The great gatsby

1. The great gatsby Chapter Notes

2. Chapter 1 Notes – Point of View and Narrator • Point of View – The way the authors allows the reader to “see” and “hear” what is going on • First person – The story is told from the perspective of a single narrator • Narrator – The person telling the story • Is the narrator reliable or unreliable? • How can one tell? • Interactions with other characters • Judgments that fit our own • What does the character see as important? • What does the character reveal about himself?

3. Chapter 1 notes – Voice • Voice – The specific diction and tone that the author chooses for the piece of writing • Example: • "Dearest reader, I humbly entreat you to eschew the latest celebrity tittle-tattle and instead devote your attention to diction and tone." • "Listen up! Drop the gossip magazine and get with the diction/tone program!” • What’s the difference here?

4. Chapter 1 Notes - Characterization • The way that an author uses descriptive language including dialogue to give a character personality traits in a text. • Indirect characterization – When an author uses dialogue and actions to teach the reader something about the character. (Example: You learn through the characters speaking to one another that one of them is lying. Therefore, you judge that character is dishonest.) • Direct characterization – When an author tells you about the character. (Example: The author tells you what the character looks like.)

5. Chapter 1 notes - Setting • Historical Context – Time period in history when a work take place • Time period in history when a work take place • Setting – The time and place where the action occurs • The historical context and setting plays an important role in the plot, setting and character development through out The Great Gatsby – It already has!

6. Chapter 1 Notes – Nick Carraway • Nick says… • “The Carraways are something of a clan, and we have a tradition that we are descendents from the Duke of Buccleuch…” • What does this say about Nick’s heritage? How does this relate the setting? • “I lived at West Egg, the – well, less fashionable of the two, though this is a most superficial tag to express the bizarre and not a little sinister contrast between them.” • How does he feel about West Egg being the “less fashionable”? Does he agree? • Why does he use “bizarre” and “sinister” to describe the contrast between the two communities?

7. Chapter 1 Notes – Flashback Flashback is when a story starts at a certain place in time and then reverts to the past. Example: The narrator (Nick) starts the novel telling the reader that he is going to recount the events that lead up to his disillusionment. Then, he starts the story from a past event (when he first moved to West Egg).

8. Chapter 1 notes - Allusion An allusion is a reference to something that the reader should already have in their frame of reference. Example: Nick refers to “New Haven” – This is where Yale is located. I know this so I know he went to college at Yale. The author is alluding to something that he assumes the reader already knows. It’s an allusion!

9. Chapter 1 Notes – paradox A paradox is something that appears contradictory in nature. Example: Daisy – She throws the dinner party with Nick and *seems* happy – Laughing, teasing, relaxing…But really, she is unhappy because she knows Tom is cheating on her.

10. Chapter 1 notes - motifs Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, or literary devices that can help to develop and inform the text’s major themes. **This always makes me think of interior decorating! Motifs in Gatsby to look for: • Colors • Cars/Driving

11. Chapter 1 notes - Theme Theme = topic + author’s opinion on the topic A Theme is the fundamental and often universal idea explored in a literary work. Topics for themes in Gatsby: • Self Discovery • Hope • Reality vs Illusion • Realization of The American Dream

12. Chapter 2 Notes - Juxtaposition Juxtaposition is when 2 things are set up side by side to highlight the their similarities or differences • East Egg – Dinner with Daisy, Jordan, etc juxtaposed with the valley’s party with Myrtle, her sister Catherine, etc • What do you think the author wants you to get from this set up? • How are these 2 settings alike? Different? • How are these characters alike? Different?

13. Chapter 2 Notes - symbolism Symbolism is when an ordinary thing has a meaning beyond what is first perceived – A figurative meaning • The Valley • Where is it located • What does it look like? • What does it call to mind? • Dr. T.J. Eckleburg’s eyes • Where are they located? • What do they look like? • What do they call to mind?

14. Chapter 2 notes – Theme topic: Corruption of the American dream • What is the American Dream? The believe that everyone can achieve true happiness and be rich if they work hard enough. • Who can have it? • What does it take to get it? • Do we have any examples of characters who have obtained it yet? • Who should be “happy” right now in the novel? • Tom and the American Dream • Myrtle an the American Dream • Daisy and the American Dream

15. Chapter 2 – theme topic: reality vs illusion • Illusion is what things seem to be…..Reality is what they actually are… • This will come up many times in the novel • What do we know about Gatsby already? What did we learn in chapter 2? What is the illusion that is yet to be proved or disproved? • What is the illusion of East Egg? What is it supposed to be versus what it actually is?

16. Chapter 2 - characterization • Setting used to characterize • Myrtle Wilson/George Wilson • Where do they live? • What’s the difference between the valley and the eggs? • Colors used to describe – compare • Ashes? Dusty? A garage?

17. Chapter 3 Notes: Direct Character Development • Direct characterization is when an author gives specific details about a character. • Gatsby’s smile/language – page 48 • The author gives us direct description of his smile through the eyes of the narrator, Nick. • Gatsby is an “elegant young roughneck” • Gatsby uses an “elaborate formality of speech” that “just missed being absurd”

18. Chapter 3 Notes:Indirect Character Development • Indirect characterization is when we learn about a character by reading about decisions s/he makes, actions s/he takes – The reader judges the character based on actions • Gatsby’s party – pages 39-40 – What can we deduce about Gatsby based on his party? His guests? • Gatsby rumors 41, 43, 44 • Gatsby’s entrance – page 47 • “I’m afraid I’m not a very good host.”

19. Chapter 3 Notes: Different Types of Characters • Static characters do not change through out the course of a novel • Dynamic characters start the novel one way and learn something in the process – They change. • Round characters have many different personality traits • Flat characters have one predominate trait that affects others around them (like a caricature in a way)