📚AP English Literature AP Cram Sessions 2021

Key Concepts and Themes

• Understanding the major literary movements and periods (Renaissance, Romanticism, Modernism)
• Recognizing the significance of cultural, historical, and social contexts in shaping literature
  • Examining how authors respond to and reflect the values and concerns of their time
  • Analyzing the influence of historical events (World Wars, Civil Rights Movement) on literary works
• Identifying recurring themes across different works and genres
  • Exploring universal human experiences (love, loss, identity, conflict)
  • Comparing and contrasting the treatment of similar themes in various texts
• Analyzing the development of characters and their relationships
  • Examining how characters evolve and change throughout a work
  • Investigating the role of character interactions in driving plot and revealing themes
• Interpreting symbolism and figurative language to uncover deeper meanings
  • Recognizing the use of metaphors, similes, and allegories to convey complex ideas
  • Analyzing how symbols contribute to the overall themes and messages of a work
• Evaluating the significance of setting in shaping characters and events
  • Examining how the physical, social, and cultural environment influences the story
  • Analyzing the relationship between setting and mood, tone, and atmosphere
• Understanding the role of narrative structure and point of view in storytelling
  • Comparing linear and non-linear narratives and their effects on the reader
  • Examining how different narrative perspectives (first-person, third-person) shape the story

Literary Analysis Techniques

• Close reading involves carefully examining the text to uncover deeper meanings and interpret the author's choices
  • Paying attention to diction, syntax, and tone to analyze the author's style and purpose
  • Examining the use of literary devices (imagery, foreshadowing, irony) to enhance the text's impact
• Comparative analysis involves examining similarities and differences between two or more works
  • Comparing themes, characters, settings, or writing styles across different texts
  • Analyzing how different authors approach similar subjects or ideas
• Historical and cultural context analysis involves situating a work within its broader social, political, and artistic milieu
  • Examining how the author's background and experiences shape their perspective and writing
  • Analyzing how the work reflects or challenges the dominant values and beliefs of its time
• Thematic analysis involves identifying and interpreting the central ideas and messages of a work
  • Tracing the development of key themes throughout the text
  • Examining how different elements (characters, symbols, motifs) contribute to the overall themes
• Structural analysis involves examining how the organization and form of a work contribute to its meaning
  • Analyzing the effects of different plot structures (chronological, non-linear) on the reader's experience
  • Examining how the division of a work into chapters, acts, or stanzas shapes its pacing and impact
• Stylistic analysis involves examining the author's use of language and literary techniques to create meaning
  • Analyzing the effects of diction, syntax, and figurative language on tone and mood
  • Examining how the author's style reflects their purpose and influences the reader's interpretation

Practice Exam Strategies

• Familiarize yourself with the exam format and question types
  • Understanding the structure of the multiple-choice and free-response sections
  • Practicing with released exam questions to develop familiarity and confidence
• Develop effective time management skills to ensure you can complete all sections
  • Allocating appropriate time for each question based on its complexity and point value
  • Monitoring your pace throughout the exam to avoid spending too much time on any one question
• Use active reading strategies when approaching passages and prompts
  • Annotating the text to highlight key ideas, themes, and literary devices
  • Summarizing main points and identifying the author's purpose and tone
• Analyze questions carefully to identify what is being asked and what evidence is required
  • Breaking down complex questions into smaller, more manageable parts
  • Identifying keywords and phrases that indicate the focus of the question
• Formulate clear, concise thesis statements that directly address the prompt
  • Ensuring your thesis takes a strong, arguable position on the topic
  • Previewing the main points you will use to support your argument
• Use specific, relevant evidence from the text to support your claims
  • Selecting quotes, paraphrases, and examples that directly relate to your thesis
  • Analyzing how each piece of evidence supports your argument and contributes to your overall message
• Practice writing timed essays to develop speed and efficiency
  • Outlining your main points and evidence before beginning to write
  • Focusing on developing clear, well-supported arguments rather than perfecting every sentence

