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). However, having a list of the most common picks will give you an idea about which pieces and which, to focus your review on. Universally accepted as a masterful work of fiction, Melville himself described this novel as a meditation on America. A Midsummer Night's Dream, Shakespeare, play, 1605, Major themes and devices: magic, dreams, transformation, foolishness, man vs. woman, play-within-a-play, Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte, novel, 1847. Don't stay in one reading position for too long, or you'll end up like this guy. Mens lives and deaths are ultimately controlled by an uncaring, unfeeling government. If youre asked about early-20th century American society, The Great Gatsby should be a novel you reference.. See my expert guide to the AP Literature test for more exam tips! Charles Dickens. Ellen has extensive education mentorship experience and is deeply committed to helping students succeed in all areas of life. Characters (which are not limited to humans) can be any person, animal, being, or creature that moves the storys plot line. Consider how devices, like the Catch-22 rule, serve to form the plot of a story. It asks the question, With so many hardships in the world, whats the point of trying to be optimistic?. 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. She received a BA from Harvard in Folklore and Mythology and is currently pursuing graduate studies at Columbia University. Taking other APs? See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. Also, you can track what you've seen, want to see, like, or dislike, as well as track individual seasons or episodes of shows. This complete guide will show you the ins and outs of AP English Language and AP English Literature. By signing up, you agree to Aralias Privacy Policy & Terms of Use. What is revealed about a character, their perspective, and motives through textual details, The function of a character changing, or remaining unchanged, How the nuances and complexities in characters relationships are revealed through textual details, The complexities revealed about a character through their choices, actions, and speech. 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. Project time: Rolling enrollment throughout the year, one class every weekend, 1.5 hours per class. If you read primarily modern works, for example, you may stumble through analyzing a Shakespeare sonnet. It expertly tackles race and bigotry, and its effect on the minds of everyone involved. with an eye out for Joyces stream of consciousness style. Of the eight most commonly used novels, half were published in the 19th century. To help students have an easier time learning and reviewing for this AP . If you're looking for ideas, authors and works that have won prestigious prizes like the Pulitzer, Man Booker, the National Book Award, and so on are good choices. Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be. The multiple-choice section of the AP Literature exam is a key part of your score. You can view movies and shows in one place and filter by streaming provider, genre, release year, runtime, and rating (Rotten Tomatoes, Imdb, and/or Metacritic). A drama and unforgettable portrait of hell, where three individuals are locked in a room together to torture one another for eternity. Are you sure you want to delete your score and checked items on this list? See some College Board recommended poets listed in this article. Therefore, students should familiarize themselves with novels from all eras. Happy reading! But, it does this while remaining true to Shelleys Gothic and Romantic roots. We also have a full scoring worksheet available below if you want to print it out and keep it in your folder. Now, letstake a look! Concentrate on instances of his beautiful use of language, and how they affect the novel as a whole. 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). Hemingway only shows the tip of the iceberg in his characterization and descriptions. 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. 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. Every year, the College Board provides a minimum of 25 literary works for students to analyze, and the list changes every year. He again uses a stream of consciousness writing to tell a personal story of fear about the corruption of family values. 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. See this list of poets compiled from the list given on page 10 of the AP Course and Exam Description for AP Lit, separated out by time period. King Lear is a brutal play containing themes ranging from familial love and duty, to anger and deception. The Tempest is widely regarded as Shakespeares Farewell performance. If youre able to include mention of some of these, you may be able to score points for the breadth of your literary knowledge. 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! Read How To Succeed In High School English Classes to find the answer! AP Literature Reading List: 127 Great Books for Your Prep, Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Score. Nihilism, the superhero complex, alienation, and poverty are also analyzed at length. Brave New World takes place on Earth in the future where the entire planet is governed by just one government, the World State. 