English final

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Author of The Great Gatsby, a story of ambition, love, betrayal, and the decay of the American Dream.

The Great Gatsby

A novel set in the 1920s that explores topics of wealth, class, love, and identity.

Nick Carraway

The narrator and a bond salesman who represents honesty and objectivity but is also a passive observer.

Jay Gatsby

A wealthy, mysterious man known for extravagant parties, obsessed with rekindling his romance with Daisy Buchanan.

Daisy Buchanan

Nick's cousin and Gatsby's love interest, married to Tom Buchanan, but emotionally torn.

Tom Buchanan

Daisy's wealthy, arrogant, and unfaithful husband who represents old money and the corruption of power.

Jordan Baker

A professional golfer and Nick's romantic interest who represents dishonesty and the lack of morality in the 1920s.

Myrtle Wilson

Tom's mistress who seeks an escape from her lower-class life, symbolizing the desperation for social mobility.

George Wilson

Myrtle's husband, a mechanic who is deeply moral but beaten down by life, representing the working class and ultimate despair.

The American Dream

Explores the decay of the dream and its false promises, with Gatsby's pursuit of wealth and Daisy mirroring unattainable goals.

Love and Obsession

Gatsby's love for Daisy crosses into obsession, showing how idealized love can lead to destruction.

Wealth and Class

Contrasts 'old money' (Tom and Daisy) with 'new money' (Gatsby) and the working class (George and Myrtle), highlighting moral decay.

Identity and Reinvention

Gatsby's reinvention reflects the American ideal of self-made success but reveals its limits.

Motif

The Green Light represents Gatsby's hopes and dreams for the future and the unreachable promise of Daisy.

Eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg

Symbolize the loss of spiritual values in America and a godlike judgment.

Metaphor

Gatsby's life as a metaphor for the American Dream: dazzling but ultimately hollow.

The valley of ashes

A metaphor for moral and social decay.

Simile

Fitzgerald uses similes to capture the charm and allure of characters and settings, e.g., 'Her voice is full of money.'

Imagery

Vivid descriptions of Gatsby's parties symbolize extravagance and emptiness.

Symbolism

The Green Light symbolizes hope, ambition, and the unattainable.

Daisy's Voice

Represents the seductive pull of wealth and privilege.

Discussion Question

How does the green light symbolize Gatsby's dreams, and why does he ultimately fail to reach it?

Answer to Discussion Question

The green light symbolizes Gatsby's hopes and dreams for the future, particularly his desire to reunite with Daisy and recreate the past.

Gatsby's Dream

Rooted in illusion; Daisy cannot live up to his perfect vision of her.

Green Light

Reflects the broader theme of the elusive nature of the American Dream.

Gatsby

Embodies 'new money,' ambition, and reinvention; earned wealth through questionable means.

Tom Buchanan

Represents 'old money,' entitlement, and moral corruption; inherited wealth with arrogance.

Contrast of Wealth

Highlights the divide between old and new wealth and critiques the moral decay of both groups.

Gatsby's Idealism

Juxtaposed against Tom's cynicism and callousness.

Critique of the American Dream

Exposes its hollowness and the moral decay beneath its surface.

Gatsby's Downfall

Driven by his desire for Daisy, ultimately leads to his downfall.

Buchanans' Morality

Embodies the peak of wealth and privilege, yet are morally bankrupt and indifferent.

Materialism and Class Divisions

Corrupt the American Dream, making true success and happiness unattainable for most.

East Egg

Represents old money, tradition, and social status; moral and spiritual emptiness of inherited wealth.

West Egg

Represents new money and ambition; Gatsby's mansion symbolizes his desire to climb the social ladder.

Valley of Ashes

Symbolizes poverty, desolation, and the moral decay of society; highlights class divisions.

Nick Carraway

Moves to West Egg and rents a small house next to Jay Gatsby's mansion.

Social Dynamics

Established through Nick's meetings with Tom Buchanan, Daisy Buchanan, and Jordan Baker.

Gatsby and Daisy Reunite

Nick facilitates a meeting, rekindling their romance and Gatsby's dream of recreating the past.

Gatsby's Parties

Grand parties are an attempt to lure Daisy back into his life, despite being an outsider.

Conflict with Tom

Tom grows suspicious of Gatsby and Daisy's relationship, leading to tension and confrontation.

