The narrator of a story has an enormous influence over a readers experience, as they control the details revealedemphasizing some and limiting others. Authors 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. psychologically analyzes young Raskolnikovs crime to reveal how psychological analysis itself keeps us imprisoned. Williams draws from a lot of his own personal experiences in The Glass Menagerie. These works were selected for their quality and impact. The Best AP Lit Book List varies from year to year, and 30 literary works were mentioned in 2016-2021. Description: In this course, students will develop skills in critically reading literature. is a long read but it is definitely worth your time. Use that to inform your reading of. It revolves around themes of jealousy, love, the consequences of the absence of love. 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. But, where it really shines is in its considerations of class and gender from a womans perspective. Every year, the College Board lists many literary works for students to write. This well-known novel centers on a strong feminist character, who fights control her own destiny. Which countrys literature is a popular examination site? 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. All rights reserved. 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. We send weekly emails with updates about new courses, learning tips, and opportunities for 1:1 call with our consultants. takes place on Earth in the future where the entire planet is governed by just one government, the World State. Aralia has gathered and compiled the Ultimate AP English Literature Exam Reading List for students, including the most frequently listed literary works in Question 3 of the exam! Pip is a young and poor blacksmiths son, who suddenly finds himself the owner of a large fortune and is whisked off to London. The main character, Hazel Motes, returns home wounded from World World II to an empty house. is a great resource for understanding the themes and concepts. If youre faced with questions on the exam about allegory, its a good novel to reference. Even though youve probably studied his plays all through high school, itll help to refresh your memory on these essential texts. Enhance your understanding and analysis with our. 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. 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. , is a good example to use if youre asked about. is a unique take on the bildungsroman (coming-of-age story), and its a relatively short read. Though not in the same time period as most works on this list, its still considered a classic. Taking other APs? While reading the story, think of the Mississippi River as a symbol for remaining neutral on issues of race. May have a social, political or ideological impact on society during the lifetime of the author or afterward. Consider how images of roses and use of love juice symbolize falling in love too quickly. From theabovelist, you can seemost of the books areactually requiredreadingsin other non-APhigh schoolclasses due to theirimportant influence and literary value from the past to the present. When reading in preparation for the AP Lit exam, pay close attention to the figurative language used by the author and how it affects your interpretation of the story, is used to convey information, and makes the text more engaging. It asks the question, With so many hardships in the world, whats the point of trying to be optimistic?. 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. We've compiled lists of the 7 books you must read if you're a pre-med and the 31 books to read before graduating high school. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(360031, 'f5a9450c-28a2-4837-94dd-69230ed94f08', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); The Queen of AP Literature surveys her kingdom. The power of knowledge allows Victor to animate The Beast. The power of his hatred for his creation pushes him toward his own death. Heart of Darkness is celebrated on many of the AP English Literature prep message boards as a go-to literary work for the free response section- and with good reason! Ellisons Invisible Man is a long read but it is definitely worth your time. To that end, I've assembled a list, separated by time period, of all the books that have appeared on the suggested works list for student choice free-response questions at least twice since 2003. Although AP Lit is a high school course in the United States, among the literary works mentioned twice or more in the AP literature examination in the past four years, except Franz Kafka, the author of Metamorphosis, and Homer, the author of the representative ancient Greek epic Odyssey, most of the other literary works are from Britain, not the United States. It is even updated for the 2021 exam. Frankenstein was first published in 1818. I've placed an asterisk next to the most notable and important poets in the list; you should aim to read one or two poems by each of the starred poets to get familiar with a broad range of poetic styles and eras. We break down exactly which books you should be studying, and why. Ask questions; get answers. Mens lives and deaths are ultimately controlled by an uncaring, unfeeling government. It expertly tackles race and bigotry, and its effect on the minds of everyone involved. This work could appear on either the multiple choice or free response sections, because it explores the concept of dynamic characters using a culturally-charged and well-defined example: Shylock the Moneylender. We also have a full scoring worksheet available below. The exam tests your ability to analyze works and excerpts of literature and cogently communicate that analysis in essay form. effectively explores and answers questions about morality. The function of word choice, imagery, and symbols makes up 10%-13% of the multiple-choice section of the AP English Literature and Composition exam, and was a primary component