The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby What does the novel mean?What does the novel mean?

The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby Literary ElementsLiterary Elements

StyleStyle

The way a writer puts words togetherThe way a writer puts words together Length and rhythm of sentencesLength and rhythm of sentences use of figurative languageuse of figurative language symbolismsymbolism dialoguedialogue descriptiondescription

StyleStyle

A novel of “selected incident” – part A novel of “selected incident” – part stands for the wholestands for the whole

Full of images appealing to the senses – Full of images appealing to the senses – water imagery, color imagerywater imagery, color imagery

Reflective – Nick reflects on the meaning Reflective – Nick reflects on the meaning of the action/events he witnessedof the action/events he witnessed

Point of ViewPoint of View Limited first person / First person Limited first person / First person

secondarysecondary Realistic – we learn about characters in Realistic – we learn about characters in

bits and pieces over timebits and pieces over time Gatsby is more sympathetic because of Gatsby is more sympathetic because of

Nick’s decision to become his friend.Nick’s decision to become his friend.

Form / StructureForm / Structure

Who is to tell the story and in what order Who is to tell the story and in what order will events be told?will events be told?

Form / StructureForm / Structure

First person narrative and gradual First person narrative and gradual revelation of the past as the narrator revelation of the past as the narrator learns more and morelearns more and more

Extreme selectivity – We have to read Extreme selectivity – We have to read closely and piece together things from closely and piece together things from the few scenes Nick tells us about. We the few scenes Nick tells us about. We have to draw our own conclusions.have to draw our own conclusions.

SymbolismSymbolism

The valley of ashesThe valley of ashes The eyes of Dr. T. J. EckleburgThe eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg The green light at the end of Daisy’s dockThe green light at the end of Daisy’s dock The “owl-eyed” manThe “owl-eyed” man Gatsby’s boyhood scheduleGatsby’s boyhood schedule Daisy and the color whiteDaisy and the color white Gatsby and his gold tie and silver shirtGatsby and his gold tie and silver shirt

ThemeTheme

A theme is an underlying thought or idea A theme is an underlying thought or idea that is contained in a literary work.that is contained in a literary work.

ThemeTheme

The American DreamThe American Dream Each person can succeed based on their Each person can succeed based on their

own skill and effort…the self-made manown skill and effort…the self-made man In the 1920s this dream is corrupted by the In the 1920s this dream is corrupted by the

vulgar pursuit of wealth, fame, glamour and vulgar pursuit of wealth, fame, glamour and excitement – a showy, empty form of excitement – a showy, empty form of successsuccess

ThemeTheme

The Meaning of the PastThe Meaning of the Past The past holds something that The past holds something that

both Gatsby and Nick seem both Gatsby and Nick seem

to long for: a simpler, nobler, to long for: a simpler, nobler,

better time (values).better time (values).

ThemeTheme

HopeHope The green lightThe green light A reunion with DaisyA reunion with Daisy The belief that one can achieve their dreamThe belief that one can achieve their dream

ThemeTheme

DisillusionmentDisillusionment Gatsby’s belief that you CAN repeat the pastGatsby’s belief that you CAN repeat the past Nick comes East to find success, but quickly Nick comes East to find success, but quickly

becomes disenchanted, disillusioned by the becomes disenchanted, disillusioned by the lack of morals/corruption.lack of morals/corruption.

ThemeTheme

SuccessSuccess For Gatsby, success = Daisy and the only For Gatsby, success = Daisy and the only

way to win Daisy is through $$$$way to win Daisy is through $$$$

ThemeTheme

MoralsMorals The morals of the people with great wealth The morals of the people with great wealth

seem to be less desirable, but many times seem to be less desirable, but many times are more socially acceptable than lower are more socially acceptable than lower classes.classes.

