KRCS Summer Reading 2016-17
Honors Tenth Grade/American Literature
Required English Selections
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, ISBN 9780199536554
A Farewell to Arms, by Ernest Hemingway, ISBN 9780684801469
Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, ISBN 9780140177398
The high school summer reading requirement has a two-fold purpose. The required novels are intended to
enhance the coming year’s curriculum while exposing students to classical literature. STUDENTS SHOULD
BE PREPARED TO TAKE A TEST OVER THE NOVELS ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, and they will be
writing an essay as well.
Following each required title is an ISBN number that will be located above the barcode on the book.
Purchasing this edition will facilitate class discussion of specific passages and ensure that everyone has the
same pagination. If the specific edition listed below is not available, please use any unabridged version of
the title. Should you have further questions about editions, please contact the English Department Chair, Stacy
Volz, [email protected] .
Students, the more questions you ask as you read, the more you will understand. Therefore, you are
encouraged to take notes and highlight important text as you read. Keep in mind, a well-read book looks like
a well-read book! Following this introduction is a directed reading for each required novel. However, generic
questions to keep in mind when evaluating any literary piece are as follows:
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What is the setting and how does it contribute to the purpose of the novel?
From whose point of view is the story being told? For what reasons would the author
have chosen that perspective? How would the story change if told from a different point
of view?
What is the author’s tone or treatment of his subject? How do you know? To answer
this question, you need to focus on the individual words the author has chosen to use.
When you read, consider how the words would sound if they had been spoken rather
than written; for example, the tone may be witty, serious, sarcastic, or cruel.
Who are the major characters in the novel? Are they flat or round? Static or dynamic?
Reflect on how the author creates the characters directly (by telling the reader about the
characters) and indirectly (by requiring the reader to infer information about characters
through their speech, thoughts, and actions).
Is there anything unique or interesting about the chronology of the novel? Why would
the author choose to tell the story in that particular order?
What are the major themes of the novel? The development of a theme is usually
gradual; therefore, you may not entirely see the theme until near or even at the end.
However, careful readers will watch for clues as the story progresses.
Does the author employ irony or humor in the novel? How, when, and why?
Students who are enrolled by July 5th are expected to read all required selections. Students who enroll after
July 5th but before July 25th should read at least one of the required selections. Students who enroll after July
25th should contact Stacy Volz at [email protected] to make individual arrangements.
Have an enjoyable and restful summer – and enjoy your reading! We look forward to seeing you in August.
KRCS English Department
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KRCS Summer Reading 2016-17
Honors Tenth Grade/American Literature
Directed Reading Questions
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
ISBN: 9780199536554
1.
This novel is a famous piece of American Regionalism, a literary period in which authors characterized
a specific area of our growing nation. How does Twain depict the characters and culture of the
Midwest?
2.
Trace the theme of freedom as it pertains to both Jim and Huck.
3.
What does the river symbolize?
4.
Twain is celebrated for his use of humor. Often, he employs wit in an attempt to satirize an aspect of
society. Satire is writing which ridicules subjects in order to expose or change them. Look out for
humorous passages and attempt to discern Twain’s use of satire. What aspects of society does he
wish to expose or change?
5.
Watch for the conflict between society and the individual. How does Twain portray society as
hypocritical?
6.
How is Huck Finn an example of a bildungsroman, a novel that depicts the education or maturation of
a character?
7.
Huckleberry Finn is quite a controversial novel because of Twain’s use of inflammatory words and
realistic portrayal of racism. After reading the novel, be prepared to discuss Twain’s opinion of slavery.
Be sure to read Mark Twain’s “Notice” that precedes the novel before forming your opinion.
A Farewell to Arms, by Ernest Hemingway
ISBN: 9780684801469
1.
Hemingway’s experience as a journalist heavily influenced his writing style. He compared his writing to
an iceberg, seven-eighths of which is under the surface, suggesting that good writing need not tell the
reader everything; the fraction that is revealed will allow the reader to understand the bigger picture of
what lies underneath. Consider this theory as you read and take note of Hemingway’s terse style.
2.
Another important facet of Hemingway’s writing is the code hero, or Hemingway Man. As you read,
determine what type of man Frederic is in order to define the code hero. Also, what aspects does
Hemingway appreciate in a woman?
3.
How do the mountains, valleys, and rain serve as symbols?
4.
What point is Hemingway making about war, a major theme of the novel?
5.
What is the dual meaning of the title??
Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck
ISBN# 9780140177398
1. The story is set in the farm country of California’s Salinas valley. Farmers then and now employ
temporary laborers to harvest crops. The time frame of the novel is centered on the days following the
Great Depression, a time when work was difficult to find. Many people were reduced to being migrant
workers, men and women who traveled in search of employment and opportunity. The two main
characters, Lennie and George, are migrant workers. Adding to the difficulty of their situation is the
fact that Lennie is mentally retarded, and George has assumed the responsibility of caring for him. As
you begin the novel, consider the challenges that these men face.
2. This story is a tragedy. If you do not recall the definitions of tragedy, tragic hero, tragic flaw, and
tragic resolution from your studies of Romeo and Juliet, look up those definitions before you read. At
the end of the novel, identify the tragic elements present in the story.
3. The novel has several symbols. Identify the symbolic significance of: Candy’s old dog; the rabbits;
Lennie; Curley and his wife.
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4. Look for textual support for the following themes: the importance of relationships; responsibility to
others; the nature of home; respect for old age; the difference between right and wrong; the evil of
oppression and abuse.
5. Many critics consider this one of the greatest short works of fiction of all time. Why might they classify
it as such?
What is your reaction to the ending of the novel? Do George’s actions conflict with your moral and/or religious
convictions? Why or why not?
Optional American Literature Titles for Students Who May Want Recommendations (Asterisks
denote texts commonly found on the AP exam)
Age of Innocence, Edith Wharton*
All the King’s Men, by Robert Penn Warren*
Billy Budd, by Herman Melville*
Common Sense, by Thomas Paine
In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote
The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair*
Last of the Mohicans, by James Fenimore Cooper
A Lesson Before Dying, by Ernest Gaines*
Member of the Wedding, by Carson McCullers*
Our Town, by Thornton Wilder
A Separate Peace, by John Knowles
Sister Carrie, by Theodore Dreiser
A Streetcar Named Desire AND The Glass Menagerie, by Tennessee Williams*
The Red Badge of Courage, by Stephen Crane
Walden, by Henry David Thoreau
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