AP Elements
Which AP Element answers these questions?
What do they value or consider important?
What do they want? Need?
How does the character perceive the events taking shape in front of him/her?
How big are things to characters -- what is important?
What is their place in the world, and how does that
affect how they experience things?
Perspective
Give the summary of the Awakening and one theme
Edna Pontellier is a young woman living comfortably in the beautiful city of New Orleans. She is fond of her husband and proud of her sons but finds it impossible to accept that "for women it is a holy privilege to efface* themselves as individuals." She fights back in the only way she knows, and her solution is extreme.
Read the following passage carefully before you choose your answers.
This passage is excerpted from John Kennedy Toole’s novel A Confederacy of Dunces, first published in 1980.
A green hunting cap squeezed the top of the fleshy balloon of a head. The green earflaps, full of large ears and uncut hair and the fine bristles that grew in the ears themselves, stuck out on either side like turn signals indicating two directions at once. Full, pursed lips protruded beneath the bushy black moustache and, at their corners, sank into little folds filled with disapproval and potato chip crumbs. In the shadow under the green visor of the cap Ignatius J. Reilly’s supercilious* blue and yellow eyes looked down upon the other people waiting under the clock at the D. H. Holmes department store, studying the crowd of people for signs of bad taste in dress. Several of the outfits, Ignatius noticed, were new enough and expensive enough to be properly considered offenses against taste and decency. Possession of anything new or expensive only reflected a person’s lack of theology and geometry; it could even cast doubts upon one’s soul.
Ignatius himself was dressed comfortably and sensibly. The hunting cap prevented head colds. The voluminous tweed trousers were durable and permitted unusually free locomotion. Their pleats and nooks contained pockets of warm, stale air that soothed Ignatius. The plaid flannel shirt made a jacket unnecessary while the muffler guarded exposed Reilly skin between earflap and collar. The outfit was acceptable by any theological and geometrical standards, however abstruse, and suggested a rich inner life.
Shifting from one hip to the other in his lumbering, elephantine fashion, Ignatius sent waves of flesh rippling beneath the tweed and flannel, waves that broke upon buttons and seams. Thus rearranged, he contemplated the long while that he had been waiting for his mother. Principally he considered the discomfort he was beginning to feel. It seemed as if his whole being was ready to burst from his swollen suede desert boots, and, as if to verify this, Ignatius turned his singular eyes toward his feet. The feet did indeed look swollen. He was prepared to offer the sight of those bulging boots to his mother as evidence of her thoughtlessness. Looking up, he saw the sun beginning to descend over the Mississippi at the foot of Canal Street. The Holmes clock said almost five. Already he was polishing a few carefully worded accusations designed to reduce his mother to repentance or, at least, confusion. He often had to keep her in her place.
Used by permission.
Question
By juxtaposing the narrator’s commentary on Ignatius’ appearance with the narrator’s account of Ignatius’ inner thoughts, the first two paragraphs of the passage highlight the inconsistency between Ignatius’
- expensive tastes and his modest budget
- dissatisfied nature and his devotion to his mother
- judgmental attitude and his questionable clothes and grooming
- warm clothing and the current weather
- religious inclinations and the commercial setting
judgmental attitude and his questionable clothes and grooming
When the word complex is used in a prompt what words do you use in your thesis to answer? Give the examples we used in class, name at least three.
Yet, And, but, however
What is Ms. McGaughey and Ms. Jadoremo's first name?
Olivia and Rachel
Which AP Element answers these questions?
What does their perspectives and motivations tell you about them? What do they believe?
How does their development or lack of development impact the story?
How do they interact with others? Why?
What do they look like and why is that important?
How do their actions, choices and speech shape
who they are?
Character
Give a summary of Beowulf and one theme
Beowulf is an Old English epic poem that dates back to the early medieval period. Who wrote it? Your guess is as good as mine.
It tells the heroic tale of Beowulf, a Scandinavian warrior who comes to the aid of the Danish king, Hrothgar, to defeat the monstrous creature Grendel. Beowulf's bravery and strength are central to the narrative, and the poem explores themes of heroism, loyalty, and the eternal struggle between good and evil. The second part of the epic follows Beowulf in his later years as he faces a dragon, showcasing the heroic code and the inevitable challenges that come with it.
Read the following passage carefully before you choose your answers.
This passage is excerpted from John Kennedy Toole’s novel A Confederacy of Dunces, first published in 1980.
