Narrative elements- time
fluid change of time eg the kiss between Gatsby and Daisy at the end
we learn a lot about Gatsby in this chapter
Gatsby has a party and invites Daisy and Tom. It's awkward between Tom and Gatsby: "i know your wife" "that so?"
The structure of chapter: flashback-party-flashback. It is very jumpy as though Nick is telling us things as they come to him. In the kiss flashback we forget about Nick as there is so much description it sounds like Gatsby is telling us and not Nick.
Why did Gatsby invite Tom? to show both him and Daisy how well off he is and that he is a match for Tom which is why Tom is so arrogant and cold towards him.
The suggestion that Gatsby is a bootlegger is interesting because this shows context and informs us that no one else knows about Dan Cody
Tuesday, 27 November 2012
Thursday, 22 November 2012
Notes on Chapter 8
Six Phases-
1- Nick goes to Gatsby's house and there is a flashback of when Gatsby first met Daisy
imagery- "there was a ripe mystery about it, a hint of bedrooms upstairs more beautiful..." pg 141
"Gatsby's house was overwhelmingly aware of youth and mystery that wealth imprisons and preserves... Daisy, gleaming like silver, safe and proud above the hot struggles of the poor" pg 142
2- Imagery- "it was a cold fall day with fire in the room and her cheeks flushed"
gatsby is really passionate about Daisy (fire) but then he knows that their time will end (cold) pg143
3- Imagery- "all night the saxophones wailed the hopeless comment of the 'beale street blues' while a hundred pair of golden and silver slippers shuffled the shining dust" pg 143-144
4- imagery- "The shadow of a tree fell abruptly across the dew and ghostly birds began to sing among the blue leaves" sadness and a forewarning of something sinister happening soon
5- imagery- "i couldn't have talked to her across a tea table that day if i never talked to her again in this world" strange thing to say and out of character. it is as though he is tryin gto distance himself from everyone and he doesnt want to get hurt because he has seen Gatsby's pain with Daisy
6- Imagery- "until long after midnight a changing crowd lapped up against the front of the garage" pg 149 described the crowds as the sea?
1- Nick goes to Gatsby's house and there is a flashback of when Gatsby first met Daisy
imagery- "there was a ripe mystery about it, a hint of bedrooms upstairs more beautiful..." pg 141
"Gatsby's house was overwhelmingly aware of youth and mystery that wealth imprisons and preserves... Daisy, gleaming like silver, safe and proud above the hot struggles of the poor" pg 142
2- Imagery- "it was a cold fall day with fire in the room and her cheeks flushed"
gatsby is really passionate about Daisy (fire) but then he knows that their time will end (cold) pg143
3- Imagery- "all night the saxophones wailed the hopeless comment of the 'beale street blues' while a hundred pair of golden and silver slippers shuffled the shining dust" pg 143-144
4- imagery- "The shadow of a tree fell abruptly across the dew and ghostly birds began to sing among the blue leaves" sadness and a forewarning of something sinister happening soon
5- imagery- "i couldn't have talked to her across a tea table that day if i never talked to her again in this world" strange thing to say and out of character. it is as though he is tryin gto distance himself from everyone and he doesnt want to get hurt because he has seen Gatsby's pain with Daisy
6- Imagery- "until long after midnight a changing crowd lapped up against the front of the garage" pg 149 described the crowds as the sea?
Notes on Chapter 7
In this chapter we see Gatsbys character change- he fires his staff and replaces them with shady characters related to wolfsheim.
Tom become more agitated and it is as if him and mr wilson are in the same position and this angers Tom because he feels he is superior and he looks down and Mr wilson.
It's interesting that Nick remembers that it is his birthday in the middle of an arguement. it is as though he has become so wrapped up in other peoples lives and becoming so involved with them that his has lost himself. I think this is the first time we see him actually take a step back and realise that this really is nothing to do with him.
narrative spacing on page 130
phases-
1- the lunch with Daisy, Tom, Gatsby, Nick and Jordan (the baby)
2- When the characters drive through the valley of ashes and Mr Wilson knows about Tom and Myrtle
3-The time in New York (Tom's mocking aqusations of Gatsby)
4- The sudden escape of Myrtle and then her death- Why does Nick not go into great detail about Mrytles death? it is as though it is of no consequence
5- The questioning of her murder
Gatsby bought the yellow car to get Daisy's attention when in the end it is his downfall because if it was a colour that was coomon he wouldn't have been caught. Myrtles death brings a change in pace to the story and moves it on.
When Gatsby is looking into Tom and Daisy's house it is a metaphor and brings the reader back to the first chapter when he looks at the green light.
Green light- jealousy
Narrative space on the train journey
- literal space
- space between classes
The boiling weather and the repetition of heat represents the tension between the group and the boiling up emotions which results in Tom losing control especially when he is somewhere he is not used to being in.
