gatsby55-0-8


 * //The Great Gatsby//** F. Scott Fitzgerald
 * Chapter 1-2:** I//f these chapters were short stories, what would be their theme? (What insight do they give to human life? What do they tell us about how people act?) Have you noticed any symbols? What do you think they represent? What are you thinking about the characters we've been introduced to so far//?
 * Mrs. Lange said to write about a character and forget the questions...
 * Tom Buckanon-- He is a Racist guy,
 * What in the story makes you think he’s racist? Provide a quote that shows this. ** who is very cocky because of his parents wealth. Tom is also a very abusive person who uses force to move people other than using kind words.
 * When does he use abuse? ** Tom doesnt care about anyone but himself.
 * The protagoist is Nick Carraway because he is the main character and the story folows him.
 * The antagonist is Tom Buckanon becasue is his very abusive towards Nick and he gives Nick problems.
 * What about when he hits Myrtle? Is this abuse? ** **And, how is he abusive toward Nick? Provide examples from the story.**
 * The round character would be Daisy becasue she is very well described about her clothing, and her personality.
 * A flat character would have to be Mertle because she isnt described well or given distinctive detail.


 * Good job identifying characters and how they fit into the definitions for protagonist, round and flat character, etc. At the beginning, you mentioned that you only had to write about a character, but above, you have written about several characters. Be sure to follow whatever instructions were given. Focusing on Tom, since he is who you started talking about, I’m wondering how you think he might compare to other male characters in the short stories that you read for class, such as the husband in //The Yellow Wallpaper//. How does //The Great Gatsby// show patriarchy so far, especially through the character of Tom? (I ask because this was also a theme we discussed when reading //The Yellow Wallpaper// and I think some connections can be made to //The Great Gatsby//). I look forward to read more of your writing about this novel! -- Jamie**

//Well, so far we've seen three crazy parties that Nick has shared with us. What stuck out to you about each of them? What do each of them tell us about the characters we've met and how they relate to each other? Jordan is talking to Nick when she says, “And I like large parties. They’re so intimate. At small parties there isn’t any privacy” (Fitzgerald 52). How does this quote reflect each of the gatherings in the first three chapters?//
 * Chapters 1-4**

I think the thing that stuck out the most to me at the parties, was that Gatsby was the center of attention at the party,
 * How is he the center of attention, considering he is hardly interacting with guests? What makes him the center of attention? ** also that most of the people are having a good time and getting drunk. Plus this really is the opposite of patriarchy becasue in these times most of the woman were rebels (flappers), so they werent trying to stay home and look after the kids, or just stay home and cook and clean. Most of the parties that Gatby has are extremely non-private.
 * What makes you realize this? Show an example directly from the story. ** So this is very different becasue smaller parties have less privacy so if you leave the room people are gunna notice, but in a Gatsby party if you leave the room no one is gunna notice.
 * Good observation! **


 * Good job discovering that large parties can indeed be more intimate. At first, when I read this, I thought it was odd because usually people do not get to know each other well unless they are in small groups, but you made a good observation here that in small parties, people notice you more, so it is actually less private or intimate. I would like you to use more examples from the novel in order to support what you have said. By including quotes from the novel, it makes what you are writing more valid and persuasive. Also, I don’t think you answered the part of the question that says, “What do each of them tell us about the characters we've met and how they relate to each other?” Why do you think these characters attend the parties in the first place? What do the parties and the characters’ attendance say about their culture, or society? What are your impressions of the relationships that are described so far? I’m glad that you mentioned patriarchy; it’s good to make connections with the themes you have been discussing in class. I hope you’re enjoying the novel! – Jamie**

//The point-of-view that a novel is told in frames the entire story. How would// The Great Gatsby //change if if it were told in another character's perspective (like Jay Gatsby's point-of-view?) Why do you think Fitzgerald chose Nick to be the narrator?//
 * Chapters 1-4**

//I think that Fitzgerald chose Nick to be the narrator because, Nick is well-known with all of the characters, and if Gatsby was to tell the story, then we wouldn’t of learned about Tom, or we wouldn’t of learned about Jordan Baker. // //** Although, Gatsby IS acquainted with these characters. How might Gatsby portray the characters and show his relationships with them if the novel was written in his point of view? **////Maybe if Gatsby was to tell the story then we wouldn’t know much about Nick, // //** what part of the story makes you think this? **// //and also we wouldn’t know much of the West Egg, only because Jay Gatsby lives on the East Egg. //

//** Do you think readers would gain anything if the novel was written in Gatsby’s point of view? Does Nick provide a certain view of the situations that would be different from other characters? It may be helpful to think about the ways that Nick differs from the other characters (his views on wealth, the city they live in, the parties, characters’ relationships, etc) and how this helps to “frame” the entire story of **////** The Great Gatsby **////**. -- Jamie **//

