1. Work in small groups on the following discussion questions about The Great Gatsby. Post your answers in a comment for credit (include the names of the people in your group).
2. Review the journal assignment that is for homework (due the Tuesday after you get back)
Gatsby Discussion Questions
1. In the beginning of Chapter I, the narrator of the novel, Nick Carraway, reflects on the concept of judgment while providing the reader with information about his personal history. As Nick writes, "In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since. 'Whenever you feel like criticizing any one,' he told me, 'just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages you've had'" (Fitzgerald 1). Is Nick consistent on this point? Would you consider him a reliable narrator?
2. As Nick reflects on the concept of judgment in the early portion of the first chapter, he provides some information about his family history and personal background. Ironically--even though Nick is the narrator--this is some of the most in-depth information that the reader will get about Nick's history. Why do you think Nick provides so little information about himself? What does he focus on instead of himself? What effect does this have on the reader?
3. How does the novel characterize the idea of East v. West? Discuss this both in terms of East and West Egg (if you are not sure what these are, you may want to search for them) as well as in terms of the East and West of the United States. For what does each become a symbol?
4. Discuss the imagery that you see in the first chapter of the novel. Discuss both the imagery used to describe the mansions (that of Gatsby and that of the Buchanans) and the imagery used to introduce the various characters. When it comes to the characters, how does this imagery shape the reader's opinion of them?
5. Specifically consider the introduction of Daisy. What is Daisy like? Do her actions and words deserve the praise with which Nick showers her? Why or why not?
West Egg versus East Egg
Charlotte, Maddy, Nell, Olivia
ReplyDelete3. How does the novel characterize the idea of East v. West? Discuss this both in terms of East and West Egg (if you are not sure what these are, you may want to search for them) as well as in terms of the East and West of the United States. For what does each become a symbol?
Most of the action of The Great Gatsby takes place on the "West Egg" and "East Egg" of Long Island. The West Egg, on which Nick Carraway and Gatsby live, is made up of self-made people who seem to control their own fortunes and work to keep their own wealth. It is the "less fashionable of the two" (9). Contrastingly, the East Egg represents the old, rigid aristocracy. It is refined, but has undertones of "garishness"--expensive, bad taste. People on the East Egg do not have to work to preserve their situation.
Similarly, in the United States, the West is raw and unpolished, while the East has a sense of vitality. Tom Buchanan, of the East Egg, says "I'll stay in the East, don't you worry...I'd be a God Damn fool to live anywhere else" (15).
Nick doesn't explain much about himself because Fitzgerald is writing the book about Gatsby. Nick is not the subject of the book, he is just an outside narrator commenting Gatsby's life. This separates the reader from Gatsby, while still being involved in his life. The narration is not personal, but insight is still provided into Gatsby's life, creating a more realistic effect.
ReplyDeleteBy Jordan Ryley Polcyn-Evans, George Duval Gombert, and Ryder Vaughn Eaton.
Oh and Grace Cecelia Linn-Lopata.
Gabriela, Gus, Samantha, Jessica
ReplyDelete1. So far in the novel, Nick is a reliable narrator. In all his actions and with the few words he speaks, he remains relatively objective in his judgments of other people. Throughout the first three chapters, Nick interacts mainly with people who are richer and of a higher class than him, specifically Tom and Daisy, as well as Jay Gatsby. However, Nick does display a certain amount of arrogance in his judgment of other people. When describing Jordan Baker in chapter three at Gatsby’s party, he says, “She was incurably dishonest. She wasn’t able to endure being at a disadvantage” (Fitzgerald 63). In the next paragraph, Nick qualifies his observation of Miss Baker: “It made no difference to me. Dishonesty in a woman is a thing you never blame deeply—I was casually sorry, and then I forgot” (63). The reader can see that while Nick is objective for the most part, there is a sort of pretentious attitude when he is viewing other people.
Charlotte, Maddy, Nell, Olivia
ReplyDelete5. Specifically consider the introduction of Daisy. What is Daisy like? Do her actions and words deserve the praise with which Nick showers her? Why or why not?
Daisy is the novel's "golden girl." She is conscious of her husband's affair, but does not show it. Daisy is dramatic and emotional, and gets people to love her through her charm and finesse. It seems to the reader that Daisy knows the effect she has on other people, and seeks to use it to her advantage--she does certain girlish things: "She laughed, an absurd, charming little laugh--and I laughed too" (13). "She laughed again, as if she had said something witty, and held my hand for a moment, looking up into my face, promising that there was no one in the world she so much wanted to see. That was a way she had" (13). Daisy casts a spell on people--Gatsby especially--and it seems that Nick is just under her spell (hence the flattery).
Chantel Morgan, Anastacea Best, Leon Lin, Junwan Ge, Isho Osman:
ReplyDeleteGatsby Mansion- "it was a factual imitation of some Hotel de Ville in Normandy, with a tower on one side, spanking new under a thin bear of raw ivy, and a marble swimming pool and more than 40 acres of lawn and garden." (pg. 9)
Bu Chanans- wealthy, "their houses was even more elaborate than I expected, a cheerful red and white Georgian Colonial mansion over looking the bay. The lawn started at the beach and ran down toward the front door for a quarter of a mile, jumping over sun-dials and brick walls burning gardens." (pg. 11)
Imagery and characters- Imagery shows how the character envies the mansions and the people who reside in them. It also emphasizes how materialistic they are because of the descriptions of the extravagance of their mansions.
Imagery was used in the novel to show the differences between the upperclasses and the lower classes and the differences between the nature of each character. There are two mansions in the novel, both very extravegant and seem to show off. The first is Gatsby's, "...it was a factual imitation of some Hotel de Ville in Normandy, with a tower on one side, spanking new under a thin beard of ivy, and a marble swimming pool and more than forty acres of lawn garden." (Pg 9) the opther mansion is owned by the Buchanans and it was just as grand, "...a cheerful red and white Georgian Colonial mansion...The lawn started at the beach...jumping over sun-dials, brickwalls and burning gardens...tHe front was broken by a line of French windows, glowing now with reflected gold..." (Page 11) These mansions show that these people live in luxury and the description of the narrators house helps bring the reader back to earth and show the contrast between the two different lifestyles. Tom Buchanan is described with imagery to help the reader see who he really is, " ...a sturdy, straw haired man...with a rather hard mouth...Two shinning, arrogant eyes..the enormous power of that body...you could see a great pack of muscle ...a cruel body."(pg 11) This tells the reader that Tom is strong, powerful, and has a cruel nature. This foreshadows Toms abusive nature. His wife is also described, but she's the opposite, sweet and fragile. "...her face was sad and lovely with bright things in it." (Pg 13) This foreshadows the relationship her and tom have and how they aren't happy. Also, this helps the reader see why she's so captivating. The imagery of the mansions and characters help the reader see the world these people live in and theur true nature, also helps foreshadow what will later happen in the novel.
ReplyDelete