AP English Literature and Composition Student Samples from the

2023

English Literature

and Composition

Sample Student Responses

and Scoring Commentary

Set 1

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Free-Response Question 3

 Scoring Guidelines

 Student Samples

 Scoring Commentary

AP® English Literature and Composition 2023 Scoring Guidelines

Question 3: Literary Argument 6 points

In many works of literature, characters choose to reinvent themselves for significant reasons. They may wish to separate from a previous identity, gain

access to a different community, disguise themselves from hostile forces, or express a more authentic sense of self.

Either from your own reading or from the following list, choose a work of fiction in which a character intentionally creates a new identity. Then, in a

well-written essay, analyze how the character’s reinvention contributes to an interpretation of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.

In your response, you should do the following:

• Respond to the prompt with a thesis that presents a defensible interpretation.

• Provide evidence to support your line of reasoning.

• Explain how the evidence supports your line of reasoning.

• Use appropriate grammar and punctuation in communicating your argument.

AP® English Literature and Composition 2023 Scoring Guidelines

Reporting

Category

Scoring Criteria

Row C

Sophistication

(0–1 points)

0 points

Does not meet the criteria for one point.

1 point

Demonstrates sophistication of thought and/or develops a complex literary

argument.

Decision Rules and Scoring Notes

Responses that do not earn this point:

• Attempt to contextualize their interpretation, but such attempts consist

predominantly of sweeping generalizations (“Human experiences always

include …” OR “In a world where …” OR “Since the beginning of time …”).

• Only hint at or suggest other possible interpretations (“While another

reader may see …” OR “Though the text could be said to …”).

• Oversimplify complexities of the topic and/or the selected work.

• Use complicated or complex sentences or language that is ineffective

because it does not enhance the student’s argument.

Responses that earn this point may demonstrate sophistication of thought or

develop a complex literary argument by doing any of the following:

1. Identifying and exploring complexities or tensions within the selected work.

2. Illuminating the student’s interpretation by situating it within a broader

context.

3. Accounting for alternative interpretations of the text.

4. Employing a style that is consistently vivid and persuasive.

Additional Notes:

• This point should be awarded only if the sophistication of thought or complex understanding is part of the student’s argument, not merely a phrase or

reference.

In William Golding's imaginative dystopia wherein a group of young boys are stranded and left to fend for

themselves, many of said boys must undergo a transformation in order to preserve not only their lives, but also their

learned morality and social behavior. Specifically, Jack Meridew intentionally adopts a new identity to prove

himself and carry his weight on the island. Jack Meridew's desire to transform himself in The Lord of the Flies

illustrates the destruction and downfall of mankind when left to their own devices (original sin), as well as the

inherent evil that resides in man.

Jack's original reinvention into an avid hunter is solely to support the others and himself. He is courageous and

wants to help out and "be good" by stepping up and taking a critical role in their island survival, but it is clear to the

audience that these actions are not without their own ulterior motives. Jack's failure to kill a simple animal leaves

him questioning his abilities (and masculinity), as well as resulting in group disappointment from wasted effort and

resource, but he quickly undergoes a transformation to combat this. Jack's new identity kills first and questions later.

He transforms from a young boy hesitant and unable to kill a small creature to a hunter with excessive and

aggressive hunting procedures. His treatment of the mother pig shows his abandonment of learned social behavior to

be well-mannered and "good", as he exhibits overkill with phallic interpretations toward a maternal figure. Instead

of a timid and hesitant young boy, Jack has devolved into someone relying solely on primal instinct of man to hurt

others for self gain.

Not only does Jack transform, but he becomes the leader of a new regime. His tribe rebels against the original

attempt at civilization, in which Jack and his hunters provide food, but rather Jack distinguishes himself separately

from Piggy, Ralph, and Simon. As a physical indicator of a transformation, the hunters start wearing tribal "makeup"

on their skin; not to protect from harsh light and other jungle conditions, but rather to declare a new identity. Jack

and the hunters care less for practicality and civility, and more for danger, cruelty, and their primitive nature. Body

paint symbolizes their regression and embracing of their primitive thoughts and ideas that they become compelled to

act on. Jack and hunters kill Simon without much of a second thought and little to remorse in the aftermath because

they have fully embraced their regression into the "evil" side that man is born with.

