1. The Great Gatsby Structures and Themes

2. Structure Narrative: –Fictional –First-person –Linear with flashbacks –Reflective

3. Structure (cont.) Reflective –Based on Fitzgerald’s experience –Judgmental view of 1920s –“Most expensive orgy in history”

4. Structure (cont.) Freytag’s model _______/ \_______ Exposition: Nick meets Gatsby, goes to party Rising action: Gatsby/Daisy reunite, Nick dates Jordan Climax: Fight at hotel? Myrtle’s death? Gatsby’s death? Resolution: Gatsby’s funeral

5. Themes American Dream –Pessimistic (most people won’t achieve it) –Success is not about money –Lots of anti-American Dream moments Gatsby gets rich illegally Tom is racist Jordan is a liar and a cheater Marriage is a sham (Buchanans and Wilsons)

6. Themes (cont.) Time –Cannot be recovered –Should not be wasted (on parties, etc.) –Past works against us –Nick uses past to shape his future (by writing about his experiences with Gatsby)

7. Themes (cont.) Honesty/sincerity –True happiness based on honesty –Nick is “the only honest person [he] know[s]” –Gatsby honestly but vainly loves Daisy –Tom, Daisy, George, Myrtle, Jordan all live on some dishonest premise

8. Themes (cont.) Eyes –Owl Eyes: only one who “sees” Gatsby –God watches people (T. J. Eckleburg) Voyeuristic Judgmental Not protective –Nick watches people Objective Not “omniscient” but still Godlike