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Mind Map by Sophie Beckingham, updated more than 1 year ago
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The Great Gatsby - Aspects of Narrative
- Chapter 1
- Flashback
- P: Nick is an
Intrusive narrator
who looks back on
his past
- E: "In my younger
and more vulnerable
years my father gave
me some
advice...Whenever
you feel like criticising
anyone...just
remember that all the
people in this world
haven't had the
advantages that
you've had.""
- A: This flashback "In my younger
years" suggests he is unreliable. He is
looking back on the past and his
memories will be distorted by the
things he has witnessed throughout
the book. Also, why is his father telling
him this? This dialogue makes the
readers question the how reliable Nick
is as later he contradicts himself
saying that he is "inclines to reserve all
judgements". His father may be telling
him this because he knows Nick judges
people for being lower then him. Also,
structurally, this builds Nick's
characterisation for later on in the
narrative.
- P: Nick is an
Intrusive narrator
who looks back on
his past
- Symbolism
- P: The symbolism
of the green light
highlights Gatsby's
dream.
- E: "He stretched out
his arms towards the
dark water in a
curious way...I could
have sworn to seen
him trembling...and
distinguished
nothing except a
single green light."
- A: Connotes envy, sick,
jealousy, hope. By him
reaching out and
"trembling" shows how bad
he wants to achieve his
dream. This hope keeps
Gatsby alive and fighting
for Daisy. It also adds to
the mysteriousness of
Gatsby. Reflects the
American Dream
- P: The symbolism
of the green light
highlights Gatsby's
dream.
- Setting
- P: The setting shows
how class were
divided in society
- E: "I lived at
West Egg, the -
well, the less
fashionable of
the two"
- This foreshadows how Gatsby will
never end up with Daisy. In West
Egg, there are people who are rich
from making their own money and
they didn't inherit it. East Egg is
fashionable but faking its appealing
surfaces hides the realities. This
portrays the different status of
Daisy and Tom depict they will
never be together, foreshadowing a
tragic ending
- P: The setting shows
how class were
divided in society
- Foreshadowing
- P: the description of
Gatsby's mansion,
mentioning the pool
foreshadows the death
of Gatsby's death
- E: "Spanking new
under a thin beard
of raw ivy, and a
marble swimming
pool...it was
Gatsby's mansion"
- A: Includes the description
of the swimming pool to
highlight it's importance.
The swimming pool has
great significance at the
ending. The extravagant
image that Fitzgerald
presents the readers with
of Gatsby's mansion
suggests that this story can
be classed as a romantic
novel. How much Gatsby
'loves' Daisy. Gatsby's
mansion is often reflected
back to by Fitzgerald
throughout the narrative.
- P: the description of
Gatsby's mansion,
mentioning the pool
foreshadows the death
of Gatsby's death
- Use of Tenses
- P: Creates a sense of
fractured reality
- "What Gatsby represented"
vs "I not likely shall ever
find again"
- Nick is continuously switching the
perspective from which he tells the
story, he frequently interchanges the
past and present tenses which evokes a
feeling of uncertainty. The constantly
shifting time settings create a sense of
fractured reality, and a reality that is
dependent on its relationship to the
past. Furthermore, there is underlying
analepsis within the chapter, as; "What
Gatsby represented",which has a
implication of death, and here Nick is
talking about a character who he has not
even met yet within the narrative.
- Nick is continuously switching the
perspective from which he tells the
story, he frequently interchanges the
past and present tenses which evokes a
feeling of uncertainty. The constantly
shifting time settings create a sense of
fractured reality, and a reality that is
dependent on its relationship to the
past. Furthermore, there is underlying
analepsis within the chapter, as; "What
Gatsby represented",which has a
implication of death, and here Nick is
talking about a character who he has not
even met yet within the narrative.
- "What Gatsby represented"
vs "I not likely shall ever
find again"
- P: Creates a sense of
fractured reality
- Flashback
- Chapter 2
- Setting
- P: The setting
highlights the
division of class
- E: "This is the valley of ashes - a
fantastic farm where ashes
grow...and grotesque
gardens...ashes take the forms
of houses and chimneys and
rising smoke."
- A: The valley of ashes is a place of
poverty and is a dumping ground. It
can be seen as the physical dumping
ground of dumping waste but also the
literal dumping ground where people
dump their problems. The upper class
ignore the reality of the valley of
ashes. Fitzgerald also uses lexis of
destruction. "ashes" "smoke" and
"grotesque". The increasingly
addictive hedonistic lifestyle results in
an uncontrollable and ugly growth, a
mutation of the morals of society
until they are completely wiped out
and only destruction remains.