In the final act, with the boys at war and Jack leading the charge, he is ready to spear Ralph in order to gain full

control of an island he has embraced as his new home. Ralph, being the personification and symbolism of

democracy and learned good moral behavior within the group of boys, has no option left but to get chased and

eventually maimed by Jack, whose new identity becomes the symbol of innate human evil. Golding contrasts

between Jack's original character and Jack's new identity in the final hunt as an illustration of mankind's regression

from learned good to innate evil. It is not until rescue men come to save the boys that Jack realizes the scope of his

actions, which begs the question: Was Jack's new identity truly a new reinvention of his character or was it hiding

underneath the surface of learned goodness?

Jack Meridew intentionally creates a new identity in The Lord of the Flies to free himself from cowardice and

insecurity he feels, but Golding ultimately uses him as a vessel to demonstrate the regression of man from learned

good to an innate evil.

Sample 3A

1 of 1

In the novel The Kite Runner by Khalid Hausani, the main character Amir attempts to reinvent himself when he

flees to America from his home in the Middle East. He attempts to leave his past trauma behind him. Amir carries

guilt and shame of not helping his childhood best friend when he was assaulted. Shortly after this event Amir and his

father leave during war torn times. He attempts to separate from his previous identity once leaving his home. His, at

first, inability to do so contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole that guilt dictates self identification and his

later development to reinvention conveys the theme that one can not separate from their past.

When Amir moves to America and tries to reinvent himself after the traumatic event he looses his innocents and

curiosity. He completely shifts his personality and is more introverted. This is all due to the guilt he experiences and

his inability to forgive himself. His new self deprecating attitude dictates his relationship with his father and his

romantic relationships where he is riddled with insecurity and constantly seeking validation. His faulty relationships

and self identity are all on the grounds of the guilt he feels for is prior inaction to help his friend. This creates a level

of irony since all Amir wanted to do was separate himself from the person he was that made him feel so guilty but

he never actually changed from that moment until the end of the book. His 'reinvention' of himself was unattainable

since he did not act towards any personal change and stayed statically attached to the guilt he felt.

Another thematic topic his reinvention connects to is that of past. When Amir truly reinvents himself is when he

confronts his past miss doings. At the beginning of the novel he had false hope that he could escape his past through

reinvention where in reality he is able to reinvent himself by confronting his past. Amir returns back to his home

country and continues down a path of redemption. His failures to move forward in America were due to his

delusions of being able to disguise his past. When Amir saves his childhood best friend's son from the assaulter he

finds clarity in rewriting his wrongs. This action on his past and movement in his character are the reason he is able

to finally reinvent himself. This adds to themes that ignoring and separating from your past will stunt personal

growth.

In The Kite Runner Amir attempts to run from his past and hide from his guilt as a way of self reinvention. Amir is

caught between true reinvention and fickle disassociation. He only finds real change when he gains redemption

through action. His false reinvention to authentic reinvention and his dynamic character add to the work as a whole

and the novels message, that guilt shackles ones ability to grow and past experiences should be used to guide

reinvention not attempted to be forgotten.

Sample 3B

1 of 1

In the novel "Beowulf" by Seamus Heaney, Heaney describes the path the Beowful takes from being a man

consumed by his own pride, to a noble leader. However, Heaney also describes how clutching onto pride despite

being successful can hinder one from continuing on this path.

After a warrior by the name of Beowulf arrives at a town hall known as Heorot, he discovers the troubled

townspeople following previous attacks from Grendel, a creature that has terrorized Heorot for years. Full of

confidence, Beowulf agrees to defeat the creature and does so successfully. He is awarded with gifts which seem to

only fuel his confidence. He is also able to successfully defeat the mother of this creature, which further develops his

pride and almost persuades others into questioning his mortality. Although he defeated the creatures that had

terrorized the townspeople and became the king of the Danes, he succumbs to a wound following his battle with a

dragon at the end of the novel. What makes this event significant is that he chose to fight the dragon alone, despite

the likelihood of not emerging victorious. Here, it becomes evident that Beowulf had successfully reinvented

himself, but not completely.

Beowulf demonstrates that he is capable of being a great leader through his ability to protect, and although he had

developed his abilities as the king of the Danes, he still holds onto his pride until the moment he dies. It is evident

that his position as king had only made this outcome more likely, although it reveals that one's ignorance may hinder

their success.

Sample 3C

1 of 1

English Literature 2023 Scoring Commentary

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Question 3

Note: Student samples are quoted verbatim and may contain spelling and grammatical errors.

