Unit 3 EXAM : AP English Language & Composition

Dr. Zuba 2025

Frederick Douglass - Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

Douglass narrates his journey from enslavement to freedom.

Beginning of Douglass's Narrative

Born into slavery in Maryland. Separated from his mother, raised by his grandmother. Witnesses his aunt's brutal beating by overseer Mr. Plummer. Suffers hunger, cold, and neglect.

End of Douglass's Narrative

Resists Covey physically, which becomes a turning point. Escapes to the North, becomes a free man, and begins advocating for abolition.

Characters in Douglass's Narrative

Frederick Douglass, Captain Anthony, Colonel Lloyd, Mr. Covey, Sophia Auld, Hugh Auld, Aunt Hester.

Setting of Douglass's Narrative

Maryland plantations and Baltimore, 1810s-1830s.

Themes in Douglass's Narrative

Freedom vs. slavery, education as power, identity, dehumanization, resistance.

Conflict in Douglass's Narrative

Internal (Douglass's desire for freedom vs. fear); External (enslaved person vs. slave system).

Symbols in Douglass's Narrative

Literacy (freedom), white sails on Chesapeake Bay (hope), whip (oppression).

Genre of Douglass's Narrative

Slave Narrative, Autobiography.

Content of Douglass's Narrative

A firsthand account of American slavery exposing its cruelty and hypocrisy.

Major Literary Devices in Douglass's Narrative

Imagery, irony, symbolism, juxtaposition, first-person narrative.

Speaker of Douglass's Narrative

Frederick Douglass.

Purpose of Douglass's Narrative

To expose the brutality of slavery and advocate for abolition and equality.

Frederick Douglass - 'What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?'

A speech exposing the hypocrisy of celebrating liberty while enslaving millions.

Setting of Douglass's Speech

1852, Rochester, New York.

Themes in Douglass's Speech

Freedom, hypocrisy, justice, racial inequality.

Conflict in Douglass's Speech

Ideological conflict between American ideals and slavery.

Symbols in Douglass's Speech

Fourth of July (false freedom), chains (bondage).

Genre of Douglass's Speech

Persuasive Oratory, Abolitionist Speech.

Content of Douglass's Speech

Condemnation of America's moral contradiction.

Major Literary Devices in Douglass's Speech

Rhetorical questions, irony, pathos, ethos, logos, parallelism.

Speaker of Douglass's Speech

Frederick Douglass.

Purpose of Douglass's Speech

To shame Americans into confronting their hypocrisy and promote emancipation.

Paul Laurence Dunbar - 'We Wear the Mask'

Speaks to the forced emotional concealment of Black Americans.

Setting of Dunbar's Poem

Post-Civil War America (late 1800s).

Themes in Dunbar's Poem

Racism, identity, survival, duality of public vs. private self.

Conflict in Dunbar's Poem

Appearance vs. reality; social conformity vs. truth.

Symbols in Dunbar's Poem

The mask (false happiness, societal facade).

Genre of Dunbar's Poem

Lyric Poem.

Content of Dunbar's Poem

Commentary on social and psychological survival.

Major Literary Devices in Dunbar's Poem

Metaphor, repetition, irony, rhythm.

Speaker of Dunbar's Poem

Collective voice of oppressed people.

Purpose of Dunbar's Poem

To reveal the emotional toll of oppression hidden behind forced smiles.

Ralph Waldo Emerson - 'Self-Reliance'

A philosophical essay urging individuals to trust their intuition and reject conformity.

Transcendentalism

A philosophical movement in early 19th-century America emphasizing individualism, nonconformity, and inner truth.

Aphorism

A concise statement that expresses a general truth or principle.

Metaphor

A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things by stating one is the other.

Paradox

A statement that contradicts itself but may reveal a deeper truth.

Allusion

An indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance.

Harlem Renaissance

A cultural, social, and artistic explosion centered in Harlem, New York, during the 1920s.

Free Verse Poem

A type of poetry that does not adhere to a regular meter or rhyme scheme.

Slave Narrative

An autobiographical account of life as a slave, often emphasizing the struggles and injustices faced.

Pathos

A literary device that evokes emotional responses from the audience.

Imagery

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses and creates visual representations in the reader's mind.

Irony

A literary device where the intended meaning is opposite to the literal meaning.

Political Speech

A speech intended to persuade or inform an audience about political issues or ideals.

Parallelism

The use of similar structures in two or more clauses.

Antithesis

A rhetorical device that contrasts opposing ideas in a balanced manner.