- P: The setting
highlights the
division of class
- Narrator
- P: Nick's reconstruction
of drunkenness makes
him unreliable
- E: "Everything that
happened has a dim,
hazy cast over it"
- A: For most of the novel Nick is presented as
an advocate of sobriety, he does not seem
to drink as much as the rest of the New
York inhabitants, which permits his
narration to have more validity for the
majority. However in chapter 2, his state
of inebriation brings him to the point of
incoherency and he is unable to
comprehend events. For instance we do
not really know if Nick heard whole
conversations and quite understood the
lead up to Myrtle’s nose getting broken.
Furthermore, there is a gap in the
narrative, highlighting the effect of
discontinuity with an ellipsis at the end,
“Beauty and the Beast . . . Loneliness . . . “
formulating a sense of an irrational world
devoid of meaning.
- A: For most of the novel Nick is presented as
an advocate of sobriety, he does not seem
to drink as much as the rest of the New
York inhabitants, which permits his
narration to have more validity for the
majority. However in chapter 2, his state
of inebriation brings him to the point of
incoherency and he is unable to
comprehend events. For instance we do
not really know if Nick heard whole
conversations and quite understood the
lead up to Myrtle’s nose getting broken.
Furthermore, there is a gap in the
narrative, highlighting the effect of
discontinuity with an ellipsis at the end,
“Beauty and the Beast . . . Loneliness . . . “
formulating a sense of an irrational world
devoid of meaning.
- E: "Everything that
happened has a dim,
hazy cast over it"
- P: Nick's reconstruction
of drunkenness makes
him unreliable
- Symbolism
- P: The eyes of TJ
Eckleburg can be
symbolise God.
- E: "The eyes of TJ
Eckleburg are blue
and gigantic...Doctor
Ekleburg's
persistent stare"
- A: The eyes are referred to as
"gigantic" which makes the
readers feel as though they are
the eyes of God constantly
watching society. These eyes
watch everything go wrong and
they watch upon the
destruction of lives. The eyes
judge society and the morals of
the people. These can also be
seen as the most sinister eyes
in throughout the narrative.
Wilson sees the old optician
advert as the eyes of God, this
could also symbolise that a
society that needs "vision
correcting" in order to see its
faults.
- P: The eyes of TJ
Eckleburg can be
symbolise God.
- Speeding of Time
- P: Reflects the pace
of the Jazz Age
- E: “people disappeared,
reappeared”, “It was nine
o’clock-almost immediately
afterwards I looked at my
watch and found it was ten”
- A: indicative of the fast-paced
lifestyle enjoyed by the
population of New York in the
Jazz Age. It can furthermore
reflect Nick’s confusion, thus
showing he does not fit in in this
world. Moreover, it generates a
notion of futility “people
disappeared, reappeared”, with
a concept delivered that
everything in this society is
temporary, and reflects the
changing nature of the 20s.
- A: indicative of the fast-paced
lifestyle enjoyed by the
population of New York in the
Jazz Age. It can furthermore
reflect Nick’s confusion, thus
showing he does not fit in in this
world. Moreover, it generates a
notion of futility “people
disappeared, reappeared”, with
a concept delivered that
everything in this society is
temporary, and reflects the
changing nature of the 20s.
- E: “people disappeared,
reappeared”, “It was nine
o’clock-almost immediately
afterwards I looked at my
watch and found it was ten”
- P: Reflects the pace
of the Jazz Age
- Setting
- Chapter 3
- Setting
- P:used to emphasise
the extravagance and
materialism which
seemingly represents
Gatsby’s character.
- E: • The use of ‘Glistening hors’
d’oeuvre’ highlight Gatsby’s
superiority as well as the
adjective represents
unattainability- also
representative of Daisy’s
character, he desires to attain
her but he is unable to.
- A: Gatsby uses lavish parties
as a method of social control
and an attempt to impress
Daisy; the concept of wealth
as it highlights Gatsby’s
hedonistic desires and the
theme of appearances
- A: Gatsby uses lavish parties
as a method of social control
and an attempt to impress
Daisy; the concept of wealth
as it highlights Gatsby’s
hedonistic desires and the
theme of appearances
- E: • The use of ‘Glistening hors’
d’oeuvre’ highlight Gatsby’s
superiority as well as the
adjective represents
unattainability- also
representative of Daisy’s
character, he desires to attain
her but he is unable to.
- P:used to emphasise
the extravagance and
materialism which
seemingly represents
Gatsby’s character.
- Symbolism
- P: Indicates the
facade that is
present
- E: "pulpless
halves" and
"uncut
- A: Gatsby’s library of uncut books also remain
to be a symbol for the illusion faced by many
of the characters. This also represents the
concept of appearances and the fact that
lavish lifestyles such as this are hard to
maintain, and although may seem attainable,
in reality they are not durable. The delivery
of oranges and lemons, and the use of
servants illustrate the artificial creation of
success and wealth. Symbolism is shown in
the pyramid of oranges halves which
represent the lavish beauty of the hedonistic
lifestyle while also contrasting to chowing
the by-product of capitalism meaning one
can never be whole- Gatsby can never be
whole without the attainment of Daisy.
