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📚AP English Literature
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📚AP English Literature

FRQ 1 – Poetry Analysis
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Practice FRQ 1 of 491/49

1. In Amy Lowell's poem "The Red Lacquer Music-Stand," published in 1916, a speaker describes a young boy staying awake through the night in a state of intense anticipation. Read the poem carefully. Then, in a well-written essay, analyze how Lowell uses literary elements and techniques to convey the boy's complex experience of anticipation and devotion.

In your response you should do the following:

  • Respond to the prompt with a thesis that presents a defensible interpretation.

  • Select and use evidence to support your line of reasoning.

  • Explain how the evidence supports your line of reasoning.

  • Use appropriate grammar and punctuation in communicating your argument.

The Red Lacquer Music-Stand

The Boy keeps solemn vigil, while outside the wind

Blows gustily and clear, and slaps against the blind.

He hardly tries to sleep, so sharp his ecstasy

It burns his soul to emptiness, and sets it free

5

For adoration only, for worship. Dedicate,

His unsheathed soul is naked in its novitiate1.

The hours strike below from the clock on the stair.

The Boy is a white flame suspiring2 in prayer.

Morning will bring the sun, the Golden Eye of Him

10

Whose splendour must be veiled by starry cherubim,

Whose Feet shimmer like crystal in the streets of Heaven.

Like an open rose the sun will stand up even,

Fronting the window-sill, and when the casement glows

Rose-red with the new-blown morning, then the fire which flows

15

From the sun will fall upon the altar and ignite

The spices, and his sacrifice will burn in perfumed light.

Over the music-stand the ghosts of sounds will swim,

'Viols d'amore3' and 'hautbois4' accorded to a hymn.

The Boy will see the faintest breath of angels' wings

20

Fanning the smoke, and voices will flower through the strings.

He dares no farther vision, and with scalding eyes

Waits upon the daylight and his great emprise5.

Source: Amy Lowell, Men, Women and Ghosts, 1916

1 novitiate: the state or period of being a beginner, especially in a religious order
2 suspiring: breathing or sighing
3 Viols d'amore: stringed musical instruments
4 hautbois: oboes (woodwind musical instruments)
5 emprise: an adventurous or daring undertaking

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Free Response Question Practice

This practice environment simulates the AP AP English Literature Free Response Questions section. Here are some guidelines:

  • Read each question carefully before responding. Pay attention to command verbs like "identify," "explain," "analyze," or "evaluate."
  • Use the timer to practice time management. You can pause, restart, or hide the timer as needed.
  • Mark for Review if you want to come back to a question later.
  • Your responses are saved automatically as you type. You can also use the drawing tool for questions that require diagrams or graphs.
  • Use the toolbar for formatting options like bold, italic, subscript, and superscript.
  • Navigate between questions using the Previous and Next buttons at the bottom of the screen.

Tip: Answer all parts of each question. Partial credit is often available, so even if you are unsure, provide what you know.