Summer Reading..AMERICAN LITERATURE
Below are the three literary works you are to read for your summer reading assignment.
You will find three different genres: one novel, one play and one short story. Directions
for your paper in response to these readings follow with very specific instructions. It is
important you spend time on your paper and follow directions very
carefully. I know they are long, but they are written to help you succeed.
The Literary Selections:
 The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
 The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams
 “A&P” by John Updike (this short story can be found in libraries or is
accessible online)
The Catcher in the Rye: Since his debut in 1951 as “the catcher in the rye”,
Holden Caulfield, the novel’s alienated mourning and cynical protagonist, narrates a few
days in his sixteen-year-old life, following his expulsion from prep
school. Holden is furious with somewhat normal teenage anger; however, the loss
of his younger brother, Allie, to leukemia emotionally paralyzes him. This novel,
which has survived many rounds of being banned, remains as one of the most significant
and popular books with American youth. In addition, films and other
books have been inspired by Salinger’s novel.
The Glass Menagerie: This drama, by Tennessee Williams, gives us a family who
form a triangle of quiet desperation. Amanda Wingfield lives in a St. Louis tenement,
clinging to the memories of her early years as a Southern belle. Her daughter, Laura, who
wears a leg brace, is crippled socially as well. She seeks comfort in her collection of
glass animals. Amanda’s son, Tom, the narrator of the play, is desperate to escape his
stifling home where he must serve as breadwinner in place of a father who left the family
a long time ago .Very much reflecting Tennessee William’s real life, Tom aches to move
out into the world where he can act upon his desire to write and to develop, free from his
nagging mother, needy sister and horrific job.
A&P: This very famous short story, by John Updike, captures a highly dramatic moment
in the life of Sammy, the protagonist, who works in a grocery store, the A&P. The
monotony of his job is broken when Sammy acts upon a heroic gesture which proves to
be life changing. **Sammy’s job is part time; he does not work to help to support
his family. Thus their disappointment in him does not at all connect to their need for his
financial assistance. *** This short story can be printed from the internet***
http://www.tiger-town.com/whatnot/updike/ **
Summer Reading..AMERICAN LITERATURE
ASSIGNMENT: 3 PARTS
PART I: BIOGRAPHY
15pt
PROVIDE an INTERESTING biography for ONE author. This should NOT be
flooded with DATES. Do NOT start so and so was born …..
DO SOME TRUE RESEARCH. Find interesting information.
Use sophisticated sources
Wikipedia or any kind of encyclopedia is not permitted
required: One primary source (letters, interviews)
Information from author or outside source that:
connects directly to the work you are reading
3 paragraphs of reasonable length (not too short)
*no more/no less 3 paragraphs only
*The New York Times is an excellent source for authors’ biographies
PROMPT FOR PART II ANALYSIS 40 pts
In all of these summer reading works, each protagonist undergoes an
emotional fall which disorients him as well as positions him to feel conflicted
with both family and society. While the protagonists experience epiphanies
(moments of growth and understanding), the endings do not offer clear
resolutions and remain ambiguous,* a characteristic of American modern
fiction.
*ambiguous = uncertain, unclear, hazy, shades of meaning
**PROTAGONISTS are: Holden, Tom, and Sammy **Holden’s fall is triggered by
Allie’s death. You must work from this premise.*****
Take TWO of the three protagonists** separately and APPLY the above prompt
concerning:
a.EMOTIONAL fall /DISORIENTATION
b) CONFLICT WITH FAMILY AND SOCIETY
c) EPIPHANY (what is the epiphany when and where does it occur)
Summer Reading..AMERICAN LITERATURE
Your grade will be much higher/your analysis much strong by using text support.
MUST USE with epiphany section.
MINIMUM TOTAL LENGTH FOR BIO AND PROMPT together is
This does not include charts
5 pages.*
PART III.. CHARTS: PROTAGONISTS AND SETTINGS 20 pts
CHART 1: protagonists
Compare the similarities and differences among all three protagonists.
These must show critical thinking, not just mere plot information.
For example, two protagonists have two sisters. That is just plot.
The sisters of two protagonists (Tom and Holden) become the spiritual
sustenance for each of them. This moves beyond plot.