- A: Gatsby’s library of uncut books also remain
to be a symbol for the illusion faced by many
of the characters. This also represents the
concept of appearances and the fact that
lavish lifestyles such as this are hard to
maintain, and although may seem attainable,
in reality they are not durable. The delivery
of oranges and lemons, and the use of
servants illustrate the artificial creation of
success and wealth. Symbolism is shown in
the pyramid of oranges halves which
represent the lavish beauty of the hedonistic
lifestyle while also contrasting to chowing
the by-product of capitalism meaning one
can never be whole- Gatsby can never be
whole without the attainment of Daisy.
- E: "pulpless
halves" and
"uncut
- P: Indicates the
facade that is
present
- Narration
- P: The homodiegetic narration
- E: "quality of
eternal
reassurance"
- A: Nick clearly immediately grows
an attachment and appreciation for
Gatsby and feels comfortable in his
presence, his smiles reportedly had
‘a quality of eternal reassurance in
it’. This to an extent also shows the
depth of trust Nick has immediately
gained for Gatsby which forces the
reader to also adopt such feelings.
Nick therefore has the potential to
be swayed by emotional factors and
is therefore unable to act as an
impartial spectator as he forms
opinions on characters which affect
his judgement and accuracy.
- A: Nick clearly immediately grows
an attachment and appreciation for
Gatsby and feels comfortable in his
presence, his smiles reportedly had
‘a quality of eternal reassurance in
it’. This to an extent also shows the
depth of trust Nick has immediately
gained for Gatsby which forces the
reader to also adopt such feelings.
Nick therefore has the potential to
be swayed by emotional factors and
is therefore unable to act as an
impartial spectator as he forms
opinions on characters which affect
his judgement and accuracy.
- E: "quality of
eternal
reassurance"
- P: The homodiegetic narration
- Foreshadowing
- P: The product of
hedonistic lifestyle is
tragedy
- E: "New coupe"
- • Owl Eyes was a
passenger in a ‘new coupé’
with the wheel detached.
The very drunk guest
insists he was not driving,
that he knows next to
nothing about driving. This
accident seems to
foreshadow the later one
when Daisy is driving the
“death car” which kills
Myrtle. Daisy does not take
the blame and take
account for her actions
similar to the man
described as ‘owl eyes’.
- • Owl Eyes was a
passenger in a ‘new coupé’
with the wheel detached.
The very drunk guest
insists he was not driving,
that he knows next to
nothing about driving. This
accident seems to
foreshadow the later one
when Daisy is driving the
“death car” which kills
Myrtle. Daisy does not take
the blame and take
account for her actions
similar to the man
described as ‘owl eyes’.
- E: "New coupe"
- P: The product of
hedonistic lifestyle is
tragedy
- Setting
- Chapter 4
- Narration
- Retrospective narration
- Allows a homodiegetic account of
Daisy and Gatsby's first encounter
so that any gaps in the narrative
are due to Jordan instead of Nick
for a change. Reader can fully
immerse themselves in the
memory of Jordan's first hand
encounter and captures the mood.
Structurally placed at the end so
that when Gatsby arrives at Nick's
house in chapter 5 there is an
initial introduction to the situation
- "Said Jordan Baker...I was walking"
- Allows a homodiegetic account of
Daisy and Gatsby's first encounter
so that any gaps in the narrative
are due to Jordan instead of Nick
for a change. Reader can fully
immerse themselves in the
memory of Jordan's first hand
encounter and captures the mood.
Structurally placed at the end so
that when Gatsby arrives at Nick's
house in chapter 5 there is an
initial introduction to the situation
- Retrospective narration
- Time
- "One sunday morning"
- Religious
connotations
ironic due to lack
of morality
present within
the novel
- Religious
connotations
ironic due to lack
of morality
present within
the novel
- "July 5th 1922"
- Aftermath of iconic holiday
and this Gatsby's party. Such
celebrations used to display
wealth of the new rich as
they did not have
connections of the old rich
- Aftermath of iconic holiday
and this Gatsby's party. Such
celebrations used to display
wealth of the new rich as
they did not have
connections of the old rich
- "One october
day in 1917"
- Towards end of WW1 surrounded
by destruction, Daisy lives an
uncorrupted life. The revolvment
around her in the middle of
destruction is proleptic as it
associates Daisy with being the
centre of attention
- Towards end of WW1 surrounded
by destruction, Daisy lives an
uncorrupted life. The revolvment
around her in the middle of
destruction is proleptic as it
associates Daisy with being the
centre of attention
- "One sunday morning"
- Setting
- P: As more layers of
Gatsby's identity is
uncovered
- E: "in white heaps and
sugar leaps" "gorgeous
car...swollen here and
there in its monstrous
length" "presbyterian
nymphs on the ceiling"
- First quote portrays the way in
which New York is built upon
materialism and consumerism.
