AP English Literature and Composition Lecture

Instructor: Mrs. Wendy Scrubs
School: Jackb High School, Fville, North Carolina

Overview

• Focus on practicing FRQ1 poetry prompt analysis.
• Emphasis on understanding and utilizing literary devices.

Key Details in Analyzing Poetry

1. Initial Steps: Reading the Prompt

   • Identify key details: poet's name, title, date of publication, basic situation.
   • Focus on the complexity of the speaker's encounter with an element (e.g., saxophone player).

2. Understanding Literary Devices

   • Literary Elements:

     • Building blocks of literature.
     • Answer "who, what, where, when, how, why" questions.
     • Examples: theme, point of view, conflict, characterization, tone, setting, plot, imagery, mood.
     • Poetry-specific: sound devices, syntax, rhyme, meter, form, rhythm.

   • Literary Techniques:

     • Creative bits like words, phrases, sentences.
     • Deliberate use by writers to create meaning.
     • Examples: repetition, parallelism, foils, allegory, allusion, foreshadowing, figurative language.

   • Figurative Language:

     • Adds non-literal meanings.
     • Examples: symbols, metaphors, personification, hyperbole, oxymoron.

Writing a Literary Analysis Essay

• Combine literary elements and techniques to discuss literary devices.
• Choose devices that create meaning in the context of the poem.

Example Analysis of 'The Man with the Saxophone'

• Focus on how literary devices create layers in the speaker's encounter.

Student Examples and Analysis

1. Student Sample A:

   • Thesis includes mention of literary devices.
   • Plans to discuss diction, first-person narration, and vivid descriptions.
   • Shows how these techniques reflect complex emotions: from bleakness to comfort.

2. Student Sample 1C:

   • Focus on diction and selection of detail.
   • Links emotional reactions to speaker and environment.
   • Less clear connection leads to weaker thesis.

Writing Body Paragraphs

1. Student Sample 1A:

   • Continuity from thesis to body paragraph.
   • Uses evidence and commentary to build reasoning.

2. Student Sample 1C:

   • Summary lacks clear development of reasoning.
   • Device mentioned but not explained in context.
   • Focused on devices rather than the central encounter and emotions.

Takeaways for Essay Writing

• Focus on known elements and their meaning creation.
• Ensure devices are used to show reactions or relationships as specified in the prompt.

Resources

• AP Daily classroom videos for specific skills and tips.
• Review past AP exam reviews in AP classroom.

Conclusion: Good luck with AP exams!