Important Authors and Works

• William Shakespeare, known for his plays and sonnets (Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Sonnet 18)
  • Exploring universal themes of love, death, power, and identity through complex characters and language
  • Examining the human condition and the complexities of relationships and emotions
• Jane Austen, famous for her social satires and insights into women's lives (Pride and Prejudice, Emma)
  • Critiquing the social norms and expectations of 19th-century England, particularly for women
  • Developing strong, independent female characters who challenge societal conventions
• F. Scott Fitzgerald, known for his portrayal of the Jazz Age and the American Dream (The Great Gatsby)
  • Examining the decadence, excess, and disillusionment of the 1920s
  • Exploring themes of wealth, class, and the pursuit of happiness in a materialistic society
• Toni Morrison, celebrated for her powerful novels exploring African American experiences (Beloved, The Bluest Eye)
  • Confronting the legacies of slavery, racism, and trauma on individuals and communities
  • Examining themes of identity, family, and the search for belonging in a hostile world
• Ernest Hemingway, known for his spare, minimalist style and themes of war and masculinity (The Sun Also Rises, A Farewell to Arms)
  • Exploring the psychological and emotional impact of war on individuals and society
  • Examining themes of disillusionment, alienation, and the struggle to find meaning in a chaotic world
• Virginia Woolf, a pioneer of modernist literature known for her innovative narrative techniques (Mrs. Dalloway, To the Lighthouse)
  • Experimenting with stream-of-consciousness narration and non-linear storytelling
  • Exploring themes of time, memory, and the inner lives of characters, particularly women
• Gabriel García Márquez, a master of magical realism and explorer of Latin American history and culture (One Hundred Years of Solitude, Love in the Time of Cholera)
  • Blending fantastical elements with realistic settings and characters to explore complex themes
  • Examining the cyclical nature of time, the power of love, and the influence of history on individuals and communities

Essay Writing Tips

• Begin with a strong, engaging introduction that captures the reader's attention
  • Using a hook (question, quote, anecdote) to draw the reader in
  • Providing relevant background information to contextualize your argument
• Craft a clear, specific thesis statement that directly addresses the prompt
  • Taking a strong, arguable position on the topic
  • Previewing the main points you will use to support your argument
• Organize your essay using a logical, coherent structure
  • Using topic sentences to introduce each body paragraph and its main idea
  • Ensuring each paragraph focuses on a single point and includes relevant evidence
• Use specific, relevant evidence from the text to support your claims
  • Selecting quotes, paraphrases, and examples that directly relate to your thesis
  • Analyzing how each piece of evidence supports your argument and contributes to your overall message
• Provide insightful analysis and commentary to explain the significance of your evidence
  • Examining how the evidence relates to your thesis and the larger themes of the work
  • Avoiding plot summary and focusing on interpretation and analysis
• Use transitions to create coherence and flow between paragraphs and ideas
  • Employing words and phrases (furthermore, however, similarly) to show relationships between points
  • Ensuring each paragraph logically builds on the previous one and leads to the next
• Conclude with a strong, memorable ending that reinforces your main argument
  • Summarizing your key points and their significance
  • Providing a final insight or reflection on the larger implications of your argument
• Proofread and edit your essay for clarity, coherence, and mechanical errors
  • Checking for proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation
  • Ensuring your language is clear, concise, and appropriate for the audience and purpose

