Tuesday,

April 3

Agenda

● Intro to Gatsby

DO: Identify and apply biographical information to determine

meaning.

Evaluate symbols and themes to determine meaning.

HW: Ch. 1 & 2 quiz on Thursday

Quote journal

The Great Gatsby (2013)

Major themes in Gatsby

Major themes in Gatsby

Based on the biography from before

Break, the trailer, and your reading of

Gatsby, brainstorm possible themes in

the novel.

● What issues is Fitzgerald consumed

by?

● What type of people are involved?

● What type of activities are done?

Keep in mind though…

Great American novels “fly directly into the sunny face of that

vaunted American optisims; in many ways, they are all un-

American. Maybe Gatsby’s ending desolation comes as more of

a shock because the first movements of the novel (after Nick’s

retrospective introduction) are awash with the bubbly optimism

of the Roaring Twenties. But the party ends and the lights go out.

In Gatsby World, as opposed to Disney World, America is

exhausted before it ever got going. It’s all over, Nick decrees on

the very last page of the novel” (Corrigan 11).

The novel’s true heart

“When we make our first chain-gang shuffle into

Gatsby, we spend so much time preparing for standard

test prompts on the eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg and the

color of Gatsby’s car and – above all – the symbol of

the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock that the larger

point of the novel gets lost. It’s not the green light,

stupid; it’s Gatsby’s reaching for it that’s the crucial all-

American symbol of the novel” (Corrigan 5).

Major themes in Gatsby

The themes you notice the most,

will tend to align with your

perspective.

Remember, your final presentation

will be on a theme throughout the

novel, as read through your lens.

Start tracking now, and make it

easier for yourself then!

Fitzgerald’s Insecurities

“Sink or swim. It’s the founding

dare of America, this meritocracy

where everyone – theoretically, at

least- is free to jump in and test the

waters. The fear is, however, that if

you don’t make it, you’ll vanish

beneath the waves” (Corrigan 35).

Fitzgerald’s early life

● His mom’s family (the McQuillans) came from (new) money

● Dad’s had breeding

● His dad, Edward, lost his job as president of a wick furniture

factory, and he never recovered

● Family rented on Summit Ave (swanky St. Paul street), but they

never belonged

● Fitzgerald’s tuition to Princeton was paid from a McQuillian

inheritance

Fitzgerald often reveals himself to be more aligned to the self-

made man or poorer relation; he always knows he is less than

Ginevra King –

Daisy 1.0

Ginevra King – Fitz’s first love

● Petite and dark (compare with the book’s

description of Daisy rather than the movie's)

● RICH – her dad was a Chicago stockbroker

● One of “the Big Four” – the richest and

prettiest girls in Chicago

* Her friend, Edith Cummings, was a

golfer and inspired Jordan Baker

● Her dad in 1916 famously said “Poor boys

shouldn’t think of marrying rich girls”

So how does this experience influence

Gatsby?

● In squads, reevaluate what you

know about Gatsby and what you

may have read.

● How does the novel of the Jazz

Age actually teach us about what

we wish we had?

Narratology –

Nick rereads“Nick, our narrator, certainly has to wise up [before he can

understand Gatsby]. It takes him two years before he can tell

Gatsby’s story in any coherent way, and still you know that, like the

Ancient Mariner in Coleridge’s poem, Nick will spend his life

thinking about Gatsby and the implications of the events that took

place during the summer of 1922. Nick rereads Gatsby’s story as

he tells it to us, and, in doing so, he shows us how crucial it is to

listen closely, go back and pay more attention to the details, look at

passages again and again” (Corrigan 7).

Let’s dive in

Read (or reread) the first pages

of the novel:

● What do we learn about Nick?

● What seems to be important?

● What demographic information do we get?

* He’s white, male, what else?

● Why is he going to New York?

Nick as narrator

● Is Nick a reliable narrator?

● Or put another way, is he

a hypocrite?

● Reread and be ready to

justify your answer

Benchmark 3 pass back

● Grades are posted

● Retake deadline – this Friday

● If you are retaking,

○ Reread Act 4/5

○ Look over writing notes again (ICE quotes, explain device)

○ Review writing sample (especially example 5)

● You must tell me when you plan to retake

Wednesday,

April 4

Agenda

● Who is Gatsby?

● Social class in Gatsby

● Ch. 1 & 2

DO: Understand differences in social class.

Track evidence to determine meaning.

HW: Quiz tomorrow: CH. 1 & 2 + quote journal (4 quotes total)

The hint of Gatsby

Reread the paragraph

on page 2; what is it we

learn about Gatsby

here?

The hint of Gatsby

“Only Gatsby, the man who gives his name to this book, was exempt from

my reaction – Gatsby, who represented everything for which I have an

unaffected scorn. If personality is an unbroken series of successful

gestures, then there was something gorgeous about him, some heightened

sensitivity to the promises of life, as if he were related to one of those

intricate machines that register earthquakes ten thousand miles away.

