Marlbridge guide to AP® English Literature and Composition

Unit roadmap

Units numbered as in the 2026–27 Course and Exam Description (Units 1–9 (unit titles are the CED’s; the CED has no numbered topics, so topics here are Marlbridge groupings of the CED’s skills under its six big ideas)). Topic numbers are Marlbridge's, not official College Board numbers. The official multiple-choice weightings are given per genre, not per unit: Short Fiction (Units 1, 4, 7) 42–49%, Poetry (Units 2, 5, 8) 36–45%, Longer Fiction or Drama (Units 3, 6, 9) 15–18%. Marlbridge has written resources for 62 of 62 topics so far; the rest are planned and marked as such.

AP® English Literature and Composition flashcards: 372 cards, one set per unit, to test yourself on every topic.

1. Unit 1: Short Fiction I 42–49% (Short Fiction: Units 1, 4 and 7 together) · 5 topics

   • 1.1 Character: what details reveal about perspective and motive Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 1.2 Setting: details that convey a time and place Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 1.3 Plot: how events are ordered and why Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 1.4 Narrator and point of view Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 1.5 Writing a paragraph with a claim and textual evidence Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • Short Fiction I: Unit Diagnostic (English Literature Unit 1)
   • Short Fiction I: Mixed Unit Review (English Literature Unit 1)
   • Unit 1 flashcards (30 cards)
2. Unit 2: Poetry I 36–45% (Poetry: Units 2, 5 and 8 together) · 6 topics

   • 2.1 The speaker as a character Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 2.2 The structure of a poem Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 2.3 Contrasts within a poem Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 2.4 The function of specific words and phrases Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 2.5 Simile and metaphor Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 2.6 Writing a paragraph about a poem Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • Poetry I: Unit Diagnostic (English Literature Unit 2)
   • Poetry I: Mixed Unit Review (English Literature Unit 2)
   • Unit 2 flashcards (36 cards)
3. Unit 3: Longer Fiction or Drama I 15–18% (Longer Fiction or Drama: Units 3, 6 and 9 together) · 8 topics

   • 3.1 Character in longer works Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 3.2 Characters who change or remain unchanged Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 3.3 Setting in longer works Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 3.4 Significant events in a plot Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 3.5 Conflict Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 3.6 From claim-and-evidence paragraph to defensible thesis Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 3.7 Commentary and the line of reasoning Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 3.8 Selecting evidence and controlling composition Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • Longer Fiction or Drama I: Unit Diagnostic (English Literature Unit 3)
   • Longer Fiction or Drama I: Mixed Unit Review (English Literature Unit 3)
   • Unit 3 flashcards (48 cards)
4. Unit 4: Short Fiction II 42–49% (Short Fiction: Units 1, 4 and 7 together) · 7 topics

   • 4.1 Contrasting characters Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 4.2 Nuance and complexity in character relationships Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 4.3 The function of setting, and character and setting Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 4.4 Plot order and contrasts Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 4.5 Narrator, point of view and perspective Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 4.6 Thesis and commentary in a prose analysis Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 4.7 Evidence and composition in a prose analysis Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • Short Fiction II: Unit Diagnostic (English Literature Unit 4)
   • Short Fiction II: Mixed Unit Review (English Literature Unit 4)
   • Unit 4 flashcards (42 cards)
5. Unit 5: Poetry II 36–45% (Poetry: Units 2, 5 and 8 together) · 7 topics

   • 5.1 Structure in poetry Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 5.2 Literal and figurative meaning Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 5.3 Imagery Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 5.4 Metaphor and personification Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 5.5 Allusion Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 5.6 Thesis and commentary in a poetry analysis Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 5.7 Evidence and composition in a poetry analysis Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • Poetry II: Unit Diagnostic (English Literature Unit 5)
   • Poetry II: Mixed Unit Review (English Literature Unit 5)
   • Unit 5 flashcards (42 cards)
6. Unit 6: Longer Fiction or Drama II 15–18% (Longer Fiction or Drama: Units 3, 6 and 9 together) · 7 topics