Second phallic imagery connotes
the masculinity of wealth and the
inability of women to gain their
own money within society. Proof
that even with looser morals, 1920s
America was still dominated by
men. Finally there is irony in the
religious symbolism within a
setting in which corrupt men and
illegal business operate. Provides a
sense of judgement, also as if old
rich are judging the ways in which
the new rich get money.
- First quote portrays the way in
which New York is built upon
materialism and consumerism.
Second phallic imagery connotes
the masculinity of wealth and the
inability of women to gain their
own money within society. Proof
that even with looser morals, 1920s
America was still dominated by
men. Finally there is irony in the
religious symbolism within a
setting in which corrupt men and
illegal business operate. Provides a
sense of judgement, also as if old
rich are judging the ways in which
the new rich get money.
- E: "in white heaps and
sugar leaps" "gorgeous
car...swollen here and
there in its monstrous
length" "presbyterian
nymphs on the ceiling"
- P: As more layers of
Gatsby's identity is
uncovered
- Symbolism
- Cheating
- Way in which the new rich accomplish
the american dream. Also cheating in
sport (Jordan) which provides insight
into the corruption within the upper
class and their ability to manipulate a
situation to their advantage. Jordan is
a woman however so maybe this is
the only way she can succeed.
- "Fixed the
world
series"
- Way in which the new rich accomplish
the american dream. Also cheating in
sport (Jordan) which provides insight
into the corruption within the upper
class and their ability to manipulate a
situation to their advantage. Jordan is
a woman however so maybe this is
the only way she can succeed.
- Valley of Ashes
- Symbol of capitalist
waste. Symbolic of the
unpleasant journey
taken to achieve the
american dream, just as
Gatsby and Nick take an
unpleasant journey into
New York
- "Opened out
on both sides
of us"
- Symbol of capitalist
waste. Symbolic of the
unpleasant journey
taken to achieve the
american dream, just as
Gatsby and Nick take an
unpleasant journey into
New York
- Idolisation
- Link between Gatsby and the symbol
of hope because they are spreading
Gatsby's influence of happiness and
drunkenness over the new rich
population. Could also be interpreted
as NIck and Gatsby chasing the ilght
away as Nick encorages Gatsby's
pursuit of the american dream through
corruption and immortality
- "Scattered light
through half
Long Island city
- Link between Gatsby and the symbol
of hope because they are spreading
Gatsby's influence of happiness and
drunkenness over the new rich
population. Could also be interpreted
as NIck and Gatsby chasing the ilght
away as Nick encorages Gatsby's
pursuit of the american dream through
corruption and immortality
- Cheating
- Prolepsis
- "Old metropole"
"Filled with faces
dead and gone"
- Wolfsheim reminiscing on his past
which seems very similar to Nick's
present. His friend dying
foreshadows Nick's friend Gatsby
dying. Shows how corruption can
provide downfall. Also Daisy and
Tom and all the other
acquaintances who are gone which
reflects on the brevity and
superficiality of the relationships
made within the confinements of
the hedonistic lifestyle
- Wolfsheim reminiscing on his past
which seems very similar to Nick's
present. His friend dying
foreshadows Nick's friend Gatsby
dying. Shows how corruption can
provide downfall. Also Daisy and
Tom and all the other
acquaintances who are gone which
reflects on the brevity and
superficiality of the relationships
made within the confinements of
the hedonistic lifestyle
- "Old metropole"
"Filled with faces
dead and gone"
- Narration
- Chapter 5
- Setting
- "admired the gardens, the
sparkling odor of jonquils and
the frothy odor of hawthorn
and plum blossoms and the
pale gold odor of
kiss-me-at-the-gate."
- Display of Gatsby's excessive
wealth. Idyllic setting, like his
dream of his life with Daisy,
also focuses on the necessity of
appearance in establishing
status. The repetition of floral
imagery in the first bit at
Gatsby's house connotes her
importance to him and the
obsessive nature of his pursuit.
- Display of Gatsby's excessive
wealth. Idyllic setting, like his
dream of his life with Daisy,
also focuses on the necessity of
appearance in establishing
status. The repetition of floral
imagery in the first bit at
Gatsby's house connotes her
importance to him and the
obsessive nature of his pursuit.
- "admired the gardens, the
sparkling odor of jonquils and
the frothy odor of hawthorn
and plum blossoms and the
pale gold odor of
kiss-me-at-the-gate."
- Imagery
- "Overwound clock"
- Gatsby's adolescent
dream has passed its
point of being able to
succeed. Trying to
retrieve something
unattainable from
another lifetime.
- Gatsby's adolescent
dream has passed its
point of being able to
succeed. Trying to
retrieve something
unattainable from
another lifetime.
