Higher English The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald

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1 Higher English The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald Critical Essay Revision Booklet A Mackintosh Breadalbane Academy

2 Introduction Purpose of this booklet This booklet has been written to help you to revise the key areas of the novel The Great Gatsby in time for your Higher exam. If there is a reference in this booklet you do not understand look it up, or ask the teacher! Reminder: the Critical Reading paper When you are ready to write your essay, you should turn to the Prose Fiction section of the paper. It will give you the option of three questions. Choose the one that best fits The Great Gatsby and begin to plan your essay. You have 45 minutes to complete this part of the exam. Remember that you are writing about the novel, NOT THE FILM. Summary (adapted from Wikipedia) The Great Gatsby is a 1925 novel written by American author F. Scott Fitzgerald that follows a cast of characters living in the fictional town of West Egg on prosperous Long Island in the summer of Nick Carraway takes a job in New York as a bond salesman. He rents in West Egg, next door to the lavish mansion of Jay Gatsby, a mysterious multi-millionaire. Nick visits East Egg for dinner at the home of his cousin, Daisy and her husband Tom, a college acquaintance of Nick's. They introduce Nick to Jordan Baker, an attractive, cynical young golfer with whom Nick begins a romantic relationship. Nick learns that Tom has a mistress, Myrtle Wilson, who lives in the "valley of ashes. Nick travels to 2

3 New York City with Tom and Myrtle to an apartment Tom keeps for his affairs with Myrtle and others. At Tom's New York apartment, a vulgar and bizarre party takes place. It ends with Tom breaking Myrtle's nose after she annoys him by saying Daisy's name several times. Nick eventually receives an invitation to one of Gatsby's parties. Gatsby and Jordan meet Gatsby himself, an aloof and surprisingly young man who recognizes Nick from their same division in the Great War. Nick later learns that Gatsby knew Daisy through a purely chance meeting in From their brief meetings and casual encounters at that time, Gatsby became (and still is) deeply in love with Daisy. Jordan confides in Nick that the only reason Gatsby bought the mansion is because it was across the bay from Tom and Daisy's home, and that Gatsby's extravagant lifestyle and wild parties were an attempt to impress Daisy and raise her curiosity about her "anonymous" neighbour across the bay. His research of Nick, who has so fortuitously rented the small cottage next door to Gatsby's mansion, results in a wholly new approach to his problem of how to introduce Daisy to the "new" Jay Gatsby. Nick invites Daisy to have tea at his house without telling her that Gatsby will also be there. After an initially awkward reunion, Gatsby and Daisy reestablish their connection. They begin an affair and, after a short time, Tom grows increasingly suspicious of his wife's relationship with Gatsby. At a luncheon at the Buchanans' house, Daisy speaks to Gatsby with such undisguised intimacy that Tom realizes she is in love with Gatsby. Though Tom is himself involved in an extramarital affair, he is outraged by his wife's infidelity. He forces the group to drive into New York City and confronts Gatsby in a suite at the Plaza Hotel, asserting that he and Daisy have a history that Gatsby could never understand. In addition to that, he announces to his wife that Gatsby is a criminal whose fortune comes from bootlegging alcohol and other illegal activities. Tom contemptuously 3

4 sends her back to East Egg with Gatsby, attempting to prove that Gatsby cannot hurt her. When Nick, Jordan, and Tom drive through the valley of ashes on their way home, they discover that Gatsby's car has struck and killed Tom's mistress, Myrtle. Nick later learns from Gatsby that Daisy, not Gatsby himself, was driving the car at the time of the accident but Gatsby took the blame. Myrtle's husband, George, falsely concludes that the driver of the yellow car is the secret lover he recently began suspecting she has, and sets out on foot to find him. After finding out the yellow car is Gatsby's, he arrives at Gatsby's mansion where he fatally shoots Gatsby and then himself. Nick stages an unsettlingly small funeral for Gatsby in which none of Gatsby's associates or partygoers attend. Later, Nick runs into Tom in New York and finds out that Tom had told George that Gatsby was Myrtle's secret lover and that Gatsby had killed her, then gave Gatsby's address to George. Nick breaks up with Jordan, and, disillusioned with the East, moves back to the Midwest. Task 1. How would you break this into a clear beginning, middle and end? 2. Write a summary of the novel which is no longer than 3 sentences long. 4

5 Context (from York Notes website) The First World War The First World War, also known as The Great War, was a predominantly European conflict fought between July 1914 and November America was drawn into the conflict in The demands of war accelerated America s industrial production resulting in the economic boom of the 1920s. Nick Carraway says that he participated in the Great War, and it left him feeling restless. Nick tells us that Jay Gatsby did extraordinarily well in the war. The Jazz Age The 1920s in America became known as The Jazz Age because this popular musical genre of the day reflected a spirit of rebelliousness and pleasure-seeking. The Jazz Age was in part a reaction to the First World War, which was seen as the end of an era. F. Scott Fitzgerald became known as the major chronicler of the Jazz Age. The Great Gatsby addresses deeply serious issues that lay behind the decade s rebelliousness and pleasure-seeking. Prohibition Between 1920 and 1933 there was a ban on making and selling alcohol in America. 5