Tom become more agitated and it is as if him and mr wilson are in the same position and this angers Tom because he feels he is superior and he looks down and Mr wilson.
It's interesting that Nick remembers that it is his birthday in the middle of an arguement. it is as though he has become so wrapped up in other peoples lives and becoming so involved with them that his has lost himself. I think this is the first time we see him actually take a step back and realise that this really is nothing to do with him.
narrative spacing on page 130
phases-
1- the lunch with Daisy, Tom, Gatsby, Nick and Jordan (the baby)
2- When the characters drive through the valley of ashes and Mr Wilson knows about Tom and Myrtle
3-The time in New York (Tom's mocking aqusations of Gatsby)
4- The sudden escape of Myrtle and then her death- Why does Nick not go into great detail about Mrytles death? it is as though it is of no consequence
5- The questioning of her murder
Gatsby bought the yellow car to get Daisy's attention when in the end it is his downfall because if it was a colour that was coomon he wouldn't have been caught. Myrtles death brings a change in pace to the story and moves it on.
When Gatsby is looking into Tom and Daisy's house it is a metaphor and brings the reader back to the first chapter when he looks at the green light.
Green light- jealousy
Narrative space on the train journey
- literal space
- space between classes
The boiling weather and the repetition of heat represents the tension between the group and the boiling up emotions which results in Tom losing control especially when he is somewhere he is not used to being in.
Thursday, 8 November 2012
Notes on chapter 4
At the begining of this chapter Nick tell us that 'the world and his mistress' turned up to gossip at Gatsby's house. This suggests that the visitors may not be particularly nice or sophisticated because Nick described them as 'Mistress' and not 'Wife'
Nick then goes on to write a list of everyone that came to Gatsby's house that summer. The reason why he does this is not very clear, however t may be to show that Gatsby has so many people at his house all of the time yet he is still lonely.
In this chapter Gatsby feels he needs to sort of 'big himself up' as it were because he decides to tell Nick the 'truth' about his past however he then make a mistake when he tells him he came from San Francisco in the mid west which is not where it is. This is the first time that previously non judgemental Nick first shows the reader some question as to Gatsby: 'i wondered if there wasn't something sinister about him, after all' This is significant because before this moment Nick had never portrayed to the reader that he questioned Gatsby even when other characters had.
Nick then goes on to write a list of everyone that came to Gatsby's house that summer. The reason why he does this is not very clear, however t may be to show that Gatsby has so many people at his house all of the time yet he is still lonely.
In this chapter Gatsby feels he needs to sort of 'big himself up' as it were because he decides to tell Nick the 'truth' about his past however he then make a mistake when he tells him he came from San Francisco in the mid west which is not where it is. This is the first time that previously non judgemental Nick first shows the reader some question as to Gatsby: 'i wondered if there wasn't something sinister about him, after all' This is significant because before this moment Nick had never portrayed to the reader that he questioned Gatsby even when other characters had.
Notes on Chapter 3
In chapter three Nick attends his first party hosted by Gatsby.
People are described and mentioned but he observes so many people that the reader learns that these characters are not of any consequence to the story.
At the end of this chapter Nick reflects on what has happened so far in the book and he reminds the reader that he is leading the story and is the narrator because he is sometimes at the forefront of the scene and in other parts he lets the other characters take over and we forget about him.
The imagery at the start of the chapter Nick uses powerful imagery to describe the happenings of the party: 'The light grows brighter as the earth lurches away from the sun' the use of the word light suggests everyone is having a good time and it could also be pathetic fallacy for Nick's mood changing from observing the party goers to actually starting to enjoy it.
The first page of the chapter uses powerful imagery again to describe Gatsby's house and the objects in it: 'turkeys bewitched to a dark gold' this quote suggests Gatsby may have something sinster going on because it says 'bewitched' and this is then supported by the use of the word 'dark' to describe the gold suggesting it is somehow tainted and not as pure as it should be. The use of colours is also a major part of this chapter especially when describing the party. Yellow and blue is repeatedly used. Blue suggesting that Gatsby is sad because he throws these huge parties in the hope that Daisy will come and she never does. Yellow could also support this because yellow makes the reader think of the past and decay or old yellowing photos, again showing Gatsby's mind is with Daisy.
People are described and mentioned but he observes so many people that the reader learns that these characters are not of any consequence to the story.
At the end of this chapter Nick reflects on what has happened so far in the book and he reminds the reader that he is leading the story and is the narrator because he is sometimes at the forefront of the scene and in other parts he lets the other characters take over and we forget about him.
The imagery at the start of the chapter Nick uses powerful imagery to describe the happenings of the party: 'The light grows brighter as the earth lurches away from the sun' the use of the word light suggests everyone is having a good time and it could also be pathetic fallacy for Nick's mood changing from observing the party goers to actually starting to enjoy it.
