Rolling Hills Prep School Upper School Summer Reading 2009 All-School Book This summer s all-school reading books focus on the lives of two big names of the 19 th Century whose 200 th anniversaries occurred this year. In writer Adam Gopnik s words, On a memorable day in human history, February 12, 1809, two babies were born an ocean part: Abraham Lincoln in a one-room Kentucky log cabin, Charles Darwin on an English country estate. Early in the fall trimester we will plan an activity that will allow students to discuss these books with teachers and peers. Parents are invited to join in reading and discussing the all-school book. 9 th and 10 th Grade Abraham Lincoln, by Tanya Lee Stone, DK publishing, inc., ISBN 978-0-7566-0834-7, $4.99 And Darwin s Origin of Species, by Janet Browne, Grover Press, ISBN 978-0- 8021-4346-4, $13.00 Instead of these two biographies, more advanced readers may read Angels and Ages, by Adam Gopnik, ISBN 978-0-307-27078-8, $24.95 11 th and 12 th grade Angels and Ages, by Adam Gopnik, ISBN 978-0-307-27078-8, $24.95 (Students taking biology should also consider reading Darwin s Origin of Species, by Janet Browne, Grover Press, ISBN 978-0-8021-4346-4, $13.00) English Department Books All Upper School students read at least one book for summer homework. Students may expect discussions and essays on the summer reading book during the first week of class. Students in honors or Advanced Placement class have additional requirements. Students in English II Honors must read an additional book and expect an essay on that work during the first week of class; students in
Advanced Placement English Literature must read an additional book and answer questions on the work. Ninth Grade (English I): Choose one book and expect to write an essay on it during the first week of class: Card, Orson Scott. Ender s Game Kingsolver, Barbara. The Bean Trees Tenth Grade (English II and English II Honors): British and Continental Literature Please read Dracula, by Bram Stoker (The Literary Touchstone edition is recommended, but another unabridged edition will be acceptable.) You will be expected to write an essay on Dracula during the first week of class. English II Honors must also read one of the following books and should expect to demonstrate their understanding of the book during the first few weeks of class. Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice Ballard, J.G. Empire of the Sun Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre Dickens, Charles. Great Expectations Defoe, Daniel. Robinson Crusoe Dostoevsky, Feodor. Crime and Punishment Eliot. George. Silas Marner Ishiguro, Kazuo. Never Let Me Go Orwell, George. 1984. Remarque, Erich Maria. All Quiet on the Western Front Swift, Jonathan. Gulliver s Travels Voltaire. Candide Wiesel, Elie. Night Eleventh Grade (English III) Please read Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. Expect to complete an essay test and some assignments on the novel during the first week of class. Twelfth Grade (English IV)
Please read The Stranger by Albert Camus. Expect to complete an essay test and some assignments on the novel during the first week of class. Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition (includes 11 th and 12 th grade students). Please read either Jasmine, by Bharati Mukherjee, or Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck. Both are short novels that deal with the difficulties of achieving the American dream. Expect to write an essay on one of these novels during the first week of class. In addition, you must read one of the following contemporary novels and answer the attached questions on it. The questions are due on the first day of class. Contemporary Novels: Allende, Isabel. The House of the Spirits Coetzee, J.M. Waiting for the Barbarians Dorris, Michael. Yellow Raft on Blue Water Ellison, Ralph. Invisible Man Foer, Jonathan Safran. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close Gutterson, David. Snow Falling on Cedars Irving, John. A Prayer for Owen Meany Kingsolver, Barbara. The Poisonwood Bible Morrison, Toni. Beloved O Brien. Tim. The Things They Carried or Going After Cacciato Proulx, Annie. The Shipping News Wroblewski, David. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle AP English Literature Questions for Analysis of a Contemporary Novel Please write a lengthy paragraph or two on each of the following questions. It is acceptable not to answer all of the questions in each section, but you should be able to use this paper as a guide for an AP question on this novel. At the top of the paper, please state the TITLE and AUTHOR of the novel you have chosen. The total report should not exceed six double-spaced typed pages. 1. THE AUTHOR AND HIS/HER TIMES: Born/died; biographical background important to understanding the novel; important family, community, national and world events that influenced author and novel; other
artistic or literary influences; critical response and literary standing during lifetime and posthumously. (Check reviews, Wikipedia, etc.) This can be brief. 2. FORM, STRUCTURE, AND PLOT: How is the novel organized? Length? Chapters? Discuss techniques such as flashbacks or dream sequences, stream of consciousness, chronological order of event, foreshadowing, parallel events, multiple complex, or simple plot. How much time is covered? Compare and contrast beginning and ending. 3. POINT OF VIEW (Narrative Perspective): Is the novel written from the first person ( I ), second person ( you, very rare), or third person (he/she)? Is it a reminiscence or recent perspective, written in the present tense or the past tense? If in the first person, is he/she the protagonist or an observer? If in the third, is he/she omniscient (knowing everything), limited omniscient (knowing one character most often) or objective (no subjective commentary by the narrator, but limited omniscient)? 4. CHARACTERS: General comments: Are the characters flat or round? Static or dynamic? Believable? How are they revealed? How complex? How many? Who is the protagonist and who is the antagonist? What is the role of minor characters? Describe 2-4 central characters: name, age, three descriptive adjectives, appearance, personality, function in novel, significance of name, a quote that reveals the character with an explanation of what the quote reveals. 5. SETTING: Where and when does this novel occur? How is the environment described? Are there any symbolic meanings in the settings? How does the author use setting? What atmosphere is created by the setting and how important is the setting to the novel? 6. TONE: What is the author s attitude toward subject, characters, and reader? Is it playful, serious, angry, ironic, formal, somber, satiric, or something else? Discuss the author s tone and observe how the author creates it through plot, diction, syntax, imagery, and figurative devices. Use direct quotations from text to support observations. 7. THEME: The theme refers to the book s controlling idea or central insight. Identify the book s central theme. Express as a statement with subject and predicate, not as a word or phrase (i.e. Wrong: loyalty, or loyalty to country ; Right: Envy is futile. ) Discuss author s intention. 8. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Did you enjoy the novel? Strength, weaknesses, lingering questions? Does it relate to other books you have read?