The Great Gatsby Notes

Author’s Craft, Genre, Focus Question

Foreshadowing

When an author subtly suggests what will later take place in the novel.

Example: Tom’s lie about Daisy being Catholic reveals the fact that he will never marry Myrtle.

Focus QuestionWhat clues does Fitzgerald give the reader to let him/her know Myrtle will never really be able to rise up from her social class in the Valley of Ashes?

Use the answer plan below to compose an answer to the question above with a partner. Answer Plan1. Restate the question.2. Provide 4-5 examples of what happens to Myrtle or what she says or does.Include page numbers of where examples can be found.3. Conclude in a sentence or two, what you think this means.

Possible Answer[1] Early on we can see that Myrtle is going to stay in the

Valley of Ashes. [2] There are several examples of this. Tom makes her sit on a different train so as not offend the East Eggers (p.26). She buys perfume at the train station. (p. 27). She selects a dog from a peddler on the street (p. 27). She misuses the word appendicitis (p. 31). Tom lies to her about Daisy being Catholic so as to avoid

marrying her (p. 33). She gets her nose broken by Tom (p. 37). [3] So even though Myrtle desperately wants to move to the upper class, these examples demonstrate

she is failing in her attempt.

Genre: NovelDefinitions:· “an extended fictional prose narrative that allows

the author to provide fuller character and plot development than in the short story” (from Harris, et al. The Literacy Dictionary, IRA, 1995)

· The novel “…permits authors to develop one or more characters, to establish their motivation, and to construct intricate plots.” (Murfin and Ray, The Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms, Bedford, 2003)

Purpose

· To engage, entertain and evoke emotion

· To cause the reader to reflect on his/her life

· To give the reader the opportunity to live vicariously

Form and Features

· Although fictional, the author presents the characters, settings, incidents and conflicts as realistically as possible.

· Relationships and their changing nature are usually essential elements.

· Novels have a definite plot structure with character(s) in a setting, conflict, problem or goal.

Types of ConflictConflict, the tension that exists between a force(s) in the character’s life, can be in four forms:

Person – against – self

Person – against – person

Person – against – nature

Person – against – society

Foil Characters

• characters who bring out the opposite extremes in each other, in order to emphasize certain human characteristics and qualities.

• For instance a very generous character could be juxtaposed with a very selfish character

QW: Which characters from The Great Gatsby do you think were created to be foil characters?

Symbolism

The practice of representing things by means of symbols or of attributing symbolic meanings or significance to objects, events, or relationships (www.dictionary.com).

Examples:

• Characters names

• Green light