   • 6.1 Contrasting characters in longer works Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 6.2 How choices, actions and speech reveal complexity Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 6.3 Sequence and contrasts in a longer plot Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 6.4 Narrator perspective and reliability Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 6.5 Symbol Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 6.6 Thesis and commentary in a literary argument Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 6.7 Evidence and composition in a literary argument Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • Longer Fiction or Drama II: Unit Diagnostic (English Literature Unit 6)
   • Longer Fiction or Drama II: Mixed Unit Review (English Literature Unit 6)
   • Unit 6 flashcards (42 cards)
7. Unit 7: Short Fiction III 42–49% (Short Fiction: Units 1, 4 and 7 together) · 8 topics

   • 7.1 Character change and complex relationships Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 7.2 Setting and its relationship to character Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 7.3 Plot order and sequence Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 7.4 Narrator reliability Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 7.5 Symbol and imagery in fiction Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 7.6 Simile and personification in fiction Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 7.7 Thesis and commentary Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 7.8 Selecting relevant and sufficient evidence Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • Short Fiction III: Unit Diagnostic (English Literature Unit 7)
   • Short Fiction III: Mixed Unit Review (English Literature Unit 7)
   • Unit 7 flashcards (48 cards)
8. Unit 8: Poetry III 36–45% (Poetry: Units 2, 5 and 8 together) · 7 topics

   • 8.1 Structure and contrasts in poetry Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 8.2 Word choice in complex poems Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 8.3 Symbol in poetry Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 8.4 Extended and complex metaphor Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 8.5 Allusion in poetry Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 8.6 Thesis and commentary in a poetry essay Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 8.7 Evidence and composition in a poetry essay Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • Poetry III: Unit Diagnostic (English Literature Unit 8)
   • Poetry III: Mixed Unit Review (English Literature Unit 8)
   • Unit 8 flashcards (42 cards)
9. Unit 9: Longer Fiction or Drama III 15–18% (Longer Fiction or Drama: Units 3, 6 and 9 together) · 7 topics

   • 9.1 Characters who change or remain unchanged Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 9.2 Complexity revealed through choices, actions and speech Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 9.3 Significant events Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 9.4 Conflict and its function Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 9.5 Details, diction and syntax that reveal perspective Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 9.6 Thesis and commentary in a literary argument essay Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 9.7 Selecting evidence for a literary argument Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • Longer Fiction or Drama III: Unit Diagnostic (English Literature Unit 9)
   • Longer Fiction or Drama III: Mixed Unit Review (English Literature Unit 9)
   • Unit 9 flashcards (42 cards)

Exam skills

Guides that apply across every unit: what each task verb asks you to do, and how to set out answers so every step of your reasoning is visible.

• The Three Free-Response Essays: Exam Skills Guide (English Literature)

  How to plan and write the poetry analysis, prose fiction analysis and literary argument essays: thesis, evidence with commentary, sophistication and timing, with original annotated models and a rubric.

• The Multiple-Choice Section: Exam Skills Guide (English Literature)

  How the multiple-choice section is built, how to pace five passage sets and how to read prose and poetry passages, with strategies for each question type and two original practice sets with explanations.

Course skills

1. Character

Explain the function of character. (16–20% of multiple choice.)

2. Setting

Explain the function of setting. (3–6% of multiple choice.)

3. Plot and Structure

Explain the function of plot and structure. (16–20% of multiple choice.)

4. Narrator or Speaker

Explain the function of the narrator or speaker. (21–26% of multiple choice.)

5. Word Choice, Imagery and Symbols

Explain the function of word choice, imagery, and symbols. (10–13% of multiple choice.)

6. Comparison

Explain the function of comparison. (10–13% of multiple choice.)

7. Literary Argumentation

Develop textually substantiated arguments about interpretations of part or all of a text. (10–13% of multiple choice.)