12th Grade AP Literature and Composition
Summer Reading Assignment
PLEASE READ EACH SECTION CAREFULLY. THERE IS A CHECKLIST AT THE END. WORK IS DUE ON THE FIRST DAY OF CLASS.
LATE WORK IS ACCEPTED, BUT RECEIVES ONLY 65% OF THE SCORE.
(1) Selected Bible Readings
Much of the quality literature that we will be reading as well as many pieces that appear on the AP exam frequently
contains allusions to common Biblical stories. It is vital that students spend time reading and becoming acquainted with
the most common of these stories to deepen their appreciation and comprehension of the literature they read. Read the
following passages; take notes, and be ready for a test during the first week of school. The Bible is divided into books,
chapters, and verses. When referring to the passages, one writes: Exod. 12:25-28 or John 1:1.
Keep in mind that for our purposes you are looking at these selections as literature or cultural documents rather than for
spiritual instruction. Your opinion of religion in general is not an issue. There are many different translations of varying
difficulty.
A word about translations: most literary allusions are to the King James Version of the Bible. You should therefore read
as many of the assigned selections as possible in that translation, particularly the 23rd Psalm, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and
1 Corinthians. You may also wish to consult a more modern, easier-to-follow translation or paraphrased translation,
such as the Living Bible. The best approach, especially if you are unfamiliar with the Bible, would be to read both a
modern translation for the ease of understanding and the King James Version for the beauty of the language. However,
avoid Children’s Bibles; the stories are usually too abbreviated and simplified for our purposes.
Assignment 1: Take notes on each passage and have an understanding of the biblical
allusions.
Assignment 2: Type 20 discussion questions based on the biblical readings.
Old Testament
Creation Story; Fall of Man
Cain and Abel
The Flood
Golden Calf
Jepthah’s Oath
Samson and Delilah
King Solomon’s Wisdom
Patience of Job
Shadow of Death
Seven Deadly Sins
New Testament
Genesis 1, 2, 3
Genesis 4: 1-16
Genesis 6: 9-25
Exodus 32
Judges 11
Judges 16: 16
1 Kings 3
Job 1, 2, 3; 40, 41, 42
Psalm 23
Proverbs 6: 6-19
The Beatitudes
Fall of a Sparrow
John the Baptist Head on a
Platter
Rich Man/Camel
Judas/Silver Coins
Golgotha
Gethsemane/Temptation of
Christ
Blind leading the blind
Two Foundations
Parable of the Soils
The Good Samaritan
Parable of the Lost Sheep
The Prodigal Son
Render Unto Caesar
Lazarus
Revelation
Matthew 5: 1-12
Matthew 10: 27-31
Matthew 14: 1-12
Matthew 19: 16-26
Matthew 26 14-16
Matthew 27: 29-34
Mark 14: 32-42
Luke 6: 39-42
Luke 6: 46-49
Luke 8: 4-15
Luke 11: 29-38
Luke 15: 1-7
Luke 15: 11-22
Luke 20: 19-26
John 11
The Book of Revelation
(2) Read Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
By Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison, Song of Solomon is a heroic quest for identity by a confused African American boy
in the 20th century. Morrison crafts a complex and somewhat disturbing novel about freedom and maturity and love.
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In a composition book (not a spiral notebook, a bound comp book—ALL SUMMER WORK IN ONE IS FINE) keep a
careful dialectical journal, paying close attention to the many mythological and biblical allusions, including
stages of the hero-quest cycle.
(see www.questcycles.com/hqcycle.html for details and review)
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You should have at least 20 entries per work.
In order to gain maximum credit for your journal, please divide your page in half. In column one, choose a quote
to which you wish to respond. Write the quote and the page number on which it appears. Choose wisely and
carefully, making sure the quote is something about which you have something significant to discuss.
If you find yourself at a loss for words in column two, you probably have not chosen wisely. In column two, write
your thoughtful response to the passage. Try to respond in terms of the elements of literature – setting,
character, point of view, diction, imagery, tone/attitude, and theme.
Example attached
Assignment 1: Write a dialectical journal for Song of Solomon.
Assignment 2: ESSAY- How is this book a modern day Odyssey?