Team+Gryffindor

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 * XANGA BLOGS FOR GATSBY PROJECT!

Wingardium Leviosa!

Stacey P. aka Ginny Emily C. aka Harry Potter Megan S. aka Hermione Jenny S. aka Ron

Chapter 1 Characterization** Nick is unique in that as a narrator, he acknowledges the story as a book. "Only Gatsby, the man who gives his name to this book, was exempt from my reaction..." (Fitzgerald pg 2.) Also, Nick is a bystander. The observations of the other characters and the setting are from his point of view. Because of this, the readers only see through his eyes and opinions. "... I was conscious of wanting to look squarely at every one, and yet to avoid all eyes. I couldn't guess what Daisy and Tom were thinking, but I doubt if ever Miss Baker, who seemed to have mastered a certain hardy skepticism, was able utterly to put this fifth guest's shrill metallic urgency out of mind" (Fitzgerald pg 15-16.) Daisy is a grown woman yet comes off as a naive little girl. Her judging and gossiping makes her fits the stereotype of a young woman who comes from old money who caught up in her own world. "'But we heard it... We heard it from three people, so it must be true'" (Fitzgerald pg 19.) She is very flirtatious and she likes to talk about herself. So much so that she gets distracted easily from even her own daughter. "'... that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool... You see I think everything's terrible anyhow...'" Gatsby is not very active in this chapter. He is, however, mentioned briefly in a conversation. This, in addition to the last scene where he reaches out to the green light, triggers curiosity in both Nick and the reader about him. He is just very mysterious. Jordan Baker comes off intimidating to Nick when they first meet. She is so ahead of her time. She is not the flirty girl that Daisy is, but the opposite: Indifferent, cunning, in submissive, opinionated; very masculine. Tom Buchanan, Daisy's husband is very traditional, old money as well. It is obvious that he provides security from the beginning. Through his racist opinions and fear of the colored man's rising, the reader can tell that he is insecure. He is not happy with his life and resorts to having an affair to fulfill a second life.

This chapter's purpose is to set the setting and introduce the characters. Fitzgerald did so very intricately yet indirectly. It talks of the two Eggs (East and West) and describes the geographical similarities and differences in all other aspects. "I lived at West Eff, the- well, the less fashionable of the two, though this is a most superficial tag to express the bizarre and not a little sinister contrast between them." "Across the courtesy bay the white palaces of fashionable East Egg glittered along the water..." (Fitzgerald pg 5.) There is also some foreshadowing in this chapter. When Tom gets up to receive a phone call, Jordan hints that he is having an affair. "Tom;s got some woman in New York... She might have the decency not to telephone him at dinner time. Don't you think?" (Fitzgerald pg 15.) Right off the bat, the reader knows that there will be relationship drama involving Daisy and Tom. Also, when Gatsby's name is first mentioned through conversation, Daisy's response is peculiar. "'Gatsby?' demanded Daisy. 'What Gatsby?'" (Fitzgerald pg 11.) Her sudden attentiveness causes the reader to wonder about Gatsby's relationship with her.
 * Plot**

The comparison of the eggs are important to the characterizations. On pg 5, Nick describes how the shape and size of the two eggs are similar but the lifestyles in them are so different. Because of the backgrounds of all of the characters (whether they are from either West Egg or East Egg,) they come with certain connotations and understandings. The connection between the color white and the character Daisy is introduced in this chapter. "They were both in white, and their dresses were rippling and fluttering as if they had just been blown back in after a short flight around the house" (Fitzgerald pg 8.) The reader automatically pictures these pure, clean, almost ephemeral ladies. Later on, however, the reader learns that the white more so represents innocence. Through out the day Nick visits his cousin, Fitzgerald constantly describes the gradual lightness to darkness as the day goes on. The change in the lighting is really the change in the tone of the scene. "...the two women preceded us out onto a rosy-colored porch, open toward the sunset, where four candles flickered on the table in the diminished wind" ( Fitzgerald pg 11.) "For a moment the last sunshine fell with romantic affection upon her glowing face... then the glow faded, each light deserting her with lingering regret, like children leaving a pleasant street at dusk" (Fitzgerald pg 14.) "...and I was alone again in the unquiet darkness" (Fitzgerald pg 21.) When the sun first starts to set, the environment went from a light and polite to tense and uneasy. As the last of the light faded, a temporary attraction occurs in Nick towards Daisy. The poetic diction here creates a romantic tone. Finally, at the end of the chapter, Nick is left alone in the "unquiet darkness." He is very restless in thought about all of the new things exposed to him that day. Though we do not know much about Gatsby just yet, the last scene teaches us about him. He is standing there gazing out at a green light with his arms reached out. "...he gave a sudden intimation that he was content to be alone... I could have sworn he was trembling" (Fitzgerald pg 20-21.) We do not know specifically what the green light is, but it is evident that Gatsby desires to be closer to it. It is important to him and causes an overcoming of emotion.
 * Symbolism**

