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Great Gatsby Group Project
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
F. Scott Fitzgerald
F. Scott Fitzgerald was born on September 24, 1896 in St. Paul Minnesota. In 1913 he entered Princeton Uinversity, but he left in 1917, to join the the army, after poor grades. After the war Fitzgerald began working for an advertising company in New York. In 1918 Fitzgerald met Zelda Sayre, an aspiring author, and married her in 1920. Fitzgerald also wrote his first book in 1920, This Side of Paradise. This novel gained success and opened doors for Fitzgerald.
The Fitzgeralds recklessly spent this money and soon debts began to accumulate. Zelda discovered that she was pregnant; the baby was born in 1921. In 1924 Fitzgerald moved to Europe, wher he wrote The Great Gatsby. The book was well received but didn't make the money Fitzgerlad expected. After The Great Gatsby disapointing gross, Fitzgerald became a drunk, going long periods without being sober. In 1926, the Great Gatsby was turned into a play; this made it possible for movies to be made. Throughout the years that followed Fitzgerald traveled between Europe and America many times. In 1939, Fitzgerald began working on a new book, The Last Tycoon, while writing Fitzgerald a heart attack. Fitzgerald die on December 21, 1940.
The Fitzgeralds recklessly spent this money and soon debts began to accumulate. Zelda discovered that she was pregnant; the baby was born in 1921. In 1924 Fitzgerald moved to Europe, wher he wrote The Great Gatsby. The book was well received but didn't make the money Fitzgerlad expected. After The Great Gatsby disapointing gross, Fitzgerald became a drunk, going long periods without being sober. In 1926, the Great Gatsby was turned into a play; this made it possible for movies to be made. Throughout the years that followed Fitzgerald traveled between Europe and America many times. In 1939, Fitzgerald began working on a new book, The Last Tycoon, while writing Fitzgerald a heart attack. Fitzgerald die on December 21, 1940.
Historical Context
This novel was published in 1925, right in the middle of the Roaring 20's. This period marks changes in culture and society. Changes such as the flapper movement, jazz music and World War I influenced the way Americans viewed things during this time. The American Dream infected many people during this time. However, this time period marked the beginning of The Great Depression. After the Wall Street Crash of 1929, American politics and economics suffered greatly. Americans struggled to find jobs and ways to support their families.
The Roaring 20's played a prodominant role in this novel. The American Dream was oringinally centered around individuality and the pursuit of happiness. The 1920's corrupted this dream. In the novel, the main characters are focused on receiving money without hard work and their social status. Tom and Daisy Buchanan and Gatsby both fell victim to this corrupted American Dream.
The Roaring 20's played a prodominant role in this novel. The American Dream was oringinally centered around individuality and the pursuit of happiness. The 1920's corrupted this dream. In the novel, the main characters are focused on receiving money without hard work and their social status. Tom and Daisy Buchanan and Gatsby both fell victim to this corrupted American Dream.
Summary
The Great Gatsby begins with Nick Carraway telling the reader about his father. He says that he did not have many words with him, but when he did he knew that what his father said meant more than what it sounded like. Nick decides to visit his cousin, Daisy Buchanan whom is married to Tom Buchanan. Miss Baker tells Nick that Tom has a mistress, a lover other than Daisy. Nick meets Tom's lover, Myrtle at a party. She mentions Daisy's name and Tom breaks her nose. Nick goes to another party, but it is hosted by Jay Gatsby. Gatsby shares with Nick that he is in love with Daisy.
Gatsby and Daisy finally have a reunion and decide to go home together. On the car ride over, Daisy runs over Myrtle, resulting in Myrtle's death. Her death is blamed on Gatsby and Wilson, Myrtle's husband, finds out. He sets out to murder Gastby. After killing him, Wilson decides to take his own life.
Gatsby and Daisy finally have a reunion and decide to go home together. On the car ride over, Daisy runs over Myrtle, resulting in Myrtle's death. Her death is blamed on Gatsby and Wilson, Myrtle's husband, finds out. He sets out to murder Gastby. After killing him, Wilson decides to take his own life.
Jay Gatsby
Jay Gatsby is Nick Carraway's, the narrator, neighbor. He is a mysteriously rich man that lives in a large mansion in the West Egg. Gatsby's wealth is a mystery to all. Rumors are spread about illegal activites. However, Gatsby still maintains a high social status because of the extravaggant parties he throws on the weekends. Nick learns some of Gatsby's past, his feeings for Daisy Buchanan, and that he did gain his fortune through illegal activities. Gatsby is a cunning, yet charming man. However, he is considered great because of his power, wealth and social status.
"The truth was that Jay Gatsby, of the West Egg, Long Island, sprang from his Platonic conception of himself." (p.98)
"The truth was that Jay Gatsby, of the West Egg, Long Island, sprang from his Platonic conception of himself." (p.98)
Daisy Buchanan
Daisy Buchanan is the cousin of Nick Carraway, and the wife of Tom Buchanan. She is described as one who likes to be the center of attention and to impress others. She uses advanced vocabulary to make herself seem more sophisticated as well.
