AP ENGLISH LITERATURE SUMMER READING PROGRAM 2009

Summer reading for the fall ’09 semester will be a little different than years past. Please read carefully and follow the directions exactly as given.

1.     Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

You may borrow Frankenstein from the school before or during the summer. Stop by room C238 or the main office to sign out a copy, which you will be responsible for returning after the school year starts.

As you read over the summer, please pay careful attention to the author’s use of symbolism and structure. You will be given an in-class writing assessment during the initial week of school for this text.

2.     Henry V by William Shakespeare

There are several ways to access the Shakespeare play. The entire play is available online at http://shakespeare.mit.edu/henryv/index.html as well as at all local libraries. You are also permitted to acquire your own copy so as to develop the habit of writing in your books—underlining, highlighting, and annotating to your heart’s content.
      

   WARNING!!  WRITING ASSIGNMENT FOLLOWS!!!

After you read the play over the summer, you must submit—to both Mr. Ornstein and Ms. Jackson—an essay of approximately 3-5 typed pages in formal MLA format. You will choose ONE (1) of the questions below and submit your essay response as an email attachment NO LATER THAN August 19, 2009, at 4:00 pm. Be sure to email your essay to both teachers. This will be our first impression of you as a writer and reader, so try to do your best. You may use outside sources for some support, but remember to use parenthetical documentation of all sources as well as including a page of works cited (all formats can be found in the MLA Guide, which is available online).

CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS TO ANSWER ABOUT HENRY V:

• This play may be considered to depict a conflict between a parent (or a parental figure) and a son or daughter, even if the parent is long since dead. Write an essay in which you analyze the sources of this conflict and explain how the conflict contributes to the meaning of the work.
  AVOID PLOT SUMMARY.
• In some works of fiction and drama, a character that appears briefly, or does not appear at all, can be a significant presence. Write an essay in which you show how such a character functions in this play. You may wish to discuss how the character affects action, theme, or the development of other characters. AVOID PLOT SUMMARY.
• In great literature, no scene of violence exists for its own sake. This play confronts the reader or audience with many scenes of violence as well as many different kinds of violence. In a well-organized essay, explain how the scene or scenes contribute to the meaning of the work as a whole.
  AVOID PLOT SUMMARY.

Teacher Email Addresses for Essay Submission: 

Ana_I_Jackson@mcpsmd.org

Mitchell S Ornstein@mcpsmd.org