__**Symbolism followup** -__ 1) Different Zones of Living -- "West Egg" and the "East Egg" => Fitzgerald really emphasizes the differences between the two areas, pointing out the asymmetry throughout the novel; whether it be relationships among one another to the social classes people are in. (Quotes - Page 5 ... "I lived at West Egg, the -- well, the less fashionable....that rented for twelve of fifteen thousand a season,"...."Across the courtesy bay the white palaces.....dinner with the Tom Buchanans.") 2) Eyes - Jordan Baker surprises Nick Carraway by making eye contact. Nick feels intimidated but intrigued at the same time because Jordan has given him a new impression on women of his era. The eyes act as a window to the inside nature of her true character. (Quote - Page 8...."If she saw me out of the corner of her eyes.....having disturbed her by coming in.")

3)White dresses - Daisy and Jordan are sitting around talking and the reader realizes everything in the room is in motion whether it be the breeze to the flags. A big symbol noticed in the midft of the movement are the white dresses these two ladies are wearing. The purity and innocence the white dresses convey act as a facade because later throughout the novel we see that these women are highly intellectual and not naiive and pure as they appear.

4)Lightness/Darkness - Fitzgerald also highlights the use of light and darkness frequently throughout the first chapter. For example, on page 14 ("For a moment the last sunshine fell with romantic affection upon her glowing face....") Fitzgerald words his content as though Nick has this interest in his cousin, Daisy, when the glowing encompasses her. Furthermore, on pages 20-21, we see Gatsby engulfed in darkness longing for something or someone...triggering the reader's curiousity.

5)Greenlight - On the last page of the chapter, page 21 ("Involuntarily I glanced seaward - and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far way, that might have been the end of a dock."), the green light is introduced to the readers. This light acts as the guiding force of Gatsby's life and constantly pushes him to strive for what he desires, wealth and his beloved Daisy.

Fitzgerald highlights the theme that no matter how much wealth and fortune you may possess, this will not make up for all your happiness. We see this theme presented through Gatsby, the affluent man who seems to have it all, but as we see on the last page of the chapter, we see that despite his fortune, Gatsby is longing for someone or something else. Another theme is conveyed through Nick Carraway and his perceptions of the higher social class. Nick realizes that although one initially stands out as being oppulent and classy, in reality, the wealth can't buy your genuineness and sincerity. He has this epiphany while he is watching Daisy and Jordan converse and realizes they are gossiping. This disgusts Nick and he replies, "Their interest rather touched me and made them less remotely rich--nevertheless, I was confused and a little disgusted as I drove away (Fitzgerald pg 20)."
 * Themes**

Fitzgerald has a way of maintaining the point of what is going on. It is interesting to see which details he chooses to include and ignore. on pg 10, Nick, Tom and Daisy talk about the baby girl and bonds company. They seem like they would be important parts of all of their lives, but Fitzgerald does not include any specific names. This contributes to the focus of the scene and also, the characterization. Fitzgerald writes very poetically and descriptively. "A breeze blew through the room, blew curtains in at one end and out the other like pale flags, twisting them up toward the frosted wedding-cake of the ceiling, and then rippled over the wine-colore rug, making a shadow on it as wind does on the sea" (Fitzgerald pg 8.) This imagery creates a realistic and beautiful setting. It makes the reader feel as though he is there, feeling the breeze.
 * Writing Style**

