AP European History Summer Reading
A.P. EUROPEAN HISTORY
SUMMER 2012
MR. JFK MATTHEWS
There are TWO Required Summer Readings for A.P. European History & and ONE Museum Visit.
Reading # 1~ How to Live: A Life of Montaigne in One Question & Twenty Attempts at an Answer by Sarah Bakewell
This book is an attempt to get you to think philosophically in the summer leading up to Senior Year. Montaigne is at the heart of the French Renaissance – and his unique individuality and questioning attitude is vitally important for a thinking person.
As you read – Prepare a series of Questions to Discuss – THREE QUESTIONS per chapter. I WILL collect the questions Monday September 10 (Day 1) and the first day we have a Period 1 class (Probably Thursday September 13!) We will discuss your questions.
Reading # 2~ Candide by Voltaire
Voltaire is a very important Enlightenment thinker. This short, outrageous, fantastical novel is filled with questions, satire, parody & insights into life. There will be a TEST on the novel – AND the basic facts of Voltaire’s life (Research him!) on Monday September 17.
3) European History Enrichment:
You are to visit The Metropolitan Museum of Art sometime this summer. Check their website for hours, directions etc: www.metmuseum.org
Admission Policy – You are allowed to PAY WHAT YOU WISH. Therefore – I suggest you donate a few dollars. I also STRONGLY suggest you rent the audioguide when there. I believe it is free if you bring a school ID.
Please make sure you visit the following: European Sculpture Court, European Painting Galleries, Arms & Armor, Islamic Art,& ONE OTHER SECTION OF YOUR CHOICE. There will be small group discussions of this project in September. You do NOT have to hand anything in – you have to be prepared to discuss the artworks that inspire, move, intrigue you.
Candide by Voltaire
This short and delightful work by a major Enlightenment figure attempts to use humor, satire, and exaggeration to mull over the gnawing philosophical problems of the world. We will conduct an in depth seminar on this work within the first three weeks of school. Following are discussion questions for you to ponder.
ABOUT VOLTAIRE
(François-Marie Arouet) was born in 1694 and educated at a Jesuit school in Paris. Determined to pursue a literary career, he won a reputation as a writer of satirical plays, poetry, philosophy, and novels that resulted in spells of imprisonment in the Bastille, some of his books being banned, and eventual exile from France for his attacks on the Regent and criticism of the French government. In addition to Candide, his works include Zadig, Micromégas and Other Short Fictions, Letters on England, and Philosophical Dictionary. Voltaire died in 1778, after a triumphal return to Paris.