6 A great deal of alcohol is consumed nonetheless in the pages of this novel. The unlawful supplying of alcohol was known as bootlegging. It is rumoured that bootlegging was the source of Jay Gatsby s wealth. New York By the 1920s New York had become a major commercial and industrial city, making use of the latest advances in engineering. Immigration, including internal migration of African Americans from the South, made it a racially and culturally mixed city. John Dos Passos, in his novel Manhattan Transfer (1925), depicted New York as an impersonal machine-like city, with rootless people passing through it. F. Scott Fitzgerald focuses his novel on an individual who stands out from the mass society of the city. Technology in the novel In America, the early decades of the twentieth century saw great leaps forward in technological innovation and mass production. The telephone and the automobile, both fairly recent inventions, were starting to modify social behaviour through their impact on communication and travel. Both play a significant role in The Great Gatsby, although their effect is not necessarily positive. 6

7 In Studies in Classic American Literature (1923), D. H. Lawrence argues that Americans are prolific inventors because they are idealists who prefer to let a machine do the doing. Task 1. Use each of the sub-headings to organise your notes on context. Write a paragraph how each improves your understanding of a theme, character, incident, or symbol in the novel. Use quotations to back up your answers. You should then have a paragraph on each of the following: The First World War (use the phrase the lost generation ) The Jazz Age (see also The Roaring 20s ) Prohibition New York Technology *If you are struggling to write a paragraph off the top of your head, brainstorm ideas and then put your best thoughts into the paragraph. 2. (Re)familiarise yourself with the term The American Dream. How does it relate to The Great Gatsby and what is the novel trying to say about it? 7

8 Setting Setting refers to where and when a story takes place. You may be able to see how context and setting are linked. If not, you will have a chance to think about it in this section. Place West Egg where Gatsby and Nick live. Gatsby s mansion is gaudy and over the top. It is a pleasant area, but has a lower status when compared with East Egg. The idea is that Gatsby is not established enough to own a house in East Egg, signifying his status as nouveau riche. East Egg where the Buchannan s live. Very upmarket area, with established, rich families of high status. Consider the relation between the two areas Gatsby can see East Egg from his house, but it remains untouchable or unreachable for him. The Valley of Ashes the industrial wasteland between East/West Egg and New York City. While both East and West Egg are outwardly free of signs of decay, The Valley of Ashes is full of waste and pollution. This signifies the wasteful nature of industrial progress and modern life. Contrasts with the affluence of West and East Egg, suggesting that the characters we focus on in the novel are extremely privileged to the point of being out of touch with the real world. New York City A place for parties and pleasure. Consider the points at which the action takes place in New York City. Nick describes the city during Tom and Myrtle s party. Time 1922 See context notes above. Post WWI, during the roaring twenties. 8

9 Summer Consider the symbolism of setting during summer. What do we associate with summer months? Task Find quotations that tell you about each of the aspects of setting listed above. Write these down and then answer the following question: Why do you think Fitzgerald has included these details in the novel? How do they add to your appreciation of other aspects of the novel? Characterisation Main Characters What is a main character? A main character should be central to the action of the text. If they weren t there, it would make a big difference to the plot of the novel. In order to maintain reader interest, they will be developed and/or complex characters. They might: Change or learn over the course of the novel Come into conflict with someone, something, or themselves Have contradictory character traits, making them complex (and perhaps more realistic) There is scope for a little debate over who constitutes as a main character in The Great Gatsby. Here are the main characters as we have studied them: - Jay Gatsby - Nick Carraway - Daisy Buchannan - Tom Buchannan 9

10 Task For each of the main characters, make sure you note the following: 1. Their characteristics 2. Evidence to back up (quotations) 3. What makes them a major character (look back to start of this section) You may choose to do this in mind map, bullet point or table form. What is a minor character? A minor character is less central to the action of the text. The novel could still be readable without them. Minor characters are often used to perform a role or function, symbolise something, create conflict with something or relate to a theme. The following characters can be discussed as minor characters: Task - Myrtle Wilson - George Wilson - Jordan Baker For each of the minor characters, make sure you note the following: 1. Who are they? What are their characteristics? 2. Evidence to support this. 3. What do they add to the novel. Look at the criteria in the intro to this section. You may choose to do this in mind map, bullet point or table form. 10