of the first free-response question on the 2018 exam. I have been bent and broken, but I hope into a better shape. This prompts the reader to consider how difficult times allows us to grow as people, and how Estella and Pip have grown from their sufferings. It focuses on themes of love, social class, and gender roles. Weve also included a thoughtful literary analysis on their key elements. Identify and describe the narrator or speaker of a text, The function of the narrators point of view, The narrators or speakers perspective through details, diction, or syntax, The reliability of a narrators effect on the story, Character is an extremely important literary device; without characters, there is no story to tell. Because you read it in class, you will almost surely be familiar with its themes and literary devices. OConnors first novel, Wise Blood, deals with the crisis of faith in those whove seen war. Its as if Shakespeare inserted himself into the story as Prospero. According to the College Board, these characteristics constitute a work of literary merit: As you read for AP Lit, be sure to read closely and carefully, as you would on an exam. Here are some works to read to help you prepare for the AP Lit exam, separated by U.S. and Non-U.S. authors, and books vs. plays. Be the first one to register for classes with our tutors! 2. King Lear is a brutal play containing themes ranging from familial love and duty, to anger and deception. This piece is rife with examples of figurative language. Looking for other book recommendation lists from PrepScholar? Concentrate on instances of his beautiful use of language, and how they affect the novel as a whole. Demonstrates innovation in style, voice, structure, characterization, plot and/or description. 4 - Princeton Review AP English Literature and Composition Prep 2022. The protagonist is constantly bouncing around from person to person, place to place, activity to activity. Jealousy is an overarching theme throughout the play. A drama and unforgettable portrait of hell, where three individuals are locked in a room together to torture one another for eternity. Brontes novel resonates deeply with current feminist movements across the globe. Released multiple-choice exams are in a separate folder. Below, we give you the list of works that have been mentioned. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. is important in preparing for the AP English Literature exam because it covers a timeless debate about racial and religious supremacy. For the last subjective question, students are generally required to extract relevant knowledge from the classics of English literature for analysis. Shows thematic depth: The themes merit revisiting and study because they are complex and nuanced. The entire play takes place in the span of one night and is set in both Fairyland and a real-world forest. Like. Probably one of the best-known Lost Generation literary works. Themes of race, identity, ideology, and stereotypes are explored. To help students have an easier time learning and reviewing for this AP Exam, we have gathered the ultimate AP English Literature Reading List. Tip three: Go to Google right now. Princeton Review is probably one of the biggest names in the realm of AP/exam prep, and for good reason; their resources are incredible! The story is told from the point of view of a young child. is considered part of the foundation of the Southern Renaissance. One of the most versatile titles on this list. You'll want to read them all with an eye for comprehension and basic analysis, but you don't necessarily need to focus equally on every book you read. Also, check out the work of Ngugi wa Thiongo if youre interested in African perspectives on fiction. Get the latest articles and test prep tips! We use a data-driven algorithm to develop a school list based on your real admissions chances and preferences. 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. Oedipus Rex (The King) demonstrates a unique take on the Greek Tragedy. Consider the use of symbolism in this play, and what each different monster represents in a relationship between a husband and wife. This might seem like kind of an obvious questionyou need to read books because it's a literature exam! He again uses a stream of consciousness writing to tell a personal story of fear about the corruption of family values. As Stephen, the main character, develops morally and psychologically, the style of Joyces writing adapts and grows, so to speak. Studying Macbeth is a good opportunity for you to develop your critical analysis skills in tragedy. Brave New World takes place on Earth in the future where the entire planet is governed by just one government, the World State. Does not fall into the traps of pulp fiction such as clichd or derivative descriptions and plot devices, or sentimentality rather than earned emotion. was first published in 1759, it is still considered a classic literary work. , is another exercise in style. These five classic works could appear on the multiple choice section of the test, as well as on the free response section. The story in itself is a study in power and its dangers. And don't forget to read some poetry too! Sophocles examines the destructive repercussions on following the law over what you believe is right. Ask below and we'll reply! They will also practice writing skills, including how to write arguments to support claims about what they read. Beyond that, youll be able to practice your analytical reading skills, looking out for the themes and concepts commonly tested on the AP exam (which well discuss later in this post). 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. Type in "books used on AP lit exam" Click on the link titled "The Mother of All Lists" and scroll all they way; A-Z and don't forget about the Shakespearian plays. Authors Plays By U.S. Are you sure you want to delete your score and checked items on this list? 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