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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 Anne Spencer's poem "At the Carnival," published in 1927, the speaker observes a young diver performing amidst the sordid environment of a local fair. Read the poem carefully. Then, in a well-written essay, analyze how Spencer uses literary elements and techniques to convey the speaker's complex response to the young diver's presence at the carnival.

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.

At the Carnival

Gay little Girl-of-the-Diving-Tank,

I desire a name for you,

Nice, as a right glove fits;

For you--who amid the malodorous

5

Mechanics of this unlovely thing,

Are darling of spirit and form.

I know you--a glance, and what you are

Sits-by-the-fire in my heart.

My Limousine-Lady knows you, or

10

Why does the slant-envy of her eye mark

Your straight air and radiant inclusive smile?

Guilt pins a fig-leaf; Innocence is its own adorning.

The bull-necked man knows you--this first time

His itching flesh sees form divine and vibrant health,

15

And thinks not of his avocation.

I came incuriously--

Set on no diversion save that my mind

Might safely nurse its brood of misdeeds

In the presence of a blind crowd.

20

The color of life was gray.

Everywhere the setting seemed right

For my mood!

Here the sausage and garlic booth

Sent unholy incense skyward;

25

There a quivering female-thing

Gestured assignations, and lied

To call it dancing;

There, too, were games of chance

With chances for none;

30

But oh! the Girl-of-the-Tank, at last!

Gleaming Girl, how intimately pure and free

The gaze you send the crowd,

As though you know the dearth of beauty

In its sordid life.

35

We need you--my Limousine-Lady,

The bull-necked man, and I.

Seeing you here brave and water-clean,

Leaven1 for the heavy ones of earth,

I am swift to feel that what makes

40

The plodder glad is good; and

Whatever is good is God.

The wonder is that you are here;

I have seen the queer in queer places,

But never before a heaven-fed

45

Naiad2 of the Carnival-Tank!

Little Diver, Destiny for you,

Like as for me, is shod in silence;

Years may seep into your soul

The bacilli3 of the usual and the expedient;

50

I implore Neptune to claim his child to-day!

Source: Anne Spencer, Caroling Dusk, 1927

1 leaven: a modifying or transforming influence
2 Naiad: in classical mythology, a water nymph
3 bacilli: disease-causing bacteria

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FRQ Directions
Free Response Question Practice

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

  • Read each question carefullybefore 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.