AP Literature and Composition Summer Readings and Assignments
Your summer assignment consists of three elements:
(1) internalize the concepts below, (2) read and analyze Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, (3) complete the dialectical notebook.
The following pre-reading information is pertinent to analysis and understanding of the texts. Each work of literature we study will exemplify a type of
literature. Beowulf is an epic and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a Medieval Romance. Be sure to read and internalize the following information. As
you peruse, it would be valuable to define unfamiliar words and research complete meanings of the concepts. A valuable resource for the course would be
a Holman-Harmon Handbook to Literature; the most recent version of which is the 12th but an older version would suffice.
In relation to Beowulf
In relation to Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
The Epic
Epic Hero Characteristics: (These must exist in a character for a character to be
labeled an Epic Hero.)
1. The protagonist is a hero of great stature and significance, who embodies
the traits of a nation or people.
2. The hero’s actions consist of great deeds of honor and courage.
3. The hero typically interacts with supernatural entities by descending into
an underworld.
The Medieval Romance
Characteristics: (These must exist in order for that poem to be labeled a Medieval
Romance.)
1. Mystery and suspense is derived from supernatural elements.
2. Concealed or disguised identity is utilized.
3. Chivalry and courtly love are idealized.
4. The hero faces a challenge or test.
5. The hero must embark on a quest.
Epic Poetry Conventions/Formula: (A majority of these must exist in a poem in
order for that poem to be labeled an Epic Poem.)
1. The invocation of a muse occurs.
2. The narrative begins in medias res.
3. The setting is vast and encompasses great nations, the world and/or
universe.
4. There will be catalogs of warriors described by the characters.
5. Extended formal speeches are made by the characters.
6. The entire epic is written in elevated style as opposed to casual or
colloquial speech.
Additional Literary Devices
Bob and wheel - is when a strophe of unrhymed alliterative lines, the poem shifts
to a set of rhymed lines, the “bob,” followed by a short remainder, the “wheel,”
which is a short lined rhymed quatrain. The bob has two or three syllables, with
the stress on the last.
Additional Literary Devices
Alliteration - is the repetition of the initial consonant sound of a word or of a
stressed syllable. Alliteration is a literary device that was used frequently by
Anglo-Saxons because they were a pre-literate people.
Kenning is usually a two-word metaphorical name for a noun, such as “sea-road”
for ocean. When neither element of the compound is a true name of the object, it is
a true kenning (sea road = ocean); when one element is not a true name, it is a halfkenning (whale-road = ocean).
Epithet - Strictly, an adjective or adjectival phrase used to point out the
characteristics of a noun or pronoun. Homeric epithet - An epithet consisting of a
compound adjective, as “all-seeing” Jove or “swift-footed” Achilles. Transferred
Bestiary Representations – A bestiary is a type of literature, popular during the
Medieval period, in which animals were represented in texts for allegorical
purposes. Many common motifs associated with animals generate from these texts.
Biblical Allusions – During the Medieval period the Catholicism is the dominant
religion and is of equal importance as government in this fledgling society.
Symbolism
epithet - an adjective used to limit grammatically a noun that it does not logically
modify, though the relation is so close that the meaning is left clear, as
Shakespeare’s “dusty death, or Milton’s “blind mouth’s.”
Socio-Historical Context (Social, historical, political events and beliefs of the time
that apply to the text. Be sure to peruse the Anglo-Saxon History website on the
AP English IV Page.)
Comitatus - or Germanic code of loyalty. Thanes, or warriors, swore loyalty to
their king, for whom they fought and whom they protected. In return the king was
expected to be generous with gifts of treasure and land. The king also protected his
thanes. Kings were highly praised for their generosity and hospitality.
Germanic custom of paying wergild - is “man-payment,” the practice of paying a
slain man’s family to atone for the deed and to prevent them from taking revenge
against the manslayer.
Socio-Historical Context (Social, historical, political events and beliefs of the time
that apply to the text. Be sure to peruse the Medieval History website on the AP
English IV Page.)
Chivalry – was a series of commandments that a knight was meant to take as an
oath used to guide all behaviors.
1. Thou shalt believe all the Church teaches and shalt obey her
commandments.
