Chapter Notes

 Point of View – The way the authors allows the reader to “see” and “hear” what is going on  First person – The story is told from the perspective of a single narrator  Narrator – The person telling the story  Is the narrator reliable or unreliable?  How can one tell? Interactions with other characters Judgments that fit our own What does the character see as important? What does the character reveal about himself?

 Voice – The specific diction and tone that the author chooses for the piece of writing  Example:  "Dearest reader, I humbly entreat you to eschew the latest celebrity tittle-tattle and instead devote your attention to diction and tone."  "Listen up! Drop the gossip magazine and get with the diction/tone program!”  What’s the difference here?

 The way that an author uses descriptive language including dialogue to give a character personality traits in a text.  Indirect characterization – When an author uses dialogue and actions to teach the reader something about the character. (Example: You learn through the characters speaking to one another that one of them is lying. Therefore, you judge that character is dishonest.)  Direct characterization – When an author tells you about the character. (Example: The author tells you what the character looks like.)

 Historical Context – Time period in history when a work take place  Setting – The time and place where the action occurs  The historical context and setting plays an important role in the plot, setting and character development through out The Great Gatsby – It already has!

 Nick says…  “The Carraways are something of a clan, and we have a tradition that we are descendents from the Duke of Buccleuch…”  What does this say about Nick’s heritage? How does this relate the setting?  “I lived at West Egg, the – well, less fashionable of the two, though this is a most superficial tag to express the bizarre and not a little sinister contrast between them.” How does he feel about West Egg being the “less fashionable”? Does he agree? Why does he use “bizarre” and “sinister” to describe the contrast between the two communities?

Flashback is when a story starts at a certain place in time and then reverts to the past. Example: The narrator (Nick) starts the novel telling the reader that he is going to recount the events that lead up to his disillusionment. Then, he starts the story from a past event (when he first moved to West Egg).

An allusion is a reference to something that the reader should already have in their frame of reference. Example: Nick refers to “New Haven” – This is where Yale is located. I know this so I know he went to college at Yale. The author is alluding to something that he assumes the reader already knows. It’s an allusion!

A paradox is something that appears contradictory in nature. Example: Daisy – She throws the dinner party with Nick and *seems* happy – Laughing, teasing, relaxing…But really, she is unhappy because she knows Tom is cheating on her.

Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, or literary devices that can help to develop and inform the text’s major themes. **This always makes me think of interior decorating! Motifs in Gatsby to look for:  Colors  Cars/Driving

Theme = topic + author’s opinion on the topic A Theme is the fundamental and often universal idea explored in a literary work. Topics for themes in Gatsby:  Self Discovery  Hope  Reality vs Illusion  Realization of The American Dream