A green hunting cap squeezed the top of the fleshy balloon of a head. The green earflaps, full of large ears and uncut hair and the fine bristles that grew in the ears themselves, stuck out on either side like turn signals indicating two directions at once. Full, pursed lips protruded beneath the bushy black moustache and, at their corners, sank into little folds filled with disapproval and potato chip crumbs. In the shadow under the green visor of the cap Ignatius J. Reilly’s supercilious* blue and yellow eyes looked down upon the other people waiting under the clock at the D. H. Holmes department store, studying the crowd of people for signs of bad taste in dress. Several of the outfits, Ignatius noticed, were new enough and expensive enough to be properly considered offenses against taste and decency. Possession of anything new or expensive only reflected a person’s lack of theology and geometry; it could even cast doubts upon one’s soul.
Ignatius himself was dressed comfortably and sensibly. The hunting cap prevented head colds. The voluminous tweed trousers were durable and permitted unusually free locomotion. Their pleats and nooks contained pockets of warm, stale air that soothed Ignatius. The plaid flannel shirt made a jacket unnecessary while the muffler guarded exposed Reilly skin between earflap and collar. The outfit was acceptable by any theological and geometrical standards, however abstruse, and suggested a rich inner life.
Shifting from one hip to the other in his lumbering, elephantine fashion, Ignatius sent waves of flesh rippling beneath the tweed and flannel, waves that broke upon buttons and seams. Thus rearranged, he contemplated the long while that he had been waiting for his mother. Principally he considered the discomfort he was beginning to feel. It seemed as if his whole being was ready to burst from his swollen suede desert boots, and, as if to verify this, Ignatius turned his singular eyes toward his feet. The feet did indeed look swollen. He was prepared to offer the sight of those bulging boots to his mother as evidence of her thoughtlessness. Looking up, he saw the sun beginning to descend over the Mississippi at the foot of Canal Street. The Holmes clock said almost five. Already he was polishing a few carefully worded accusations designed to reduce his mother to repentance or, at least, confusion. He often had to keep her in her place.
Used by permission.
Question
In the first sentence of the passage, the description of Ignatius’ head as a “fleshy balloon” contributes to the narrator’s portrayal of Ignatius’
surprisingly lofty ideals
feeling of lightheadedness
unhealthy eating habits
growing sense of discomfort
distasteful physical appearance
distasteful physical appearance
If the prompt asking you for an interpretation of the whole work what is it asking you?
What the theme of the whole work was.
Between Ms. J and Ms. M who is Greg and who is Wirt?
Greg- M
Wirt- J
What AP Element answers these questions?
How does the order of events shape the narrative?
Does the author manipulate time? Why or why not?
Is it a story within another story? If so, what does that accomplish?
Are there flashbacks? Dreams? Stream-of-consciousness?
Structure/Plot
Give a summary of Macbeth and one theme
Macbeth Summary. Three witches tell the Scottish general Macbeth that he will be King of Scotland. Encouraged by his wife, Macbeth kills the king, becomes the new king, and kills more people out of paranoia. Civil war erupts to overthrow Macbeth, resulting in more death.
Read the following passage carefully before you choose your answers.
This passage is excerpted from John Kennedy Toole’s novel A Confederacy of Dunces, first published in 1980.
A green hunting cap squeezed the top of the fleshy balloon of a head. The green earflaps, full of large ears and uncut hair and the fine bristles that grew in the ears themselves, stuck out on either side like turn signals indicating two directions at once. Full, pursed lips protruded beneath the bushy black moustache and, at their corners, sank into little folds filled with disapproval and potato chip crumbs. In the shadow under the green visor of the cap Ignatius J. Reilly’s supercilious* blue and yellow eyes looked down upon the other people waiting under the clock at the D. H. Holmes department store, studying the crowd of people for signs of bad taste in dress. Several of the outfits, Ignatius noticed, were new enough and expensive enough to be properly considered offenses against taste and decency. Possession of anything new or expensive only reflected a person’s lack of theology and geometry; it could even cast doubts upon one’s soul.
Ignatius himself was dressed comfortably and sensibly. The hunting cap prevented head colds. The voluminous tweed trousers were durable and permitted unusually free locomotion. Their pleats and nooks contained pockets of warm, stale air that soothed Ignatius. The plaid flannel shirt made a jacket unnecessary while the muffler guarded exposed Reilly skin between earflap and collar. The outfit was acceptable by any theological and geometrical standards, however abstruse, and suggested a rich inner life.
