The Catcher in the Rye (J. D. Salinger) This bold and controversial novel by J. D. Salinger centers around ideas including adolescent sexuality and relationships. Enhance your understanding and analysis with our Othello Albert course. Studying these top 10 novels should be a priority on your list! Aralias English tutors are inspired teachers and professors who are committed to student success. The power of language also plays an important role. A portrayal of the protagonist, Stephen Delalous, as he awakens as an artistmoving from childhood to youth, rebelling against religion, and awakening sexually. Raised as the grandson of a preacher, he grew up conflicted with religion. Anything you read specifically for your AP literature class is a good choice, too. The citizens of Earth are all genetically modified and sorted in a social hierarchy based on intelligence. But, it does this while remaining true to Shelleys Gothic and Romantic roots. 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. Enhance your understanding and analysis with our. Chances are, well see it again this year. Raised as the grandson of a preacher, he grew up conflicted with religion. To help . Not only is this an interesting time period thats receiving more attention as the years draw on, many of the following titles from this era reflect the distinct American voice in literature in a lyrical, interesting, and unique way. Each character in. is iconic in high school English Literature education. Does not merely conform to the expectations of a single genre or formula, Has been judged to have artistic quality by the literary community (teachers, students, librarians, critics, other writers, the reading public), Has stood the test of time in some way, regardless of the date of publication. Because you read it in class, you will almost surely be familiar with its themes and literary devices. Look for this selection in free response prompts about symbolism. Since the whole exam is about reading and interpreting literature, it only makes sense that reading will help you sharpen the skills youll need to ace the exam. Streetcar is considered one of the greatest American plays of all time. I would recommend the Great Gatsby, because Fitzgerald is awesome, and maybe Jane Eyre (or, you know, something else if Jane Eyre isn't quite your style). Sign up for your free CollegeVine account to gain access to our chancing engine and other college admissions tools. Simulate how different MCQ and FRQ scores translate into AP scores. He returns from World War II with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. So you should know the plot, characters, themes, and major literary devices or motifs used inside and out. This is another long but worthwhile read at 545 pages. The Sun Also Rises represents the pinnacle of Hemmingways Iceberg Theory, also known as theory of omission. This style intentionally uses sparse language, to inspire curiosity in the reader. Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble! Macbeth is a cautionary tale warning against evil as a means of power. Use. To help students have an easier time learning and reviewing for this AP . What kinds of works count? The Best AP Lit Book List varies from year to year, and 30 literary works were mentioned in 2016-2021. This. Othello is an African general in the Venetian army, and the play examines the racial prejudice he faces. Below, we give you the list of works that have been mentionedonthe AP English Literatureexammany timesoverthe past 7 years. As you read this novel, its important to remember its a modern retelling of the Book of Genesis (the one with Adam and Eve). Authors Books By Non-U.S. 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. You can order this book on Amazon for $18.99! Referencing its language and/or its cultural significance can help you earn points on the exam. Want free college guidance? The character, Estella, gives us the beautiful quote. It is even updated for the 2021 exam. Our one-on-one online AP tutoring services can help you prepare for your AP exams. There are many symbols that may appear on the AP English Literature exam, including his The Pequod, the color white, and Moby Dick (the whale itself). These titles are useful references to this time period in particular. The list that follows contains titles referenced less often. 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. All of these will help in free responses and multiple choice questions pertaining to character. <p>For the AP English Literature exam you need to read one or two classics and get to know them really well for the writing portion. 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. Its a relatively short novella containing mystery, psychology, and adventure. This piece is rife with examples of figurative language. At its core, this is a story of a woman yearning for more than what traditional society would allow her to have. Check out the AP English Literature reading list in this article to see works that have appeared on two or more "suggested works" lists on free-response prompts since 2003. But, it does this while remaining true to Shelleys Gothic and Romantic roots. Read How To Succeed In High School English Classes to find the answer! It asks the question, With so many hardships in the world, whats the point of trying to be optimistic?. 32. The story is told from the point of view of a young child. 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. Additionally, As I Lay Dying is considered part of the foundation of the Southern Renaissance. Spanning a hundred years (1820-1920) and telling the story of the fictional Colombian town Macondoseven and the coinciding rise and fall of the towns founders, the Buendia family. A drama about a working-class black family living on the South Side of Chicago, based on Langston Hughes poem. A two-hour, three-question free-response section. Of the books you read for prep both in and out of class, choose four to five books that are thematically diverse to learn especially well in preparation for the exam. The Tempest is widely regarded as Shakespeares Farewell performance. (those who cause conflict for the protagonist). Many of William Shakespeares works appear on the exams most frequently cited list. Hurston juxtaposes Southern Black dialect with the voice of a literary narrator. 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. Hes not literally invisible, but hes invisible in a society that is unable and unwilling to recognize the individuality of the black man. They cover a wide range of themes, genres, and cultural time periods to help you effectively answer different varieties of exam questions. Colleges with an Archeology Major, How to Apply to the Unigo $10K College Scholarship. He uses the family drama of the character Antigone to highlight this. As you read, also consider how the supernatural elements of the story (like ghosts) contrast with its stark realism. To help students have an easier time learning and reviewing for this AP Exam, we have gathered the ultimate AP English Literature Reading List. With the scoring worksheet, you will be able to calculate your target score in preparation for the upcoming exam in May. is set in rural Georgia in the 1930s. If you aren't sure if a particular work has the kind of literary merit the College Board is looking for, ask your AP teacher. We can help. 35. 4 - Princeton Review AP English Literature and Composition Prep 2022. If youre asked about early-20th century American society, The Great Gatsby should be a novel you reference.. She received a BA from Harvard in Folklore and Mythology and is currently pursuing graduate studies at Columbia University. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. Don't stay in one reading position for too long, or you'll end up like this guy. This might seem like kind of an obvious questionyou need to read books because it's a literature exam! But, where it really shines is in its considerations of class and gender from a womans perspective. For example, Invisible Man has popped up on 29 of the past 49 AP Lit exams! Familiarize yourself with important plots and characters from especially dense texts (like Moby Dick). When creating your own AP Literature reading list for the student choice free-response, try to pick works that are diverse in author, setting, genre, and theme. Character accounts for 16%-20% of the multiple-choice section of the AP Literature and Composition exam, and will likely play a considerable role in the free-response section as well. For example. Chances are, youve already read Odysseuss sweeping tale of adventure at some point in your high school career. You don't necessarily need to drill down to the same degree on every text, but you should always be thinking, "Why did the author write this piece this way?". An unnamed narrators retreat from society and withdrawal into an underground existence that demonstrates how humans free-will often works against their self-interest. The first is probably the most common: choose a book, play, or other literary work you read in AP Lit. All rights reserved. represents the pinnacle of Hemmingways Iceberg Theory, also known as theory of omission. This style intentionally uses sparse language, to inspire curiosity in the reader. 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