When some people read The Great Gatsby, they see Gatsby as a man capable of ideal love. He is willing to risk himself to protect Daisy and ultimately dies for her. Other people view him as obsessive. He pursues her, a person he does not know well, who is simply an image of what hewants.1. Small group work: Each group should collect at least five popular love song lyrics. For each song, summarize the idea of love expressed in the lyrics.2. Read the ballad (on the next slide), “Bonny Barbara Allen.” In your groups, discuss the idea of love expressed in this ballad.3. Decide the true nature of Gatsby’s feelings for Daisy. You will most likely disagree on how he feels and why, but that ambiguity is part of what makes great literature.4. Independent work: write a three-four paragraph essay defining what love is, what it means to love someone, and whether Gatsby’s love is real, ideal, or obsessive.

Scottish Folk BalladBonny Barbara AllanIt was in and about the Martinmas time,When the green leaves were a-falling,That Sir John Graeme, in the West

Country,Fell in love with Barbara Allan.He sent his men down through the town,To the place where she was dwelling:“O haste and come to my master dear,If you are Barbara Allan.”O slowly, slowly rose she upTo the place where he was lying,And when she drew the curtain by:“Young man, I think you’re dying.”“O it’s I. I’m sick, and very, very sick,And ’tis all for Barbara Allan.”“O the better for me you will never be,Though your heart’s blood were a-spilling.O don’t you mind, young man,” said she

“When you were in the tavern a-drinking,That you made the healths go round and

roundAnd slighted Barbara Allan?”He turned his face unto the wall,And death was with him dealing:“Adieu, adieu, my dear friends all,And be kind to Barbara Allan.”And slowly, slowly rose she up,And slowly, slowly left himAnd sighing said she could not stay,Since death of life had bereft him.She had not gone a mile or twoWhen she heard the death bell ringing,And every stroke that the death bell tolledIt cried, “Woe to Barbara Allan!”“O mother, mother, make my bed!O make it soft and narrow!Since my love dies for me today,I’ll die for him tomorrow.”