Searcy (LP) Searcy High School Seniors in AP World Literature have been preparing relentlessly for their quotes test over the epic poem Beowulf. The students had to memorize 33 quotes word for word and who delivered said quote. Alumni who have taken the class in past years sometimes even come back and sell their notes and study guides to current students. “I go to Harding now and am majoring in biochemistry, and it is still the hardest test that I have ever taken.” says alumni Kennedy Turley.
Beowulf was originally written in Old English, and the author of the poem is still unknown. Doc Watson, the teacher of AP World Literature, says, ” We continue to study Beowulf because it’s the oldest piece of literature we have written in Old English, and it’s an important part of the AP curriculum. I keep giving my quotes test because it’s a challenging assignment that helps my AP students work on the kind of study skills they will need to be successful at the next level.”
Image Credits to Swarthmore College Bulletin
Although the majority of students did study for this test, everyone studied in different ways. Some made notecards, some listened to recordings, and some even put the quotes to music for the sake of memorizing. However they did it, students still had to work a lot extra to be prepared for such a strenuous exam. Senior Nathan Bartilson says, “I made a note card for every quote and read them whenever I had a free moment; in class, during breaks at work, on the bus, just wherever and whenever I had time.” Though most students fear the test and look at it as a challenge, Watson says, “The quotes test has built up a reputation over the years that I’m not sure it deserves. It’s a difficult test, yes, but it’s manageable. I have students every year that panic, definitely panic, but I also have students who finish the quotes test and say, “That wasn’t nearly as bad as I expected it to be.” Those are usually the kids who prepared properly. It’s awesome to see them succeed.” Students who took the test are relieved that it is over now and are ready to move on to the rest of their year studying World Literature.
