THE GREAT GATSBY
Reminders NO Warm-Ups this week ACT Writing from yesterday IS for a grade If you were gone, see me for the sheet & do it over break Huck Finn books are due tomorrow, turn in or renew Yes, we are going to check out Gatsby in a minute
Let s Review Symbols and archetypes allow authors to add layers of meaning Connect between images and bigger ideas Connect among other authors and larger society In Gatsby Look at colors & seasons Look at Prophet Look at Unreliable Narrator Look at characters that are similar or opposite Echo or Foil
Prophet A character who can do all or some of the following: Bring others truth or knowledge (often associated with light) Make others aware of beauty Have some power over life and death Act as confessors and/or grant absolution
Disembodied Face Indicates the Divine Can indicate corrupted divine (comes from post-wwi & existentialism) Recognize it: indication of face with missing parts OR the face is intact, but it has a passive gaze or eyes
Other Literary Components Unreliable Narrator A narrator you can t trust to provide a neutral perspective Mismatched Pairs Romantically linked characters that are opposite from each other in attitude, physicality, social or financial position, etc. The American Dream personal connection, owning land or heading west, youth, working or middle class
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Write this down! Important Terms to Know The Jazz Age The popularity of Jazz music, with black & white audiences The Boom Age Economic stability post-wwi The Roaring 20 s Prohibition (speakeasies, parties, The Mob) and Women s Suffrage (images of The New Woman) The Lost Generation Group of authors living in Paris & NYC.
F. Scott Fitzgerald What little I ve accomplished has been by the most laborious and uphill work, and I wish now I d never relaxed or looked back but said at the end of The Great Gatsby; I ve found my line from now on this comes first. This is my immediate duty without this I am nothing. Fitzgerald An author ought to write for the youth of his generation, the critics of the next, and the schoolmasters of ever afterward. Fitzgerald
Write this down! F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896 1940) From a Midwest, Middle Class family Scholarship to an Old Money boarding school, learned about class distinctions Commissioned in WWI, but never served Extravagant playboy lifestyle Moved between Midwest, NYC, & France Fitzgerald drank, & wife Zelda suffered from mental health issues
F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896 1940) Born in St. Paul, Minnesota. Died of a heart attach at age 44. WWI commissioned but never served Met Zelda Sayre while stationed at Camp Sheridan in Alabama Extravagant playboy lifestyle 1 st novel, This Side of Paradise (1920), launched him to fame Moved between Midwest, NYC, & France Fitzgerald drank, & Zelda suffered from mental health issues Published 4 novels, variety of short stories, & worked as Hollywood screenwriter
CHAPTER 1
East Egg & West Egg
Nick the Narrator What social class does he belong to? How does this background lead him to think about other people? Since he s already contradicted himself and has an obvious perspective he s thinking through, can we totally trust him? What do we call that in literary terms? What did he say he sees the world through? What did he do with the red and gold books?
CHAPTER 1 3/7/18
Reminders Read to the end of Ch 1 for tomorrow Read Ch 2 over Spring Break Ch 1-3 notes & quiz will be Thurs 3/22 Turn in or Renew Huck Finn before leaving for break
In Small Groups Read your character questions Look through books to answer them Note the answers, so you can share with your classmates
Tom Buchanan How is Tom described physically? (pg 6 7) What does Tom do to the windows? (pg 8) Look at what windows symbolize, what could this mean? When Nick says what company he works for, what does Tom say (pg 10)? Given Tom is Old Money, what is he suggesting about Nick s work? Why would he have this attitude?
Daisy Buchanan How is Daisy described (voice & physical)? (pg 8-9) Who does Daisy say is sleeping? (pg 9-10) What does Daisy do to the candles? (pg 11) What s being hidden? Daisy is dressed in white, as is her house. What could be pure about her? (Not necessarily morals)
Jordan Baker What is Jordan doing when Nick first enters? (pg 8-9) What does this suggest about her personality/attitude? How is Jordan described physically? (pg 11) Who does Jordan ask if Nick knows on West Egg? (pg 11) Based on how he describes her, how does Nick seem to be feeling about Jordan already?
Make yourself a chart, with the answers to these questions: East Egg Who lives there, old or new? Look at how Tom & Daisy s house is described (pg 6 & 8). Note details. What colors keep appearing? West Egg Who lives there, old or new? What does Nick call it, when he admits he lives there? (pg 5) Look at how Nick describes Gatsby s house (pg 5). Note details.
Characters & Social Class East Egg Old Money White, black, gold Purity of social class & wealth Tom, Daisy, & Jordan Nick belongs West Egg New Money new, colossal, imitation (Watch for colors) Gatsby Nick lives
Grades Sheets If you think you ve turned something in, but I have it marked missing, show me again. I admit I may have lost track, but you have to follow up. Report Cards go out Friday Turn in any missing work by end of day Thursday
Let s Keep Reading! Remember, finish Ch 1 for tomorrow. Note the hints we get about Tom & Daisy s relationship?
CHAPTER 1 (CONT) 3/8/18
Happy Almost Spring Break! Turn to somebody sitting near you. Do one of these: Tell them a joke Say hi Give them a compliment Ask what they re doing over break
Thoroughly discuss each question: 1. What does Daisy mean by her claim of being a beautiful little fool (17)? Do you think she s right? What does that suggest about their society? 2. Red shows up a couple times in Tom & Daisy s house (pg 6 & 17)? If red is passion, what kind of passion is it or what is it directed toward? a. There was also red & gold in Nick s books (pg 4). What did Nick do with them? 3. Daisy asks Nick about a rumored engagement (pg 19). How does Nick respond? Do you believe him? 4. How does Nick feel about the evening he spent with Daisy & Tom? (Look at pg 16, 17, & 20)
More Character Details Tom Daisy Mismatched Pair (brutish vs. dainty, commanding vs. soft-spoken, ignorant vs. clever) Nick Working in stocks May have been engaged in Chicago Disgusted by Tom s affair (judging) Jordan Plays Golf Daisy wants to set up Jordan & Nick
Nick & Gatsby, Huck & Tom 1. Look at the directions and questions 2. Assign 1 color to each of the 4 questions (4 colors total) 3. Read both passages, underlining in the respective colors as you find ideas related to the questions. a. (HINT: Read in detail for the 1 st question, then skim for the others) 4. Summarizing your findings by writing out answers to each question.
shadow of a cat Why do you think Fitzgerald made this comparisons to Twain? Purpose? Huck joins Tom, but what does Nick do with Gatsby? So where is this headed?
Symbols Write in margins of your Symbolism Packet What we ve seen so far: Red books, D&T s house Windows Nick s view & Tom s control Mismatched Pair Tom & Daisy Back in Huck Finn Good Girl =? Mary Jane Mentor =? Jim River =? Journey, hero s development
Spring Break! Read Ch 2 Remember to take notes in some form Remember to go beyond plot repetition Use the Guided Notes sheet for suggestions on what to look for Catch up on Missing Work We move quickly through the rest of the semester, don t fall behind