Analyzing and Interpreting Literature
Description of the Examination
The Analyzing and Interpreting Literature examination covers material usually taught in a general two-semester undergraduate course in literature. Although the examination does not require familiarity with specific works, it does assume that candidates have read widely and perceptively in poetry, drama, fiction, and nonfiction. The questions are based on passages supplied in the test. These passages have been selected so that no previous experience with them is required to answer the questions. The passages are taken primarily from American and British literature.
The examination contains approximately 80 multiple-choice questions to be answered in 90 minutes. Some of these are pretest questions that will not be scored. Any time candidates spend taking tutorials and providing personal information is additional to actual testing time.
In addition to the multiple-choice test, there is an optional essay section. Because writing about literary texts is central to the study of literature, the English faculty members who develop the examination suggest that candidates consider taking the optional essay section, even if the institution they are sending their score to does not require the essay section. The essay section is 90 minutes long and is made up of two 45-minute questions. One question asks candidates to analyze a short poem, the other asks them to apply a given generalization about literature (such as the function of a theme or a technique) to a novel, short story, or play that they have read. The essay section is still administered in a paper-and-pencil format; the essay responses are graded by the institution, not by the College Board.
Knowledge and Skills Required
Questions on the Analyzing and Interpreting Literature examination require candidates to demonstrate the following abilities:
- Ability to read prose, poetry, and drama with understanding
- Ability to analyze the elements of a literary passage and to respond to nuances of meaning, tone, imagery, and style
- Ability to interpret metaphors, to recognize rhetorical and stylistic devices, to perceive relationships between parts and wholes, and to grasp a speaker's or author's attitudes
- Knowledge of the means by which literary effects are achieved
- Familiarity with the basic terminology used to discuss literary texts
The examination emphasizes comprehension, interpretation, and analysis of literary works. A specific knowledge of historical context (authors and movements) is not required, but a broad knowledge of literature gained through reading widely and a familiarity with basic literary terminology is assumed. The following outline indicates the relative emphasis given to the various types of literature and the periods from which the passages are taken. The approximate percentage of exam questions per classification is noted within each main category.
Genre
| 35-45% | Poetry |
| 35-45% | Prose (fiction and nonfiction) |
| 15-30% | Drama |
National Tradition
| 50-65% | British literature |
| 30-45% | American literature |
| 5-15% | Works in translation |
Period
| 3-7% | Classical and pre-Renaissance |
| 20-30% | Renaissance and 17th century |
| 35-45% | 18th and 19th centuries |
| 25-35% | 20th and 21st centuries |
Study Resources
The most relevant preparation for the Analyzing and Interpreting Literature exam is attentive and reflective reading of the various literary genres of poetry, drama, and prose. You can prepare for the test by:
- Reading a variety of poetry, drama, fiction, and nonfiction
- Reading critical analyses of various literary works
- Writing analyses and interpretations of the works you read
- Discussing with others the meaning of the literature you read
Textbooks and anthologies used for college courses in the analysis and interpretation of literature contain a sampling of literary works in a variety of genres. They also contain material that can help you comprehend the meanings of literary works and recognize the devices writers use to convey their sense and intent. To prepare for the exam, you should study the contents of at least one textbook or anthology, which you can find in most college bookstores. You would do well to consult two or three texts because they do vary somewhat in content, approach, and emphasis.