This responsiveness had nothing to do with that flabby impressionabilityu

which is dignified under the name of the ‘creative temperament’ – it was

an extraordinary gift for hope, a romantic readiness such as I have never

found in any other person and which it is not likely I shall every find

again. No – Gatsby turned out all right at the end; it is what preyed on

Gatsby, what foul dust floated in the wake of his dreams that temporarily

closed out my interest in the abortive sorrows and short-winded elations

of men” (Fitzgerald 2).

The hint of Gatsby

“…No – Gatsby turned out all right at the

end; it is what preyed on Gatsby, what foul dust floated

in the wake of his dreams that temporarily closed out

my interest in the abortive sorrows and short-winded

elations of men” (Fitzgerald 2).

● What type of person is Gatsby? (Archetypes)

● What is the foul dust?

● How good are dreams/obsessions in retrospect?

● How does Nick feel about Gatsby?

Icarus

Flew too close to the

sun, and his wings

melted, and he

drowned.

The hint of Gatsby

What type of person is Gatsby? (Archetypes)

● Hero vs. villain?

● Damsel in distress vs. adventurer?

● Dreamer vs. cynic?

● Is he a good person or a bad person? Should we feel

bad about what happened to him? Why or why not?

The hint of Gatsby

What type of person is Gatsby? (Archetypes)

● “Only Gatsby, the man who gives his name to

this book, was exempt from my reaction –

Gatsby, who represented everything for which

I have an unaffected scorn” (2)

If Nick says Gatsby represents everything Nick

hates, why does he then like him so much??

The hint of Gatsby

“…No – Gatsby turned out all right at the

end; it is what preyed on Gatsby, what foul dust floated in

the wake of his dreams that temporarily closed out my

interest in the abortive sorrows and short-winded elations of

men” (Fitzgerald 2).

What is the foul dust?

● What is the connotation of “foul”?

● How is dust created? (consider the aftermath of things)

● Why is it “floating” in the “wake”? What exactly happened

to his dreams?

● Should we feel bad for Gatsby?

The hint of Gatsby

How good are dreams/obsessions in

retrospect?

● Why does it matter that Gatsby has “an extraordinary

gift for hope, a romantic readiness…”?

● If Gatsby “turned out all right at the end”, should we

even be worried? (Think back to Nick’s comments on

scorn)

● What exactly is “preying” on Gatsby?

● So, are dreams something we should push towards?

Or view as dangerous?

● Is this a cautionary tale/story?

The hint of Gatsby

How good are dreams/obsessions in

retrospect?

● “How do you know what you want ‘til you get

what you want and you see if you like it?”

- Into the Woods, a musical based on fairy

tales

The hint of Gatsby

How does Nick feel about Gatsby?

The hint of Gatsby

As we continue reading the book, keep in mind this

opening, and that we know Gatsby’s dream has broken

something.

Now, we will look at some of the features he has to fight

against.

Gatsby is tough on social class

“Class remains our national awkward topic, usually mumbled

over in academic diversity workshops; indeed, most people

don’t know how to talk about class without automatically

coupling it to race. That’s because we Americans are loath to

recognize that the sky’s-the-limit potential we take as our

birthright comes at a price far beyond what many Americans

– of any race – can pay” (Corrigan 15-16).

The rich live in their own world

“Look again at those words about the rich spoken by

Fitzgerald’s narrator in ‘The Rich Boy’: Even when they enter

deep into our world or sink below us, they still think that they

are better than we are. They are different. That’s a statement

about class, not money; it’s a statement about an internalized

sense of privilege born out of wealth and out of what

Fitzgerald called in a 1933 letter to his friend and fellow

novelist John O’Hara ‘breeding’” (Corrigan 40).

Social class in Gatsby

● Fitzgerald himself felt like an outsider, but Nick is very

much an insider, who then hangs out with other insiders.

● As you read Chapter 1, consider what Fitzgerald is doing

in regards to class.

● Also be on the look

our for Nick’s

rereading of the story

The East Eggers

“Daisy and Jordan loll

about in such languid

fashion, they’re virtually

weightless. Tom, admittedly, is filled with passionate

intensity about the invading hordes of darker-skinned

immigrants pouring into American; otherwise, he’s idle.

Early in the novel- before he rouses himself to obstruct

Gatsby’s campaign for Daisy – Tom is little more than a

wealthy former college football player gone to seed; he plays

at life, the same way our entitled narrator, Nick, dabbles at

learning the investment business” (41-42).

Daisy the Siren (Archetypes)

● In Greek mythology, Sirens were

half women, half bird creatures who

lured sailors to their deaths by

singing.