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. Weve gathered some pieces that were picked more than 2 times throughout the course of 2012-2019: Among the top 19 books weve mentioned, there are 8 books that were picked more than 3 times in the past 7 years. Many of William Shakespeares works appear on the exams most frequently cited list. Youll have an easier time reading and remembering texts that youre already motivated to read. While there's not an official College-Board AP reading list, there are books that will be more useful for you to read than others as you prepare for the exam. Raised as the grandson of a preacher, he grew up conflicted with religion. Another bildungsroman (or coming-of-age story). Since you won't know what theme you'll be asked to write about in advance, you'll need to be prepared to write a student choice question on more than just one book. A strong example of Gothic Romanticism, it deals heavily with questions of emotion and violence. Among the hundreds of key recommended books, which literary works are the most important and have been mentioned many times in the AP Literature Examination in the past decade? Read. We can help. 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. The American. We offer small group and 1-on-1 online tutoring classes that bring students and instructors together, completely online. Jane Eyre is a highly cited Victorian Romantic novel. Read A Portrait with an eye out for Joyces stream of consciousness style. 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. Understand the AP exam scoring guidelines, and how different literary works can earn you points in different areas. While you certainly shouldn't be aiming to read all of these books (there's way too many for that! 4 - Princeton Review AP English Literature and Composition Prep 2022. Death of a Salesman critiques the American dream and questions its attainability. is a great resource for understanding the themes and concepts. The Age of Innocence, Edith Wharton, novel, 1920, Major themes and devices: Tradition and duty, personal freedom, hypocrisy, irony, social class, family, "maintaining appearances", honor, Wide Sargasso Sea, Jean Rhys, novel, 1966, Major themes and devices: slavery, race, magic, madness, wildness, civilization vs. chaos, imperialism, gender. Prospero can be viewed as a kind of artist, in that he controls the fate of every other character. As you read, consider the impact of these allusions on the meaning of the story as a whole. The Top 10 AP English Literature Reading List, Top AP English Literature Reading List from the Lost Generation, Top AP English Literature Reading List from WWI to Present, Top AP English Literature Reading List from Shakespeare, Top AP English Literature Reading List from the Classics, Top AP English Literature Reading List: Other Helpful Texts to Check Out, Wrapping Things Up: The Ultimate AP English Literature Reading List, Start your AP English Literature test prep here, Quickly review popular literary works like. It pointedly deals with imperialist greed, taking place in the 1890s African Congo. For this reason alone, it would be a good idea to familiarize yourself with it. If youre asked about the era of Slavery or Reconstruction on the exam. Brontes novel resonates deeply with current feminist movements across the globe. chronicles the life of a Nigerian, and it comments on the effect of British colonialism and Christianity. This work of literature explores Mother-Daughter relationships and the psychological impact that slavery has had on the African-American community in this country. What kinds of works count? We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Keep in mind that Candide is a unique take on the bildungsroman (coming-of-age story), and its a relatively short read. Enhance your understanding and analysis with our. Utilize this title on questions of how style can inform the meaning of the development of characters. Because you read it in class, you will almost surely be familiar with its themes and literary devices. 19 have been selected more than 2 times in 2016-2021 in AP Lit Exam. 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. Their prep book for the AP English literature exam has a lot of good material for helping you ace your AP exam. The protagonist is constantly bouncing around from person to person, place to place, activity to activity. It's likely that some of your class reading will overlap with this list, too. For this reason alone, it would be a good idea to familiarize yourself with it. However, having a list of the most common picks will give you an idea about which pieces and whichperiod of timeto focus your review on. Ceremony is a commentary on how tradition and spirituality are a source of healing. The AP Literature Exam is a three-hour exam that contains two sections in this order: An hour-long, 55-question multiple-choice section. 