LF1 - Overview

An open book sits in front of two stacks of novelsLong Fiction 1 - Overview

Introduction

Poems and short stories are an amazing part of literature, especially when we are reminded how much some authors can achieve with such short masterpieces. Master poets and short story writers can convey entire worlds and philosophies in 20 lines or a 5-page short story. However, there is also a tradition of longer works that form the backbone of the AP Literature course.

Our guess is that if you are a reader, you read complete (and sometimes very long) books. The popularity of series fiction like The Hunger Games, Harry Potter, and Lord of the Rings supports the idea that some readers want to get lost in a long story.

Long novels and complex plays can convey intricate plots, worlds, and ideas in their own leisurely manner. There is an inherent joy in watching characters develop over a series of events, and as we spend a prolonged amount of time in their worlds, we feel like we develop (and experience emotion) with them. In this Unit, we will begin to explore the thematic content of two longer works of literature and consider how we can apply reading strategies that work for short fiction and poetry to longer works of literature, while considering the entire scope of a longer novel or play.

Learning Questions

In this module, we will answer the following questions:

  1. How do novelists and dramatists develop ideas and characters over the course of a longer literary work?
  2. How does a student craft a literary argument that includes analysis of literary evidence and the evidence itself?

Key Terms

The following terms originate with The AP English Literature and Composition Course and Exam Description published by the College Board (pp. 41-43). Familiarize (or refamiliarize) yourself with these terms as we will use them regularly in the lessons for this module.

Characters in literature allow readers to study and explore a range of values, beliefs, assumptions, biases, and cultural norms represented by those characters.

Setting and the details associated with it not only depict a time and place but also convey values associated with that setting.

Plot or the arrangement of the parts and sections of a text, the relationship of the parts to each other, and the sequence in which the text reveals information are all structural choices made by a writer that contribute to the reader’s interpretation of a text.

Mood: is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader.

Atmosphere: is the way an author uses setting, objects, or internal thoughts of characters to create emotion, mood, or experiences for the reader.

Literary Argument is the way that readers establish and communicate their interpretation of literature through arguments supported by textual evidence.

Fiction Summaries

In this module, you will be reading two longer works. Below is a brief summary of each of the possible options that you will be choosing from:

  • Kate Chopin's The Awakening is a novel that explores the journey of Edna Pontellier as she challenges societal norms and undergoes a process of self-discovery and liberation in late 19th-century Creole society.
  • Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is a classic novel that revolves around the complexities of love and social class, focusing on the spirited Elizabeth Bennet and the proud Mr. Darcy as they navigate societal expectations, misunderstandings, and personal growth on the path to true love.
  • Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome is a tragic tale set in the harsh winter landscape of Starkfield, portraying the doomed love triangle between Ethan Frome, his wife Zeena, and her cousin Mattie Silver.
  • Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God follows the journey of Janie Crawford as she navigates three marriages and seeks to find her own voice and identity amid societal expectations and the challenges of love and self-discovery in early 20th-century America.
  • Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid’s Tale is a dystopian narrative depicting the oppressive theocratic regime of Gilead, where Offred, a handmaid, struggles for survival and agency in a society marked by extreme gender-based oppression and religious extremism.

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