Reading Resources and Expectations

For this Module, you will read two novels.

Mandatory (everyone must read):
- Kate Chopin’s The Awakening (1899)
Choice Novels (select one to read):
- Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice
- Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome
- Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God
- Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid’s Tale

As you read these novels be sure to focus on the central characters as this will be the first aspect that we will consider as we learn to write about characterization in novels.

Resources

Four of the five novels listed above are available in the public domain, so we've included a PDF copy of those four. For Margaret Atwood's novel The Handmaid's Tale, you will need to obtain a copy either via your school or public library, or buy a copy to read.

Below you can download a digital PDF for the following novels:

A book cover for Kate Chopin's The Awakening. — Kate Chopin’s *The Awakening*

A book cover for Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice — Jane Austen's *Pride and Prejudice*

A book cover for Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome — Edith Wharton's *Ethan Frome*

A book cover for Zora Neal Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God — Zora Neale Hurston's *Their Eyes Were Watching God*

Expectations

You should read both books in their entirety before completing the activities in this unit; however, previewing what you will be doing might be helpful. Because you are reading the books online without a teacher’s direct instruction, it might be helpful to do some research before you engage in them. Although we don’t want to give the ending away, doing some basic research into chapter summaries, character summaries, and overall themes can be a helpful way to guide yourself through the novels. Finally, listening to audiobooks can be a very effective way to not only comprehend the text better but also to manage your time as you read.

Finally, always read with the end goal in mind. It is common to have two types of assessments based on your reading selections in AP English:

The first type of assessment asks you to write a timed literary argument essay, in which you will be given a topic and then you will use a novel as the basis for your response.
The second type of assessment involves writing a comparison and contrast essay in which you focus on how each author uses a literary element to create and explore a common theme.

It is recommended that you preview the content for any assignments before reading the two novels so that you can better customize your notes and reading focus for each larger purpose.

Reflection and Wrap-up

As you read, effective note taking strategies might include annotation of central themes, awareness of how the characters, setting, and plot structure are used to help craft the overall meaning and atmosphere of each novel.

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