•  

     

    Advanced Placement Language and Composition Course -- 11th Grade

    Summer Reading and Assignments for 2018-2019

     

     Required Reading:

     

    • The Crucible – Miller
    • The Scarlet Letter – Hawthorne
    • The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn – Twain

     

    Students need to read the required texts and complete the following assignments for class at the beginning of school in September (within the first two weeks of school).

     

    1. For The Crucible and The Scarlet Letter  

    In a two-page double spaced paper, compare and contrast the injury to the reputation of the main characters in the two works – The Crucible and The Scarlet Letter. Specifically, to what extent did John Proctor and Hester Prynne consent, promote or accept what has happened to them in each story.

    Discuss how each main character rebels, resolves or reconciles himself or herself to the community standards and expectations of Puritan New England. Support your position with specific instances and directly documented references from the texts.

     

    1. For The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn:

    In a two-page double spaced paper, discuss what the book The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has to say about morality as you consider the following:

    "My idea of our civilization is that it is a shoddy, poor thing and full of cruelties, vanities, arrogances, meannesses [sic], and hypocrisies," Mark Twain once reflected. Morality does not flourish in such a society, as illustrated by its rampant violence and racism. Living in such an environment, Huck Finn assimilates many of its prejudices. Yet, the influences of society, both positive and negative, cease to influence Huck upon his departure and river episodes, suggesting that they are external elements. Once these influences are removed, the development of Huck's inner, moral self begins to emerge. Discuss a specific conflict that arises during Huck's journey south that stems directly from the clash between his developing moral nature and his society dictated "conscience," brought together by external circumstances.

    Include specific documented references from the text and various web sites to support and illustrate your notions.