One of the most versatile titles on this list, Great Expectations addresses many of the Victorian-era genres including: satire, crime, Silver Fork, Newgate, Gothic, serial fiction, romance, politics, and history. The comedic story of twins, each of whom thinks the other has drowned in a shipwreck; a love triangle; and mistaken identity. It pointedly deals with imperialist greed, taking place in the 1890s African Congo. For example. An Odd Selection, How Many Have You Read? The Stranger by Albert Camus, Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, and Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett are all quality, classic books. If youre able to include mention of some of these, you may be able to score points for the breadth of your literary knowledge. Get matched with a top tutor who got a high score on the exam you're studying for! Heres an example of this kind of free response question: The College Board doesnt have an official recommended list of books to read for AP Lit. Themes of race, identity, ideology, and stereotypes are explored. What Are the Benefits of Earning an IB Diploma? Books that were mentioned three times are from the 17th,19thand 20th centuries. Faulkners As I Lay Dying, is a good example to use if youre asked about stream of consciousness writing style. You'll also want to read to improve your close-reading and rhetorical analysis skills. Brontes novel resonates deeply with current feminist movements across the globe. While reading the story, think of the Mississippi River as a symbol for remaining neutral on issues of race. A portrayal of the protagonist, Stephen Delalous, as he awakens as an artistmoving from childhood to youth, rebelling against religion, and awakening sexually. Use Alberts Hamlet course for extra prep. 34. As Stephen, the main character, develops morally and psychologically, the style of Joyces writing adapts and grows, so to speak. is considered one of the greatest American plays of all time. AP Course and Exam Description for AP Lit. The word character comes from the Latin word meaning mark, distinctive quality, and is a literary device used by authors to allow readers to explore a range of values, beliefs, assumptions, biases, and cultural norms. Choose books that interest you! A memory play based on the recollections of the protagonist Toms memory of his mother and sister, and an evening when Tom brings an acquaintance home for dinner. As you can see, while there is some thematic overlap in my chosen works, they also cover a broad swathe of themes. psychologically analyzes young Raskolnikovs crime to reveal how psychological analysis itself keeps us imprisoned. Every year, the College Board provides a minimum of 25 literary works for students to analyze, and the list changes every year. The Best AP Lit Book List varies from year to year, and 30 literary works were mentioned in 2016-2021. With such a vast number of novels to choose from, it can be tough to decide which books to put on your AP English Literature Reading List. Don't stay in one reading position for too long, or you'll end up like this guy. The rest of the books range from the 17th century to the 20th century, excluding 18th century publications. This is another long but worthwhile read at 545 pages. Alberts King Lear course is a great resource for understanding the themes and concepts. We only cover the free-response question #3 because, in this section, students must select a work of fiction from 25 to 30 listed pieces on the exam to answer the question within 45 minutes of the whole 2 hours of the exam. 4. This play is where it gets its name. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. This play provides great opportunities for an analysis of symbolism. These five classic works could appear on the multiple choice section of the test, as well as on the free response section. As Stephen, the main character, develops morally and psychologically, the style of Joyces writing adapts and grows, so to speak. Remember to check out Alberts How to Study for AP English Literature for useful tips and skills! nerdymatt98 6 yr. ago Even though youve probably studied his plays all through high school, itll help to refresh your memory on these essential texts. Streetcar is considered one of the greatest American plays of all time. This will maximize your ability to comprehensively answer a student choice question about pretty much anything with one of the works you've focused on. Prospero can be viewed as a kind of artist, in that he controls the fate of every other character. Though not in the same time period as most works on this list, its still considered a classic. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. In this post, well go over three concepts to guide your reading as you prepare for the AP Lit exam, plus 20 awesome book recommendations. Centered around the lives of Torvald Helmer, his wife Nora, and their three children who are living an ordinary-seeming life, until Torvald and Noras roles are shifted and their lives upended. AP English Literature and Composition has become a more popular test among students, and the complexity of literary analysis are challenging for students, especially those whose first language is not English. This work of literature explores Mother-Daughter relationships and the psychological impact that slavery has had on the African-American community in this country. So, having a basic familiarity level with the language of a broad variety of literary works will help keep you from floundering in confusion on test day because you're seeing a work unlike anything you've ever read. Here are examples of test questions on figurative language: The narrator of a story has an enormous influence over a readers experience, as they control the details revealedemphasizing some and limiting others. She received a BA from Harvard in Folklore and Mythology and is currently pursuing graduate studies at Columbia University. 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars. Enhance your understanding and analysis with our. Get the latest articles and test prep tips! In this article, I'll break down why you need to read books to prepare, how many you should plan on reading, and what you should readincluding poetry. Be sure to keep this in mind- Above all else. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. Best 5 Stranger Things Book List2023 update, Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen (by Christopher McDougall), Pose Method of Running (by Nicholas Romanov), The Runners Rule Book: Everything a Runner Needs to KnowAnd Then Some (by Mark Remy). It deals with racism and sexism, along with womens rights. should come to mind. Rather than following the sealed-fate plot that would have made sense to the audience of the time, Sophocles made Oedipuss choices and faults contribute to his downfall. AP English Literature and Composition is designed for students who are interested in literature, want to do further research and study on it, and are willing to accept high-intensity learning challenges.The purpose of the course is to cultivate students professional ability of critical reading and analytical writing through a large number of inquiry learning of literary originals in various periods and genres.Students can not only gain a deep understanding of literary works, but also have the ability of critical thinking and analysis that can be used for a lifetime. F. Scott Fitzgeralds work has come to represent the Jazz Age in America. It revolves around themes of jealousy, love, the consequences of the absence of love. The broad topicsand the complexity of literary analysis are challenging for students, especially those whose first language is not English. The tale of John Grady Cole, the last in a long line of ranchers who sets off on a trip to Mexico with two companions. Much of the play is told through his own flashbacks to earlier in his career. