less important character who interacts with the main characters, helping to move the plot along and providing background for the story.  Minor characters are usually static and flat.7.      novel, play, story, or poem.  He or she may also be referred to as the "hero" of a work.

 characterization:  all of the techniques that writers use to create characters. 

                        Terms Associated with Characterization:1.      character trait:  a character’s personality; a trait is not a physical description of a character.2.      direct characterization:  the author directly states a character’s traits or makes direct comments about a character’s nature.

3.      dynamic character:  a character who changes throughout the course of the story. 4.      flat character:  a character about whom little information is provided.

5.      indirect characterization:  the author does not directly state a character’s traits; instead the reader draws conclusions and discovers a character’s traits based upon clues provided by the author.6.      round character:  is a character who is fully described by the author (several character traits, background information, etc.)

7.      static character:  a character who does not change or who changes very little in the course of a story.

chiasmus: a rhetorical or literary figure in which words, grammatical constructions, or concepts are repeated in reverse order, in the same or a modified form; e.g. “Poetry is the record of the best and happiest moments of the happiest and best minds.”

cliché: a type of figurative language containing an overused expression or a saying that is no longer considered original.

 climax:  see plot comedy:  a dramatic work that is light and often humorous in tone and usually ends happily with a peaceful resolution of the main conflict. 

comparison:  the process of identifying similarities. concrete poetry: a type of poetry that uses its physical or visual form to present its message. conflict:  the tension or problem in the story; a struggle between opposing forces. 

                        Terms Associated With Conflict:1.      central conflict:  the dominant or most important conflict in the story.2.      external conflict:  the problem or struggle that exists between the main character and an outside force. (ex:  person vs. person, person vs. society, person vs. nature, person vs. the supernatural, person vs. technology, etc.)3.      internal conflict:  the problem or struggle that takes place in the main character’s mind (person vs. self).                    

connotation: the idea and feeling associated with a word as opposed to its dictionary definition or denotation. consonance:  the repetition of consonant sounds anywhere within a line of poetry.  Alliteration is a specific type of consonance.

 context clues:  hints or suggestions that may surround unfamiliar words or phrases and clarify their meaning.

 contrast:  the process of pointing out differences between things.

couplet:  a rhymed pair of lines in a poem.  One of William Shakespeare’s trademarks was to end a sonnet with a couplet, as in the poem “Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day”:

So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, So long as lives this, and this gives life to thee.

denotation is the opposite of connotation in that it is the exact or dictionary meaning of a word.

denouement : see plot

dialect:  a form of language that is spoken in a particular place or by a particular group of people.

dialogue: The conversation between characters in a drama or narrative. A dialogue occurs in most works of literature.

diction: choice and use of words and phrases in writing

didactic: instructional tone

drama:  a drama or play is a form of literature meant to be performed by actors before an audience.  In a drama, the characters’ dialogue and actions tell the story.  The written form of a play is known as a script.

dramatic monologue: a literary device that is used when a character reveals his or her innermost thoughts and feelings, those that are hidden throughout the course of the story line, through a poem or a speech. This speech, where only one character speaks, is recited while other characters are present onstage. This monologue often comes during a climactic moment in a work and often reveals hidden truths about a character, their history and their relationships.

elegy: a type of literature defined as a song or poem that expresses sorrow or lamentation, usually for one who has died.

empathy: ability to understand and share the feelings of others

end-stopped: causing a pause at the end of a line of verse enjambment: in poetry, the running over of a line or thought into the next of verse epigram: a short poem or verse that seeks to ridicule a thought or event, usually with witticism or sarcasm. 

epic:  a long narrative poem about the adventures of a hero whose actions reflect the ideals and values of a nation or group. epiphany: a sudden moment of understanding that causes a character to change or to act in a certain way. epitaph: a short poem or verse written in memory of someone essay: a short work of nonfiction that deals with a single subject.  euphemism: a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing.

exaggeration:  see hyperbole exposition:  see plot extended metaphor:  a figure of speech that compares two essentially unlike things in great length. 

external conflict: see conflict

fable: a brief tale that teaches a lesson about human nature. Fables often feature animals as characters. 

falling action:  see plot fantasy:  a work of literature that contains at least one fantastic or unreal element.

fiction:  prose writing that tells an imaginary story.  Fiction includes both short stories and novels. figurative language or figure of speech:  expressions that are not literally true.  see simile, metaphor, hyperbole, understatement, irony, oxymoron, cliché, metonymy  flashback:  an interruption of the chronological sequence (as in a film or literary work) of an event of earlier occurrence. A flashback is a narrative technique that allows a writer to present past events during current events, in order to provide background for the current narration. 

