📚AP English Literature
6 min read•Last Updated on June 18, 2024
Candace Moore
Candace Moore
There are three types of free-response questions on the AP Literature exam. You will be given 120 minutes to write all three essays, so you should take approximately 40 minutes to write each one. The entire free-response section is worth 55% of your total exam score.
Question 1, that you will see first on the exam, will be a poetry analysis prompt. You will need to read a given poem of 100 to 300 words and a prompt to guide your analytical essay about the poem. The prompt will help you figure out what to look for as you read the poem.
So we’re all on the same page, here are the most important definitions you need to know that are necessary to understand any discussion of poetry analysis.
2011 AP English Literature and Composition Exam Q1 (from CollegeBoard.org)
The following poem is by the contemporary poet Li-Young Lee. Read the poem carefully. Then write a well-developed essay in which you analyze how the poet conveys the complex relationship of the father and the son through the use of literary devices such as point of view and structure.
See how the prompt asks about the “complex relationship of the father and son”? This helps you to know how to approach the poem and how to annotate it as you read it. The italics at the end of the prompt are to note specific literary devices that are given in older prompts that you might use to practice, but will not be given in 2020. However, the prompt will always give you:
Now that you know what you’re looking for, read the poem. As you read, annotate the poem for elements of the abstract topic that the author has created. Make sure that you are also making connections between the topic and the literary devices.
🎥 Watch: AP Lit - How to Read a Poem
Annotate for:
In the following 1919 poem by Claude McKay, the speaker discusses courage in the face of death. Read the poem carefully. Then, in a well-written essay, analyze how McKay uses poetic elements and techniques to develop his message about death during conflict.
In this prompt, you are directed toward McKay’s topic and can determine that he is delivering a message about it, so as you read, you would annotate for not only the topic (death) but his message to his audience.
When you have read through the poem (twice if possible!), you will have an idea of what you want to write about. Then it is time to write your thesis.
🎥 Watch: AP Lit - Theme Statements and Thesis Statements
Not to alarm you, but your thesis might be the most important part of your essay. It establishes what you’re going to say, and whether or not you’re going to be able to back it up with the poetic evidence. It should be about a sentence long (it could be a couple, but no more), and clearly state:
In the following poem by William Shakespeare (1609), the speaker reflects on the passing of time. Read the poem carefully. Then, in a well-written essay, analyze how Shakespeare uses poetic elements and structure to convey his complex understanding of time.
...then your thesis would clearly state your interpretation of his understanding of time and the complexity of the understanding (or, why is it confusing/complex?), and probably the poetic elements that created this complexity and understanding.
Watch: AP Lit - Complexity in Poetry
As you may know, the rubric for AP Lit essays has changed from a 9-point holistic rubric to a 6-point analytical rubric. A perfect score is broken down as follows:
You cannot earn a partial point for your thesis -- you either earn a point or you do not. If you write a thesis statement that interprets the poem according to the prompt in a way that is defensible according to the poem: 1 point. In other words, you write a claim that can be defended by the poem.
If your thesis is too general, summarizes or describes the poem, or restates the prompt only, you will not earn a point.
You can earn up to 4 points for evidence and commentary. All of your evidence needs to be integrated and relevant, and all of your commentaries should connect your evidence to your prompt-based thesis.
If you write paragraphs that are unrelated to the prompt and/or the passage, you will earn a 0 in this category.
If you summarize the poem or describe its content, you will earn 1 point. You will also earn one point if you refer to the literary techniques (that you found in your annotation) but do not explain them or connect them to the poem and your claim/thesis.
If you have some relevant evidence, connected weakly to some explanation and argument, you will earn 2 points. This includes inaccurate commentary or misinterpreted evidence. 😕
You will earn 3 points for a solid job of selecting evidence and connecting it to your claim. This means your line of reasoning is supported, and your evidence contains literary elements that you connect succinctly to the abstract topic you were given.
For consistent, persuasive support of your claim that uses significant and specific evidence, you will earn the full 4 points! You would have examined more than one literary device/technique’s use throughout the poem, and organized your essay in order to best defend your claim.
**PRO TIP: Try NOT to organize your essays with a paragraph per device, but instead write from the beginning of the poem to the end. **
This point is new and very hard to pin down. It is only one point, which means you earn it or you don’t. But your sophistication in your essay can be found in your writing style, your claim and/or your support of your claim. Earning this point means that your argument was complex as well as responded appropriately to the complexity of the poem.
An abstract topic refers to a concept or idea that is not tangible or concrete, making it difficult to visualize or understand.
Term 1 of 21
An abstract topic refers to a concept or idea that is not tangible or concrete, making it difficult to visualize or understand.
Term 1 of 21
An abstract topic refers to a concept or idea that is not tangible or concrete, making it difficult to visualize or understand.
Term 1 of 21
Free-response questions are open-ended prompts that require students to provide detailed written responses. They often ask for analysis, interpretation, or evaluation of literary texts and require students to support their answers with evidence from the text.
Close Reading: A methodical approach that involves analyzing every aspect of a text for deeper understanding.
Textual Evidence: Specific details or quotations from a text that support an argument or interpretation.
Thesis Statement: A clear and concise statement that presents the main argument or claim in an essay.
The AP Literature exam is an annual test administered by College Board that assesses students' understanding of literature at an advanced level. It consists of multiple-choice questions, free-response essays, and includes passages from various genres for analysis.
Multiple-Choice Questions: Questions with several possible answers, where students must select the correct option.