11 Mode of narration Mode of narration refers to who is telling the story. Sometimes it can be a detached, 3 rd person, omniscient narrator and the reader never really knows who is speaking, nor is it relevant. In The Great Gatsby, the story is in first person, from the point of view of Nick Carraway, Gatsby s neighbour and Daisy s cousin. Because we only have Nick s limited perspective, you must consider whether or not we can trust his version of events. That is not to say he is deliberately misleading the reader, but he can only offer his point of view on what happens that summer. Also consider the fact that the story is being narrated to us three years after that summer how has this clouded his judgement, made him idealise things, and forget other things? Task 1. What connections does Nick have with each of the characters, and how might this cloud his judgement about them? 2. Where does Nick contradict himself in terms of his feelings about other characters? 3. To what extent do you trust Nick as a reliable narrator? This answer should take the form of a mini-essay (1 page of A4) and use evidence from the text (quotations) to support your answer. 11

12 Plot Elements of plot In your critical essay, you want to avoid simply retelling the story for the reader. You must remain analytical/evaluative throughout. Therefore, writing simply about the technique of plot can be quite difficult. It is better instead, to consider writing about the following, more specific, techniques: Key incident an important incident in the plot Turning point the incident which begins to change the story Climax a moment of drama, a key moment that the plot has been working towards, the beginning of the end Conflict disagreements between characters or ideas which create tension in the plot When discussing plot, it is important to discuss the specific incident but then relate this to the novel as a whole why is it important to your understanding of the novel as a whole? Here are the main key incidents we have studied in class: Key incident 1 Opening Nick narrates the opening, background to character, setting up narration of novel from a point in the future. Sense of foreboding, that this story will not have a happy ending. Consider how this sets up character and theme, and gives clues as to what will come next. 12

13 Key incident 2 Turning point Nick sets up an afternoon tea for Daisy and Gatsby at Gatsby s request. Gatsby is very flustered and is clumsy; he tries to run away when Daisy arrives. At first, the meeting is very awkward. Nick excuses himself so that Daisy and Gatsby can have some time alone. When he comes back, they are talking and so engrossed that they don t notice he is there. Consider the importance of characterisation in this incident, and how this incident changes the course of action in the novel. How could it have been different? Key incident 3 Climax On the hottest day of the year, Gatsby goes to lunch at the Buchannan s house. He intends to tell Tom that Daisy is leaving him. Tom suspects Daisy and Gatsby s involvement and they go to The Plaza in New York City for drinks. The climax of the novel takes place in this claustrophobic space. Tom calls into question Gatsby s integrity, suggesting that he is a criminal and never went to Oxford. Gatsby insists that Daisy tells Tom that she never loved him. Daisy cannot do this and is torn between the two. In the argument, Daisy ends up choosing Tom over Gatsby. Tom tells Daisy and Gatsby to make a start back to the house in Gatsby s car. Nick and Jordan have been witness to all of this, and at the end of this episode, Nick remembers that it is his 30 th birthday. Consider the importance of symbolism of the heat in this incident, along with characterisation, dialogue and conflict. Key incident 4 Ending No one attends Gatsby s funeral, with the exception of Nick, Gatsby s father and the old man Nick met at the first party (Owl Eyes). After narrating the funeral episode, Nick becomes reflective 13

14 once more, as in the opening section of the novel. He recalls meeting Tom in NYC in the October after Gatsby s death. He reflects on the experience. Finally he offers his final thoughts on Gatsby, noting how close he had come to achieve his dream, but how events can often take away what we seem so close to achieving. Consider the symbolism in this section such as the pathetic fallacy of the weather in the funeral episode. Also consider characterisation and mode of narration. Consider theme and what the final message of the novel is. These are the key incidents we have focused on in class, but there are other important parts in the novel you should be able to talk about in detail. This is just a starting point to help you focus on key incident. Task 1. Take notes on the techniques used effectively within each key incident. 2. Consider how each incident develops what has come before, and how it introduces what is to come next? 3. How does each key incident develop the themes of the novel? Conflict Conflict is the technique of setting up certain things in opposition with each other. This can be people, groups or ideas. Consider where conflict exists in The Great Gatsby. Task 1. Which characters are in conflict with one another? 2. Where do we see this conflict come to a head? 3. How does it impact the plot of the novel? 14

15 Symbolism Colour Fitzgerald uses colour throughout the novel to enhance his descriptions. Often the colour can be symbolic. Yellow and Gold = wealth and riches. Consider Yellow as a fake version of gold looking like wealth but a bit of a false, gaudy version (think about Gatsby s car). White = innocence and femininity. Daisy s dress at the beginning. Do we really think Daisy is an innocent character? Grey = associated with the valley of ashes, and George Wilson. Suggestion of over-industrialisation and lifelessness. Green = hope, the future. See The Green Light below. The Eyes of T J Eckleburg In the Valley of Ashes there is a billboard for T J Eckleburg. This refers to a closed down optician s shop. There is a sense that he is watching over the characters that pass through The Valley of Ashes. In Nick s narration, it is not immediately clear that he is referring to an advert, and George Wilson mistakes his gaze for the eyes of God. Religion does not feature heavily in the characters lives, and this relates to the context, as people began to question organised religion. People were now more interested in consumerism and advertising was a part of this. So, the advert of T J Eckleburg symbolises consumerism and The Green Light The green light sits on the end of the Buchannan s dock. Gatsby can see it from his house, and looks out to it. It is symbolic of his quest to get Daisy 15