Brevity

The quality of being concise and exact in writing or speech.

Ethos

A rhetorical appeal to credibility or character.

Repetition

The action of repeating something that has already been said or written for emphasis.

Individualism

A social theory advocating the moral worth of the individual and independence from collective norms.

Segregation

The enforced separation of different racial groups in a country, community, or establishment.

Belonging

The feeling of being accepted as a member of a group or community.

Sovereignty

The authority of a state to govern itself or another state.

Cultural Survival

The ability of a culture to maintain its identity and practices in the face of external pressures.

Edgar Allan Poe - "The Fall of the House of Usher"

The narrator visits Roderick Usher's decaying mansion; madness and death follow as the house collapses.

Characters in "The Fall of the House of Usher"

Roderick Usher, Madeline Usher, unnamed narrator.

Setting of "The Fall of the House of Usher"

Gothic mansion, isolated countryside.

Themes in "The Fall of the House of Usher"

Madness, decay, fear, family, duality.

Conflict in "The Fall of the House of Usher"

Sanity vs. insanity, life vs. death.

Symbols in "The Fall of the House of Usher"

The house (mind and family), fissure (doom).

Genre of "The Fall of the House of Usher"

Gothic Fiction.

Content of "The Fall of the House of Usher"

Psychological horror exploring human fragility.

Major Literary Devices in "The Fall of the House of Usher"

Symbolism, imagery, personification, foreshadowing.

Speaker of "The Fall of the House of Usher"

Unnamed narrator.

Purpose of "The Fall of the House of Usher"

To explore the terror of psychological decay.

Henry David Thoreau - "Where I Lived, and What I Lived For"

Thoreau reflects on simple living in nature as an experiment in self-discovery.

Characters in "Where I Lived, and What I Lived For"

Thoreau (speaker).

Setting of "Where I Lived, and What I Lived For"

Walden Pond, Massachusetts (1845-1847).

Themes in "Where I Lived, and What I Lived For"

Simplicity, self-awareness, nature, independence.

Conflict in "Where I Lived, and What I Lived For"

Simplicity vs. materialism.

Symbols in "Where I Lived, and What I Lived For"

Cabin (simplicity), pond (reflection).

Genre of "Where I Lived, and What I Lived For"

Essay, Transcendentalist work.

Content of "Where I Lived, and What I Lived For"

Reflection on living deliberately.

Major Literary Devices in "Where I Lived, and What I Lived For"

Metaphor, imagery, aphorism.

Speaker of "Where I Lived, and What I Lived For"

Henry David Thoreau.

Purpose of "Where I Lived, and What I Lived For"

To inspire self-reliance and harmony with nature.

Sojourner Truth - "Ain't I a Woman?"

Speech confronting racial and gender inequality, highlighting the strength of Black women.

Characters in "Ain't I a Woman?"

Sojourner Truth, white audience, women's rights activists.

Setting of "Ain't I a Woman?"

1851 Women's Convention, Ohio.

Themes in "Ain't I a Woman?"

Equality, feminism, strength, justice.

Conflict in "Ain't I a Woman?"

Race and gender oppression.

Symbols in "Ain't I a Woman?"

Womanhood (equality), repetition of title phrase.

Genre of "Ain't I a Woman?"

Speech, Abolitionist and Feminist Oratory.

Content of "Ain't I a Woman?"

Argument for women's and racial equality.

Major Literary Devices in "Ain't I a Woman?"

Repetition, irony, pathos, rhetorical questions.

Speaker of "Ain't I a Woman?"

Sojourner Truth.

Purpose of "Ain't I a Woman?"

To assert women's and Black people's humanity and capability.

Walt Whitman - "I Hear America Singing"

Celebrates the diversity and productivity of American workers.

Characters in "I Hear America Singing"

Workers (carpenters, mechanics, mothers, etc.).

Setting of "I Hear America Singing"

19th-century democratic America.

Themes in "I Hear America Singing"

Unity, individuality, pride in labor.

Conflict in "I Hear America Singing"

None explicit—harmony among differences.

Symbols in "I Hear America Singing"

Song (joy, unity), workers (American spirit).

Genre of "I Hear America Singing"

Free Verse Poem.

Content of "I Hear America Singing"

Tribute to American diversity and dignity of work.

Major Literary Devices in "I Hear America Singing"

Cataloging, imagery, rhythm, symbolism.

Speaker of "I Hear America Singing"

Whitman's democratic voice.

Purpose of "I Hear America Singing"

To celebrate the common people's contributions to the nation.