Setting TimelineSetting Timeline 1890 – Gatsby is born1890 – Gatsby is born 1892 – Nick is born1892 – Nick is born 1899 – Daisy is born1899 – Daisy is born 1907 – Gatsby meets Dan Cody and sails with him for 5 years1907 – Gatsby meets Dan Cody and sails with him for 5 years 1912 – Dan Cody dies1912 – Dan Cody dies 1914 – WWI begins1914 – WWI begins 1915 – Nick graduates from Yale1915 – Nick graduates from Yale 1917 – Daisy & Gatsby meet in Louisville 1917 – Daisy & Gatsby meet in Louisville 1917 – U.S. enters WWI, Gatsby goes overseas1917 – U.S. enters WWI, Gatsby goes overseas 1919 – Gatsby meets Wolfsheim, just out of the Army1919 – Gatsby meets Wolfsheim, just out of the Army 1919 – 181919 – 18thth Amendment (Prohibition) Amendment (Prohibition) 1922 – Reunited with Daisy! 1922 – Reunited with Daisy! 1922 – Gatsby dies at the age of 321922 – Gatsby dies at the age of 32 1924 – Nick tells the reader the story of 1924 – Nick tells the reader the story of The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby

CharacterizationCharacterizationDaisy FayDaisy Fay

Fay – fairy or spriteFay – fairy or sprite Daisy – flower, fresh, fragileDaisy – flower, fresh, fragile Daisy promises more than she givesDaisy promises more than she gives Better to dream about than to possessBetter to dream about than to possess Let’s others take care of herLet’s others take care of her Uses her $ to protect her from realityUses her $ to protect her from reality Zelda FitzgeraldZelda Fitzgerald

CharacterizationCharacterizationTom BuchananTom Buchanan

Possesses double power - physical size Possesses double power - physical size and bankroll (strong and rich)and bankroll (strong and rich)

Arrogant, used to having his own wayArrogant, used to having his own way Cares only about himselfCares only about himself What he does is justifiable to him (tells What he does is justifiable to him (tells

Wilson where Gatsby is)Wilson where Gatsby is) Tom best represents the “foul dust”Tom best represents the “foul dust”

CharacterizationCharacterizationJordan BakerJordan Baker

A link between charactersA link between characters Supplies Nick with informationSupplies Nick with information Can easily go back and forth between East Can easily go back and forth between East

Egg and West EggEgg and West Egg DISHONESTYDISHONESTY Tough, aggressive, will do anything to winTough, aggressive, will do anything to win The smart new woman of the 1920s – The smart new woman of the 1920s –

opportunistopportunist Hard, boyish body, masculine name, cynical Hard, boyish body, masculine name, cynical

style, cut off from past / no familystyle, cut off from past / no family

CharacterizationCharacterizationMyrtle WilsonMyrtle Wilson

An earthy, vital and voluptuous womanAn earthy, vital and voluptuous woman She appeals to menShe appeals to men Is very jealous of DaisyIs very jealous of Daisy Dreams of escaping her current life to Dreams of escaping her current life to

achieve her unfulfilled dreamsachieve her unfulfilled dreams

CharacterizationCharacterizationGeorge WilsonGeorge Wilson

He embodies the valley of ashesHe embodies the valley of ashes He has no energy, no faithHe has no energy, no faith Lifeless, spiritlessLifeless, spiritless Agent of deathAgent of death

CharacterizationCharacterizationNick CarrawayNick Carraway

NarratorNarrator From a solid, mid-western familyFrom a solid, mid-western family Has values/moralsHas values/morals Honest, tolerant, understandingHonest, tolerant, understanding Both admires Gatsby and disapproves of Both admires Gatsby and disapproves of

himhim He is Gatsby’s friend – he understands He is Gatsby’s friend – he understands

himhim

CharacterizationCharacterizationJay GatsbyJay Gatsby

He has committed crimes to acquire He has committed crimes to acquire wealth to win back the woman he loves wealth to win back the woman he loves – another man’s wife– another man’s wife

We are asked to love Gatsby because We are asked to love Gatsby because of his dreamof his dream

Others know him only through Others know him only through rumors because they don’t really rumors because they don’t really carecare

Only Nick genuinely cares and from Only Nick genuinely cares and from Nick we learn the truthNick we learn the truth

Is he great? Is he great?

Fitzgerald’s Use of ColorFitzgerald’s Use of Color Gatsby – gold tie, silver shirt, pink suit, white Gatsby – gold tie, silver shirt, pink suit, white

suit, green light, yellow carsuit, green light, yellow car Daisy – white, yellow, glowing faceDaisy – white, yellow, glowing face Tom – Straw-haired, shining eyes, glistening Tom – Straw-haired, shining eyes, glistening

bootsboots Jordan – white, gray, sun-stainedJordan – white, gray, sun-stained Myrtle – brown, cream, dark redMyrtle – brown, cream, dark red George – light blue eyes, pale hair, cement George – light blue eyes, pale hair, cement

colorcolor