● Consider Daisy’s description – is

she captivating because she’s

beautiful? Or for what feature

instead?

Study guide and quote journal

Use this time to make sure you are

prepared for the quiz tomorrow. You can:

• Finish reading Chapters 1 & 2

• Work on your theme journal

• Complete the study guide

• Read ahead

Quote journal –

2 quotations per chapter

• Left side: Write out the quotation in full (including

citation)

• Right side: Write out an explanation for

• Why this fits your perspective

• What thematic message it is conveying

• Your goal is to start tracking evidence to

determine a thematic message – what is Fitzgerald

trying to say about life?

Tomorrow

● Quiz on Ch. 1 & 2.

● Writing practice – this will go

easier with a quote journal!

● Character sketches

Thursday, April 5

Agenda

• Ch. 1 & 2 Quiz

• Character sketches

DO: Demonstrate recall of The Great

Gatsby reading homework.

Understand the writing process for literary criticism.

Analyze character evidence to determine

characterization according to a literary perspective.

HW: Ch. 3 due Monday

Ch. 1 & 2 Quiz

• Use complete

sentences.

• You can use your

literary journal.

Fair warning

If you fail reading quizzes, I will

give you a teacher detention with

me before the next quiz; this is so

I can help you be successful. We

will read the next chapter, and

complete the study guide – that

way we both will know that you

are understanding (and

completing) the reading.

Character sketches

In groups, collect at least 3 descriptions from

Chapters 1 & 2 for the character assigned.

Then, determine what their primary trait is, and

what lens they can be viewed through.

Sample: George “Doormat” Wilson

• “… when the proprietor himself appeared in the

door of an office, wiping his hands on a piece of

waste. He was a blond, spiritless man, anemic,

and faintly handsome. When he saw us a damp

gleam of hope sprang into his light blue eyes” (Fitzgerald 25).

• “‘Oh, sure,’ agreed Wilson hurriedly, and went toward the little

office mingling immediately with the cement color of the walls. A

white ashen dust veiled his dark suit and his pale hair as it veiled

everything in the vicinity – except his wife…” (Fitzgerald 26).

• George Wilson is the physical embodiment of life in the Valley of

Ashes; his color has faded, and he is a downtrodden man who

does not expect—or receive– much. As the downtrodden common

man, Wilson is easily read through the Marxist lens as an

indicator of how the lower class compare to the rich.

Character sketches

In groups, collect at least 3 descriptions from

Chapters 1 & 2 for the character assigned.

Then, determine what their primary trait is, and

what lens they can be viewed through.

• Nick Carraway

• Daisy Buchanan

• Tom Buchanan

• Jordan Baker

• Myrtle Wilson

• George Wilson

• Catherine (Myrtle’s sister)

• The McKees

Character sketches

• 3 descriptions

• Their primary character

trait

• What lens they can be

viewed through.

• Nick Carraway

• Daisy Buchanan

• Tom Buchanan

• Jordan Baker

• Myrtle Wilson

• George Wilson

• Catherine

(Myrtle’s sister)

• The McKees

Friday, April 7

Character sketches

• 3 descriptions

• Their primary character

trait

• What lens they can be

viewed through.

• Nick Carraway

• Daisy Buchanan

• Tom Buchanan

• Jordan Baker

• Myrtle Wilson

• George Wilson

• Catherine

(Myrtle’s sister)

• The McKees

Agenda

• Finish Character sketches• Imagery/symbolism• Writing practice

DO: Understand the writing process for literary criticism. Analyze character evidence to determine characterization according to a literary perspective.Analyze symbols in Gatsby. HW: Ch. 3 due Monday (this includes your quote journal)

Imagery and symbolism

Symbolism recap

• Symbols are a concrete representation of

an abstract idea/concept.

• Authors use them to subtly (and

sometimes not-so-subtly) convey themes

and messages to the reader.

Dr. T.J. Eckleburg and

the Valley of Ashes

As we watch the clip,

focus on how both are depicted.

• What words does Nick use?

• Who does this apply to?

• What is he concerned by?

Determining meaning

Reread pages 23 & 24, focusing on Fitzgerald’s

description of the valley of ashes and Dr. T.J.

Eckleburg.

Determine together with your partner what

both things can be symbolic of:

• What do they represent?

• Why are they prominent?

Writing according to

literary perspectives

The literary perspectives determines your theme• Remember: Literary perspectives are the lens you look

through when analyzing a text. Example: for Marxism, the theme/claim is focused on social classes, while feminism would be focused on the power relationship between men and women. • In “A Good Man is Hard to Find”, Joyce Carol Oates

demonstrates that holding onto one’s upper-class identity cannot save one from danger to convey that security is fleeting.

• Joyce Carol Oates explores how women can subvert their lack of overt power through manipulation in “A Good Man is Hard to Find” in order to demonstrate that power can be subtle.

