1987 AP Exam Essays

Quick Note:
I finished the essays this morning, and for the practice timed myself (around 45 minutes) and wrote the essays out in hand. My hard copy will be in class tomorrow, but hopefully when I get the time I will post it here.

Update here are my essays for the 1987 AP Exam I timed my self for both which explains why essay #2 suddenly cuts off:
Essay#1
     Leisure, what we do when we think we have the time. But, like everything it changes and evolves to match the times. What was once a relaxing and treasured event has become a thing of pomp and an unsubtle attempt to "keep up with the Jones," so to speak. Which is what George Elliot is attempting to express in her piece appropriately titled, "Leisure". Through her reflective style, seen through the habits of an elderly man, Elliot is able to create a piece which cleverly and stylistically condemns the new "leisurely" practices of her time, in want of the ones of old.
     It doesn't take long to get a feel for George Elliot's style an approach to writing, in her piece titled "Leisure". And while she doesn't openly condemn the newer and distinctively vain styles of new leisure until the end of her piece, she does openly condemn it stylistically through metaphors. For example in lines 11-16 she begins by describing what she considers what leisure once was as an old man by calling him Old Leisure. She writes that he was a "stout gentleman" with "...quiet perceptions" and who cared not about knowing how everything happened, rather he simply enjoyed the events. Her extended metaphor of "Old Leisure" as an old man is a motif that she continues throughout the piece. Even before she creates the metaphor of "Old Leisure" George Elliot is able to attach allusions to historical events which the readers would have been aware of. For example within the first 12 lines Elliot alludes to industrialization, the boom of big business, and even the incredible increase in science during the late 19th century. Her allusions add levels to her writing and even increase the meaning and the depth of her work, and further condemns what she believes is the change of leisure. And even more so Elliot is also suggesting that the overall change in pace of everyday life is also unnecessary.
     The body and largest part of George Elliot's work "Leisure" is her longing reflection of what she calls "Old Leisure". In it, "Old Leisure" is described as an old man, wise in years and dedicated in his simple but meaningful practices. And through her skillful and stylistic approach Elliot allows the readers to sympathize with old leisure. To do this she employs diction and syntax. Her overall diction, or word choice, reflects  what leisure used to be, simple yet purposeful and powerful.  While her syntax reflects the same values.
     Further more George Elliot's piece titled "Leisure" isn't just a reflection, it is an outlet for her to share her views on the change of pace, and it can also be seen as a stylistic warning for our own lives.

Essay #2
     Novels are one of the best and most powerful tools for instigating social change. They've brought political and social issues to the forefront since their inception, and in some cases have moved nations to action. One such novel is "The Grapes of Wrath" by Californian writer John Steinbeck. The novel whose gritty and often explicative language and content has been criticized almost more than it has been praised.  But that is exactly what makes it great. Steinbeck's narrative of the Joad family's migration from Dust Bowl Oklahoma to the hard life of migrant farmers in California was one of the first novels to accurately describe the life of migrant farmers during the great depression and bring their plight to the forefront.
     The novel "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck describes the journey of the Joad family as they are forced to leave their family and lifestyle behind in Oklahoma in search of work in California.  Steinbeck was known for his gritty, realistic, and almost brutally honest approach to his subjects, a  method he continues in "The Grapes of Wrath". In his novel he not only recounts the true horrors an hardships of migrant farmers during the Great Depression, he brings about the idea of mankind's inhumanity to others. While the Joads struggle on their journey many of their problems come not only from their situation, but also from other people. Throughout their journey it is as if Steinbeck isn't wanting his readers to feel sorry for the Joads and others in their situation, rather he wants to raise awareness about the human condition.
Reflection:
Even with the added time I struggled. The first prompt I connected to better and as essay #2 came along I was running on empty. I picked "The Grapes of Wrath" because I thought I could pull the most from it, but looking back I would have been better off possibly picking "The Jungle", "Uncle Tom's Cabin" or even "1984" whose plots I am not as familiar with but I might have been able to work with more.