//Apply Marxist Criticism to the first four chapters of The Great Gatsby. How is wealth portrayed in this book? How does the characters' wealth affect their lives and their choices? PLEASE, USE EXAMPLES FROM THE TEXT TO SUPPORT YOUR ANSWER.//

//Well Marxist Crit. Applies to Nick and his choices, because he doesn’t have much power seeing he isn’t very wealthy, and lives on the West Egg. // //** Your writing here could be stronger if you discuss Marxist criticism first and then mention how it relates to The Great Gatsby. You haven’t really mentioned what Marxist Criticism is. **// //Jay, on the other hand, has a lot of power because he is rich and has done things for others so he can get away with certain things, such as the white card when he was pulled over by the police car for speeding, the white card symbolized that he has done a favor for the commissioner. // //** Where did you read this? State the page number and perhaps include a quote. **////So he has a pretty high level of power. Also Gasby has stated in the text that he served in a war, so he has a high level of power, and one last thing is that Gatsby was educated from Oxford College, so when it comes to money, he knows how to handle hisself. // //** It seems that you are making the assumption that people who have a college education are able to handle their money. What makes you have this assumption? **//

//** Good job mentioning places in the story that relate to wealth. Because the writing prompt above said to “use examples from the text to support your answers,” you should have included direct passages from The Great Gatsby instead of just summarizing them in your response. Just think about this for next time **////** J **////** -- Jamie **//

//Fitzgerald makes use of timepieces in several parts of chapter 5. What do these clocks and watches represent? Explain why these symbols are especially important in this chapter. Find one to three quotes that would serve as an example of a timepiece being a symbol, and explain what they represent.//
 * Chapters 1-5**

//The clocks represent the time lost between Daisy and Jay Gatsby,They havent seen eachother in over five years. These symbols are important because Daisy and Jay had a thing in the past, // //** What from the story allows you to know this? **// //so they when they saw eachother, Daisy said “ We havent met for many years.” And right after she stated that, Jay replies with “Five years next November.” // //** Good job using a quote from the text! What page was it on? **//


 * It may be helpful to go back to the novel and examine the places where clocks or watches are mentioned. You mentioned the relationship between Daisy and Jay in your response above, so I’m wondering if Daisy is always present in those scenes with clocks and watches in chapter five? Can you make any connections between the events that are happening and each time that there is an awareness of the clocks? -- Jamie**

The American Dream shows up as theme in many writings and discussions over //The Great Gatsby//. How do you define the American Dream? Does it have any influence in your life? Is the American Dream attainable to everyone in the United States? Find one to three quotes from the text that you believe makes a connection to the American Dream and explain why. //The American Dream to me is having a stable job, and being able to pay for your bills, and having atleast 2-4 children, who all have exellent grades in school, and a wife that loves you unconditionally. Living in an average size house, would also be part of my american dream. // //** Are these the only things that define the American Dream, or is there also a specific thought-process with certain emotions that is involved (such as happiness, freedom, fulfillment, etc)? **////The American Dream does fit my life, because my family lives in an average size house, and we have 3 children living in our house hold. The American Dream is attainable to anyone and everyone in life, they just have to want it bad enough. //

//** Based on your definition of the American Dream above, what if a married couple is infertile (cannot have children), and they did not graduate from high school or college, so they are not able to have a high paying job and therefore cannot pay their bills on time? Do you think that Americans in this situation would still be able to fulfill your definition of the American Dream? Do you think that the American Dream is even worth achieving in the first place? You have not connected your response to **////** The Great Gatsby **////** yet. Where do you see glimpses of the American Dream in this novel? -- Jamie **//
 * I see some glimpses of the American dream in this story with Nick, because even though he doesnt have money and power, he is still happy with his life. The american dream isnt always worth acheiving because the American Dream brings happiness, but at the same time it brings sadness and pain because you will lose friends and family over money and some power.I can honestly say that even though families that dont or cant obtain the qualities that it takes to have a high paying job and have kids, are still capable of obtaining the american dream because, neither of my parents went to college, and they both are successful in what they do, my mother is in a banking corporation and has no troubles paying the bills on time, along with my dad, we as a family live under one roof and are very blessed to have these qualities, yah my parents didnt make right desicions when in they're teenage and early 20's, but they have made a pretty wonderful life for themselves.-Kumari**

