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AP TIP long, which means you can read them several times. Each time you
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read a passage, you will notice more and more. This section will offer
You will likely encounter
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unfamiliar words in the AP ways to deepen your awareness of the specific literary elements
Exam texts. Remember to authors use to express their ideas. We’ll move from identifying these
look for context clues that elements to analyzing their effect on us as readers, and then show
point to what a word or you how to approach writing a close analysis essay that shares your
phrase means. If you don’t
find any, consider the overall insights. For now, though, let’s concentrate on the first impressions
mood of the passage to get you have when you read a short passage of fiction by taking a look at
the gist of things. an excerpt from Americanah, a 2013 novel by Chimamanda Ngozi
Analyzing Short Fiction
Adichie. The novel tells the story of a young Nigerian woman,
Ifemelu, who emigrates to America to attend college. As you read
© Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. For review purposes only. Do not distribute.
this passage, pay careful attention to the specific language Adichie uses to set the
scene and jot down your first impressions. You should also note any unfamiliar
vocabulary, and, if possible, look up words you don’t know. If you are able to work only
with the passage itself, do your best to use the surrounding context to figure out words,
phrases, or usages that confuse you. Finally, try and tune in to the way the language of
the passage affects you as you read; for instance, do specific words or phrases carry an
emotional meaning? Do they create a certain feeling or atmosphere?
from Americanah
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

TRM Annotation Handout Ifemelu had grown up in the shadow of her would say “Are you from Jamaica?” as though
A student handout for annotating this text mother’s hair. It was black-black, so thick it drank only foreign blood could explain such bounteous
can be found in the Teacher’s Resource two containers of relaxer at the salon, so full it hair that did not thin at the temples. Through the
Materials. took hours under the hooded dryer, and when years of childhood, Ifemelu would often look in
finally released from pink plastic rollers, sprang the mirror and pull at her own hair, separate the
free and full, flowing down her back like a coils, will it to become like her mother’s, but it
celebration. Her father called it a crown of glory. remained bristly and grew reluctantly; braiders
“Is it your real hair?” strangers would ask and said it cut them like a knife.
then reach out to touch it reverently. Others 2013

You probably noticed, first of all, that the very idea of Ifemelu growing up not simply in
the shadow of her mother, but “in the shadow of her mother’s hair” is striking. But it’s
the description of the hair that tells us why. Instead of just writing “black” or “very
black” or using another qualifier, Adichie repeats “black-black,” which instantly gains
our attention because of the unusual repetition. This is hair that is “full, flowing down
[her mother’s] back like a celebration.” That comparison to a celebration — a party, a
joyous occasion — gives us a visual image at the same time it evokes the awe that
Ifemelu feels. This is “bounteous” hair, a word that suggests more than quantity but

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DIFFERENTIATION DIFFERENTIATION
Inquiry Connections to World
Ask students to conduct an internet search Ask students in small groups to research the
to look up details about Adichie’s cultural meaning and importance of hair and rituals
influences. Ask them to create a two-column surrounding hair in various cultures. You may
chart. In column 1, ask students to write down wish to assign different cultures to avoid
details about Adichie’s cultural influences, and repetition. Then, using a jigsaw approach,
then in column 2 ask students to align details have students from each group share their
of Adichie’s cultural influences with details observations with others. When students
from the excerpt. Ask students to share their are finished, ask them to note details that
observations with one other student to note may suggest the universality of rituals
similar and different observations based on related to hair. Then, ask them to discuss
research details. the connections made between the universal
themes and Adichie’s excerpt.
TRM Graphic Organizer
A graphic organizer for this activity can be
found in the Teacher’s Resource Materials.

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