Passage Analysis: The process of closely examining and interpreting a specific excerpt or passage from a literary work.
Scoring Rubric: A set of criteria used to evaluate and assign scores to student responses on the free-response section of the exam.
Poetry analysis is the process of examining and interpreting a poem's meaning, structure, language, and literary devices to gain a deeper understanding of its themes and messages.
Imagery: The use of vivid language and sensory details in a poem to create mental images.
Tone: The author's attitude or emotional expression towards the subject matter of the poem.
Meter: The rhythmic pattern created by stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry.
An analytical essay is a type of academic writing that requires the writer to analyze and interpret a literary work, such as a novel or poem. It involves breaking down the text into its components, examining them closely, and presenting an argument or evaluation based on evidence from the text.
Thesis Statement: A thesis statement is a concise statement that presents the main argument or claim of an analytical essay.
Evidence: Evidence refers to specific examples or quotations from the text that support your analysis and interpretation in an analytical essay.
Literary Analysis: Literary analysis involves examining various literary elements and techniques used in a work of literature to understand its deeper meanings and themes.
Literary devices are techniques or tools that writers use to enhance their writing and create a deeper meaning. They can include figures of speech, symbolism, imagery, and more.
Foreshadowing: A literary device where the author hints at future events in the story.
Irony: A literary device where there is a contrast between what is expected and what actually happens.
Metaphor: A figure of speech that compares two unrelated things without using "like" or "as".
Point of view refers to how a story is narrated or told. It determines whose perspective we experience events from and influences our understanding of characters, events, and themes.
First-Person Point of View: When a character within the story narrates using "I" pronouns.
Third-Person Limited Point of View: When an external narrator tells the story from the perspective of one character.
Third-Person Omniscient Point of View: When an external narrator knows and reveals the thoughts and feelings of multiple characters.
Structure refers to the organization and arrangement of a literary work. It includes elements such as the order of events, the use of chapters or sections, and the overall framework of the story.
Plot: The sequence of events that make up a story.
Narrative Point of View: The perspective from which the story is told.
Flashback: A technique used to interrupt the chronological flow of events by going back to an earlier time.
An author is an individual who writes or creates a literary work. They are responsible for crafting characters, developing plots, and conveying themes through their writing.
Protagonist: The main character or hero/heroine of a story.
Theme: The central idea or message explored in a literary work.
Tone: The attitude or mood conveyed by an author's writing.
Time period of publication refers to when a literary work was written and published. It helps provide historical context and influences various aspects such as language usage, societal norms, and cultural references within the text.
Historical Context: Events, beliefs, and social conditions surrounding a particular time period that influence literature.
Cultural References: Elements within a literary work that refer to specific customs, traditions, or beliefs of a particular culture.
Language Usage: The way language is used and the vocabulary choices that reflect the time period in which a literary work was written.
The structural aspect refers to how a literary work is organized and constructed. It examines elements such as plot, narrative techniques, point of view, and overall form.
Plot Structure: The sequence of events that make up a story's plot (e.g., exposition, rising action, climax).
Point of View (POV): The perspective from which a story is told (e.g., first-person POV, third-person limited POV).
Narrative Techniques: Literary devices used by authors to tell a story (e.g., foreshadowing, flashback, stream of consciousness).
An abstract topic refers to a concept or idea that is not tangible or concrete, making it difficult to visualize or understand.
Concrete Topic: A concrete topic refers to something that can be perceived through the senses and has physical existence.
Symbolism: Symbolism is the use of objects, characters, or actions to represent deeper meanings beyond their literal interpretation.
Theme: A theme is a central idea or message conveyed in a literary work that often explores abstract concepts such as love, justice, or identity.
Figurative language refers to language that goes beyond literal meaning to create vivid imagery, evoke emotions, and add depth to writing. It includes techniques such as similes, metaphors, personification, hyperbole, and symbolism.
Simile: A comparison between two unlike things using 'like' or 'as.'
Metaphor: A direct comparison between two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as.'
Personification: Giving human qualities or characteristics to non-human objects or abstract concepts.
Shifts in tone refer to changes in the author's attitude or emotional expression throughout a literary work, which can impact the overall mood and meaning.
Mood: The atmosphere or feeling created by a literary work.
Diction: The choice of words an author uses to convey their message and tone.
Irony: A contrast between what is expected and what actually happens, often used for humorous effect.
Poetic structure and form refer to the organization and arrangement of lines, stanzas, rhyme schemes, meters, and other elements within a poem.
Rhyme Scheme: The pattern of rhymes at the end of each line in a poem.
Meter: The rhythmic pattern created by stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry.
Stanza: A group of lines forming a unit within a poem, often separated by spaces.
Diction refers to the choice of words and phrases used in a literary work, while syntax refers to the arrangement of words and phrases to create meaningful sentences. It involves analyzing how an author's word choice and sentence structure contribute to the overall meaning and tone of a text.
Tone: The author's attitude or feelings towards a subject conveyed through diction and syntax.
Imagery: Vivid descriptions created by specific word choices and sentence structures.
Figurative Language: The use of metaphors, similes, personification, etc., which adds depth and creativity to writing.
Evidence refers to specific examples or quotations from a text that support an argument or analysis. Commentary involves explaining the significance of the evidence and connecting it back to the main point being made.
Analysis: Breaking down complex ideas into smaller parts to examine their components and understand their significance.
Inference: Drawing conclusions or making educated guesses based on evidence and reasoning rather than explicit information.
Close Reading: A careful and thorough examination of a text to analyze its details, language, and structure.