MCQs
What is usually the BEST approach before answering any MCQ?
Read the question first, then go back to the passage
Before writing your essay, what is the MOST important first step?
Identify the subject of the prompt.
In The Tell-Tale Heart, what does the heartbeat MOST likely represent?
The narrator's guilt.
In Frankenstein, what is the creature’s primary conflict?
Isolation and rejection
What does “complexity” mean in AP Lit?
Multiple meanings, tensions, or contradictions
What's the best strategy to answering multiple-choice questions?
If it's too difficult, skip it and answer the ones you do now, but make sure to go back and guess the best answer choice.
What is the biggest mistake students make in FRQ responses?
Summarizing instead of analyzing
In The Lottery, why is the calm tone at the beginning important?
It normalizes violence and makes the ending more disturbing.
How does Victor Frankenstein contribute to the tragedy?
By abandoning responsibility for his creation
What is the difference between theme and subject?
Subject = topic; Theme = message about that topic
If an answer choice sounds too extreme (always, never, completely), what should you do?
Be cautious—it’s likely incorrect. AP questions reward nuance and complexity, not absolutes
What should your thesis ALWAYS include?
A defensible claim + a thematic idea connected to the prompt
In Hills Like White Elephants, what does the conflict represent?
It reflects emotional tension and lack of communication
What makes the creature a complex character?
He is both sympathetic and capable of violence
What is the function of a literary device?
What it does to develop meaning, not just what it is
If two answers seem correct, how do you choose the BEST one?
Pick the one that best explains the overall meaning of the passage
If you run out of time mid-essay, what should you prioritize?
Finishing commentary explaining meaning, not adding more evidence
In The Landlady, how does the author create suspense?
Through subtle clues and contrast between politeness and danger
In the Great Gatsby, how does wealth function in the novel?
It creates division and reveals moral emptiness
Why is commentary more important than evidence?
Commentary explains how evidence proves the argument and/or connects it to the universal meaning.
You’re stuck between an answer that is “technically true” and one that is more specific to the passage. Which do you choose?
The one most specific to the passage’s meaning and context
What distinguishes a sophistication point essay?
Demonstrating complexity—contradictions, tensions, or multiple interpretations
In The Yellow Wallpaper, what does the woman behind the wallpaper symbolize?
The narrator’s suppressed identity and societal oppression
In the Great Gatsby, why is Gatsby considered a complex character?
He is both idealistic (hopeful, romantic) and flawed (obsessed, unrealistic)
What is the BEST way to connect literature to the real world in commentary?
Explain how the idea reflects universal human experiences or societal patterns