AP Literature Summer Reading 2015/ Mrs. White
“That is part of the beauty of all literature. You discover that your longings are universal longings, that you're not lonely
and isolated from anyone. You belong.” ― F. Scott Fitzgerald
In preparation for AP Literature & Composition 2015-2016, carefully read the following two works of literary merit*:
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Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
*The reading focus in AP Literature & Composition is on works of literary merit. These are the types of literary works that will be a
part of the AP Literature exam in the spring. So, what characterizes a “work of literary merit"?
A Work of Literary Merit . . .
. . . has a distinctive voice and style.
. . . raises social concerns.
. . . moves from the particular to the universal.
. . . has layered complexity and ambiguity.
. . . deals with basic universal truths.
The works required for this summer are similar in many ways. They explore similar topics: the nature of love and marriage, the
importance of knowing yourself and discovering your own identity in the world, and the influence of social class and environment on
one’s experiences. Both feature a female protagonist who learns about herself and how she fits into her world through relationships
with others. However, these novels are also very different—in style, in setting, and in historical context. Here’s a brief overview**:
Key elements:
1) Historical Context:
2) Setting:
3) Protagonist:
4) Elements of Style:
5) Critical Comment:
Their Eyes Were Watching God
Zora Neale Hurston
Pride and Prejudice
Jane Austen
This is a modern American novel set during the
1930s in Florida. Hurston was a Harlem
Renaissance writer, and her novel focuses on the
hopes and dreams of African-Americans during an
era in which social inequality was often the way of
life.
Three main settings—Eatonville, Jacksonville, and
the Everglades
This is a 19th-century British novel published in
1813. Austen’s works reflect elements of both the
Neoclassical and the Romantic era. Austen was an
astute social critic during her time, focusing on
the manners and customs of the specific period in
which she wrote.
The country neighborhood of Hertfordshire as
well as other places in England: Kent, London,
and Derbyshire
Elizabeth Bennet, one of five daughters whose
mother hopes will marry well
Ironic comedy of manners in which some
characters function as stereotypes; use of polished
wit and dialogue; characters often compete for
love and prestige in an amusing way; satirical
view of the upper class
“Austen studies social relationships in the limited
society of a country neighborhood and
investigates them in detail, often revealing
humorous truths.” –Marie Kalil
Janie Crawford, whose three relationships parallel
the novel’s three settings
Framework narrative in which Hurston moves
seamlessly between rural black dialect and poetic
prose; motifs of the horizon, light/ dark imagery,
mules; use of Biblical allusions and storytelling &
black folk traditions
“A deeply soulful novel that comprehends love and
cruelty, and separates the big people from the
small of heart, without ever losing sympathy for
those unfortunates who don’t know how to live
properly.” —Zadie Smith
**As you read, it is strongly recommended that you use the following reading guides/ suggestions. Reading quizzes will
be administered on each novel, and several analysis assignments related to each work will be given.
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
1. Notice setting. There will be three key settings: note Janie’s characterization and progression in each setting. Also, be sure to note
which setting each chapter takes place in. In addition to the mention of various small towns (like Green Cove Springs), the following
settings are key:
 Eatonville
 Jacksonville
 The Everglades
2. Several motifs are prominent in the novel. Note references to the following:
 The horizon
 Light/ dark
 Mules
3. Note title references when they appear in the text (context, significance); in addition, be prepared for other Biblical allusions. As
you are noting these, consider the following question: What kind of God are “their eyes” watching?
4. Hurston is known for her use of metaphorical language—especially metaphors drawn from nature. Note especially powerful images
and metaphors. For example, the reference to “a blossoming pear tree in the back-yard” is key to understanding Janie’s
characterization, not only in Chapter 2, but when it surfaces again in later chapters. What other metaphors are important?
5. Many topics are introduced in Chapter 1 that will be significant to understanding the novel’s themes. Paying attention to passages
in which these various topics are mentioned will help you derive theme statements later. Some of these topics are:
 Death
 Storytelling/ Black folk traditions
 Identity
 Womanhood/ Distinctions between men and women
 Gossip
6. In Edwidge Danticat’s “Foreword” to the novel, he says, “Much like the porch sitters at the beginning of the book who are the first
to see Janie arrive, Janie, Phoeby, and Zora Neale Hurston form their own storytelling chain, and it is through their linking of voices
that we are taken on this intimate yet communal journey that is Their Eyes Were Watching God” (x). Be observant of places in which
the narrative voice changes. At times, it is difficult to determine whether Hurston, Phoeby, or Janie herself is speaking, but keep in
mind that a novel’s structure is part of its meaning.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
1. Note the following people/ places as you read:
People
Places
Mr. & Mrs. Bennet  their daughters: Jane, Elizabeth
Hertfordshire  including Longbourn, Meryton, &
(Lizzy), Mary, Catherine (Kitty), and Lydia
Netherfield
Sir William & Lady Lucas  their daughter Charlotte
Kent  including Rosings & Hunsford
Mr. & Mrs. Philips (Mrs. Bennet’s sister)
London  Grosvenor Street, Gracechurch Street (in
Bingleys: Charles, Luisa Bingley Hurst, Catherine
Cheapside)
Lady Catherine de Bourgh  her daughter Anne
Derbyshire  Pemberley
Mr. Darcy & sister Georgiana, Mr. Wickham, Mr. Collins
Brighton
2. Pride and Prejudice is a satirical work that comments on manners, etiquette, marriage, and social class. The following are specific
places in which Austen is creating satire:
Chapter 5: What is the distinction between vanity and pride, according to Mary?
Chapter 11: What is the distinction between vanity and pride, according to Darcy?
Chapter 6: What does Charlotte say about marriage & the best conditions for happiness?
Chapter 8: What is said about accomplished women?
Chapter 9: What is the distinction between country and town interests (Darcy offends Mrs. Bennet)?
Chapter 19: What is humorous about Collins’s proposal? How does he define “condescend”?
Chapter 21: What does Miss Bingley’s letter reveal about her design?
Chapter 24 (some volumes start to renumber with Volume the Second – could be Chapter 1 in those):
What is satirical about Mr. Bennet’s view on jilting?
Chapter 25 (2): Look at the exchange about “violently in love” between Mrs. Gardiner
and Elizabeth. “Is not general incivility the very essence of love?” Satire?
Chapter 26 (3): What is Elizabeth’s view on love in regard to Wickham?
Chapter 27 (4): What is the distinction made between mercenary and prudent behavior?
Chapter 34 (11): What is ironic/ satirical/ etc. about Darcy’s proposal?
Chapter 35 (12): What is ironic/ satirical/ etc. about Darcy’s letter post-proposal?
3. What is Jane Austen’s view of marriage? Consider all of the married couples within the work, including Mr. & Mrs. Bennet.
4. Trace Elizabeth Bennet’s development throughout the novel. When does she make important discoveries about herself/ her world?
5. Pay attention to point of view in Pride and Prejudice. William Nelles says, “The template for the narrator in Austen is not at all a
Godlike omniscience, but a very human skill: the ability of a perceptive and thoughtful person, given enough time and sufficient
opportunity for observation, to make accurate judgments about people’s character, thought processes, and feelings.” Where does point
of view affect our perceptions about specific characters? How does this perspective limit our information and for what purpose?
6. Several motifs are prominent in the novel. Note references to the following:
 Pride and prejudice
 Love and marriage/ Relationships between parents &
children
 Manners, etiquette, & social decorum
 Social class/ lack of class mobility
 Dancing (a metaphor for marriage?)