Daisy has a vigorous need for love, which resulted in her marriage with Tom. Tom was the man who was able to provide the materialistic lifestyle that Daisy desired.
Gatsby was sent off to war and was unable to give Daisy what she wanted. Once Gatsby had returned, he wanted to pursue his love with Daisy. Daisy accepts to go out driving with him, but she accidently hits Tom's lover, Myrtle, resulting in her death. Myrtle's husband finds out about his wife's death, blames Gatsby and kills him. Both Daisy's and Tom's lovers are dead, causing them to be right back where they started, unhappy and still searching for love.
Daisy has a vigorous need for love, which resulted in her marriage with Tom. Tom was the man who was able to provide the materialistic lifestyle that Daisy desired.
Gatsby was sent off to war and was unable to give Daisy what she wanted. Once Gatsby had returned, he wanted to pursue his love with Daisy. Daisy accepts to go out driving with him, but she accidently hits Tom's lover, Myrtle, resulting in her death. Myrtle's husband finds out about his wife's death, blames Gatsby and kills him. Both Daisy's and Tom's lovers are dead, causing them to be right back where they started, unhappy and still searching for love.
Nick Carraway
Nick Carraway is a mild mannered man who moved to New York from Minnesota. For most of the novel Nick lives in the West Egg section of Long Island next door to an eccentric millionaire, Jay Gatsby. Nick meets Gatsby at a party Gatsby is hosting. Gatsby becomes fond of Nick and invites him to many of his events. Nick helps Gatsby reconnect with his former lover, Daisy Buchanan, who is Nick's cousin.
Nick Carraway is representative of morals that have diminished throughout the 1920s. He is a naive character who grew sheltered from the evils of the world. His personality clashes with those that he associates. Nick serves as Fitzgerald's tool for delivering his message, which is that civiliztion has reverted to caveman-like morals and that greed has consumed society.
Literary Elements
Authors Purpose: To illustrate class division, 1920s lifestyle
Tone: Cynical and hopeful
Mood: Carelessness (numerous parties)
Voice: Fitzgerald uses Nick Carraway. He is cynical about the lifestyle; it has been turned into a corrupt society.
Diction: Fitzgerald includes the way people talked in the 1920s in his character's dialogue. Example: Instead od Instantly, the police officer quotes "Ins'antly"
Pathos: The emotional pull comes from Daisy and Tom's inability to achieve true love.
Foreshadowing: Fitzgerald hints towards Gatsby's death. He allows the readers to understand that Wilson has an uncontrollable behavior. When Wilson finds out the Gatsby supposively killed his wife, Myrtle, Wilson is on the mindset to capture revenge. Wilson murders Gatsby and then takes his own life.
Tone: Cynical and hopeful
Mood: Carelessness (numerous parties)
Voice: Fitzgerald uses Nick Carraway. He is cynical about the lifestyle; it has been turned into a corrupt society.
Diction: Fitzgerald includes the way people talked in the 1920s in his character's dialogue. Example: Instead od Instantly, the police officer quotes "Ins'antly"
Pathos: The emotional pull comes from Daisy and Tom's inability to achieve true love.
Foreshadowing: Fitzgerald hints towards Gatsby's death. He allows the readers to understand that Wilson has an uncontrollable behavior. When Wilson finds out the Gatsby supposively killed his wife, Myrtle, Wilson is on the mindset to capture revenge. Wilson murders Gatsby and then takes his own life.
Theme
The theme of The Great Gatsby is hope. All throughout the novel, the characters are searching for happiness. Although Daisy and Tom are married, both of them committed adultery. Daisy was having an affair with Gatsby as Tom was having an affair with Myrtle. They are also consumed in being materialistic in order to gain happiness.
Gatsby shows his hopes of getting back together with Daisy with buying a house. This allowed him to be able to look out across the bay and see the green light at the end of Daisy's dock. The greenlight represents Gatsby's dream of being with Daisy once again.
Gatsby shows his hopes of getting back together with Daisy with buying a house. This allowed him to be able to look out across the bay and see the green light at the end of Daisy's dock. The greenlight represents Gatsby's dream of being with Daisy once again.
Modern Comparison
A modern comparison that could be associated with the theme of hope could be the hope for a way out of the recession we are presently in. We, as Americans, hope for a better economy and government. Like during The Great Depression, Americans are struggling to support their families and maintain a steady income. However, America made it out of that depression, and flourished. This gives us hope that America will make it out of this one and spring back to the powerful nation that it is capable of being.
Vocabulary
1. JONQUILS: n. a flower; a species of narcissus having long, narrow, rushlike leaves and fragrant, yellow or white flowers.
-With enchanting murmurs Daisy admired this aspect or that of the feudal silhouette against the sky, admired the gardens, the sparkling odor of jounquils and the frothy odor of hawthorn and plum blossoms and the pale gold odor of kiss-me-at-the-gate. (p.90)
2. PRIVY: adj. participating in the knowledge of something
private or secret.