- "Enchanted objects"
- Correlates with semantic
field of fantasy, as Daisy's
maiden name is 'Fay' which
implies that she and Gatsby
are from different world's
and foreshadowing that
they will never be together
- Correlates with semantic
field of fantasy, as Daisy's
maiden name is 'Fay' which
implies that she and Gatsby
are from different world's
and foreshadowing that
they will never be together
- "Pouring
rain"
"Soggy" "cry stormily"
- Pathetic fallacy, demonstrates
Gatsby's turbulent anxiety prior
to Daisy's arrival. The rain clears
once he and Daisy have
reconciled. The relation to later
when Daisy cries stormily
because she could have been
with the man she loved, if only it
were not for the barriers
between their two classes
- Pathetic fallacy, demonstrates
Gatsby's turbulent anxiety prior
to Daisy's arrival. The rain clears
once he and Daisy have
reconciled. The relation to later
when Daisy cries stormily
because she could have been
with the man she loved, if only it
were not for the barriers
between their two classes
- "Overwound clock"
- Narration
- P: Nick becomes a source
of credibility and
importance for the first
time
- Homodiegetic narration throughout,
improving the versimilitude of his account as
he is present for all events described. Also
results in gaps in the narrative“Leaving them
there together”, and Nick seeing Gatsby's
change from "trembling fingers" to "new well
being". Improves credibility as it is not just
surmises of the conversations and is
immediate emotions. Nick's position of
omniscient narrator is reversed, he becomes a
crucial part of the events by invitng Daisy
round so she and Gatsby could meet again.
Also the reader is suspended in eager
anticipation as to what is going to happen
next.
- Homodiegetic narration throughout,
improving the versimilitude of his account as
he is present for all events described. Also
results in gaps in the narrative“Leaving them
there together”, and Nick seeing Gatsby's
change from "trembling fingers" to "new well
being". Improves credibility as it is not just
surmises of the conversations and is
immediate emotions. Nick's position of
omniscient narrator is reversed, he becomes a
crucial part of the events by invitng Daisy
round so she and Gatsby could meet again.
Also the reader is suspended in eager
anticipation as to what is going to happen
next.
- P: Nick becomes a source
of credibility and
importance for the first
time
- Symbolism
- His mansion "catches the light"
- Analepsis of the green light
in chapter one. Symbolises
Gatsby's pursuit of Daisy.
Gatsby attempts to entice
Daisy through his affluence
and possessions., here
Fitzgerald is showing that
Gatsby believes he can catch
the light, symbolic of Daisy.
- Analepsis of the green light
in chapter one. Symbolises
Gatsby's pursuit of Daisy.
Gatsby attempts to entice
Daisy through his affluence
and possessions., here
Fitzgerald is showing that
Gatsby believes he can catch
the light, symbolic of Daisy.
- "Colossal
significance
of that light
had now
vanished
forever"
- Had previously represented
the distance between the
two, where it had once
seemed "as close as a star to
the moon" he believed that it
had now become nothing
more than a "green light on a
dock" now that he had Daisy
by his side which suggests
that for Gatsby at this
moment in time, his
American Dream is complete
- Had previously represented
the distance between the
two, where it had once
seemed "as close as a star to
the moon" he believed that it
had now become nothing
more than a "green light on a
dock" now that he had Daisy
by his side which suggests
that for Gatsby at this
moment in time, his
American Dream is complete
- His mansion "catches the light"
- Lack of dialogue
- May have acted
as an anticlimax
- Emotions shown
through character
actions such as
"toppled down
the stairs"
- state further captured
by Nick's omniscient
narration, from
"embarassment" to
"wonder" to "joy"
- state further captured
by Nick's omniscient
narration, from
"embarassment" to
"wonder" to "joy"
- Emotions shown
through character
actions such as
"toppled down
the stairs"
- May have acted
as an anticlimax
- Setting
- Chapter 6
- Setting
- Natural imagery
- "leaves were falling"
"moonlight" "bustle
among the stars"
- could suggest Gatsby's
love for Daisy is pure
and natural and not
corrupted by
superficiality
- could suggest Gatsby's
love for Daisy is pure
and natural and not
corrupted by
superficiality
- "desolate path
of fruit rinds and
discarded favors
and crushed
flowers"
- reminder that
decadence leads to
decay, also that
Daisy could end up
'crushed' as a result
of her immortality
- reminder that
decadence leads to
decay, also that
Daisy could end up
'crushed' as a result
of her immortality
- "leaves were falling"
"moonlight" "bustle
among the stars"
- Natural imagery
- Analeptic exposition
- Disperses ‘wild rumours’ of Gatsby’s past created
through layers of previous metanarrative
strands: ‘oxford man’ ‘German spy’ ‘young rajah’.
Parents described as; ‘shiftless and unsuccessful
farm people’ – ‘unsuccessful’ failure in material
terms and ‘shiftless’ suggesting flawed characters
with lack of purpose and drive. Acts as an
anti-climax: Gatsby has rejected his past
preferring the misconceptions • Nick is also
unable to accept their simplicity, describing
Gatsby’s as springing from ‘the platonic
conception of himself’. Gatsby’s ability to
transcend his origins demonstrate his boundless
capacity for hope which captivates Nick
‘extraordinary gift for hope’
- Disperses ‘wild rumours’ of Gatsby’s past created
through layers of previous metanarrative
strands: ‘oxford man’ ‘German spy’ ‘young rajah’.
