The Great Gatsby Knowt Notes – Gatsby-Focused

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Who is Gatsby?
- Dreamer, obsessed with Daisy & the American Dream, reinvents himself (James Gatz → Jay Gatsby).
What does Gatsby represent?
- “New money,” flashy, mysterious, not accepted by old money.
Why is Gatsby tragic?
- Dies chasing an illusion, dream unattainable.
How does Gatsby show the corruption of the American Dream?
- Gains wealth through crime, but never achieves true happiness.
Key Quotes (Gatsby)
- “Can’t repeat the past?… Why of course you can!”
- “He stretched out his arms toward the dark water… a single green light.”
- “If personality is an unbroken series of successful gestures, then there was something gorgeous about him.”
- “They’re a rotten crowd… You’re worth the whole damn bunch put together.” (Nick to Gatsby)
🎭 Symbols
- Green Light → Gatsby’s dream/hope, American Dream.
- Valley of Ashes → poverty, moral decay, emptiness beneath wealth.

Eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg → “God sees everything,” loss of moral values.
Gatsby’s Mansion/Parties → wealth, superficiality, illusion of belonging.
Cars (esp. yellow car) → recklessness, destruction, moral carelessness.
East Egg vs West Egg → old money vs new money divide.
Symbol Quotes
- Green light: “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us.”
- Valley of Ashes: “A fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens.”
- Eyes: “God sees everything.”
🌍 Themes
- American Dream → corrupt/unattainable; Gatsby’s rise/fall shows emptiness of material success.
- Wealth & Class → rigid divide; old money (Tom, Daisy) always wins, new money (Gatsby) excluded.
- Illusion vs Reality → Gatsby’s persona vs truth; glamorous lifestyle vs loneliness.
- Love & Desire → Gatsby’s idealised love for Daisy vs Daisy’s shallow love.
- Carelessness of the Rich → Tom & Daisy’s irresponsibility leaves destruction.
- Time & the Past → Gatsby obsessed with recreating past with Daisy.

Context / Facts
- Published 1925, set in Jazz Age (the 1920s) boom after WWI.
- F. Scott Fitzgerald → critique of materialism & excess.
- Prohibition era → Gatsby’s wealth tied to illegal trade.
- Narrative style → Nick = both insider & outsider, adds bias.
📝 Sample PEEL Paragraphs (Character: Gatsby)
- Q: How is Gatsby presented as a tragic figure?
- Point: Gatsby is tragic because he cannot let go of his dream.
- Evidence: “Can’t repeat the past?… Why of course you can!”
- Explanation: Shows his obsession with Daisy and inability to accept reality.
- Link: Reveals how Fitzgerald critiques the impossibility of recreating the past.
- Q: How does Gatsby show the corruption of the American Dream?
- Point: Gatsby gains wealth but never achieves true happiness.
- Evidence: Green light symbolises unattainable dream.
- Explanation: His fortune (bootlegging) exposes how the Dream is built on corruption.
- Link: Fitzgerald warns readers that material wealth cannot equal fulfilment.

🔎 Poetry Section – Knowt Notes
Key Techniques & Definitions
- Imagery → descriptive language appeals to senses; creates mood/tone.
- Simile → comparison using like/as; makes ideas vivid.
- Metaphor → direct comparison; adds symbolism/deeper meaning.
- Personification → gives human qualities to non-human; creates empathy or liveliness.
- Alliteration → repeating consonant sounds; rhythm, emphasis.
- Assonance → repeating vowel sounds; musicality, flow.
- Enjambment → line continues without pause; creates urgency, flow.
- Caesura → pause within a line; emphasises a word/idea.
- Tone → poet’s attitude (hopeful, bitter, nostalgic).
- Contrast/Juxtaposition → opposites side by side; highlights differences/tension.
- Symbolism → objects/images represent bigger ideas.
- Repetition → repeated words/phrases; stresses key ideas/emotions.
📝 Poetry Essay Toolkit (PEEL)
- Point: Name the technique.
- Evidence: Quote from the poem.
- Explanation: Effect on meaning/reader (emotion, theme).
- Link: Connect to wider idea/message of poem.
Example
- Point: The poet uses metaphor to compare life to a journey.
- Evidence: “The road stretched endlessly ahead. ”