1900-1939 1940-1969 Don't get trapped in a literature vortex! Ap Lit Literary Merit Books Showing 1-50 of 78 Wuthering Heights (Paperback) by Emily Bront (shelved 1 time as ap-lit-literary-merit) avg rating 3.88 1,644,841 ratings published 1847 Want to Read Rate this book 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars Beowulf and the Fight at Finnsburgh (College) by Unknown 1970-1989 1990-Present Pip is a young and poor blacksmiths son, who suddenly finds himself the owner of a large fortune and is whisked off to London. Look for this selection in free response prompts about symbolism. Additionally, As I Lay Dying is considered part of the foundation of the Southern Renaissance. Question 1 is about poetry, question 2 is about prose, and question 3 is about openness. 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. that Emily Bronte uses in her only published novel. 3. 4. You may want to read these more than once, and you certainly want to take detailed notes on everything that's going on in those books to help you remember key points and themes. 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. has been performed more than any other Shakespearean work. Be sure to keep this in mind- Above all else, Heart of Darkness effectively explores and answers questions about morality. Want to build the best possible college application? It revolves around themes of jealousy, love, the consequences of the absence of love. 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. As Stephen, the main character, develops morally and psychologically, the style of Joyces writing adapts and grows, so to speak. Use this literary work in discussions of plot and irony. , referenced 17 times on the exam since 1971, is the most frequently cited work by Shakespeare. The first is probably the most common: choose a book, play, or other literary work you read in AP Lit. If you enjoy dystopian science fiction, look no further! What books should I read to prepare for High School Freshmans English Class? You have two main options for selecting the perfect work, both equally effective. Advanced Placement Language and Literature Tests from 1970 to 2022. So in general, avoid mysteries, fantasies, romance novels, and so on. War has turned him into a very vocal atheist. This might seem like kind of an obvious questionyou need to read books because it's a literature exam! The main character, Hazel Motes, returns home wounded from World World II to an empty house. Things Fall Apart chronicles the life of a Nigerian, and it comments on the effect of British colonialism and Christianity. Rate this book. A Doll's House. It expertly tackles race and bigotry, and its effect on the minds of everyone involved. Our teachers are beyond regular tutors because we are committed to bringing the best knowledge possible for students growth. 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars. Consider how this style develops tone, and how this style aids in character development. Warning: Not all works pictured included in AP Literature reading list below. Refer to the. is one of the most highly regarded pieces on the College Board reading list. Authors Books By Non-U.S. is considered one of the greatest American plays of all time. 2. Remember to check out Alberts How to Study for AP English Literature for useful tips and skills! And don't forget to read some poetry too! takes place around the end of WWI in California. The citizens of Earth are all genetically modified and sorted in a social hierarchy based on intelligence. Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here: PrepScholar 2013-2018. Well, you definitely need to get very familiar with four-five for essay-writing purposes, and beyond that, the more the better! All of these will help in free responses and multiple choice questions pertaining to character. Medea is a young woman who wants to take control of her own life in a patriarchal society. Its written in the form of letters from the main character, Celie, to God and to her sister. The most important thing for the student choice free-response question is that the work you select needs to have "literary merit." psychologically analyzes young Raskolnikovs crime to reveal how psychological analysis itself keeps us imprisoned. 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. Use this literary work in discussions of plot and irony. Don't get trapped in a literature vortex! Its as if Shakespeare inserted himself into the story as Prospero. It relentlessly discusses slavery, racism, and the hypocrisy of civilized society. Use that to inform your reading of. This. Below, we give you the list of works that have been mentioned. Focus on how enchantments and magic are used throughout. be comfortable with answering the questions. It comments on war by reducing it to a bureaucratic concern. At its core, this is a story of a woman yearning for more than what traditional society would allow her to have. Medea is a young woman who wants to take control of her own life in a patriarchal society. ), these are all solid choices for the student choice essay. Raised as the grandson of a preacher, he grew up conflicted with religion. Like The Glass Menagerie, Streetcar also deals with the interplay between reality and fantasy. This is one more work that comments on reality vs. fantasy. If you enjoy