Parents described as; ‘shiftless and unsuccessful
farm people’ – ‘unsuccessful’ failure in material
terms and ‘shiftless’ suggesting flawed characters
with lack of purpose and drive. Acts as an
anti-climax: Gatsby has rejected his past
preferring the misconceptions • Nick is also
unable to accept their simplicity, describing
Gatsby’s as springing from ‘the platonic
conception of himself’. Gatsby’s ability to
transcend his origins demonstrate his boundless
capacity for hope which captivates Nick
‘extraordinary gift for hope’
- Narration
- "Dan Cody inhospitably died"
- The reader isn’t told how
Dan Cody dies = his life &
Gatsby’s past is still just
as mysterious as it way
before
- Gaps
- The reader isn’t told how
Dan Cody dies = his life &
Gatsby’s past is still just
as mysterious as it way
before
- "Where the devil he met Daisy?"
- Gap in Tom’s
narrative knowledge
of his wife’s life = the
reader is more aware
of things that should
concern him than he
is
- Gap in Tom’s
narrative knowledge
of his wife’s life = the
reader is more aware
of things that should
concern him than he
is
- "Very much later"
- Fitzgerald uses the retrospective narration of
Nick to testify his motivation for telling the
legend (as a character he idolises Gatsby, as a
narrator reports events with a desire for the
reader to see his perspective). However by
withholding this information the reader has
indulged in Nicks fantasy – but the question of
what else Nick has not revealed becomes
prominent . This feeling is emphasized when
Nick says at this point he believed: ‘everything
and nothing about him’ • His outlook on Gatsby
is dichotomous and one of two extremes,
rationalist and romantic – his indecisiveness on
the matter expresses his inability to narrate
events objectively and with a detached state of
mind as they transpire
- Fitzgerald uses the retrospective narration of
Nick to testify his motivation for telling the
legend (as a character he idolises Gatsby, as a
narrator reports events with a desire for the
reader to see his perspective). However by
withholding this information the reader has
indulged in Nicks fantasy – but the question of
what else Nick has not revealed becomes
prominent . This feeling is emphasized when
Nick says at this point he believed: ‘everything
and nothing about him’ • His outlook on Gatsby
is dichotomous and one of two extremes,
rationalist and romantic – his indecisiveness on
the matter expresses his inability to narrate
events objectively and with a detached state of
mind as they transpire
- "Dan Cody inhospitably died"
- Symbolism
- ‘the rock of the
world was
founded
securely on a
fairy’s wing’
- metaphorically alluding to
Daisy because of her maiden
name "Fay", and rock also has
connotations of diamonds and
thereby suggests that the
security of wealth is Daisy's
focus, and that the wealth was
always going to stay with
people like the east eggers or
the old rich
- metaphorically alluding to
Daisy because of her maiden
name "Fay", and rock also has
connotations of diamonds and
thereby suggests that the
security of wealth is Daisy's
focus, and that the wealth was
always going to stay with
people like the east eggers or
the old rich
- ‘the rock of the
world was
founded
securely on a
fairy’s wing’
- Setting
- Chapter 7
- Narration
- Homodiegetic
narration but
not throughout
- Use of reported
text "My Finn
informed me"
meaning what
Nick is saying
may not be true
- Fitzgerald uses Michaelis
perspective eliminating
Nick from the scene of
Myrtle's death. This is
necessary because Nick
was not there.
- Fitzgerald uses Michaelis
perspective eliminating
Nick from the scene of
Myrtle's death. This is
necessary because Nick
was not there.
- Use of reported
text "My Finn
informed me"
meaning what
Nick is saying
may not be true
- Homodiegetic
narration but
not throughout
- Symbolism
- Light
- "when curiosity about
Gatsby was at its highest
that the lights in his house
failed to go on one
Saturday night"
- All of his parties held at
night with artificial light.
Light represents hopes and
dreams. The artificial light
represents the illusion of
Gatsby's parties. Now that
he has Daisy, Gatsby no
longer needs the illusions of
the parties to lure her in, as
he can embrace reality
- All of his parties held at
night with artificial light.
Light represents hopes and
dreams. The artificial light
represents the illusion of
Gatsby's parties. Now that
he has Daisy, Gatsby no
longer needs the illusions of
the parties to lure her in, as
he can embrace reality
- "when curiosity about
Gatsby was at its highest
that the lights in his house
failed to go on one
Saturday night"
- Doctor Eckleburg's Eyes
- "Over the ashheaps
the giant eyes of
Doctor TJ Eckleburg
kept their vigil"
- Blue of his eyes represents God
watching America as well as the
American Dream. The yellow rim
of the glasses symbolises the
corruption of the american
dream. The purposeful watching
of the destruction.
