That said, most AP students are excited at the prospect of gaining the skills required to analyze literature because they will need them to be able to pass the AP exam at the end of the year.Īt the end of the first semester in AP Language and Literature, students read the play Oedipus Rex by the Greek tragedian Sophocles.

Students may become frustrated with an author's diction or the use of symbolic language that sometimes purposely obscures the message. It can also be a struggle to notice symbolism, themes, and other literary devices writers use to deliver their messages. It is often the first time students have had to do this, rather than just following along with the plot. Students are often in these classes because they are motivated and they do the work, but this doesn't always mean that they have the skills to analyze literature. While this may be true for some students, many students struggle in my AP Language and Literature class. Most people assume that students in most AP classes 'get it' more easily than in most other general education classes. This year, I want to prepare a group of students to see the work from a different viewpoint-namely the Greek viewpoint and we'll do that by looking at the tragedy from the point-of-view of the chorus. 'Oedipus? Isn't he the one with the complex?' That's not an unusual response from students when I bring up the Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex. Seeing Oedipus Rex: Using the Chorus to Understand the Tragedy by Sara Delman Overview

Oedipus rex play