16 he is so close, yet so far (she doesn t even know he s there at the start of the novel). The green light symbolises hope and the future, the idea being that it is always just out of reach. Look at the concluding passage of the novel for an excellent description of the symbolic power of the green light. Task Write a PEER paragraph answering the following question: Analyse the use of symbolism in The Great Gatsby. Explain how it helps you to understand another aspect of the novel, such as characterisation, theme, setting Write one paragraph for colour (choose one example), one for the eyes of TJ Eckleburg and one on the green light. Theme Society and Class Consider the presentation of an upper class lifestyle and the divisions within it. Gatsby is nouveau riche (new money) whereas the Buchannans are old money, and therefore more respectable. Consider where Nick is placed in all of this he is part of an established family, but has less money than Gatsby and the Buchannans. Where does he fit in the hierarchy? Then consider the Wilsons. How are they portrayed differently to the upper class characters. 16

17 The American Dream The phrase the American dream sums up the idea that Americans like to think encapsulates the ethos of their nation: that anyone can succeed with hard work and determination, regardless of background. However, society s views of what is successful are pretty rigid making money, getting married, having a family and contributing further to the economy. It leaves little room for individualism, and places pressure on individuals to conform in order to be viewed as successful. Memory and the Past Gatsby invents his past for his new identity. He believes that he can repeat the past so that he gets what he wants the second time around. You could even potentially consider the fact that the story Nick is narrating is 2 years in the past at the time of narration. Task Consider the other techniques in the play, and think about how they relate to one or more themes. Take notes on the following: - Major characters - Minor characters - Setting - Key incidents 17

18 The Critical Essay Introduction - Title - Author - Form (that it s a novel) - Refer back to task - Refer to techniques (3) Summary - Keep it short about three sentences detailing the beginning/middle/end of the plot. PEER (x 6) - Point: Introduce your argument and state what technique this paragraph will deal with. - Evidence: Give specific evidence from the text to back up your point = QUOTATION - Explanation: Explain how the evidence and point are related, explain how the evidence creates a specific effect, and evaluate the evidence. - Refer to task: Use the words from the question to ensure that you have answered the question. Conclusion - In conclusion / To conclude - Restate what you have been arguing for the duration of the essay (use words from the question) - Rank the techniques you have discussed in order of effectiveness, which has been most helpful to your analysis? - Evaluate the effectiveness of these techniques and this discussion on the text as a whole. 18

19 Past Paper Questions Answer Part B Prose Fiction Answers to questions on Prose Fiction should refer to the text and to such relevant features as characterisation, setting, language, key incident(s), climax, turning point, plot, structure, narrative technique, theme, ideas, description Choose a novel or short story in which the method of narration is important. Outline briefly the writer s method of narration and explain why you feel this method makes such a major contribution to your understanding of the text as a whole. 2. Choose a novel or short story in which there is a moment of significance for one of the characters. Explain briefly what the significant moment is and discuss, with reference to appropriate techniques, its significance to the text as a whole. 3. Choose a novel or short story which has a satisfying ending. Discuss to what extent the ending provides a successful conclusion to the text as a whole. 4. Choose a novel or short story in which there is a central character to whom you react with mixed feelings. With reference to appropriate techniques, briefly explain why you react to the character in this way and discuss how this reaction adds to your understanding of the text as a whole. 5. Choose a novel or short story that deals with a theme of moral or social significance. With reference to appropriate techniques, explain how the writer develops this theme and discuss why its development adds to your appreciation of the text as a whole. 19

20 6. Choose a novel or short story in which the choice of setting is central to your appreciation of the text. Briefly explain how the writer effectively creates setting and, with reference to appropriate techniques, discuss how the writer s presentation of the setting is central to your appreciation of the text as a whole. 7. Choose a novel or short story in which there is a character who experiences rejection or isolation. With reference to appropriate techniques, explain the rejection or isolation, and discuss how this aspect adds to your appreciation of the text as a whole. 8. Choose a novel or short story which has an effective opening or conclusion. With reference to appropriate techniques, explain why the opening or conclusion is effective and discuss how it adds to your appreciation of the text as a whole. 9. Choose a novel or short story which deals with the theme of love or loss or redemption. With reference to appropriate techniques, explain how the writer develops this theme, and discuss how it adds to your understanding of the text as a whole. Useful Links