foil: see character

folklore:  traditions, customs and stories that are passed down within a culture.  Folklore contains various types of literature such as legends, folktales, myths, and fables. 

folktale:  a simple story that has been passed from generation to generation by word of mouth.  Folktales are told primarily to entertain rather than to explain or teach a lesson.

foot: a unit of meter within a line of poetry

foreshadowing: when the writer provides clues or hints that suggest or predict future event in a story.   

free verse:  poetry without regular patterns of rhyme and rhythm.  Often used to capture the sounds and rhythms of ordinary speech.

generalization:  a broad statement about an entire group. 

genre: a type or category of literature.  The four main literary genres include:  fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama. 

hero or heroine: see character  heroic couplet or closed couplet: a couplet consisting of two successive rhyming lines that contain a complete thought.

 historical fiction:  fiction that explores a past time period and may contain references to actual people and events of the past. 

 horror fiction: fiction that contains mysterious and often supernatural events to create a sense of terror.

 humor:  the quality that provokes laughter or amusement.  Writers create humor through exaggeration, sarcasm, amusing descriptions, irony, and witty dialogue.

 hyperbole: a figure of speech in which the truth is exaggerated for emphasis or humorous effect.

iambic pentameter: see meter

idiom: a phrase or expression that means something different from what the words actually say (for example, using the phrase “over his head” instead of “He doesn’t understand”).

imagery:  the use of words and phrases that appeal to the five senses.  Writers use sensory details to help readers imagine how things look, feel, smell, sound, and taste.

in media res: “in the middle of,” scenes that begin in the middle of already established action or situations

inference:  is a logical guess based on evidence based on evidence in the text. irony: a contrast between what is expected and what actually exists or happens. Irony spices up a literary work by adding unexpected twists and allowing the reader to become more involved with the characters and plot.

There are many types of irony, including:  1.      verbal irony:  occurs when the speaker means something totally different than what he or she is saying  and often times the opposite of what a character is saying is true.2.      dramatic irony:  occurs when facts are not known to the characters in a work of literature but are known by the audience.3.      cosmic irony:  suggests that some unknown force brings about dire and dreadful events.4.      irony of situation: the difference between what is expected to happen and the way events actually work out.

legend: a story handed down from the past about a specific person, usually someone of heroic accomplishments.

 lyric poetry: a song-like poem written mainly to express the feelings or emotions of a single speaker.    

 malapropism: the mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, often with unintentionally amusing effect; for example, “dance a flamingo ” (instead of flamenco ).

memoir:  a specific type of autobiography; like autobiography, a memoir is about the author’s personal experiences. However, a memoir does not necessarily cover the author’s entire life.

metaphor : a type of figurative language in which a comparison is made between two things that are essentially unalike but may have one quality in common.  Unlike a simile, a metaphor does not contain an explicit word of comparison, such as “like” or “as”.

 meter: the regular pattern of accented and unaccented syllables.  Although all poems have rhythm, not all poems have regular meter.  Each unit of meter is known as a foot. The conventional symbols used to identify accented and unaccented syllables are: “/” to indicate an accented syllable; and an “X” or a small symbol shaped like a “U” to indicate an unaccented symbol. The metrical foot is the basic unit of meter. The most common metrical feet and their patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables are as follows:

·        iamb: X /

·        trochee: / X

·        anapest: X X /

·        dactyl: / X X

·        spondee: / /

·        pyrrhic: X X

The meter of a poem is determined by the predominant metrical foot, and by the number of feet per line that predominates in the poem. The following terms indicate the number of feet per line:

·        monometer: one foot per line

         dimeter: two feet per line

·        trimeter: three feet per line

·        tetrameter: four feet per line

·        pentameter: five feet per line

·        hexameter: six feet per line

·        heptameter: seven feet per line

·        octameter: eight feet per line

A poem written in predominantly iambic meter, with five feet per line, would be called "iambic pentameter." One written in primarily trochaic meter, with four feet per line, would be "trochaic tetrameter." One written in anapestic meter, with three feet per line, would be "anapestic trimeter."

metonymy: the metaphorical substitution of one word or phrase for another related word or phrase. Example: “The pen is mightier than the sword.”  The word “pen” is used in place of “words” and the word “sword” is used to represent the idea of fighting or war.

 mood: a mood or atmosphere is the feeling that a literary work conveys to readers.  Mood is created through the use of plot, character, the author’s descriptions, etc.

motif: a recurring object, concept, or structure in a work of literature. A motif may also be two contrasting elements in a work, such as good and evil. A motif is important because it allows one to see main points and themes that the author is trying to express, in order that one might be able to interpret the work more accurately.

motivation: the reason why a character acts, feels or thinks in a certain way.

myth: a traditional story that attempts to explain how the world was created or why the world is the way that it is. Myths are stories that are passed on from generation to generation and are of unknown authorship.  Also see folklore.narrative: any writing that tells a story. Most novels and short stories are placed into the categories of first-person and third-person narratives, which are based on who is telling the story and from what perspective.

