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Week 2 - Questions for Independent Reading

The document provides a framework for understanding and evaluating fiction through a series of questions aimed at experienced readers. It emphasizes the importance of analyzing elements such as plot, characterization, theme, point of view, and symbolism in pre-approved AP novels to prepare for the AP Open Prompt essay. Responses should include specific evidence from the text and be submitted for credit, serving as a study tool for the AP exam.

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3 views

Week 2 - Questions for Independent Reading

The document provides a framework for understanding and evaluating fiction through a series of questions aimed at experienced readers. It emphasizes the importance of analyzing elements such as plot, characterization, theme, point of view, and symbolism in pre-approved AP novels to prepare for the AP Open Prompt essay. Responses should include specific evidence from the text and be submitted for credit, serving as a study tool for the AP exam.

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Dengdeng A Abo Rsw
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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UNDERSTANDING AND EVALUATING FICTION

QUESTIONS FOR INDEPENDENT READING


Remember you may only use pre-approved AP appropriate novels.

Rationale: Experienced readers ask themselves a series of questions throughout the reading of any work. They do this
in order to make meaning of what they read, to understand its value, and to see parallels to other works, life experiences,
etc. To better prepare you to write your AP Open Prompt essay, you will be asking yourself some of these “experienced
reader” questions. Responses must include book information and be submitted to turnitin.com to receive credit.

Directions: Choose one question per section and respond providing specific, concrete evidence and precise, relevant
details. Each response should be approximately 3-5 sentences in length and include textual evidence. Ideally, these
responses should be used to prepare for the AP exam in May, so the more effort you expend now, the more effective
these responses will be as a study tool!

Book Information (complete all)


Title: Genre:
Author: Number of Pages:
Copyright (original): Word Count (may be found on arbookfind.com):

Plot and Structure (choose one)


1. Who is the protagonist of the novel? What are the conflicts? Are they physical, intellectual, moral, or
emotional? Is the main conflict between sharply differentiated good and evil, or is it more subtle and
complex?
2. Does the plot have unity? Are all the episodes relevant to the total meaning or effect of the story? Does each
incident grow logically out of the preceding incident and lead naturally to the next? Is the ending happy,
unhappy, or indeterminate? Is it fairly achieved?
3. What use does the novel make of chance and coincidence? Are these occurrences used to initiate, to
complicate, or to resolve the story? How improbable are they?
4. How is suspense created in the novel? Is the interest confined to “What happens next?” or are larger
concerns involved? Can you find examples of mystery? Of dilemma?
5. What use does the novel make of surprise? Are the surprises achieved fairly? Do they serve a significant
purpose? Do they divert the reader’s attention from weaknesses in the story?

Characterization (choose one)


1. What means does the author use to reveal character? Are the characters sufficiently dramatized? What use
is made of character contrasts?
2. Are the characters consistent in their actions? Adequately motivated? Plausible? Does the author
successfully avoid stock characters?
3. Are any of the characters a developing character? If so, is the change a large or a small one? Is it a plausible
change for such a person? Is it sufficiently motivated? Is it given sufficient time?

Theme (choose one)


1. Does the novel have a theme? What is it? It is it implicit or explicit?
2. Does the theme reinforce or oppose popular notions of life? Does it furnish a new insight or refresh or
deepen and old one?

Point of View (choose one)


1. What point of view does the novel use? Is it consistent in its use of this point of view? If shifts are made, are
they justified?
2. What advantages has the chosen point of view? Does it furnish any clues as to the purpose of the novel?
3. Does the author use point of view primarily to reveal or to conceal?
4. If the point of view is that of one of the characters, does this character have any limitations that affect his or
her interpretation of events or persons?
Symbol, Allegory, and Fantasy (choose one)
1. Does the novel make use of symbols? If so, do the symbols carry or merely reinforce the meaning of the
story?
2. Does the novel make use of any symbolic settings?
3. Does the novel employ allegory? Is the use of allegory clear-cut or ambiguous? (Respond only if your novel
employs allegory.)
4. Does the novel contain any elements of fantasy? If so, what is the initial assumption? Does the story operate
logically from this assumption? (Respond only if your novel contains elements of fantasy.)

Humor and Irony (choose one)


1. Does the novel anywhere use irony of situation? Dramatic irony? Verbal irony? What functions do the
ironies serve?
2. If the story employs humor, is the humor present merely for its own sake or does it contribute to the
meaning?

General (choose one)


1. Is the primary interest of the novel in plot, character, theme, or some other element?
2. What contribution to the novel is made by its setting? Is the particular setting essential, or could the novel
have happened anywhere?
3. What are the characteristics of the author’s style? Are they appropriate to the nature of the novel?
4. What do you conceive to be the novel’s central purpose? How fully has it achieved that purpose?
5. Would the novel be more or less impressive on a second reading?

Adapted from Perrine’s Structure, Sound, and Sense 9th ed. “Understanding and Evaluating Fiction” (pp.100-102)

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