<p>The first book we're reading in my AP Lit class is the King James Bible. The rest of the books we're supposed to do by the end of the year- Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, As I Lay Dying, and one or two others- seem more in line with typical AP English Lit fare. I don't mean for this to be a debate about the role of the Bible in public schools, but rather an inquiry; do any of the AP Lit programs at other peoples' schools require the Bible? To those who have taken the AP test: does it have relevance to the exam? I know the books you read are mostly relevant only for the last essay question, when they give you a list to choose from. I can't imagine the College Board listing King James as one of them, but perhaps I'm mistaken...</p>
<p>Our AP Lit class had to read the book of Job because we are reading the play JB and my teacher wanted us to have a background of the story. We also had to be familiar with classic Bible stories fro the Old Testament, like David and Goliath and Daniel and the Lion's Den because my teacher said many classics allude to them. We also learned mythological stories, like Pandora's Box and the Gordian Knot. So I see where you teacher is coming from. Do you guys have to read the entire Bible?</p>
<p>Thanks for the response. We skip some of the lesser-known-and-referenced books, like letters and doctrinal stuff. But the bulk of it is there; like yours, my teacher says the allusions are important. We also use the poetic books (Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Songs) for poetry analysis. No Greek or Roman myths or other holy texts, though.</p>
<p>As for the question about the essay part, I found this, which I guess answers it: <a href="http://homepage.mac.com/mseffie/AP/APtitles.html%5B/url%5D">http://homepage.mac.com/mseffie/AP/APtitles.html</a> No Bible (but certainly plenty of works that allude to it).</p>
<p>Wow, great link. I bookmarked it. Yeah it's pretty good you guys are analyzing the Bible. My teacher last year told us that it is the most "classic" book of Western civilization and that every educated person should read it (from an objective point of view of course) How do you like AP Lit so far? What have you guys read? We just finished Grapes of Wrath (summer reading) and The Awakening. We are now reading JB and Atonement.</p>
<p>Here is a statement from the AP English Course Description</p>
<p>
[quote]
... Because the Bible and Greek and Roman mythology are central to much
Western literature, students should have some familiarity with them. These religious
concepts and stories have influenced and informed Western literary creation since
the Middle Ages, and they continue to provide material for modern writers in their
attempts to give literary form to human experience. Additionally, the growing body of
works written in English reflecting non-Western cultures may require students to
have some familiarity with other traditions.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>So looking at the bible as literature has a place in AP English</p>
<p>The "Confessions of St. Augustine" is often studied as the first work of autobiography in Western Lit (more often in college).</p>
<p>While knowing allusions is important, making you read the Bible is far from normal. My teacher, for example, recommends that we just read summaries of the parables, etc. She doesn't require it, though.</p>