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194 Unit 2 ■ Analyzing Comparisons and Representations UNIT 2

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In the last stanzas, the tone shifts from jovial to judgmental as the topic sentence: loss PREPARING FOR THE AP EXAM WORKSHOP OVERVIEW
young girl enters the confines of her home and is questioned by her of freedom signified by Free-Response Question: PREPARING FOR THE AP ® EXAM This workshop introduces the Poetry Analysis
mother, representing the societal norms of being well-behaved girls and tone shift from playful Free-Response Question that students will
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women have to follow. As she walks into the house, her carefree nature to reserved Poetry Analysis encounter on the AP Exam. For this early unit,
already dissipates. As she notices the “clean linoleum,” she “smoothed students should build on the defensible thesis
her skirt”: a gesture that contrasts with the dirty and playful tone from work they did for an excerpt from short fiction
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outside, instead shifting into a stricter environment inside. In this new AP Enduring Understanding (LAN-1) and adapt it to a full poem. Next, students will
Copyright (c) 2023 Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Uncorrected proofs were used with this sample chapter.
environment, she adjusts accordingly to please others by fixing her Readers establish and communicate their interpretations of literature through build their argument by focusing on developing a
evidence: details and logical line of reasoning to support the thesis
clothing. She leaves behind the windblown hair and rumpled clothing arguments supported by textual evidence.
that represent her freedom outside to look better adjusted for her mother word choice illustrate statement and connect to the idea and insight in
the loss of freedom the claim.
and others. She is berated by her mother with questions about her time experienced within the
outside. Her mother represents the judgment and questioning women rules of society Justifying a Thesis through a Line
Distributed by Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Strictly for use with its products. Not for redistribution.
often get by others when acting against the societal norms of a perfect,
well- mannered lady. The little girl is carefree and playful, just like a child of Reasoning COMMON MISCONCEPTION
should be, but in this new environment she is more reserved and The first free-response essay prompt on the AP® English Literature and Compo- Some students miss the mark by simply
obedient to please and conform to those standards of women even as a sition Exam requires you to write a literary argument analyzing a poem. In this identifying literary techniques and elements
child. When her mother asks about what is in her pocket she answers workshop, you will continue to develop the skills you need to complete this task rather than analyzing how the author’s use of
obediently that it is her knife and notices how it “weighted [her] pocket with a specific focus on establishing a line of reasoning. these elements and techniques contributes to an
and stretched [her] dress awry.” This object associated with her brother Read the following practice prompt and the accompanying poem, which is interpretation of the text. Students should focus
and the playful rambunctious nature of boys, the knife, is weighing on an adaptation of the type of prompt you may see on the exam. Please note that on on developing the link between the line of
her as she tries her hardest to conform to the perfect little girl her mother the actual exam, you will be required to write a full analytical essay about multiple reasoning and the thesis so that they do not
expects and wants. The knife also messes up her dress, showing how poetic elements and techniques. merely summarize the poem instead of explaining
this object that represents her freedom from outside is messing with the how the author’s literary choices link to the idea
mask she is putting on with orderly clothing and hair. It instead rumples and insight. Teachers should practice this skill by
her dress and depicts her true nature as a playful child, but her mother’s Prompt: having students record annotations that link the
judging eyes do not accept that, so the little girl conforms to the In the following poem by William Shakespeare (published in 1609), the speaker addresses a loved author’s literary choice to the unifying idea.
well-mannered stereotype that society wants her to be, instead of being one who has noticed that he is growing old and closer to death. Write a paragraph in which you
her true self. The tone shift contrasts the freedom she feels playing out- make a defensible claim regarding how Shakespeare uses metaphors to convey the complex rela-
side as a horse with her mother’s questioning and judgment. tionship between the aging speaker and the loved one. WORKSHOP RESOURCES
In Swenson’s poem “The Centaur,” the speaker depicts the societal In your paragraph, you should incorporate at least one piece of evidence from the text to sup- TRM All of the following resources for this
pressures placed on girls to be obedient and well-mannered. She uses conclusion: articulates port your claim. section can be found in the Teacher’s Resource
the desire for freedom
metaphors and similes to create a tonal shift from the carefree indepen- from societal pressures In your response, you should do the following: Materials on the digital platform and individually
dence of a child playing outside alone to the constraints and judgments • Respond to the prompt with a claim that presents a defensible interpretation at point of use.
of social expectations. Handout: Some Literary Techniques and
• Select and use evidence to support your line of reasoning
• Use appropriate grammar and punctuation in communicating your argument Elements
Graphic Organizer: Organizing a Poetry
Analysis I
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Scored Student Sample AP Essays

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AP CLASSROOM RESOURCES
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AP Daily Videos
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AP Topic Questions
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AP Personal Progress Check Unit 2
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RELATED RELEASED AP EXAM
QUESTIONS
2004B Q2 – “Crossing the Swamp” by Mary
Oliver (Twentieth Century)
2007B Q1 – “Here” by Philip Larkin (Twentieth
Century)
2009B Q1 – “Icarus” by Edward Field (Twentieth
Century)
2013 Q1 – “The Black Walnut Tree” by Mary
Oliver (Twentieth Century)
2015 Q1 – “XVI” by Derek Walcott (Twentieth
Century)
2017 Q1 – “Myth of Music” by Rachel Harper
(Twentieth Century)
2022 Q1 – “Shaving” by Richard Blanco
(Twentieth Century)

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Preparing for the AP Exam Free-Response Question: Poetry Analysis 195

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