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account to gain access to our chancing engine and other college admissions tools. Seen It is a new app from the creators of List Challenges. Consider how OConnors style affects the exploration of faith in. It focuses on themes of love, social class, and gender roles. was first published in 1818. In every scene, the only actors are Medea and one other person. The main theme of Crime and Punishment is redeeming oneself through suffering. The multiple-choice section of the AP Literature exam is a key part of your score. When a book comes up over and over again on exams, this suggests both that it's thematically rich, so you can use it to answer lots of different kinds of questions, and that the College Board sees a lot of value in the work. As you read, consider the effects of flashback on the interpretation of the themes. Look for this selection in free response prompts about symbolism. You have two main options for selecting the perfect work, both equally effective. This. Our teachers are beyond regular tutors because we are committed to bringing the best knowledge possible for students growth. A lot of students wonder if there's a specific AP English reading list of books they should be reading to succeed on the AP Literature and Composition exam. Probably one of the best-known Lost Generation literary works. Everyone plays favorites, and The College Board is no exception. The AP Literature Exam is a three-hour exam that contains two sections in this order: An hour-long, 55-question multiple-choice section. It could be useful to organize your reading list in terms of time period. With the scoring worksheet, you will be able to calculate your target score in preparation for the upcoming exam in May. Last on this top 10 list is Moby Dick. As you read, consider the impact of these allusions on the meaning of the story as a whole. is one of the most highly regarded pieces on the College Board reading list. Its also likely to play a large role in the free-response questions. Is intended by the author to communicate in an artistic manner. 4 - Princeton Review AP English Literature and Composition Prep 2022. Referencing its language and/or its cultural significance can help you earn points on the exam. with an eye out for Joyces stream of consciousness style. The power of language also plays an important role. Authors Books By Non-U.S. Every year, the College Board provides a minimum of 25 literary works for students to analyze, and the list changes every year. The ultimate review guides for AP subjects to help you plan and structure your prep. Reading a diverse array of novels, poetry and plays from different eras and genres will help you be familiar with the language that appears in the various passages on the AP Lit exam's multiple choice and essay sections. We hope this English literature book list will help you decide which books you want to use to prepare for the AP exam. This play has only four main characters, and its overarching theme is the importance of accepting reality. The Scarlet Letter (Nathaniel Hawthorne) 33. Its important to note novels, poems and playsfromvariederas have differences inlanguage and waysof expression. For the purposes of the student choice question, however, you'll want to read books more closely, so that you could write a detailed, convincing analytical essay about any of their themes. Looking for other book recommendation lists from PrepScholar? Aralias English tutors are inspired teachers and professors who are committed to student success. Another bildungsroman (or coming-of-age story), A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is an examination of how morality and religion can confine an artist. When reading in preparation for the AP Literature and Composition exam, think about the perspective the story is being told fromfirst person, second person, limited third person, omniscient author, unreliable narrator, observer narratorand how this perspective frames the story. A dark comedy focused on a middle-aged couple, George and Martha, and a night of drinking, arguments, insults, and secrets exposed. [Note: Th e Kite Runner has appeared on the AP Lit exam for five years! Williams draws from a lot of his own personal experiences in, This play has only four main characters, and its overarching theme is the importance of accepting reality. Medea is a young woman who wants to take control of her own life in a patriarchal society. Sophocles examines the destructive repercussions on following the law over what you believe is right. Sophocles examines the destructive repercussions on following the law over what you believe is right. These works were selected for their quality and impact. And don't forget to read some poetry too! Hemingway only shows the tip of the iceberg in his characterization and descriptions. Princeton Review: AP Lit . In addition, there will be astrategy course for the multiple-choice part of the AP English exam. the 7 books you must read if you're a pre-med, the 31 books to read before graduating high school. As we read further into the story, the language in Celies letters changes to reflect her emotional and psychological development. This cannot be undone. Ask questions; get answers. Two homeless men, Vladimir and Estragon, wait for the arrival of the mysterious Godot. Below, we give you the list of works that have been mentionedonthe AP English Literatureexammany timesoverthe past 7 years. Jane Eyre is a highly cited Victorian Romantic novel. While this sounds intimidating, its actually easy to follow. Its written in the form of letters from the main character, Celie, to God and to her sister. is a portrait of the hysteria created by rumors of women practicing witchcraft in 17th century Salem, Massachusetts, and intended to mirror events happening in Cold War politics. Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble! Macbeth is a cautionary tale warning against evil as a means of power. Thanks for the book ideas! Williams draws from a lot of his own personal experiences in The Glass Menagerie. Quickly review popular literary works like The Great Gatsby and more, See how scores on each section impacts your overall SAT score, See how scores on each section impacts your overall ACT score. Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com, allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. This work of literature explores Mother-Daughter relationships and the psychological impact that slavery has had on the African-American community in this country. 1970-1989 1990-Present Be able to read and analyze literary works from different perspectives, such as the personality of the protagonist, the expression and writing methods of the author, and rhetorical devices, such as pun, parallelism, simile, metaphor, contradictory rhetoric, etc, Section I accounts for 45% of the total score 55 multiple choice questions 60 minutes, Section II accounts for 55% of the total score 3 discussion questions 120 minutes, Essays include: poetry appreciation writing (6 points), prose novel analysis writing (6 points), and literary argument analysis writing (6 points), AP Exams are given every year in May. 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