2. Thou shalt defend the Church.
3. Thou shalt respect all weaknesses and shalt constitute thyself the
defender of them.
4. Thou shalt not recoil before thine enemy.
5. Thou shalt make war against the infidel without cessation and without
mercy.
6. Thou shalt perform scrupulously thy feudal duties, if they be not
contrary to the laws of God.
7. Thou shalt never lie, and shalt remain faithful to thy pledged word.
8. Thou shalt be generous, and give largesse to everyone.
9. Thou shalt be everywhere and always the champion of the Right and the
Good against Injustice and Evil. (Chivalry)
Courtly Love- was a series of rules that a knight was meant to take as an oath used
to guide all romantic behaviors.
1. Thou shalt avoid avarice like the deadly pestilence and shalt embrace its
opposite.
2. Thou shalt keep thyself chaste for the sake of her whom thou lovest.
3. Thou shalt not knowingly strive to break up a correct love affair that
someone else is engaged in.
4. Thou shalt not chose for thy love anyone whom a natural sense of shame
forbids thee to marry.
5. Be mindful completely to avoid falsehood.
6. Thou shalt not have many who know of thy love affair.
7. Being obedient in all things to the commands of ladies, thou shalt ever
strive to ally thyself to the service of Love.
8. In giving and receiving love's solaces let modesty be ever present.
9. Thou shalt speak no evil.
10. Thou shalt not be a revealer of love affairs.
11. Thou shalt be in all things polite and courteous.
12. In practicing the solaces of love thou shalt not exceed the desires of thy
lover. (Marshall)
The Dialectical Notebook
Aside from simply reading the text, you will complete a dialectical notebook, which will be due on the first day of school.
Your dialectical notebook should be formatted as follows and shall consist of 26 entries. It may be typed or hand-written. 13 entries must be based on
Beowulf, and 13 must be based on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Each entry will specifically identify and analyze one of the devices or concepts
identified on this assignment sheet for its respective text. Note the following example analyzes multiple devices in one entry. A device or concept may
NOT be used more than once. Outside research will be necessary to complete some entries.
SAMPLE:
Text
(You copy a section of text on this side.)
“In his far-off home Beowulf, Higlac’s / Follower and the strongest of the Geats
- greater / And stronger than anyone anywhere in this world - / Heard how
Grendel filled nights with horror / And quickly commanded a boat fitted out, /
Proclaiming that he’d go to that famous king, / Would sail across the sea to
Hrothgar.” (Raffel 29)
Response/Explanation of Literary Device/Concept
(You identify concepts and analyze your quote on this side.)
This section of the text embodies multiple epic devices. Through this quote we see
that Beowulf is the protagonist of the story, and in his declaration of assistance to
Hrothgar, he proves that he embodies the traits of a nation because he is willing to
help defeat this horrible monster for the king. The quote also hints that there is a
vast setting because Beowulf must travel across the sea to reach Hrothgar.
There are also examples of alliteration evident, which I have indicated with bolded
letters. The repetition of the “s’s” and “a’s” seem to highlight the power and
superiority of Beowulf.
Sources and Works Cited:
"Chivalry." Baronage. 1999. The Baronage Press and Pegasus. 8 Sep 2009 <http://www.baronage.co.uk/chivalry/chival1a.html>.
Harmon, William, and Hugh Holman. "Bestiary." A Handbook to Literature. Ed. Leah Jewell. New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006. Print.
Harmon, William, and Hugh Holman. "Epic Formula." A Handbook to Literature. Ed. Leah Jewell. New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006. Print.
Harmon, William, and Hugh Holman. "Epic." A Handbook to Literature. Ed. Leah Jewell. New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006. Print.
Huff, Diana. "A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classic Edition of Beowulf." Signet Classics. 2004. Print.
Marshall, John. "The Code of Chivalry." 09 Apr 2002. University of Maryland. 8 Sep 2009 <http://www.astro.umd.edu/~marshall/chivalry.html>.
Murfin, Ross and Supryia M. Ray. "Epic." The Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms. Ed. Stephen A. Scipione. Boston: Bedford St. Martin’s, 2003. Print.