Bowie High School Pre-AP English I Summer Reading 2017-18
Welcome to Pre-AP English I! We are looking forward to having you as students. Because English I sets the tone and expectations for all of your other advanced English classes, we want you to have the best beginning possible. One foundation of literature is the idea of archetypes, and many of our archetypes come from mythology. An archetype is a reoccurring symbol or motif throughout literature that represents universal patterns of human nature. It can also refer to the original model on which all other characters or situations of the same kind are based. For example, the common character of a hero is an archetype in that all heroes in literature share some key traits. We can also call certain famous heroes such as King Arthur and Luke Skywalker archetypal heroes, as they fit this mold.₁
We want you to explore some of the archetypes based on and found in mythology. We have provided a chart that has the names and definitions of common archetypes, and we have used Harry Potter characters as the examples. If you are not familiar with Harry Potter, look up that information online.
The next chart is blank (except for the names of the archetypes) so that you can fill in some information of your own. The first column is for examples from Greek and/or Roman mythology. It is important to know about these mythologies because there are many references (allusions) to them throughout literature. The second column is for examples from a world mythology that you will choose. Here are the choices from which you may choose:
- Celtic
- Norse
- Chinese
- Mayan or Aztec
- Egyptian
- Hindu
The final column is for you to find examples of archetypes from current or pop culture. This can include current books, movies, TV shows, or video games.
Each column must have at least two examples per archetype. You may use the Internet orbooks to find your information.
After you have finished filling in the chart, you will complete a short writing assignment (see the next page).
The final part of the assignment is to create a set of flashcards so that you can study the archetypes and their definitions. The notecards should be index cards that have the archetype name on one side and the definition, one Greek/Roman example, and one example of your own on the other. If you prefer to study the flashcards online, you can do that, but you still need a printed copy of the cards to receive credit. Some online flashcard websites and apps are: studyblue, tinycards, and quizlet.
Please bring all completed assignments with you on the first day of class. You will receive a grade for the chart, writing assignment, and the flashcards. In addition, there will be a quiz over the archetypes at the end of the third week of school. Be prepared.
Written response: Choose one archetype. Write a paragraph that compares and contrasts that archetype across the different mythologies. For example, if you chose the archetype of the hero, you would compare how the hero is shown throughout Greek/Roman mythology, the mythology you chose, and current/pop culture. Your paragraph should be a fully formed paragraph, not a list. Use appropriate grammar and spelling, and if you choose to handwrite your paragraph, use legible handwriting. You may write beyond the lines if you need, but this is not meant to be an essay.
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Thank you for your attention to this assignment.