AP English Literature Study Guide and Test Prep

About This AP English Literature Course & Study Guide

This course can teach you to analyze and interpret literature as you prepare for the AP English Literature and Composition exam. Boost your literary vocabulary and essay writing skills and learn about various styles of poetry through our short but engaging video lessons, which were developed by experienced professional educators. Lessons also focus on prominent works of literature, including Frankenstein, Moby Dick, The Great Gatsby and Beowulf. To see how well you've absorbed each lesson, you can take the accompanying multiple-choice quiz.

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This course was last updated in 2019.

AP English Literature Exam Information

• Number of Questions: 58
• Question Type: 55 multiple-choice questions and 3 free-response questions
• Time Limit: 3 hours
• Exam Cost: $99

AP English Literature and Composition Study Guide: Multiple-Choice Section

AP English Literature Course Information

This study guide is designed to prepare you for the AP English Literature test, covering all of the topics outlined in the official test materials provided by the College Board. Our professional instructors created this comprehensive course and study guide to help you master these objectives. Some of the topics covered in this course are listed below:

AP English Literature and Composition Study Guide: Multiple-Choice Section

Unit 1: Short Fiction I

Students will need to know how to describe the characters, setting, and plot of a piece of fiction. They should be able to discuss the time and place of a piece, as well as explain the characteristics and perspectives of the various characters. They need to understand the order of events that take place and how cause-and-effect relationships may occur.

Students must be familiar with ways to discuss the point of view and characteristics of the narrator of a piece of fiction. This includes knowing how to identify first- vs. third-person narratives and being aware of whether the narrator is also a character in the story. They should be able to explain the role of the narrator and determine the point of view of the narrator.

Questions will also evaluate students' understanding of a claim and evidence used to support the claim. They have to know how to use literary analysis to identify the evidence and details that are used to back up the claim.

Unit 2: Poetry I

Test takers must understand that the sequence of events and characters in poetry differ from those in fiction. They need to be aware of contrasts and shifts that take place in poetry and understand how these affect the tone or structure of the piece. Additionally, for structure, they need to know how lines and stanzas are organized. Questions may ask about the biases or decisions that characters make in a poem.

Test takers will need to be prepared to demonstrate their knowledge of similes, metaphors, and other word choices used in poetry. They need to be familiar with ways to identify a simile vs. a metaphor and be able to discuss what each type of comparison is describing. They should know about alliteration and be able to identify how repeated words or phrases help support ideas.

For literary analysis, test takers have to know how to write about an idea from a poem and then be able to support the idea with evidence. They should be able to gather the evidence from the text.

Unit 3: Longer Fiction or Drama I

Students need to be able to identify, describe, and analyze characters in a drama or longer piece of fiction. This means knowing how to evaluate if and how a character changes throughout the piece and understanding why that particular decision (changing or unchanging) was used in the piece. They should be able to discuss perspectives and potential motives of various characters.

Students have to know how to explain the events and conflicts of a piece. They must understand differences between primary and additional conflicts and the different types of conflicts (such as internal vs. external conflicts) that may be used. Questions may ask about the importance of a specific event in a piece or about the historical or cultural setting of a piece.

As part of their growth in literary analysis, students need to understand how to develop a thesis that makes a specific claim. Again, they should know how to support their claim with evidence, but also need to know how to develop and support a line of reasoning. This includes using logical relationships and sequences of claims, as well as proper mechanics in their writing.

Unit 4: Short Fiction II

The next short fiction unit will examine test takers' understanding of conflicts between characters and the choices of characters. They need to be able to discuss protagonists vs. antagonists in short fiction and how values between characters differ. Questions about the setting of the story may ask about the environment or mood.

For the narration of a short fiction piece, test takers need to be familiar with narrative distance and methods for identifying the tone and perspective of a narrator. For example, they should know how the attitude or word choices of a narrator help reveal the narrator's perspective. They need to be able to discuss how the order of events helps to support the plot of the piece. They also should be aware of the role of any contrasts that are used.

Test takers have to know how to create a commentary that includes a supported thesis. They must understand how to develop effective paragraphs for a literary analysis that follow a logical order. They should be able to communicate their reasoning clearly.

Unit 5: Poetry II

Students will need to answer questions about the structural choices of a poem. They should understand rhyme and meter and be able to explain how a structure helps highlight main ideas. They also must have an understanding of open forms of poetry that do not follow patterns.

Concepts in literal vs. figurative meaning will be tested. Students have to know how to discuss hyperbole and various meanings of words or phrases that may be used in a poem. They will need knowledge of personification, imagery, and allusion. Specifically for metaphors, they need to know how a metaphor can be extended throughout an entire piece.