Shifting from one hip to the other in his lumbering, elephantine fashion, Ignatius sent waves of flesh rippling beneath the tweed and flannel, waves that broke upon buttons and seams. Thus rearranged, he contemplated the long while that he had been waiting for his mother. Principally he considered the discomfort he was beginning to feel. It seemed as if his whole being was ready to burst from his swollen suede desert boots, and, as if to verify this, Ignatius turned his singular eyes toward his feet. The feet did indeed look swollen. He was prepared to offer the sight of those bulging boots to his mother as evidence of her thoughtlessness. Looking up, he saw the sun beginning to descend over the Mississippi at the foot of Canal Street. The Holmes clock said almost five. Already he was polishing a few carefully worded accusations designed to reduce his mother to repentance or, at least, confusion. He often had to keep her in her place.
Used by permission.
Question
In the second sentence of the first paragraph (“The green . . . once”), the description of Ignatius’ earflaps as being “like turn signals” contributes to the narrator’s overall tone of
Responses
outrage
mockery
anxiety
impartiality
appreciation
mockery
How many literary devices should you have in your paper?
At least two for the AP test.
Were your teachers team Edward or Jacob in High School? Bonus if you can name our second favorite characters
Edward
M- Seth Clearwater
J- Alice
Which AP Element answers these questions?
Who is the narrator in the text, and how does that impact the story?
What would we miss if the point of view was different?
How does the narrator's reliability affect narrative?
What is the POV? 1st, 2nd, 3rd person? Omniscient or limited? Why does that matter?
Narration
Give a summary of Wuthering Heights and two themes
From the moment of his adoption by the Earnshaws, the boy Heathcliff devotes himself to their young daughter Catherine. Growing up together, the two share a love that blossoms into romance, until Catherine's hurtful betrayal. But Heathcliff's emotions know no bounds and acknowledge no limits—not even death. Determined to secure the family estate of Wuthering Heights as his own, the tyrannical Heathcliff vents his bitterness on his and Catherine's heirs, manipulating lives and shaping destinies under the influence of a passion that has curdled into obsession.
Read the following passage carefully before you choose your answers.
This passage is excerpted from John Kennedy Toole’s novel A Confederacy of Dunces, first published in 1980.
A green hunting cap squeezed the top of the fleshy balloon of a head. The green earflaps, full of large ears and uncut hair and the fine bristles that grew in the ears themselves, stuck out on either side like turn signals indicating two directions at once. Full, pursed lips protruded beneath the bushy black moustache and, at their corners, sank into little folds filled with disapproval and potato chip crumbs. In the shadow under the green visor of the cap Ignatius J. Reilly’s supercilious* blue and yellow eyes looked down upon the other people waiting under the clock at the D. H. Holmes department store, studying the crowd of people for signs of bad taste in dress. Several of the outfits, Ignatius noticed, were new enough and expensive enough to be properly considered offenses against taste and decency. Possession of anything new or expensive only reflected a person’s lack of theology and geometry; it could even cast doubts upon one’s soul.
Ignatius himself was dressed comfortably and sensibly. The hunting cap prevented head colds. The voluminous tweed trousers were durable and permitted unusually free locomotion. Their pleats and nooks contained pockets of warm, stale air that soothed Ignatius. The plaid flannel shirt made a jacket unnecessary while the muffler guarded exposed Reilly skin between earflap and collar. The outfit was acceptable by any theological and geometrical standards, however abstruse, and suggested a rich inner life.
Shifting from one hip to the other in his lumbering, elephantine fashion, Ignatius sent waves of flesh rippling beneath the tweed and flannel, waves that broke upon buttons and seams. Thus rearranged, he contemplated the long while that he had been waiting for his mother. Principally he considered the discomfort he was beginning to feel. It seemed as if his whole being was ready to burst from his swollen suede desert boots, and, as if to verify this, Ignatius turned his singular eyes toward his feet. The feet did indeed look swollen. He was prepared to offer the sight of those bulging boots to his mother as evidence of her thoughtlessness. Looking up, he saw the sun beginning to descend over the Mississippi at the foot of Canal Street. The Holmes clock said almost five. Already he was polishing a few carefully worded accusations designed to reduce his mother to repentance or, at least, confusion. He often had to keep her in her place.
Used by permission.