The first page of the chapter uses powerful imagery again to describe Gatsby's house and the objects in it: 'turkeys bewitched to a dark gold' this quote suggests Gatsby may have something sinster going on because it says 'bewitched' and this is then supported by the use of the word 'dark' to describe the gold suggesting it is somehow tainted and not as pure as it should be. The use of colours is also a major part of this chapter especially when describing the party. Yellow and blue is repeatedly used. Blue suggesting that Gatsby is sad because he throws these huge parties in the hope that Daisy will come and she never does. Yellow could also support this because yellow makes the reader think of the past and decay or old yellowing photos, again showing Gatsby's mind is with Daisy.
Tuesday, 6 November 2012
Notes on Chapter 5
Chapter 5 starts with Nick telling Gatsby that he has decided to invite Daisy over for tea as previously requested by Gatsby in Chapter 4.
Gatsby offers Nick some kind of small job in return for the favour but it sounds illegal so Nick declines. This is the first time Gatsby is associateed with illegal activity other than the rumour that he had killed someone.
When Daisy arrives Gatsby becomes nervous and a coward who runs out of the room which contrasts with the strong man he tries to portray to the characters.
Gatsby mentions to Daisy that he has clippings of/ about her which conveys to the reader his infatuation with her, so much so that he moved to a house so he could monitor her.
To try and impress Daisy and show her what she is missing or how much more she could have if she ended things with Tom, he orders Ewing around and makes him play the piano as if he is a slave.
During the song Nick reminds us that he is narrating by drifting in and out of the scene and commenting on the weather instead. Also showing that he is no longer interested with the goings on and is tired of Gatsby and Daisy's company.
Gatsby offers Nick some kind of small job in return for the favour but it sounds illegal so Nick declines. This is the first time Gatsby is associateed with illegal activity other than the rumour that he had killed someone.
When Daisy arrives Gatsby becomes nervous and a coward who runs out of the room which contrasts with the strong man he tries to portray to the characters.
Gatsby mentions to Daisy that he has clippings of/ about her which conveys to the reader his infatuation with her, so much so that he moved to a house so he could monitor her.
To try and impress Daisy and show her what she is missing or how much more she could have if she ended things with Tom, he orders Ewing around and makes him play the piano as if he is a slave.
During the song Nick reminds us that he is narrating by drifting in and out of the scene and commenting on the weather instead. Also showing that he is no longer interested with the goings on and is tired of Gatsby and Daisy's company.
Thursday, 25 October 2012
Chapter 2 notes
Nick-
- he flits to different places in the space of two lines without specifying how he got there
-he is sometimes at the forefront of the story and then in the background
-He is drunk and confused about timing (unreliable narrator) e.g ellipsis
-He seems to be selective in what he tells the reader
-He never critisises Tom about his affair with Myrtle even though Daisy is his cousin
-He is more observing than judgemental about the other characters
-The billboard with the doctor on Nick continues to refer to and he sees his eyes as God looking down on him
Tom
-arrogant about his affair and is quite happy to tell Nick about it (Trusts him)
- People are scared of him and Myrtle is impressed by him
- he makes Mrytt in another carriage even though Nick knows about the affair
-He buys Mrytle anything she wants (Dog)
-He feels guilty about his affair when Mrytle says Daisy's name
-He lashes out at Mrytle and no one really bats an eyelid
Other Characters-
Mr Mckee ignores the fact his wife has been hit by Tom beacuse he is scared of him? or that it is an acceptable thing to do?
Other characters make up the numbers int his chapter
Setting-
- east egg and west egg are completely contrasting to the valley of ashes
-Myrtle lives in a dreary place so loves the fact that Tom can be her escape from it all
- he flits to different places in the space of two lines without specifying how he got there
-he is sometimes at the forefront of the story and then in the background
-He is drunk and confused about timing (unreliable narrator) e.g ellipsis
-He seems to be selective in what he tells the reader
-He never critisises Tom about his affair with Myrtle even though Daisy is his cousin
-He is more observing than judgemental about the other characters
-The billboard with the doctor on Nick continues to refer to and he sees his eyes as God looking down on him
Tom
-arrogant about his affair and is quite happy to tell Nick about it (Trusts him)
- People are scared of him and Myrtle is impressed by him
- he makes Mrytt in another carriage even though Nick knows about the affair
-He buys Mrytle anything she wants (Dog)
-He feels guilty about his affair when Mrytle says Daisy's name
-He lashes out at Mrytle and no one really bats an eyelid
Other Characters-
Mr Mckee ignores the fact his wife has been hit by Tom beacuse he is scared of him? or that it is an acceptable thing to do?
Other characters make up the numbers int his chapter
Setting-
- east egg and west egg are completely contrasting to the valley of ashes
-Myrtle lives in a dreary place so loves the fact that Tom can be her escape from it all
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