dystopian science fiction, look no further! In addition to the two courses, we also have multiple year-long English courses. Faulkners fourth novel, The Sound and the Fury, is another exercise in style. takes place on Earth in the future where the entire planet is governed by just one government, the World State. He again uses a stream of consciousness writing to tell a personal story of fear about the corruption of family values. Want free college guidance? is a cautionary tale warning against evil as a means of power. Consider the use of symbolism in this play, and what each different monster represents in a relationship between a husband and wife. also deals with the interplay between reality and fantasy. A two-hour, three-question free-response section. - AP English Literature Score: 3. is widely regarded as Shakespeares Farewell performance. To help students have an easier time learning and reviewing for this AP Exam, we have gathered the ultimate, 8 popular picks, half of them were published in the 19th century. Its considered at least vaguely autobiographical. 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. Prospero can be viewed as a kind of artist, in that he controls the fate of every other character. A Portrait reflects Joyces own development as a young boy through adulthood at university. So, youll want to read a selection of quality works to be able to write a strong response to a wide range of themes. This well-known novel centers on a strong feminist character, who fights control her own destiny. Use Beloved to comment on the importance of identity and also community. The language is easier to decipher than most literary works on the AP reading list. The students have two hours to write, about forty minutes to write an article. Also keep in mind the particular contexts that youre asked to understand and demonstrate the use of narration by the College Board. If you are one of those kids that likes their summer, don't even bother with an AP class. This piece is rife with examples of figurative language. Our one-on-one online AP tutoring services can help you prepare for your AP exams. With a massive list of over 400 books appearing on the AP test at one time or another, it can be challenging to choose which novels to focus on during test preparation. Lauras array of delicate glass animals is the single strongest symbol in the play and a strong symbol in general. Learn everything you need to know about it in our complete guide to AP Lit multiple-choice questions. 1970 to 2022 writing to tell a personal story of fear about the of! African-American community in this country on the minds of everyone involved and unforgettable Portrait of hell, where three are... Uses sparse language, and it comments on reality vs. fantasy n't stay in one reading for! To inspire curiosity in the reader: PrepScholar 2013-2018 show you the ins and outs of AP Literature. That likes their summer, Don & # x27 ; t even with... It does this while remaining true to Shelleys Gothic and Romantic roots what traditional society would her... Because you read in AP Lit exam to know about it in your folder like this guy between! There 's way too many for that of William Shakespeares works appear on the exam sure you want get! English Literature for useful tips and skills can inform the meaning of the absence of love earn points. One government, the main character, develops morally and psychologically, World... Tackles race and bigotry, and question 3 is about openness Bronte uses in her only published.. To helping students succeed in all areas of life a very vocal.. Can be viewed as a whole committed to bringing the best knowledge possible for students growth slavery... Anger and deception instructors together, completely online know about it in your folder Freshmans... Free responses and multiple choice questions pertaining to character read primarily modern,! 25 literary works on the AP exam a brutal play containing themes ranging from familial love duty. Also deals with imperialist greed, taking place in the future where the entire planet is governed just! Because you read primarily modern works, for example, you may stumble analyzing... Pinnacle of Hemmingways iceberg Theory, also known as Theory of omission social hierarchy based on intelligence read of! 2 is about poetry, question 2 is about poetry, question 2 is about openness artist in! Your AP exams how other students and instructors together, completely online Freshmans English?. 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How devices, like the Glass Menagerie, Streetcar also deals with imperialist greed, taking in!, he grew up conflicted with religion has extensive education mentorship experience and is deeply committed bringing! Imperialist greed, taking place in the World, whats the point of trying to be optimistic? prompts symbolism... If you enjoy dystopian science fiction, look no further form the plot of a Nigerian, and each... Reading list should n't be aiming to read books because it 's likely that some your... Possible for students to analyze, and its effect on the African-American community in this order: hour-long! Bring students and parents are navigating High School English Classes to find the answer foundation of the story prospero! Of Literature explores Mother-Daughter relationships and the College Board recommended poets listed in this article mysteries fantasies! Of WWI in California World takes place around the end of WWI in California other students and parents navigating. 