- Blue of his eyes represents God
watching America as well as the
American Dream. The yellow rim
of the glasses symbolises the
corruption of the american
dream. The purposeful watching
of the destruction.
- "Over the ashheaps
the giant eyes of
Doctor TJ Eckleburg
kept their vigil"
- Light
- Setting
- Heat "broiling"
"warmest day
of the summer"
- Symbolises coming conflict and
foreshadows the climax of
emotions to lead to Myrtle's
death. Heat also depicts mix
and confusion of emotions,
Daisy recognises that "it's so hot
and everything's confused"
- Plaza hotel "the room
was large and stuffy" vs
valley of ashes where
"death car"
- The lavish display of hedonism
within these lavish settings
where the illusion is held up by
money and pretenses, and
then the valley of ashes where
the pretenses disitegrate and
result in disastrous
consequences
- The lavish display of hedonism
within these lavish settings
where the illusion is held up by
money and pretenses, and
then the valley of ashes where
the pretenses disitegrate and
result in disastrous
consequences
- Symbolises coming conflict and
foreshadows the climax of
emotions to lead to Myrtle's
death. Heat also depicts mix
and confusion of emotions,
Daisy recognises that "it's so hot
and everything's confused"
- Heat "broiling"
"warmest day
of the summer"
- Dialogue
- Combines Nick's
commentary with
lively and varied
dramatic scenes
- Daisy: "what'll we do with
ourselves this afternoon"
- Thinks about her future knowing
momentarily she is with Tom. Her
tone shows one of despair, with the
prose "cried" indicating she is
dreading the future before it
happens. Mirrored by Nick at the
end of the chapter saying there will
be a "decade of loneliness"
- Thinks about her future knowing
momentarily she is with Tom. Her
tone shows one of despair, with the
prose "cried" indicating she is
dreading the future before it
happens. Mirrored by Nick at the
end of the chapter saying there will
be a "decade of loneliness"
- "Why not let
her alone old
sport"
- Gatsby noticeably stands up
to Tom. Although he is issuing
a challenge, he still uses 'old
sport' showing he is stuck in
his habit of trying hard to
make friends, using the upper
class english phrase. Tom is
still a highly respected person
with many connections.
- Gatsby noticeably stands up
to Tom. Although he is issuing
a challenge, he still uses 'old
sport' showing he is stuck in
his habit of trying hard to
make friends, using the upper
class english phrase. Tom is
still a highly respected person
with many connections.
- "You loved me too"
with the
emphasised too
along with the
narrative prose "he
repeated"
- indicates his
incredulity that Daisy
actually loved this man,
and shows how an
important part of his
american dream is that
she only loves him
- indicates his
incredulity that Daisy
actually loved this man,
and shows how an
important part of his
american dream is that
she only loves him
- Daisy: "what'll we do with
ourselves this afternoon"
- Combines Nick's
commentary with
lively and varied
dramatic scenes
- Narration
- Chapter 8
- Time Sequencing
- the strange story of his youth with
Dan Cody - This narrative was
presented by Nick in Chapter 6 but
chronologically is told on the final
morning of Gatsby’s life. It leads into
the story of his relationship with Daisy,
from Gatsby’s point of view. This
narrative has already been told from
Jordan’s point of view in Chapter 4.
- the strange story of his youth with
Dan Cody - This narrative was
presented by Nick in Chapter 6 but
chronologically is told on the final
morning of Gatsby’s life. It leads into
the story of his relationship with Daisy,
from Gatsby’s point of view. This
narrative has already been told from
Jordan’s point of view in Chapter 4.
- Narration
- Heterodiagetic and intradiegetic
narration, use of Gatsby;s voice,
Jordan's, George Wilson's
- Nick retelling
his experience
and what he
had heard
- "You're worth the whole
damn bunch"=emotional
bias"
- "You're worth the whole
damn bunch"=emotional
bias"
- Nick retelling
his experience
and what he
had heard
- Heterodiagetic and intradiegetic
narration, use of Gatsby;s voice,
Jordan's, George Wilson's
- Symbolism
- Pool
- Symbolizes Gatsby's dream of luxury, which he never
fully realizes -- neither in social status nor in his
relationship with Daisy. The old rich never fully accept
him into their society, and Daisy never leaves Tom. He
tries to retrieve some of the dream in the end, when
goes to the pool for the last time before it is drained.
The blue color of the water in the pool also represents
illusion in color imagery. At the beginning of the
chapter, Gatsby's gardener asks him if he should drain
the pool because "leaves will start falling pretty soon,
and then there 's always trouble with pipes."
and Gatsby replies with"don't do it today, you know, old
sport, I've never used that pool all summer?" These
conversation suggests that Gatsby never actually
realized his dream to capture Daisy or the world she
represents. It shows though that in the end he is still
trapped in his illusion.