How to formulate a claim

1.Identify the perspective you will use to analyze the story (this should be apparent from your reading/annotating).

2.Determine a theme: what message is the author conveying according to your perspective? (review reading questions if needed)

3.Write your claim including thematic message, author, and title.

Organization

1. Pick 2 pieces of evidence to support

your claim.

2. Identify the specific element that

proves your claim.

3. Decide which quotation will come first.

4. ICE your quotations!

Analysis

I- Introduce: Provide context. What has happened in

the story right before this quotation? Who is talking?

C- Cite: Using an integrated quotation, cite your

evidence with proper MLA citations.

E- Explain: Analyze your evidence. Identify the

specific element in your evidence by name that

proves your claim, and explain how it does so.

Remember to use the same language in your claim

when explaining evidence.

Analysis using evidence from Chapter 1 in your lens - Marxism

• “I waited but she didn’t say any more, and after a moment I

returned rather feebly to the subject of her daughter. ‘I

suppose she talks, and – eats, and everything’” (Fitzgerald 16).

• “Their interest rather touched me and made them less

remotely rich – nevertheless, I was confused and a little

disgusted as I drove away. It seemed to me that the thing for

Daisy to do was to rush out of the house, child in arms –but

apparently there was no such intentions in her head. As for

Tom, the fact that he ‘had some woman in New York’ was

really less surprising than that he had been depressed by a

book. Something was making him nibble at the edge of stale

ideas as if his sturdy physical egotism no longer nourished his

peremptory heart” (Fitzgerald 20).

Choose exact evidence

• “I waited but she didn’t say any more, and after a moment I returned rather

feebly to the subject of her daughter. ‘I suppose she talks, and – eats,

and everything.’ ‘Oh, yes.’ She looked at me absently” (Fitzgerald 16).

• “Their interest rather touched me and made them less remotely rich –

nevertheless, I was confused and a little disgusted as I drove away. It

seemed to me that the thing for Daisy to do was to rush out of the

house, child in arms –but apparently there was no such intentions in

her head. As for Tom, the fact that he ‘had some woman in New York’ was

really less surprising than that he had been depressed by a book.

Something was making him nibble at the edge of stale ideas as if his

sturdy physical egotism no longer nourished his peremptory heart”

(Fitzgerald 20).

• Commonality – Because Daisy is rich, she does not care for her

daughter as Nick thinks she should.

Claim

In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Nick’s

judgmental view of Daisy in regards to her role

as a mother demonstrates contempt for the

upper class whose selfishness causes them to

care only about themselves rather than others.

Claim

In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Nick’s

judgmental view of Daisy in regards to her role

as a mother demonstrates contempt for the

upper class whose selfishness causes them to

care only about themselves rather than others.

Author + Title + perspective detail + theme

ICE evidence

After his first dinner with Daisy and Tom, Nick has experienced first

hand the selfish concerns of his cousin and her husband. The last

bit of gossip they must discuss is the rumor of Nick’s engagement,

which he tells them is false. As he leaves for the night, he notes,

“Their interest rather touched me and made them less remotely rich

– nevertheless, I was confused and a little disgusted as I drove away.

It seemed to me that the thing for Daisy to do was to rush out of the

house, child in arms –but apparently there was no such intentions

in her head” (Fitzgerald 20). Nick acknowledges Daisy and Tom’s

“interest”, but it is immediately dismissed in favor of judgmental

attitudes because Daisy does not exhibit the familial good-bye he

expects. While he is temporarily able to see them as “less remotely

rich”, he still is judgmental of their lifestyle and finds them selfish

for acting in accordance with others in their social class…

Another example

At the beginning of the novel, Nick is invited to dinner at his cousin Daisy’s house with her husband, Tom, and Jordan Baker, her friend. After a tense dinner, Nick and Daisy are talking together, when Daisy tells Nick she is now cynical after going through a hard time. Nick, uncomfortable, attempts to turn the conversation back to an earlier topic, her daughter “‘I suppose she talks, and – eats, and everything.’ ‘Oh, yes.’ She looked at me absently” (Fitzgerald 16). Daisy is clearly uninterested in her own daughter as indicated through her vague response and acceptance of Nicks stilted understanding of a child. Daisy is uninterested in this topic as it is not fully about her, or what she would like to discuss. Through establishing Daisy’s disinterest and Nick’s stilted questioning, Fitzgerald emphasizes that human connection is not the strong suit of these upper class people, who are far more comfortable discussing gossip than genuine human connection.

Writing practice – on your own

Thinking of Feminism, Marxism,

and Psychoanalysis, write a well-developed

paragraph that analyzes the theme of The

Great Gatsby so far based on one critical

perspective. You must analyze two

quotations from the story in your response.

Due at the end of class.