Write about the ways Fitzgerald tells
the story in Chapter 4.
Form:
20th century tragedy, a novel about writing a novel, a love story, etc
Structure:
begins with a general focus on some party goers and their assessment of Gatsby,
leads to a series of mysterious meetings between Gatsby and Nick, Nick and
Wolfshiem and Nick and Jordan, central revelation is the past relationship
between Gatsby and Daisy, ends with Gatsby’s intention to meet Daisy again and
how Nick is to assist/disjointed chronology here, use of story of 5 years
previously told through Jordan/story framed by the reflections of the
retrospective narrator, etc.
Language:
poetic prose, descriptive detail, use of French ‘amour’, use of children’s
song, use of contrast, symbolism of the timetable to write names of Gatsby’s
guests, use of irony, image of the dead man, use of dialogue, etc. Narrative
perspective/voices: first person narrator, self conscious story teller and
author, use of choric voices and rumour, use of Jordan to tell the story, use
of voices of Gatsby and Wolfshiem, slow pace to unravel the mystery, etc.
Setting:
New York, Gatsby’s mansion, Nick’s house, Gatsby’s car, specific date 5th July
(day after Independence Day), Forty-second Street cellar, tea-garden at the
Plaza, flashback October 1917, etc.
What do you think
about the view that there are no women in The Great Gatsby with whom the
reader can sympathise?
Some will agree and focus on:
· The
unflattering portrayal of Daisy, Jordan and Myrtle who are all deceivers,
materialistic and insincere
· The
destinations of Jordan and Daisy
· Daisy’s
part in Gatsby’s tragedy, etc.
Some will disagree and focus on:
·
The way a male narrator filters the
narrative and distorts the picture
·
The way Nick has a romanticised view
of Gatsby and this colours his judgement
·
The vulnerability of women
·
Their being victims in a male world
·
Their charm, etc.
Some will distinguish between the women
and discuss them separately in the light of the task.
Write about some
of the ways Fitzgerald tells the story in Chapter 3.
Form: Narrative perspective/ voices:
first person narrator, self conscious story teller and author, narratorial
distancing of last two pages, etc. use of choric voices and rumour, etc.
Setting: New York, Gatsby’s mansion,
etc.
20th century tragedy, a novel about
writing a novel, etc.
Begins with a generalised reflection
of the summer parties, moves to Nick’s first party,
dramatic explosion of Gatsby’s
entrance, ends with focus on Nick and Jordan’s relationship, story at this
point is chronological but framed by the reflections of the retrospective
narrator, etc.
Language: poetic prose, descriptive
detail, sensual description of Jordan, topical references, time references, car
symbolism, etc.
“Gatsby’s world
is corrupt but ultimately glamorous.” How do you respond to this view of the
novel?
Some will agree and focus on:
• The corruption in the novel –
Gatsby’s underworld, his affair with Daisy, Daisy’s betrayal, the rumours about
his life
• The glamour of Gatsby’s parties
• The romance of Gatsby and Daisy,
especially the description of their early love affair,
• The surreal, dreamlike quality of
Gatsby himself
• The filtering of the story through
Nick who is biased, etc.
Some will disagree and focus on:
• Corruption dominating the novel and
leading to the deaths of three people
• Shadiness of Gatsby’s associates
that no amount of lyrical prose can disguise
• The hollowness of Gatsby’s parties
• The gaudiness of his house and yacht
• The vulgarity of new money
• The fact that Gatsby’s hopes are all
dreams
• The failure of Nick to persuade and
romanticise Gatsby’s story, etc.
Write about some
of the ways Fitzgerald tells the story in Chapter 9.
Form: narrative perspective/voices:
first person narrator, self-conscious story teller and author, use of choric
voices, use of Mr Gatz’s voice, stray voice of Slagle, use of the telephone,
etc. Setting: New York, Nick’s house,
Gatsby’s mansion, the cemetery, Fifth Avenue, early 20th century,
etc 20th century tragedy, a novel about writing a novel, a love story, etc
Structure: Time leap. 2 years have
passed, flashback through Nick’s memory, non-chronological. Begins with the remembered scene outside
Gatsby’s house, leads to Nick’s attempt to call Daisy, the arrival of Gatsby’s
father . his story of Gatsby’s youth, Gatsby’s funeral, reflections of Nick’s
thoughts about the Mid West, Nick’s final meeting with Tom and Daisy, Nick’s
leaving New York, etc
Language: poetic prose, descriptive
detail, sensual description, funereal language, use of French, dialogue,
variations of pace, use of Wolfshiem’s letter, use of Gatsby’s schedule,
imagery of utopia, valedictory quality, natural imagery, important use of final
word which is .past., etc.
“Illusory as it
is, Gatsby’s dream gives meaning and value to human experience” How do you respond
to this view?
Some
will agree and focus on:
·
Nick’s enchantment and fascination
with Gatsby
·
Gatsby’s being worth more than the
rest of the characters because he has a passion, something to aspire to.
·
Gatsby’s dream gives Nick the
inspiration to write (and of course the same can be said for Fitzgerald)
·
Gatsby’s life is given a purpose
because of his dream
·
The dream links Gatsby and Nick with
the Dutch sailors and the whole of American history
·
The dream preserves the sense of human
wonder, human potential, free from limits
·
Gatsby is mourned by Nick and the
reader whereas the other characters, the realists, perhaps, are shallowed dull,
etc.
Some
will disagree and focus on:
·
Gatsby’s deluding himself
·
The dream being death-centred and
hollow
·
The dream being based on corruption
and crime
·
Gatsby’s having a basic disregard for
the feelings and dreams of others
·
The dream being equated with wealth
and getting rich
·
Gatsby’s house becoming no more than a
tourist attraction, etc.
·
Relevant references might be made to
the American Dream.
Write about some
of the ways Fitzgerald tells the story in Chapter 5.
Narrative perspective/voices: first
person narrator, self-conscious story teller and author, voices of Gatsby and
Daisy, etc
Setting: Nick’s house, Gatsby’s
mansion. The importance of the stage management by Gatsby, the mansion not a
home but an elaborate prop, etc 20th century tragedy, a novel about writing a
novel, a love story, etc
Structure: centrepiece of the whole
novel. The meeting between Gatsby and Daisy; begins with a description of Nick’s
arrival home at night and his telling Gatsby that Daisy is to come to tea the
following day, leads to Gatsby’s meticulous preparations, Daisy’s arrival and
the romantic encounter; finally Nick leaves the lovers alone, and reflects on
whether or not Daisy tumbled short of Gatsby’s dreams, chronological story but
told retrospectively, use of page breaks, etc
Language: poetic prose, descriptive
detail, sensual description, use of Klipspringer’s songs, use of colour
(especially green) and musical
imagery, time references, dialogue, repetition, references to the past, reference to Adam, etc.
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