Terms that relate to "narrative”1.      narrative poetry: poetry that tells a story. A narrative poem can come in many forms and styles, both complex and simple, short or long, as long as it tells a story. Like fiction, narrative poetry contains characters, settings and plots.2.      narrator: one who tells a story; the speaker or the “voice” of an oral or written work. The narrator is not usually the same person as the author. The narrator is the direct window into a piece of work. Who the author chooses to narrate establishes the point of view in the story.3.      unreliable narrator: one who gives his or her own understanding of a story, instead of the explanation and interpretation the author wishes the audience to obtain. This type of action tends to alter the audience’s opinion of the conclusion. 

nonfiction: is prose writing that presents and explains ideas or that tells about real people, places, objects or events.  Some examples of nonfiction include autobiographies, newspaper articles, biographies, essays, etc.

novel: a work of fiction that is longer and more complex than a short story.  In a novel, setting, plot and characters are usually developed in great detail.

ode: a lyric poem of some length, usually of serious or meditative nature and having an elevated style and formal structure.

onomatopoeia:  the use of words whose sound suggest their meaning (ex. buzz, bang, hiss).

oxymoron:  a form of figurative language combining contradictory words or ideas (ex. jumbo shrimp, bittersweet)

parable: a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lessonparadox:  a statement that seems to contradict itself but is, nevertheless, true.

parallelism:  the use of similar grammatical constructions to express ideas that are related or equal in importance. For example:  The sun rises. The sun sets.

paraphrasing:  the restatement of a text by readers in their own words or in another form.

parody: a literary or artistic work that imitates the characteristic style of an author’s work for comic effect or ridicule.pastoral: a work of literature portraying an idealized version of country life; focus on nature

pathos: evokes pity or sympathy

persona: a role or character adopted by an author or an actor.

personification: a figure of speech where animals, ideas or inanimate objects are given human characteristics.

persuasion:  persuasive writing is meant to sway readers’ feelings, beliefs, or actions.  Persuasion normally appeals to both the mind and the emotions of readers.

plot:  the sequence of related events that make up a story.                Terms Associated with Plot

1.      exposition:  introduces the characters and the conflicts they face. 2.      inciting incident:  occurs after the exposition and introduces the central conflict

3.      rising action:  following the introduction of the central conflict; complications arise as the characters struggle with the conflict.

4.      climax:  the turning point, point of maximum interest, and highest tension in the plot of a story, play, or film.  The climax usually occurs towards the end of story after the reader has understood the conflict and become emotionally involved with the characters.  At the climax, the conflict is resolved, and the outcome of the plot becomes clear.                                            5.      falling action:  the end of the central conflict in a story, when the action starts to

wind down.                                  6.      resolution or denouement:  occurs after the climax and is where conflicts are resolved and loose ends are tied up. 7.   subplot:  an additional minor plot that involves a secondary conflict in the story; the subplot may or may not affect the main plot.

point of view: perspective from which a story is told. Understanding the point of view used in a work is critical to understanding literature; it serves as the instrument to relay the events of a story, and in some instances the feelings and motives of the character(s). 

Terms Associated with Point of View:1.      first person point of view:  the person telling the story is one of the characters in the story.  It is the “I” point of view.  It is the most limited among the types because the narrator can only state what he or she sees, feels, and hears.  He or she cannot go into the minds of the other characters.2.      second person point of view:  refers to the use of “you” in explanations or arguments. It is not frequently used, but is appropriate in certain circumstances.  Most second person points of view occur within instructions that are meant to be followed.  3.      third person limited or third person objective:  the person telling the story is not one of the characters in the story.  He or she is an outside observer.  The reader can only know what one character learns through interaction with other characters or through overheard conversations.  The narrator cannot supply the thoughts or feelings of other characters in the story.        4.      third person omniscient:  the narrator is not a character in the story, but the events in the story are seen through the eyes of more than one of the characters.  The narrator is considered to be “all knowing” and cannot only see and hear everything that is happening to all characters in the story, but can also enter their minds and tell the reader what each is thinking and feeling. This is the least limited point of view because the narrator has knowledge of all the characters.           

