Advanced Placement Literature
First Week Heads-up!
1) AP Lit students will turn in the typed assignment on Twain’s The Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn on the second Friday of school, September 2, 2016. The directions for
this assignment are on the back of this page. On Sept. 2nd you will also have a test on
the novel; however, we will begin to discuss the novel at the onset of the second week:
August 29th. If you feel this reading schedule may be too rushed with your other course
loads, please consider beginning/completing the reading and the typed assignment in
the summer. Although the College Board (and your teacher) strongly recommends
purchasing your own copy of the book and annotating/marking the text, you may check
out a copy of Huck from the library.
Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Test and Written Assignment due on September 2nd
2) Additionally, you will be expected to read the following selections from
The Bible and Mythology
Book of Genesis (including the Creation, Garden of Eden, Abraham and Isaac, Noah,
etc.)
Solomon and Moses
The story of Jesus (first 4 books of New Testament—gospels of Matthew, Mark,
Luke, John)
The 12 Great Greek Gods (Their realms, powers, symbols, familiars, creation myth)
Odysseus’s classic heroic Journey and his Trials
Test and list/chart due on August 26th
You may read any version of these stories (online or text-based), as long as the versions
you select are comprehensive, specific, and detailed…Under no circumstances does
Disney or Rick Riordan count as a reliable source.  You will want to craft a chart/list of
key people/places/events/symbols to use as a reference sheet throughout the course.
This way you will be able to recognize biblical/mythological allusions as they appear in
our texts!
3) For further reading, I highly recommend Thomas Foster’s How to Read Literature Like A
Professor. It is worth your time and will give you an excellent idea of the expectations
I’ll have for your analysis of literature.
Have a great summer!
Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Written Assignment
Due Friday, September 2 nd
AP College Board defines symbol as: “A symbol is an object, action, or event that represents
something or that creates a range of associations beyond itself. In literary works a symbol can
express an idea, clarify meaning, or enlarge literal meaning.” Thomas Foster explains that
symbols are not necessarily static representations but rather fluid and multidimensional. As
you read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, consider 1 symbol Twain uses throughout the
novel. Track this symbol as it appears 6-10 times in the novel, citing exactly where the symbol
appears (include the 3-5 line quotation, the page number, and the chapter number). Each time
you have tracked this symbol, explain in a few sentences what this symbol is representing in
this section of the text. As you have completed your reading of the novel, write a well-written,
typed, paragraph (no longer than 2 pages) explaining the significance of the symbol to “express
an idea, clarify meaning, or enlarge literal meaning” of the characters, themes, or text as a
whole. Imbed small quotes (no longer than 3 word phrases at any given time) in your
paragraph as textual evidence for your interpretations. Be certain to address the fluidity and
multi-faceted nature of the symbol in your response.
Since the AP Lit exam tests a student’s ability to develop his/her own ideas about literature, be
sure the work you hand in is your own. Students who plagiarize/copy/work with others will
receive zeroes.
Please email Mrs. Mopps ([email protected]) with your questions.
I look forward to meeting you!!!