F.Scott Fitzgerald and Gatsby

Research the author’s life and determine how he incorporated

himself into the text.

Fitzgerald and Zelda:“The couple epitomized the Jazz Age”How do Gatsby and Daisy represent Fitzgerald and Zelda?

• Troubled

• Obsessed with

the image: the

fantasy

Fitsgerald’s second love interest: He died of a heart attack in her Hollywood

apartment while Zelda lived with her mother after suffering leaving a mental health

clinic.

The

Fantasy

The crime

The luxury

The American

Dream

Changing

Female

Identity

This novel shows the basic instinct of human

beings to be admired as special even if this

instinct leads, like moths attracted by the

fire, towards burned wings.-- Mahawa

Cheikh Gueye

The decline of the American Dream: determine Fitzgerald’s perspective

on this American Dream.

The American Dream as A Fantasy: striving for the fantasy and not

embracing reality is the true tragedy.

Symbols to watch for…

• West Egg (place symbol): New money

• East Egg(place symbol): old money

• Gatsby’s parties vs. Tom and Daisy’s gatherings

• Gatsby’s Fortune, Cars, Green Light

The parties in the city (West Egg) where everyone has • The parties in the city (West Egg) where everyone has something to prove and the Valley of Ashes

• The Eyes of Doctor Eckleburg (object symbol)

• Gatsby’s love and The Love Between Daisy and Tom

• Character symbolism: Gatsby, Myrtle, Daisy, Tom, Jordan

• The unreliable narrator

Colour Symbolism: Archetypes

• Gold: self-worth/value

• Pink: from the heart/innocent love

• Purple: the colour of royalty, imperial power, pride. The colour of authority and power and the wisdom to know how to use it.pride. The colour of authority and power and the wisdom to know how to use it.

• Red: lust, passion, anger, power

• Green: fertility, hope, but also jealousy and envy

• White: purity

• Yellow: corruption

The Title

The Great Gatsby

Great:

To be taken literally or as sarcasm?

Read Gatsby and Make Notes On…

1. The character development of Tom, Daisy, Nick, and Gatsby (identify specific examples of characterization and determine what Fitzgerald is saying through this characterization) - At the end of each chapter, attempt to determine how each character communicates some message from Fitzgerald about humanity.

2. Pay attention to any colour, object, or place symbols in each chapter. What abstract message is being attached to the tangible colour, object, or place?

2. Pay attention to any colour, object, or place symbols in each chapter. What abstract message is being attached to the tangible colour, object, or place?

3. What is Fitzgerald revealing about the Roaring Twenties in each chapter? You should consider gathering background knowledge on bootlegging, crime, old money vs. new money, women’s rights and identity (flappers), discrimination. If you gather background information, this can be used during the seminar presentation to gain extra marks so keep it and be prepared to connect it explicitly to the text.

The Seminar (refer to the rubric)

• When you return, you will be assigned to groups of 2 or 3 and each group will be given a chapter to “teach” to the class.

• You will prepare a presentation that asks open ended questions to prompt a discussion on character development, symbolism, and Fitzgerald’s representation of development, symbolism, and Fitzgerald’s representation of the 1920’s; then you will have evidence to support what you feel was important in those chapters. Be specific with your evidence and use both primary sources (the novel) and secondary sources (extra research that is referenced) to support your insights. Remember everything should have some connection to theme: Fitzgerald’s views on the world and humanity.

As an audience member

(refer to the rubric)

• You will be prepared to give answers to the

open ended questions that are posed and to

debate issues as they come up in discussion.

• You will write down important points in • You will write down important points in

preparation for the exam.