Download AP Junior Summer Reading

AP Language & Composition Summer Reading
Books: Mythology, Edith Hamilton & Into the Wild, Jon Krakauer
Directions: Complete the following assignments and be prepared for the exams upon your return in
August. Make sure all assignments are typed in 12 pt. font, Times New Roman, and double spaced.
Part A: Allusions
Greek Mythology is referenced constantly within literature and even popular culture.
With a basic knowledge of mythology you will be able to better understand the stories and essays that
you read in the future. For this assignment you will need to research and find at least five allusions to
Greek Mythology within literature, common sayings and/or popular culture (find a minimum of one
of each, and at least one from Into the Wild). In paragraph form, provide an explanation of how and
why a mythological allusion was used for each. Use MLA format to cite sources as needed.
! Literary Ex: The Hunger Games is an allusion to the “Battle Royale” or bloody
fight to the death in Greek Mythology.
! Common Sayings Ex: Gambling was his Achilles Heel.
! Popular Culture Ex: Kanye West, in his song “See Me Now”, says he would be
the “rap god” of Greek Mythology.
Part B: Myth Analysis
Pick a story from the text and write a two page analysis of the myth. Consider the following while
constructing the essay:
! How is symbolism used within the myth?
! What could it mean in the context of ancient Greece?
! What natural occurrence is the myth trying to explain?
! How is this myth used in today’s society?
Part C: The Trojan War
Many people believe that history often repeats itself and that there is much to learn by studying the
past. However, can we learn anything about the past by studying a mythological war?
Assignment: Compare the Trojan War to another war in history. Examine and analyze common
themes, or catalysts. Be sure to name the specific players involved and explain any similarities or vast
differences that are noted. What lessons can future leaders learn from both of these wars?
DIRECTIONS: Write a minimum of one analytical paragraph (CEA) on each of the following questions. Jon Krakauer, Into the Wild (1997) Into the Wild is a non-fiction novel about the life of Chris McCandless who
left his well-to-do family in exchange for a bare existence in Alaska.
According to the author, Jon Krakauer “He (Chris) invented a new life for
himself, taking up residence at the ragged margin of our society,
wandering across North America in search of a raw, transcendent
experience.” 1.
How would Chris be described, both as he is presented by Krakauer and by those he interacts with throughout his travels? Is he likeable? Irritating? Intelligent? A loner? Etc. Krakauer explains in his Author's Note that he aims to "leave it to the reader to form his or her own opinion" of Chris and his actions (iii). 2. We learn immediately that Chris dies during his journey, and the anecdotes and interviews are told in retrospective. Krakauer also presents the information about Chris in a non-­‐chronological order. What is the effect of this narrative choice? What impact does this have on our reading process (versus a story told from beginning to end)? 3. Why does Chris change his name to Alex? What is he hoping for with this new identity? 4. Think about Chris's relationship with his family. What do we learn about his childhood, home life, etc? Does the inclusion of this back story make us more or less sympathetic to him? Are we supposed to sympathize or understand the position of his parents or sister? 5. Each chapter opens with 1-­‐2 epigraphs (quotes/excerpts from other sources, interviews, or Chris's writings). What do these epigraphs do to focus the reading? Select one or two in particular and consider their significance in relation to the chapter that follows and in connection to the text as a whole. 6. Think about the circumstances of Chris's death in Alaska. How is presented in the story? Why does Krakauer decide to go to the location of Chris's death, and why do "some people seem to despise {Chris" so intensely" for dying there (180)? 7. What is the effect of the "extra" materials included with the story (a photo of Chris inside the front cover, various maps of his journey)? Do these shape our reading in a certain way? 8. What was Krakauer's purpose for writing? Is this an informational piece? A tragedy we should feel bad about? A cautionary tale? Etc. 9. The back of the most recent edition of Into the Wild classifies the book as an "Adventure" story. How should this text be categorized? What genre is it a part of, and who is the target audience? 10. The public response to McCandless's story has been deeply divided. Is this story an example of tragic foolhardiness or heroic idealism?