- Symbolizes Gatsby's dream of luxury, which he never
fully realizes -- neither in social status nor in his
relationship with Daisy. The old rich never fully accept
him into their society, and Daisy never leaves Tom. He
tries to retrieve some of the dream in the end, when
goes to the pool for the last time before it is drained.
The blue color of the water in the pool also represents
illusion in color imagery. At the beginning of the
chapter, Gatsby's gardener asks him if he should drain
the pool because "leaves will start falling pretty soon,
and then there 's always trouble with pipes."
and Gatsby replies with"don't do it today, you know, old
sport, I've never used that pool all summer?" These
conversation suggests that Gatsby never actually
realized his dream to capture Daisy or the world she
represents. It shows though that in the end he is still
trapped in his illusion.
- Fallen Leaves
- The leaves near the pool symbolize the
downfall of Gatsby’s life. When the
gardener tells Gatsby that the “leaves
will start falling pretty soon()” it reminds
us of fall, a time of decay. At the end of
the chapter, after Gatsby is shot, “the
touch of a cluster of leaves revolved it [
the rubber mattress with Gatsby’s body
on it] slowly, tracing, like the leg of
transit, a thin red circle in the water. ”
which represent the end of Gatsby's live.
- The leaves near the pool symbolize the
downfall of Gatsby’s life. When the
gardener tells Gatsby that the “leaves
will start falling pretty soon()” it reminds
us of fall, a time of decay. At the end of
the chapter, after Gatsby is shot, “the
touch of a cluster of leaves revolved it [
the rubber mattress with Gatsby’s body
on it] slowly, tracing, like the leg of
transit, a thin red circle in the water. ”
which represent the end of Gatsby's live.
- Pool
- Prolepsis
- "I couldn't sleep"
"half sick between
grotesque reality and
savage frightening
dreams"
- "I couldn't sleep"
"half sick between
grotesque reality and
savage frightening
dreams"
- Time Sequencing
- Chapter 9
- Lexical Feild
- "thick drizzle" "soggy" "straggled"
- Sombre mood of the narrative,
anticlimatic and depressing, as is the
lack of mourners at Gatsby's funeral
and the inferred lack of respect and
overall recognition afforded to
Gatsby. Illustrates he may have
reached the status he wanted, but
never the identity, especially as Daisy
did not turned up, that would have
been all he cared about
- Sombre mood of the narrative,
anticlimatic and depressing, as is the
lack of mourners at Gatsby's funeral
and the inferred lack of respect and
overall recognition afforded to
Gatsby. Illustrates he may have
reached the status he wanted, but
never the identity, especially as Daisy
did not turned up, that would have
been all he cared about
- "thick drizzle" "soggy" "straggled"
- Symbolism
- Hope
- 'believed in the green light' not
just the light on Daisy's dock, but
the moral of carrying on, the 'go
ahead' his language portrays him
as an idol, a 'god' and a man to
follow.
- 'believed in the green light' not
just the light on Daisy's dock, but
the moral of carrying on, the 'go
ahead' his language portrays him
as an idol, a 'god' and a man to
follow.
- Hope
- Narration
- Retrospective Narration
- "After two years"
- Lack of reliability, such
information has been
reported after two years,
simply cannot be accurate.
Despite the lapse in time,
Gatsby’s influence is still
prevalent, emphasising Nick's
idolisation.
- Lack of reliability, such
information has been
reported after two years,
simply cannot be accurate.
Despite the lapse in time,
Gatsby’s influence is still
prevalent, emphasising Nick's
idolisation.
- "After two years"
- Retrospective Narration
- Setting
- Shifts in linear fashion
- Jordan accuses him of being a "bad driver"
- Analeptic to Myrtle's death and a
implication of a poor golfer. Alluding
to Jordan having to cheat to win, and
also is a structural echo to the
metanarrative introduced in chapter
1 where Gatsby reaches out to bridge
the gap between him and the 'single
green light' which ultimately he
failed.
- Analeptic to Myrtle's death and a
implication of a poor golfer. Alluding
to Jordan having to cheat to win, and
also is a structural echo to the
metanarrative introduced in chapter
1 where Gatsby reaches out to bridge
the gap between him and the 'single
green light' which ultimately he
failed.
- Jordan accuses him of being a "bad driver"
- Epistolary form
- "Mixed up in this thing"
- Gangster culture, highlighting the
theme of corruption and Wolfsheim's
reluctance to attend Gatsby's funeral
and his writing a letter so as to keep a
distance from his links with Gatsby and
bootlegging, as a method of self
preservation, indicating the lack of
sentimentality and high selfishness
that ran rampant in the Jazz Age
- Gangster culture, highlighting the
theme of corruption and Wolfsheim's
reluctance to attend Gatsby's funeral
and his writing a letter so as to keep a
distance from his links with Gatsby and
bootlegging, as a method of self
preservation, indicating the lack of
sentimentality and high selfishness
that ran rampant in the Jazz Age
- "Mixed up in this thing"
- Lexical Feild
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