**Chapter 1-6 ** //There is sometimes a question about who exactly the protagonist is in The Great Gatsby. Is it Nick or Gatsby? Who then would be the antagonist? Explain your answer using at least three events from the story to defend your thinking.//
 * In my opinion i would have to say that the protagonist in the Great Gatsby would have to be Gatsby, yah we know about Nick and that he is the narrator, but the story is mostly about Jay Gatsby.**
 * // How does it affect you as a reader when the narrator is a different character than the protagonist? //** **The story is based on the life of Jay, about how he was when he was young and dreaming of money and power, to when he became successful in his life, by inheriting his money and obtaining his power**
 * // What type of power? How does Gatsby obtain power? //****over time. The antagonist would have to be Daisy only becasue Jay had a chance to make a living with Daisy and create a family with her, but he just missed the time, and im going to refer back to the time where Jay and Daisy met for the first time in 5 years, thats when they were both really shocked about how much the other has grown, and also they were both very nervous.**

I’m curious to know more about how you think Daisy is the antagonist. What parts of the story make you think this? Perhaps revisit and state the definition of “antagonist” in order to support and better explain your opinion that she is the antagonist. Good job bringing in the event in the story when Jay and Daisy meet. But the writing prompt asks for at least three events. Which other events that we have read about so far show the protagonist as Jay and the antagonist as Daisy? –Jamie

 //What theme(s) are becoming apparent in The Great Gatsby by this point in the book? Support your answer with at least three examples in the text up until this point.//
 * I think a theme that is comnig apparent to me would have to be that money and power doesnt equal happiness.**
 * // Good job! I definitely agree that this is a theme in the book. //****i say that because Daisy is with Tom and they have mon ey and power, but yet Daisy isnt satisfied with the relationship because for one Tom cheats and also she saw how happy her life could've been if she were to stay with Jay.**
 * // Although, Jay DOES have a lot of money… so how would her relationship with Jay be better than or different from her relationship with Tom if she is not satisfied with relationships that have money? //**


 * Again, you were supposed to include at least three examples to back up the theme. You have done a good job reading in order to come to the theme that you have mentioned here about money. Where else in the book do you notice that money and power do not equal happiness? Perhaps think about all the characters we have been introduced to (Jay, Tom, Nick, Daisy, Jordan, etc) and think about how money affects their lives. –Jamie **

//Who is the most dynamic character in this book? How (and how much) do they change? Would he/she be considered round or flat? Support your thinking with examples from the text.// N**ick is the only dynamic character in the story. Although many would argue that Gatsby was the hero,**
 * Chapter 1-7**
 * // (why would people argue that he’s a hero? What makes you think this?) //** **Gatsby’s outlook on life was exactly the same. Gatsby still believed that he could change the past. Nick, on the other hand, changed throughout the book. His entire viewpoint on the American Dream**


 * was changed He realized that the moral decay of the east had destroyed the American Dream and he had to move back west to keep that dream alive. He also realized that you “can” repeat the past. His mindset is changed and he realized that the past is doomed to repeat itself, whether it is good or bad. **
 * // (Where does he say this in the story?) //** ** Nick is a round charatcter, i say this because in the text he is the narrator, and the story follows his life. **
 * // (But what does it mean to be a round character? Doesn’t it mean more than just being the narrator?) //**

I would like you to talk more about the idea of changing the past. You mentioned that Gatsby believed he could change the past, whereas you mention that Nick believes the past is doomed to repeat itself. What part in the story made you come to these conclusions? –Jamie

//Who would be considered a foil in The Great Gatsby? Why would the author use these characters to show differences? By applying structuralism and looking for binary opposition, what values are considered important in this book?//
 * Tom Buchanan and George Wilson**
 * Tom is in many ways the opposite of Wilson. While George is weak and passive, Tom is physically strong and controlling.**
 * // What scenes in the book have showed George as weak and Tom as strong and controlling? //** **This is clearly the reason for Myrtle’s attraction to him; she feels he has a certain masculinity that her husband lacks. There is also the issue of social caste, as Tom is a wealthy member of the upper echelon and Wilson is working class. Myrtle likes this about Tom, as well, declaring that she married George not knowing of his poverty and status. You could even argue that Myrtle is attracted to Tom’s violent nature,**
 * // (How does this relate to Tom and George being foils?) //** **since she later berates her husband for being a "coward" and begs him, "Beat me!"**
 * // Do you think Myrtle was serious when she said, “Beat me!” or was she just trying to get a reaction out of her husband? //**


 * // You mention a lot about Myrtle and the importance of money and social class, which are some of the values in the novel. I would like you to explain more about how these values show that Tom and George are foils. Provide a quote or section of the novel in your written response and then explain how that quote or section shows that they are foils, since that is what this writing assignment is about. I agree with you that Tom and George are foils. I think the situation with Myrtle was very unexpected and I’m looking forward to reading more. –Jamie //

Chapters 1-9** //Choose one of the following symbols and explain what they represent. Then find three quotes in the text where this symbol appears – use MLA formats to avoid plagiarism. • Ashes and Dust • Cars and Drivers • Colors • Houses and Owners • Photography and Lenses • Flowers

Answer definitively what the theme of The Great Gatsby is. Find three quotes in the text to support your thinking.//