- The abnormal mind is quick to detect and attach itself to this quality when it appears in a normal person, and so it became about that in college I was unjustly accused of being a politician, because I was privy to the secret griefs of wild, unknown men. (p.1)
3. EFFEMINATE: adj. (of a man or boy) having traits, tastes, habits, etc., traditionally considered feminine, as softness or delicacy.
- Not even the effeminate swank of his riding clothes could hide the enormous power of that body-he seemed to fill those glistening boots until he strained the top lacing, and you could see a great pack of muscle shifting when his shoulder moved under his then coat. (p.7)
4.RAKISH: adj. smart, jaunty, dashing
- Her eyebrows had been plucked and then drawn on again at a more rackish angle but the efforts of nature towars the restoration of the old alignment gave a blurred air to her face. (p.30)
5.NEBULOUS: adj. hazy, vague, indistinct, or confused
- He was now decently clothed in a sport shirt, open at the neck, sneakers, and duck trousers of a nebulous hue. (p.94)
6.PUNCTILIOUS: adj. strictly attentive to minute details of form in action or conduct.
- This quality was continually breaking through his punctilious manner in the shape of restlessness. (p.64)
7.DELICATESSEN: n. a store selling foods already prepared or requiring little preparation for serving
- Together we scrutinized the twelve lemon cakes from the delicatessen shop. (p. 84)
8.INEFFABLE: adj. incapable of expressed or described in words; inexpressable
- A universe of ineffable gaudiness spun itself out in his brain while the clock ticked on the washstand and the moon soaked with wet light his tangled clothes upon the floor. (p.99)
9.SENILE: adj. showing a decline or deteroiration of physical strength or mental functioning, esp. short-term memory and alertness, as a result of old age or disease.
- For several weeks I didn't see him or hear his voice in the phone-mostly I was in New York, trotting around with Jordan and trying to ingratiate myself with her senile aunt-but finally I went over to his house one Sunday afternoon. (p.101)
10. PNEUMATIC: adj. filled with or containing compressed air
- He stopped at the garage for a pneumatic mattress that had amused his guests during the summer, and the chauffeur helped him pump it up. (p. 161)
-With enchanting murmurs Daisy admired this aspect or that of the feudal silhouette against the sky, admired the gardens, the sparkling odor of jounquils and the frothy odor of hawthorn and plum blossoms and the pale gold odor of kiss-me-at-the-gate. (p.90)
2. PRIVY: adj. participating in the knowledge of something
private or secret.
- The abnormal mind is quick to detect and attach itself to this quality when it appears in a normal person, and so it became about that in college I was unjustly accused of being a politician, because I was privy to the secret griefs of wild, unknown men. (p.1)
3. EFFEMINATE: adj. (of a man or boy) having traits, tastes, habits, etc., traditionally considered feminine, as softness or delicacy.
- Not even the effeminate swank of his riding clothes could hide the enormous power of that body-he seemed to fill those glistening boots until he strained the top lacing, and you could see a great pack of muscle shifting when his shoulder moved under his then coat. (p.7)
4.RAKISH: adj. smart, jaunty, dashing
- Her eyebrows had been plucked and then drawn on again at a more rackish angle but the efforts of nature towars the restoration of the old alignment gave a blurred air to her face. (p.30)
5.NEBULOUS: adj. hazy, vague, indistinct, or confused
- He was now decently clothed in a sport shirt, open at the neck, sneakers, and duck trousers of a nebulous hue. (p.94)
6.PUNCTILIOUS: adj. strictly attentive to minute details of form in action or conduct.
- This quality was continually breaking through his punctilious manner in the shape of restlessness. (p.64)
7.DELICATESSEN: n. a store selling foods already prepared or requiring little preparation for serving
- Together we scrutinized the twelve lemon cakes from the delicatessen shop. (p. 84)
8.INEFFABLE: adj. incapable of expressed or described in words; inexpressable
- A universe of ineffable gaudiness spun itself out in his brain while the clock ticked on the washstand and the moon soaked with wet light his tangled clothes upon the floor. (p.99)
9.SENILE: adj. showing a decline or deteroiration of physical strength or mental functioning, esp. short-term memory and alertness, as a result of old age or disease.
- For several weeks I didn't see him or hear his voice in the phone-mostly I was in New York, trotting around with Jordan and trying to ingratiate myself with her senile aunt-but finally I went over to his house one Sunday afternoon. (p.101)
10. PNEUMATIC: adj. filled with or containing compressed air
- He stopped at the garage for a pneumatic mattress that had amused his guests during the summer, and the chauffeur helped him pump it up. (p. 161)
Bibliography
Works Cited
"A Brief Life of Fitzgerald." Web.
Brucolli, Matthew J. "A Brief Life of Fitzgerald." University of South Carolina. Web. 05 Apr. 2010. .
"EasyBib: Website Form for Your Bibliography or Works Cited List." EasyBib: Free Bibliography Maker - MLA, APA, Chicago Citation Styles. Web. 06 Apr. 2010. .
"Merriam-Webster's Open Dictionary." Merriam-Webster Online. Web. 06 Apr. 2010.
"SparkNotes: The Great Gatsby: Context." SparkNotes: Today's Most Popular Study Guides. Web. 05 Apr. 2010. .