primary source:  a first hand account of an event; primary sources include: diaries, journals, letters, speeches, news stories, photographs, and pieces of art.

propaganda: text that uses false or misleading information to present a slanted point of view.

prose:  the ordinary form of spoken and written language; that is, language that lacks the special features of poetry.  Examples of prose include:  essays, stories, articles, speeches, etc. 

protagonist: see character pun: play on words

realistic fiction:  imaginative writing set in the real, modern world.  The characters act like real people who use ordinary human abilities to cope with problems and conflicts typical of modern life. 

 refrain:  repetition in literature of one or more lines at regular intervals; sometimes called the chorus.

 repetition:  a technique in which a sound, word, phrase, or line is repeated for effect or emphasis. rhetorical question: asked in order to produce an effect or to make a statement rather than to elicit information.

rhyme: repetition of an identical or similarly accented sound or sounds in a work.  Rhyme gives poems flow and rhythm, helping the lyricist tell a story and convey a mood.

                                    Some Terms Associated with Rhyme:1.            end or terminal rhymes:  words that rhyme at the end of a verse-line.2.            eye rhymes: are words that when written appear to rhyme, but when spoken do not (ex:  dog/fog, cough/enough/bough, etc).3.            internal rhyme:  rhyme found within a line of poetry (alliteration, assonance, and consonance).  4.            slant rhyme (slänt rime) is also known as near rhyme, half rhyme, off rhyme, imperfect rhyme, oblique rhyme, or pararhyme. A distinctive system or pattern of metrical structure and verse composition in which two words have only their final consonant sounds and no preceding vowel or consonant sounds in common. Instead of perfect or identical sounds or rhyme, it is the repetition of near or similar sounds or the pairing of accented and unaccented sounds that if both were accented would be perfect rhymes (stopped and wept, parable and shell). Alliteration, assonance, and consonance are accepted as slant rhyme due to their usage of sound combinations (spilled and spoiled, chitter and chatter).

 rhyme scheme: the pattern of end rhyme used in a poem, generally indicated by matching lowercase letters to show which lines rhyme. The letter "a" notes the first line, and all other lines rhyming with the first line. The first line that does not rhyme with the first, or "a" line, and all others that rhyme with this line, is noted by the letter "b", and so on. The rhyme scheme may follow a fixed pattern (as in a sonnet) or may be arranged freely according to the poet's requirements.

 rhythm (see also meter):  refers to the pattern of flow of sounds created by the arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry.  The accented or stressed syllables are marked with:

                                                stressed or accented syllables:  /                                                unstressed or unaccented syllables:  X or U 

romance: writing depicting heroic or marvelous deeds, pageantry, romantic exploits, etc., usually in a historical or imaginary setting; idealized situation

sarcasm: the use of praise to mock someone or something; the use of mockery or verbal irony 

satire:  a literary technique in which ideas or customs are ridiculed for the purpose of improving society. 

scene:  a section in a play presenting events that occur in one place at one time. 

science fiction:  prose writing in which a writer explores unexpected possibilities of the past or the future by using scientific data and theories as well as his or her imagination.   

secondary source: a secondary source presents information compiled from or based on other sources. sensory details:  words and phrases that help readers see, hear, taste, feel, or smell what an author is describing.

 sequence:  the order in which events occur or in which ideas are presented.

setting: the time, place, physical details, and circumstances in which a story occurs. Settings include the background, atmosphere or environment in which characters live and move, and usually include physical characteristics of the surroundings. Settings enables the reader to better envision how a story unfolds by relating necessary physical details of a piece of literature.  short story:  brief work of fiction that generally focuses on one or two main characters who face a single problem or conflict. simile: a simile is a type of figurative language that makes a comparison between two otherwise unlike objects or ideas by connecting them with the words "like" or "as."soliloquy: a speech delivered by a character who is alone on the stage. 

sonnet: a sonnet is a distinctive poetic style that uses a system or pattern of metrical structure and verse composition usually consisting of fourteen lines, arranged in a set rhyme scheme or pattern. There are two main styles of sonnet, the Italian sonnet and the English sonnet.

speaker: the voice that talks to the reader in a poem, as the narrator does in a work of fiction.  The speaker in the poem is not necessarily the poet.