Daisy's Hesitation

Gatsby insists Daisy should tell Tom she never loved him, which Daisy hesitates to do.

Climax

The turning point in a narrative where the main conflict reaches its peak.

The Confrontation in New York City

A scene where Tom and Gatsby argue over Daisy, revealing tensions and illegal activities.

Gatsby's Vigil

Gatsby waits outside Daisy's house, hoping she will leave Tom, but she does not.

Myrtle's Death and George Wilson

George Wilson believes Gatsby was driving the car that killed Myrtle and seeks revenge.

Gatsby's Death

George Wilson finds Gatsby at his mansion and shoots him in the pool before taking his own life.

Nick's Reflection

Nick arranges Gatsby's funeral, which is sparsely attended, revealing the hollowness of Gatsby's relationships.

Final Judgment

Nick reflects on Gatsby's unwavering hope and the corruption of the American Dream.

Patrick Henry's 'Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death'

A speech delivered in 1775 calling for action against British tyranny.

Thomas Paine's Common Sense

A pamphlet published in 1776 that argued for independence from Britain.

The Declaration of Independence

A document written primarily by Thomas Jefferson that formally declares the colonies' independence from Britain.

Ethos

A rhetorical strategy that appeals to credibility and character.

Pathos

A rhetorical strategy that appeals to emotions.

Logos

A rhetorical strategy that appeals to logic and reason.

The Right to Self-Governance

A key theme emphasizing the colonies' right to govern themselves.

Vivid Imagery

A technique used by Patrick Henry to evoke fear of oppression and passion for freedom.

Grievances against King George III

Evidence listed in the Declaration of Independence supporting the colonies' right to separate.

Emotional Commitment

The urge to engage emotionally with the cause of independence as presented in Common Sense.

Logical Progression

A method used by Patrick Henry to argue that all peaceful options have failed.

Universal Principles of Justice

The appeal made by Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence to justify the colonies' cause.

Outrage over British Actions

An emotional appeal used in Common Sense to inspire commitment to independence.

Sparsely Attended Funeral

An event that reveals the hollowness of Gatsby's relationships as noted by Nick.

Corruption of the American Dream

A theme reflected in Nick's final judgment about Gatsby's hope.

The Tyranny of Britain

Descriptions of British oppression unite the pieces in a common cause.

Call to Action

The urgency of revolution is a central theme, motivating readers and listeners to take decisive steps for freedom.

Pathos in Patrick Henry's Speech

Henry uses emotionally charged language, such as 'chains and slavery,' to evoke fear and anger, compelling his audience to choose action over submission.

Logic in Thomas Paine's Common Sense

Paine systematically dismantles arguments for reconciliation with Britain, using clear and logical reasoning to show that independence is the only viable option.

Rhetorical Strategies in the Declaration of Independence

The Declaration employs logos through its list of grievances, ethos by aligning with universal principles of justice, and pathos by emphasizing the colonists' suffering under British rule.

Ethos

A rhetorical appeal to credibility or character.

Pathos

A rhetorical appeal to emotion.

Logos

A rhetorical appeal to logic and reason.

Eatonville, Florida

Established in 1887 as one of the first self-governing Black towns in the United States.

Significance of Eatonville

It represents African American autonomy and the richness of Black culture, free from the shadow of racial oppression experienced elsewhere.

Zora Neale Hurston

Born in 1901 in Notasulga, Alabama, raised in Eatonville, Florida; a leading figure of the Harlem Renaissance and a celebrated author, anthropologist, and folklorist.

Frame Narrative

A story within a story, where an outer narrative provides context for an inner narrative.

Janie Crawford

The protagonist in Their Eyes Were Watching God, who tells her life story to her friend Pheoby Watson.

Themes in Their Eyes Were Watching God

Includes the search for identity, love and relationships, voice and storytelling, and nature imagery.

Search for Identity

Janie's journey is a quest to find her voice and define her sense of self.

Love and Relationships

The novel explores different types of relationships, each shaping Janie's understanding of love and freedom.

Voice and Storytelling

The act of telling her story to Pheoby is symbolic of Janie reclaiming her voice.

Nature Imagery

Symbolic elements like the pear tree and the horizon represent Janie's desires and growth.