Students should know how to perform a literary analysis on a poem that offers an interpretation of the piece. They have to be able to develop a thesis and use supporting evidence to build their claim. Their analysis needs to be clearly communicated and follow logical reasoning.

Unit 6: Longer Fiction or Drama II

In this unit, test takers will demonstrate their understanding of plot events and orders. They must understand the chronology of a plot, including tools such as foreshadowing or flashbacks. They need to know what a foil character is and how these characters relate to other characters. They should also be aware of various complexities of characters, such as inconsistencies in their behavior.

Questions may evaluate test takers' knowledge of symbols in a text. They have to understand what a symbol represents and how an object or a character can become symbolic. They should be familiar with ways to determine the reliability of a narrator. For example, they should know to examine any biases of the narrator. They must also know how to analyze the syntax of a narrator's perspective.

Test takers' understanding of how to create a thesis that prepares a reader for the development of the argument will be tested. Test takers need to know how to write an essay with proper punctuation, evidence, and effective sentence structure.

Unit 7: Short Fiction III

The final unit on short fiction will continue to test students' understanding of characters' biases, values, and assumptions. They need to be able to describe a character's relationships with groups and the various circumstances characters find themselves in. They must know how to analyze interactions between characters and explain how a character may change over time. They should be familiar with what an epiphany is and how this may impact a character.

In relation to the plot, students need to understand the concept of pacing. They should be able to identify how time is laid out in a text and be aware of other time-related tools, such as the speed or frequency of events. Questions may ask students about a change in setting or how the setting impacts the behavior of a character.

Students will also be evaluated on their familiarity with symbols, imagery, and other literary tools used to help readers analyze a text. They must know about personification and be able to identify associations made throughout a piece. They should be aware of any contradictory information that may affect the reliability of a narrator.

Unit 8: Poetry III

For the contrast of a poem, test takers need to be familiar with methods for identifying juxtaposition and irony. They have to understand what a paradox is and be able to explain how these different tools help introduce ideas. Test takers must be able to pay attention to details in the structure of a poem, such as the punctuation used.

Test takers will be examined on their understanding of allusions, metaphors, and symbols used in poetry. They need to know how these tools further develop comparisons or associations between ideas. They should be able to identify conceits (an extended metaphor) and ambiguity in a piece that allows readers to develop different interpretations.

For literary analysis skills, test takers need to know how to cite sources and use effective evidence in their reasoning. They have to understand how to discuss an interpretation in a broad context.

Unit 9: Longer Fiction or Drama III

Questions about character development in this final unit may explore topics in character complexity and changes. Students need to understand that there may be inconsistencies that impact a reader's analysis of a character and that the resolution of a story can point to a character's values. Students should be aware that minor characters typically do not change throughout a story.

Students have to know that the complexity of a text can be affected by the various perspectives that are included. They should understand changes in perspectives and how these changes come about, such as through character interactions.

Finally, questions may ask about significant events in a text. Students must be familiar with how events further a plot and how suspense can be built up. They need to know how to identify stories with unresolved conflicts and those with an emotional release or resolution. They should also be aware of the role of unseen characters or actions on the plot.

AP English Literature and Composition Study Guide: Free-Response Section

The free-response section of the AP English Literature and Composition exam will examine test takers' ability to analyze poetry and fiction and develop a literary argument. They will have to pull from their knowledge across all 9 units to complete this portion of the exam. This section gives test takers 2 hours to respond to 3 different questions. These 3 questions will be worth 55% of their total score.

One of the questions will require test takers to read a piece of poetry and develop a written response to a prompt about the piece. They will need to show that they can develop a thesis about an interpretation of the piece. They must be sure to support the interpretation with evidence provided in the piece.

Another question will ask test takers to analyze a drama or other piece of prose fiction. Similar to the poetry analysis, they will then have to create and support a thesis that explores a literary interpretation of the piece.

Finally, test takers will be asked to develop a literary argument. For the argument, they will have to analyze a literary idea or concept and use supporting evidence from various pieces. They will be provided with a list of about 40 literary pieces they can choose from, but they can also deviate from the list. They must discuss how the idea or concept relates to a literary interpretation.

AP English Literature Exam Preparation & Registration

If you are enrolled in an AP course, your school will arrange your testing time and location and collect any fees required. If you are homeschooled or your school does not offer AP courses, College Board can assist you in scheduling your exam at a participating school.

This AP English Literature study guide can be accessed online as you get ready to take the test. You'll be prepared to answer the multiple-choice questions and craft high-scoring responses to the essay questions after studying these 167 lessons in 18 chapters on poetry, prose, essay writing, and more. Although it isn't necessary to take the AP English Literature class before taking this test, it may help you earn a higher score and more college credit.

For more information on registering and preparing for the exam, check out our AP English Literature Informational Resources.

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