stanza: a grouping of two or more lines within a poem.  A stanza is comparable to a paragraph in prose. Some common stanza forms include:                           

·        two line stanza: couplet

·        three line stanza: triplet or tercet

        four line stanza: quatrain

·        five line stanza: cinquain or quintet

·        six line stanza: sestet or sextet

·        seven line stanza: septet

       eight line stanza: octave

·        fourteen line stanza: sonnet

stereotype: a broad generalization or an oversimplified view that disregards individual differences.

stichomythia: “rapid-fire” dialogue

story mapping: a visual organizer that helps a reader understand a work of literature by tracking setting, characters, events and conflicts.stream of consciousness: a literary style in which a character's thoughts, feelings, and reactions are depicted in a continuous flow uninterrupted by objective description or conventional dialogue.

style: how a writer says something; many elements contribute to style, including word choice, sentence length, tone and figurative language

summarizing: the process of briefly recounting the main ideas of a piece of writing in a person’s own words, while omitting unimportant details.

suspense: a feeling of growing tension and excitement.  Writers create suspense by raising questions in readers’ minds about what might happen.

symbolism: using something specific to stand for something else, especially an idea. A symbol is a person, place, object or action that for something beyond itself. For example, a dove may represent peace. The dove can be seen and peace cannot.

synecdoche: a literary technique in which the whole is represented by naming one of its parts (genus named for species), or vice versa (species named for genus). Example: “You've got to come take a look at my new set of wheels.” The vehicle here is represented by its parts, or wheels.

syntax: arrangement of words and phrases

tall tale: a humorously exaggerated story about impossible events.

theme: a common thread or repeated idea that is incorporated throughout a literary work. A theme is a thought or idea the author presents to the reader about life or human nature. Generally, a theme has to be extracted as the reader explores the passages of a work. The author utilizes the characters, plot, and other literary devices to assist the reader in this endeavor. The author often intertwines the theme throughout the work, and the full impact is slowly realized as the reader processes the text. The ability to recognize a theme is important because it allows the reader to understand part of the author’s purpose in writing the book.  tone: the writer’s attitude or feeling  about his or her subject. tragedy: a dramatic work that presents the downfall of a dignified character or characters who are involved in historically or socially significant events.  The events in a tragic plot are set in motion by a decision that is often an error in judgment. Succeeding events inevitably lead to a disastrous conclusion, usually death.

understatement: a statement that is restrained in ironic contrast to what might have been said; the opposite of hyperbole. Understatement is usually used for a humorous effect.

urban legend: a contemporary story that is told in many rumored versions that have little basis in fact.

voice: an author or narrator’s distinctive style or manner of expression.  Voice can reveal much about the author or narrator’s personality.

Approved Titles for Individual Reading AssignmentAbsalom, Absalom by William Faulkner Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark TwainAll the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy Animal Farm by George OrwellAnna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy Antigone by SophoclesAs You Like It by William Shakespeare Atonement by Ian McEwanThe Awakening by Kate Chopin The Bell Jar by Sylvia PlathBeloved by Toni Morrison The Blind Assassin by Margaret AtwoodThe Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison The Bonesetter’s Daughter by Amy Tan Brave New World by Aldous Huxley The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevski Candide by Voltaire Catch-22 by Joseph Heller The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams The Color Purple by Alice Walker Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevski Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen The Dollmaker by Harriet Arnot Dracula by Bram Stoker East of Eden by John Steinbeck Emma by Jane Austen A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck Great Expectations by Charles Dickens Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy King Lear by William Shakespeare Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich Medea by Euripides The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare My Ántonia by Willa Cather Native Son by Richard WrightNo Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy 1984 by George Orwell Oedipus Rex by SophoclesOf Mice and Men by John Steinbeck One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey Othello by William Shakespeare A Passage to India by E. M. Forster The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry Rebecca by Daphne du MaurierThe Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy The Road by Cormac McCarthy A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf A Room with a View by E. M. Forster The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne A Separate Peace by John Knowles Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut Sons and Lovers by D. H. Lawrence A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee WilliamsThe Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway A Tale of Two Cities by Charles DickensThe Tempest by William ShakespeareTess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas HardyTheir Eyes Were Watching God by Zorah Neale Hurston Things Fall Apart by Chinua AchebeThe Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley Twelfth Night by William ShakespeareTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

***Remember to choose a title that you have not yet read. There are other titles that I will approve, so if you have been yearning to read a specific title that you don’t see on this list, ask me about it. I tried to create a diverse list that includes works recommended by the College Board that will also not cause you difficultly when you begin to do research.***