* minimum 8 comparisons for each
CHART II: SETTINGS
Compare the EFFECT of the settings of all three. How is the setting in the A&P
different from the setting of the Wingfield apartment. Are the protagonists trapped
in both settings? How is the larger setting of New York City different in its effect?
20 pts total for both charts
*Please set up both charts by using an actual chart graphic.
FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS/ OVERALL EFFORT 10 pts
Read these directions BEFORE you begin your paper. CHECK THEM OFF
as you proofread. Do not wait until the last minute.
Summer Reading..AMERICAN LITERATURE
GUIDELINES AND LOTS OF IMPORTANT STUFF!
**CLIFF NOTES, SPARK NOTES,NOVEL GUIDES..are NOT
ACCEPTABLE SOURCES
o Do not merely tell the plot of any work
o Do use context (who, what, when where). Write this as if I have NOT
read the work. If you bring in a character, explain her/him. For
example,
“Holden feels comforted when he talks with Phoebe, his sister.”
Use PRESENT TENSE for verbs unless discussing a past event. Thus,
Holden FEELS not FELT.
o Do not use “I think, I feel..etc.. Do not use “I” at all. I am not interested
in your feelings but rather your analysis.
o Do not use YOU either. I and you weaken the objectivity necessary for a
literary analysis.
o OTHER WORDS YOU CANNOT USE: any word with “thing” in it.
Avoid: “go”, “get” “got” and NO EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!
o DO NOT USE CONTRACTIONS
o Make sure you triple check citation punctuation. Remember the
quotation marks come before the (
) and the end punctuation
comes after:
“I love to write summer reading papers” (Bihuniak 56).
TITLES: Book and play titles: in italics. Short story : “ quotation marks”
QUOTATIONS: VERY IMPORTANT:
o Support your points with evidence from the texts. This is VERY
IMPORTANT. If Holden is lost, SHOW and PROVE from the
book.
o If your direct quotation is more than 4 lines, separate it and do not use
“ “ marks. (See Writers Inc.)
o Do NOT use more than 2 of these longer quotations.****
Summer Reading..AMERICAN LITERATURE
o **If you are showing dialogue from the play, you CAN separate
less than 4 lines. Do NOT use extensive dialogue in paragraph
format. Separate it. Again..see Writers Inc or an online source.
PARAGRAPHS:
o No paragraph should be SHORT. This is proof that you have NOT
developed and will guarantee a low grade.
o No paragraph should be longer than ¾ of a page.
o No paragraph should end on a new point.
SENTENCES AND VERBS:
STRIVE FOR SENTENCE VARIETY AND SOPHISTICATED STRUCTURE.
Look at the beginnings of your sentences.
REVISE if every sentence begins: “Holden” or if every
uses AND as a major conjunction.
sentence
USE STRONG AND SPECIFIC VERBS. Reduce use of “is”
do” etc.. Verbs serve as the most important words in your sentences.
Avoid “has” or “have” as major verbs
OTHER: Do not use “the reader”
 DO NOT USE A FONT LARGER THAN 12
TWO SPACES BETWEEN LINES..EVERYWHERE.
NORMAL MARGINS..do not try to make a short paper longer by
making your margins spacious.
SUMMARY OF ASSIGNED POINTS:
Part 1: bio 15 pts
Part II: prompt/analysis 40 pts
Part III: charts 20 pts
OTHER: usage/grammar=15 pts
OVERALL: directions/effort/organization=10 pts
Total: 100 pts
Summer Reading..AMERICAN LITERATURE
PENALTIES:
Automatic F if there is no works cited page *Be sure to include the works
themselves and the authors on your Works Cited page
-5 pts for every half page short
-5 pts every day it is late. See me immediately if your paper is not handed in on time.
-10 pts without title page with correct information (see below)
FINALLY:
o Title page with your name and (this is very important..) YOUR
BLOCK AND QUARTER 1 OR 3 ******
o Heading does not go on first page of paper/it should only be on
Title page
o Page one starts with biography not title page
o Page number and your name on each page
o Please staple instead of paper clip
Summer Reading..AMERICAN LITERATURE
Welcome to American Lit..I hope you enjoy these wonderful
American literary masterpieces. I look forward to discussing
them with you.
**Keep your books and bring second day
of class..
This is true for either quarter one or quarter three