Overview

For Question 3, the literary argument question, students were asked to respond to the following

prompt:

In many works of literature, characters choose to reinvent themselves for signicant reasons.

They may wish to separate from a previous identity, gain access to a dierent community,

disguise themselves from hostile forces, or express a more authentic sense of self.

Either from your own reading or from the following list, choose a work of ction in which a

character intentionally creates a new identity. Then, in a well-written essay, analyze how the

character’s reinvention contributes to an interpretation of the work as a whole. Do not merely

summarize the plot.

In a timed writing situation and without access to the text, students were expected to complete three

tasks. They were expected to:

• select a work of fiction in which a character intentionally creates a new identity;

• analyze how the character’s reinvention contributes to an interpretation of the work as a

whole; and,

• write a well-written response based on that analysis.

Selecting a work of fiction that addresses the focus of the prompt, in this case a text with a character

who intentionally creates a new identity, is the first essential step for students. Students benefit from

more complex texts, ones that contain multiple viewpoints, a variety of characters or narrative arcs,

and language that lends itself to interpretation. Texts with less complexity make analysis more

difficult. It should be noted that there is no formal list of acceptable texts; rather, students demonstrate

the appropriateness of the text through their analysis and writing. The list of texts offered with the

prompt is meant to offer suggestions, representing diverse options.

Analyzing the work of fiction here required two steps. First, students were asked to identify a

character who intentionally creates a new identity. The prompt offered students suggestions on a

variety of motivations a character may have for creating a new identity—“They may wish to separate

from a previous identity, gain access to a different community, disguise themselves from hostile

forces, or express a more authentic sense of self”—but it also invited students to define the concept

in different or unique ways, depending on the text they chose. Second, students analyze how the

character’s reinvention contributes to an interpretation of the work as a whole. In doing so, students

demonstrate both close reading and their ability to negotiate longer texts. Students were cautioned

not to summarize the text, a reminder that the evidence they draw from the text should be used in

service to analysis.

Writing a well-written literary argument requires students to negotiate a range of information,

including the focus of the prompt and evidence from a substantial text. In this instance, they needed

to articulate an overall thesis about how a character’s reinvention contributes to an interpretation of

the work as a whole. They must also develop the argument through evidence and commentary,

English Literature 2023 Scoring Commentary

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Question 3 (continued)

ideally constructing a line of reasoning that shows the complexity of their understanding. Stronger

responses use more specific, precise evidence, though students are not expected to use direct

quotations in their response. Stronger responses use evidence as support for defensible claims

rather than merely as plot summary.

Sample: 3A—Lord of the Flies

Score: 1-4-1

Row A: Thesis (0–1 points): 1

This cogent essay responds to the prompt with a thesis that presents a defensible interpretation of the

novel. The thesis, “Jack Meridew’s desire to transform himself in The Lord of the Flies illustrates the

destruction and downfall of mankind when left to their own devices (original sin), as well as the

inherent evil that resides in man,” appears as the last sentence of the introductory paragraph. It earned

1 point in Row A.

Row B: Evidence and Commentary (0–4 points): 4

The response develops a clear line of reasoning that characterizes Jack’s new identity as a move “from

learned good to an innate evil” (paragraph 4). Paragraph 2 of the essay focuses on the beginning of

Jack’s transformation and argues that he began the process “solely to support the others and himself.”

The essay argues that Jack’s reinvention began when his “failure to kill a simple animal leaves him

questioning his abilities (and masculinity)” and he eventually “transforms from a young boy hesitant

and unable to kill a small creature to a hunter with excessive and aggressive hunting procedures.” The

additional piece of evidence presented in paragraph 2, (“his treatment of the mother pig”), is significant

because it “shows his abandonment of learned social behavior to be well-mannered and ‘good.’”

Paragraph 3 examines Jack’s physical transformation and points out that “the hunters start wearing

tribal ‘makeup’ on their skin; not to protect from harsh light and other jungle conditions, but rather to

declare a new identity.” The accompanying commentary claims, “Body paint symbolizes their

regression and embracing of their primitive thoughts and ideas that they become compelled to act on.”

In paragraph 4, the essay considers Jack’s relationship with Ralph whom the essay describes as “the

personification and symbolism of democracy and learned good moral behavior within the group of

boys.” Jack, on the other hand, has become “the symbol of innate human evil” and the response

characterizes the conflict between the two boys as “mankind’s regression from learned good to innate

evil.” The response seamlessly blends apt and specific evidence with compelling commentary to

support its claims. This essay earned 4 points in Row B.