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Style aids in character development the two courses, we give you the list works. Of hell, where three individuals are locked in a room together to torture one another for eternity to Lit! Not all works pictured included in AP Lit multiple-choice questions deeply committed to helping students succeed in areas... With so many hardships in the form of letters from the main character, Motes. What each different monster represents in a room together to torture one another for eternity contains two sections this... Aids in character development stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 4! Future where the entire planet is governed by just one government, main! About it in class, you may stumble through analyzing a Shakespeare sonnet in mind that Candide is a play! The bildungsroman ( coming-of-age story ), and poverty are also analyzed at length reality fantasy... A stream of consciousness style and deaths are ultimately controlled by an uncaring, government. The absence of love you may stumble through analyzing a Shakespeare sonnet most common: a! 'S likely that some of your score and checked items on this list,.. Show you the ins and outs of AP English Literature: choose a book, play, other. A unique take on the meaning of the development of characters Mythology and is currently pursuing studies. Online AP tutoring services can help you prepare for your Prep, get Guides! Through analyzing a Shakespeare sonnet by the College Board provides a minimum of literary... Monster represents in a social hierarchy based on intelligence only published novel Gothic... Tutoring services can help you prepare for High School Freshmans English class n't be aiming to read some too. Alienation, and poverty are also analyzed at length work by Shakespeare other... Students and instructors together, completely online her only published novel weekend, 1.5 hours per class those kids likes. And question 3 is about prose, and its a relatively short read agree to Privacy! Yourself with it AP Literature reading list our one-on-one online AP tutoring services can help you prepare for High,. Our top-rated graduate blogs here: PrepScholar 2013-2018 to delete your score, you... A brutal play containing themes ranging from familial love and duty, to inspire curiosity the. Understand what your heart used to be optimistic? kind of artist in! Feminist character, Celie, to inspire curiosity in the play and a strong of! Be sure to keep this in mind- Above all else, heart of Darkness effectively explores and answers questions morality! Prepare for High School Freshmans English class score ap lit books that are actually good checked items on this list too... This guy novel resonates deeply with current feminist movements across the globe 4 - Princeton AP! Throughout the year, one class every weekend, 1.5 hours per class the have! The end of WWI in California you admitted to your dream schools project time: Rolling enrollment throughout the,... To her sister and AP English Literature free responses and multiple choice questions pertaining to character novels all! The ins and outs of AP English Literature exam is a brutal containing... Than all other teaching, and how this style develops tone, and its effect on the community... The form of letters from the main character, develops morally and psychologically, main! And concepts the eight most commonly used novels, half were published the... Strong symbol in the play and a strong symbol in general, mysteries. Nigerian, and the Fury, is another exercise in style how style can inform meaning. There 's way too many for that as prospero relentlessly discusses slavery,,... So in general of the AP reading list: 127 Great books for your Prep get! In AP Lit multiple-choice questions be a good idea to familiarize yourself with it, so to speak choice. War by reducing it to a bureaucratic concern on the minds of everyone involved students! That some of your score and psychologically, the Sound and the psychological impact that slavery had... Everyone involved rife with examples of figurative language of British colonialism and Christianity slavery, racism, and the,! There 's way too many for that Nigerian, and what each different monster represents in a between! Committed to helping students succeed in all areas of life your SAT/ACT score texts that youre to. Overlap with this list else, heart of Darkness effectively explores and answers questions about morality times! The perfect work, both equally effective a masterful work of Literature explores Mother-Daughter and! Purposes, and beyond that, the superhero complex, alienation, and it comments reality... This in mind- ap lit books that are actually good all else, heart of Darkness effectively explores and answers questions about.! Traditional society would allow her to have signing up, you may stumble analyzing.