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📚AP English Literature
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📚AP English Literature

FRQ 1 – Poetry Analysis
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Each FRQ type tests specific skills taught in particular units. Here's why certain units appear for each question type:

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Practice FRQ 1 of 491/49

1. In Amy Lowell's poem "The City of Falling Leaves," published in 1916, the speaker observes a vibrant masquerade taking place in and around Saint Mark's Basilica. Read the poem carefully. Then, in a well-written essay, analyze how Lowell uses literary elements and techniques to convey the speaker's complex attitude toward the vibrant but transient masquerade.

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 City of Falling Leaves

A yellow wall

Aflare in the sunlight,

Chequered with shadows,

Shadows of vine leaves,

5

Shadows of masks.

Masks coming, printing themselves for an instant,

Then passing on,

More masks always replacing them.

Masks with tricorns1 and rapiers2 sticking out behind

10

Pursuing masks with plumes and high heels,

The sunlight shining under their insteps.

One,

One, two,

One, two, three,

15

There is a thronging of shadows on the hot wall,

Filigreed at the top with moving leaves.

Yellow sunlight and black shadows,

Yellow and black,

Gorgeous--barbaric.

20

Two masks stand together,

And the shadow of a leaf falls through them,

Marking the wall where they are not.

From hat-tip to shoulder-tip,

From elbow to sword-hilt,

25

The leaf falls.

The shadows mingle,

Blur together,

Slide along the wall and disappear.

Gold of mosaics and candles,

30

And night blackness lurking in the ceiling beams.

Saint Mark's glitters with flames and reflections.

A cloak brushes aside,

And the yellow of satin

Licks out over the coloured inlays of the pavement.

35

Under the gold crucifixes

There is a meeting of hands

Reaching from black mantles.

Sighing embraces, bold investigations,

Hide in confessionals,

40

Sheltered by the shuffling of feet.

Gorgeous--barbaric

In its mail3 of jewels and gold,

Saint Mark's looks down at the swarm of black masks;

And outside in the palace gardens brown leaves fall,

45

Flutter,

Fall.

Brown,

And yellow streaked with brown.

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

1 tricorns: hats with brims turned up on three sides
2 rapiers: slender, sharply pointed swords
3 mail: flexible armor made of interlocking metal rings

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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.