[|**gatsby notes.doc**]
 * ch.2 symbolism and themes notes**

Chapter 2 Also common: alliteration, metaphor ||
 * Writing Style**
 * Notes ||
 * Fitzgerald’s writing is laced with literary devices. He especially makes use of personification (“ashes grow”) and detail. He uses very specific diction and word choice to get his point across.
 * Fitzgerald’s writing is laced with literary devices. He especially makes use of personification (“ashes grow”) and detail. He uses very specific diction and word choice to get his point across.
 * Fitzgerald’s writing is laced with literary devices. He especially makes use of personification (“ashes grow”) and detail. He uses very specific diction and word choice to get his point across.
 * “This is a valley of ashes – a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens; where ashes take the form of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and, finally, with a transcendent effort, of men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air,” (Fitzgerald 23).

“But above the gray land and the spasms of bleak dust which drift endlessly over it, you perceive, after a moment, the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg. The eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg are blue and gigantic – their retinas are one yard high. They look out of no face, but, instead, from a pair of enormous yellow spectacles which pass over a non-existent nose,” (Fitzgerald 23). ||


 * Plot**
 * Notes ||
 * The main focus of Chapter 2 is Tom’s mistress, Myrtle Wilson. Although she has been referenced in Chapter 1, she is not introduced to us until later. We also meet her husband, George Wilson, who has a tenuous business relationship with Tom. We learn of Tom’s brutality and his devotedness to his wife, even through his infidelity. ||
 * “He had on a dress suit and patent leather shoes, and I couldn’t keep my eyes off him, but every time he looked at me I had to pretend to be looking at the advertisement over his head. When we came into the station he was next to me, and his white shirt-front pressed against my arm,” (Fitzgerald 36).
 * The main focus of Chapter 2 is Tom’s mistress, Myrtle Wilson. Although she has been referenced in Chapter 1, she is not introduced to us until later. We also meet her husband, George Wilson, who has a tenuous business relationship with Tom. We learn of Tom’s brutality and his devotedness to his wife, even through his infidelity. ||
 * “He had on a dress suit and patent leather shoes, and I couldn’t keep my eyes off him, but every time he looked at me I had to pretend to be looking at the advertisement over his head. When we came into the station he was next to me, and his white shirt-front pressed against my arm,” (Fitzgerald 36).

“’Daisy! Daisy! Daisy!’ shouted Mrs. Wilson. ‘I’ll say it whenever I want to! Daisy! Dai—‘ Making a short deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand,” (Fitzgerald 37). ||


 * Characterization**
 * Notes ||
 * Fitzgerald has a unique way of introducing characters to his readers. When speaking of them, he devotes a paragraph to their description, usually taking negative things about the person and following them up with a related positive, a technique especially in the description of Myrtle. He details not only their appearance, but also the way they move and act, with a special attention to assumptions that could be made about them. ||
 * “She was in her middle thirties, and faintly stout, but she carried her surplus flesh sensuously as some women can. Her face, above a spotted dress of dark blue crêpe-de-chine, contained no facet or gleam of beauty, but there was an immediately perceptible vitality about her as if the nerves of her body were continually smoldering,” (Fitzgerald 25).
 * Fitzgerald has a unique way of introducing characters to his readers. When speaking of them, he devotes a paragraph to their description, usually taking negative things about the person and following them up with a related positive, a technique especially in the description of Myrtle. He details not only their appearance, but also the way they move and act, with a special attention to assumptions that could be made about them. ||
 * “She was in her middle thirties, and faintly stout, but she carried her surplus flesh sensuously as some women can. Her face, above a spotted dress of dark blue crêpe-de-chine, contained no facet or gleam of beauty, but there was an immediately perceptible vitality about her as if the nerves of her body were continually smoldering,” (Fitzgerald 25).

“The proprietor himself appeared in the door of an office, wiping his hands on a piece of waste. He was a blond, spiritless man, anæmic, and faintly handsome,” (Fitzgerald 25).

“Mr. McKee was a pale, feminine man from the flat below. He had just shaved, for there was white spot of lather on his cheekbone, and he was most respectful in his greeting to every one in the room,” (Fitzgerald 30). ||