Row C: Sophistication (0–1 points): 1

Sophistication is established by identifying and exploring the complexities and tensions within the

text, most notably in reference to Jack’s change in identity, the conflict this progression creates within

the group of boys, and its symbolism of Jack’s fall from good to evil. The response also employs a style

that is consistently vivid and persuasive as seen in “In William Golding’s imaginative dystopia

wherein a group of young boys are stranded and left to fend for themselves, many of said boys must

undergo a transformation in order to preserve not only their lives, but also their learned morality and

social behavior”(paragraph 1) and “It is not until rescue men come to save the boys that Jack realizes

the scope of his actions, which begs the question: Was Jack’s new identity truly a new reinvention of

his character or was it hiding underneath the surface of learned goodness?” (paragraph 4). This essay

earned the point in Row C.

English Literature 2023 Scoring Commentary

Visit College Board on the web: collegeboard.org.

Question 3 (continued)

Sample: 3B—The Kite Runner

Score: 1-3-0

Row A: Thesis (0–1 points): 1

This essay presents its thesis, “His [Amir’s], at first, inability to do so contributes to the meaning of the

work as a whole that guilt dictates self identification and his later development to reinvention conveys

the theme that one can not separate from their past,” in the introductory paragraph. Because the thesis

presents a defensible interpretation of the novel, it earned 1 point in Row A.

Row B: Evidence and Commentary (0–4 points): 3

The response incorporates evidence and commentary to support its lines of reasoning that focus on the

role of guilt as a motivator for reinvention of oneself and the need for redemption. The essay traces

Amir’s journey of reinvention by examining the significance of his move to America where he “tries to

reinvent himself after the traumatic event he looses his innocents and curiosity” (paragraph 2) and

points out later in the same paragraph, “His faulty relationships and self identity are all on the grounds

of the guilt he feels for is prior inaction to help his friend.” The second paragraph also considers “the

guilt he experiences and his inability to forgive himself.” Paragraph 3 considers the connection

between Amir’s transformation and his past and argues, “His failures to move forward in America

were due to his delusions of being able to disguise his past.” The commentary then suggests that

when Amir “saves his childhood best friend’s son from the assaulter he finds clarity in rewriting his

wrongs.” The evidence and the commentary offered build a clear line of reasoning. The commentary,

however, does not clearly integrate all evidence provided. For example, the last sentence of paragraph

2 states, “His ‘reinvention' of himself was unattainable since he did not act towards any personal

change and stayed statically attached to the guilt he felt,” yet the essay in the concluding paragraph

describes Amir as a “dynamic character.” This response earned 3 points in Row B.

Row C: Sophistication (0–1 points): 0

Because the essay oversimplifies complexities within the novel with assertions such as “guilt shackles

ones ability to grow” (paragraph 4), and the interpretation is not situated within a broader context, it

did not earn the point in Row C.

Sample: 3C—Beowulf

Score: 1-1-0

Row A: Thesis (0–1 points): 1

This essay earned 1 point in Row A because it provides a defensible thesis of a character’s

reinvention. The thesis, “Heaney describes the path the Beowful takes from being a man consumed

by his own pride, to a noble leader. However, Heaney also describes how clutching onto pride

despite being successful can hinder one from continuing on this path,” appears in the first

paragraph.

Row B: Evidence and Commentary (0–4 points): 1

The essay provides evidence that focuses largely on developments in the overarching narrative,

including Beowulf’s arrival at Heorot, his success in battle with “the creatures that had terrorized the

townspeople,” his becoming king, and his ultimate death. These details are not, however, accompanied

English Literature 2023 Scoring Commentary

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Question 3 (continued)

by commentary that explains their significance or connection to the thesis. The essay offers a bit of

commentary after describing Beowulf’s death: “What makes this event significant is that he chose to

fight the dragon alone, despite the likelihood of not emerging victorious. Here, it becomes evident that

Beowulf had successfully reinvented himself, but not completely.” The commentary, however, is

general and does not connect the evidence to the thesis. The final sentence of the essay, “It is evident

that his position as king had only made this outcome more likely, although it reveals that one’s

ignorance may hinder their success” seems disjointed and disconnected from the thesis. No line of

reasoning is established within the essay. It earned 1 point in Row B.

Row C: Sophistication (0–1 points): 0

The response did not earn the sophistication point in Row C because it neither demonstrates

sophistication of thought nor develops a complex literary argument.