A thousand Splendid Suns Winter Assignments

A Thousand Splendid Suns

Winter Assignments

1. Complete a Double-Entry Journal

For each chapter, you will need to identify 2 to 3 quotations that have some sort of meaning. They can include symbolism, metaphor, imagery, or life lessons; they might also be descriptions of characters, places, and/or events. In the left hand column, you will write the quotation (word for word), the page number, and if it is the words of a character, who said them. In the right hand column, you will explain why the quotation is significant and explain its meaning. [I recommend that you make comments about the relationships that Mariam and Laila have (with their parents, husbands, children, and each other) and that you focus on language in order to prepare for an assignment you will work on when class starts.]

Sample:

Quotation & Page Number	Importance and/or Meaning of Quotation
“Nana said, “Learn this now and learn it well, my daughter: Like a compass needle that points north, a man’s accusing finger always finds a woman. Always. You remember that, Mariam.” (7)	Because Mariam’s mother had a negative relationship with Mariam’s father, she has become disillusioned. She believes that all men will put the blame for anything (that has gone wrong) on the female that is in the picture, and she passes this on to her daughter. It is important to note that she uses a simile in her directives to Mariam to make it easier for a young girl to understand.

2. Write a Free-Response Exam Essay

Choose one of the essay prompts below and write an essay that fully responds to the prompt. You should read the PowerPoint about responding to a free-response prompt found at http://portal.bentonvillek12.org/rcantey/AP%20Literature%20and%20Composition/The%20Free%20Response%20Essay.pdf or the Prezi found at http://prezi.com/exko4jddex_e/ap-lit-free-response-essay/ . This should be at least two pages typed (double-spaced and in 12 point font with 1” margins). Please note that this must be ABOUT A Thousand Splendid Suns.

Your Options:

2007 Prompt: In many works of literature, past events can affect, positively or negatively, the present activities, attitudes, or values of a character. Choose a novel or play in which a character must contend with some aspect of the past, either personal or societal. Then write an essay in which you show how the character’s relationship to the past contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole.
2012. “And, after all, our surroundings influence our lives and characters as much as fate, destiny or any supernatural

agency.” Pauline Hopkins, Contending Forces Choose a novel or play in which cultural, physical, or geographical surroundings shape psychological or moral traits in a character. Then write a well-organized essay in which you analyze how surroundings affect this character and illuminate the meaning of the work as a whole.

Extra Credit: Complete the Study Guide (It must be fully completed in order to receive credit; however, I advise you use it to help you understand sections that are confusing you! You can also find important quotations for your journal.) The study guide can be found on the AP English Literature website that is accessible through Teacher Webpages.