Vocabulary and Literary Terms

• Allegory: a narrative that uses symbolic characters and events to convey a hidden meaning or moral lesson
  • Example: Animal Farm by George Orwell uses animals to represent different groups in Soviet society
• Allusion: a brief, indirect reference to a person, place, event, or work of literature
  • Example: "I am no Prince Hamlet" (The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S. Eliot)
• Diction: the choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing
  • Analyzing how an author's word choice contributes to tone, mood, and characterization
• Foreshadowing: a literary device in which an author hints at events that will occur later in the story
  • Example: the opening scene of a novel depicting a stormy night, suggesting upcoming conflict or tragedy
• Imagery: the use of vivid, descriptive language to create mental images and evoke sensory experiences
  • Examining how an author's use of imagery contributes to the overall mood and themes of a work
• Irony: a contrast between what is expected and what actually occurs, often used for humorous or emphatic effect
  • Example: a character consistently proclaiming their honesty while engaging in deceitful behavior
• Metaphor: a figure of speech that compares two unlike things by stating that one is the other
  • Example: "All the world's a stage" (As You Like It by William Shakespeare)
• Motif: a recurring element (image, idea, or phrase) that develops or reinforces the theme of a work
  • Example: the repeated references to time in To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf, emphasizing its passage and influence on characters
• Personification: a figure of speech in which non-human objects or abstract ideas are given human qualities or characteristics
  • Example: "The wind whispered secrets to the trees"
• Simile: a figure of speech that compares two unlike things using "like" or "as"
  • Example: "My love is like a red, red rose" (A Red, Red Rose by Robert Burns)
• Symbol: an object, character, or event that represents an abstract idea or concept
  • Example: the green light in The Great Gatsby, symbolizing Gatsby's hopes and dreams
• Tone: the attitude or feeling conveyed by the author through their choice of words and writing style
  • Examining how an author's tone (e.g., ironic, nostalgic, critical) influences the reader's interpretation of the work

Time Management Skills

• Create a study schedule to ensure you cover all necessary material before the exam
  • Breaking down your studying into manageable chunks and setting specific goals for each session
  • Prioritizing topics based on their importance and your comfort level with each one
• Use active reading strategies to efficiently process and retain information
  • Annotating texts to highlight key ideas, themes, and literary devices
  • Summarizing main points and identifying the author's purpose and tone
• Practice timed writing to develop speed and efficiency in crafting essays
  • Setting a timer for each practice essay to simulate exam conditions
  • Focusing on developing clear, well-supported arguments rather than perfecting every sentence
• Utilize study aids (flashcards, mind maps, study groups) to reinforce your understanding of key concepts and terms
  • Creating flashcards for important vocabulary words and literary devices
  • Collaborating with peers to discuss and analyze texts, sharing insights and interpretations
• Take regular breaks to maintain focus and avoid burnout
  • Stepping away from your study materials for short periods to refresh your mind
  • Engaging in relaxation techniques (deep breathing, stretching) to reduce stress and improve concentration
• Prioritize self-care to ensure you are mentally and physically prepared for the exam
  • Getting sufficient sleep, eating a balanced diet, and staying hydrated
  • Engaging in regular exercise or physical activity to boost energy and reduce stress
• Reflect on your progress and adjust your study plan as needed
  • Assessing your strengths and weaknesses based on practice exams and essays
  • Modifying your schedule or strategies to address areas that need improvement

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

• Failing to read the prompt carefully and address all parts of the question
  • Taking the time to analyze the prompt and identify key words and requirements
  • Outlining your essay to ensure you cover all necessary points and evidence
• Relying too heavily on plot summary instead of analysis and interpretation
  • Focusing on examining how literary elements contribute to meaning and themes
  • Using specific evidence to support your claims and provide commentary on their significance
• Using vague or overly broad thesis statements that lack a clear argument
  • Crafting specific, arguable thesis statements that directly address the prompt
  • Previewing the main points you will use to support your argument in your thesis
• Failing to provide sufficient evidence to support your claims
  • Selecting relevant quotes, paraphrases, and examples from the text to back up your arguments
  • Aiming for at least one piece of specific evidence per body paragraph
• Neglecting to analyze the significance of your evidence in relation to your thesis
  • Explaining how each piece of evidence supports your argument and contributes to your overall message
  • Avoiding simply dropping quotes without providing commentary on their meaning and importance
• Overusing plot summary or spending too much time on minor details
  • Focusing on key events, characters, and themes that directly relate to your argument
  • Providing brief context as needed, but prioritizing analysis and interpretation
• Using overly complex or convoluted sentence structures that obscure your meaning
  • Aiming for clear, concise language that effectively conveys your ideas
  • Varying your sentence structure and length for improved readability and flow
• Failing to proofread and edit your work for clarity, coherence, and mechanical errors
  • Reading your essay aloud to catch awkward phrasing or unclear ideas
  • Checking for proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation before submitting your work