Question
In context, Ignatius’ observations contrasting his own clothing with that of the people around him (paragraph 1) most clearly serve to emphasize
Responses
a gradual change in Ignatius’ beliefs about taste in clothing
the mismatch between Ignatius’ beliefs and his actions
the unconventional nature of Ignatius’ priorities and values
Ignatius’ feelings of insecurity about his lack of wealth
Ignatius’ superior attitude toward his mother and her friends
the unconventional nature of Ignatius’ priorities and values
Based off the prompt below is the thesis strong or weak? In the monologue from Barbie (2023), Gloria describes her experience of being a woman in the modern world. In a well-written essay, analyze how the speaker uses literary elements and devices to convey the complex experience of womanhood, and what her experience reveals about society
In the monologue from Barbie, in order to convey her message that societal pressure causes women to lose their sense of self, Gloria compares and contrasts the expectations women have to live up to.
It is not
Snoopy and Hozier
Which AP Element answers these questions?
What is the literal and figurative meanings of the words or phrases? What is the function of the specific word in the text?
What is the function of a symbol in a text?
What is the concrete object that appears to be important?
How does the character(s) react to the object?
What could this represent?
How is the author expanding the meaning of the text through this symbol?
What does this symbol add that this story would otherwise lack?
What is the function of imagery in the text?
Symbols
Give a summary of Importance of Being Earnest and three themes
Set in England during the late 19th century, the play follows the lives of two young men, Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, who adopt fictional identities to escape social obligations. Jack invents a brother named Ernest, while Algernon creates an invalid friend named Bunbury.
Read the following passage carefully before you choose your answers.
This passage is excerpted from John Kennedy Toole’s novel A Confederacy of Dunces, first published in 1980.
A green hunting cap squeezed the top of the fleshy balloon of a head. The green earflaps, full of large ears and uncut hair and the fine bristles that grew in the ears themselves, stuck out on either side like turn signals indicating two directions at once. Full, pursed lips protruded beneath the bushy black moustache and, at their corners, sank into little folds filled with disapproval and potato chip crumbs. In the shadow under the green visor of the cap Ignatius J. Reilly’s supercilious* blue and yellow eyes looked down upon the other people waiting under the clock at the D. H. Holmes department store, studying the crowd of people for signs of bad taste in dress. Several of the outfits, Ignatius noticed, were new enough and expensive enough to be properly considered offenses against taste and decency. Possession of anything new or expensive only reflected a person’s lack of theology and geometry; it could even cast doubts upon one’s soul.
Ignatius himself was dressed comfortably and sensibly. The hunting cap prevented head colds. The voluminous tweed trousers were durable and permitted unusually free locomotion. Their pleats and nooks contained pockets of warm, stale air that soothed Ignatius. The plaid flannel shirt made a jacket unnecessary while the muffler guarded exposed Reilly skin between earflap and collar. The outfit was acceptable by any theological and geometrical standards, however abstruse, and suggested a rich inner life.
Shifting from one hip to the other in his lumbering, elephantine fashion, Ignatius sent waves of flesh rippling beneath the tweed and flannel, waves that broke upon buttons and seams. Thus rearranged, he contemplated the long while that he had been waiting for his mother. Principally he considered the discomfort he was beginning to feel. It seemed as if his whole being was ready to burst from his swollen suede desert boots, and, as if to verify this, Ignatius turned his singular eyes toward his feet. The feet did indeed look swollen. He was prepared to offer the sight of those bulging boots to his mother as evidence of her thoughtlessness. Looking up, he saw the sun beginning to descend over the Mississippi at the foot of Canal Street. The Holmes clock said almost five. Already he was polishing a few carefully worded accusations designed to reduce his mother to repentance or, at least, confusion. He often had to keep her in her place.
Used by permission.
Question
In the last sentence of the first paragraph, Ignatius’ reference to “theology and geometry” conveys which of the following?
Responses
His insincere claim that he possesses deeply held religious beliefs
His pretentious use of abstract concepts to justify his own preferences
His open arrogance about the knowledge that his extensive education has providedHis condescending attitude toward people of his mother’s generation
His futile effort to seek comfort in science during emotionally troubling times
His pretentious use of abstract concepts to justify his own preferences
Based off the prompt below is the thesis strong or weak? In the monologue from Barbie (2023), Gloria describes her experience of being a woman in the modern world. In a well-written essay, analyze how the speaker uses literary elements and devices to convey the complex experience of woman hood?
In the monologue from Barbie, the reality that societal expectations of women are untenable is reflected in the passionate speech given by Gloria as she exposes the standards that can pressure even the brightest women t0 sacrifice their lives and wellbeing, by convincing them they are not worthy if they are not checking off the boxes society has made for them. This speech shows how women often find themselves feeling inadequate even though they are doing amazing things in their life.
It is!
What was the first classes Ms. J taught and the first classes Ms. M taught?
J- GT
F- Freshmen, Sophmore