As we read F. Scott Fitzgerald's portrait of the "roaring" 1920's, let's share our insights and responses to theme, characterization, and style. Enjoy this classic...
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About Me
- Ms. Levine
- I teach 10th and 11th grade English Literature. Before I came to HSFI, I received my BA from Hobart and William Smith College and participated in their Teacher Certification Program. I continued my studies at Columbia University's Teachers College where I earned my Masters Degree in Secondary English Education. I have been teaching with the DOE since 2002 and blogging since 2008. Students, thank you for your endless inspiration and for sharing your thoughts.
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23 comments:
Tom Buchanan is an ex football players as we find out in the 1st chapter. A sport like that requires
alot of aggressiveness. In chapter 2 we enter a conflict where Tom and Myrtle are consuming alcohol.
As the drinking continue they end up conversating about wether or not Myrtle had the right to Mention Daisy's name. Myrtle gradually became louder and more of an annoyance to Tom by mentioning Daisy's name. Tom reacts by breaking Myrtle's nose.
As I came to the end of chapter 2 I realized maybe the alcohol had an effect on this reaction. Maybe the conflict would have been handled diffrently without the consumption of alcohol?
After I came across this conflict
I google'd
"How does alcohol promote aggressiveness"
Alcohol, Violence, and Aggression
Scientists and nonscientists alike have long recognized a two-way association between alcohol consumption and violent or aggressive behavior (1). Not only may alcohol consumption promote aggressiveness, but victimization may lead to excessive alcohol consumption. Violence may be defined as behavior that intentionally inflicts, or attempts to inflict, physical harm. Violence falls within the broader category of aggression, which also includes behaviors that are threatening, hostile, or damaging in a nonphysical way (2). This Alcohol Alert explores the association between alcohol consumption, violence, and aggression and the role of the brain in regulating these behaviors. Understanding the nature of these associations is essential to breaking the cycle of alcohol misuse and violence.
Source: http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa38.htm
Alcohol in this situation was either the elevation or the cause of the conflict.
hey everyone!
Hmmm... Josue's response is really interesting. But I'm not so sure that that was not the only cause for him to hit Myrtle. I wonder if he is that agressive with his wife Daysi. Hmmm.. Well this book is really interesting but at the same time is kind of hard to understand but I believe that that is what makes it to be fun. Something else that I like about this book is that it have misteries. For example Gatsby, many people in the party are saying that he killed someone and other says that he didnt... so if this is true, then why did Fitzgerald named the book "The Great Gatsby"?? What's great about him?? Well I guess I'll figure it out at the end of the book. Bye and good luck with the book!!
Elayne brings up a good point. Why would Fitzgerald give Gatsby the title as "The Great Gatsby"? But as I read her example she explains how if his rumors are true of him killing somebody his title should be denounce of "The Great Gatsby." I disagree with this belief. The reason why I point this out is because Elayne is looking at one side of the story. The WHOLE picture about Gatsby was that he was in a War. A famous quote that you probably would hear in any war movie is "Every man for themselves." In a war the expectations of death is very high and their is always heroes as in the outcome of any war. Maybe he was a hero that is probably a reason why he is given the title of "The Great Gatsby."
Well, what can I say? In my opinion, "The Great Gatsby" is a complicated, yet interesting novel; it might be as hard as "The Scarlet Letter". Well, as we all know, this novel takes place in the 1920's in NYC. The main reason why I like this novel is because it gives us an idea of how people lived back in the 20's. Well, right now I'm clueless about what's going on in the book, but it's actually starting to get interesting (I like the part where Tom punches Myrtle). Btw, I don't know anything about Gatsby, I just know that he lives next to Nick!!!!
Well an advice for you guys who aren't understanding the novel. Use Www.SparkNotes.Com AFTER reading from the book. This helps simplify what's going on for a better understanding of the novel.
!!NO CHEATING READ THEN USE SPARKNOTES!!
SPARKNOTES SUMMARIZES it does NOT GIVE FULL DETAIL that is found in the novel.
Okay I don't really think the book is as hard as it seems, you just have to pay attention to the important parts, when your reading the parts in the book that don't matter much or the parts that do you have to just know how to separate the two. For example in chapters 3 and 4 Nick starts talking about who is in Gatsby's house and how he knows them but this is not important, what is important in these chapters is when Gatsby begins telling Nick how he's done so much with his life, its as if he is trying to hide something. What kind of person throws party's and doesn't have a friend there which he associates with? I think those are some important factors we should pay attention to.
Also Nick said he was one of the few honest people he knew, i think this was a very important quote which may have significance later on.
Also i wanted to bring up the fact that i think Nick may be honest but the only person he is honest to is himself or when it comes to judging other people.
What kind of honest man see's their cousin getting cheated on and goes to see the mistress? I think he was wrong for that and he shouldn't judge other people.
I am really starting to find this book interesting. As we read chapters III and IV, we can see some of our main themes being expressed during the novel.
One of these themes is that "Outward appearances can be deceptive."
We easily saw this theme in our character, Myrtle. She looked rich when she was with Tom, being haughty and hypocritical.
Another theme would be "Wealth can breed carelessness."
We saw this in Jordan Baker. As she was driving, she did not care if she would run someone over, because she was so rich and ignorant. These are some of the themes that were discused so far in the novel.
Some other main points in tonight's reading is that we read that during Gatsby's luncheon with Nick, he goes to make a mysterious phone call.
Why does everyone keep making these mysterious phone calls???
Another important point would be that Nick realizes that the night he saw Gatsby reaching into the green light, was not him being mysterous, it was him reaching for the hope and ability to love Daisy again. (Remember her house is right across the bay).
Even though I read the chapter and understood it, for some reason I still cannot quite understand why Daisy married Tom instead of Gatsy.
What does everyone think the reason might be???
Well I believe Daisy married Tom instead of Gatsby because she was lonely at the time. Like you have to analyse that in this point in Daisy's life she was young and beautiful. Gatsby went to the war. As we read in chapter 4 Daisy was already use to been loved in her old neighborhoood in Louisville, Kentucky. Also this was a new adaptation to her life been lonely so when she met Tom. She forgot about Gatsby and moved on with her life.
-Well that's my opinion.
Feel free to share.
josue's comment about alcohol is very interesting.
To start off.... at first i thought this novel was going to be boring and complicated, but as i went further with the reading it started to become very interesting. I considered Gatsby a very misterous character who i believe will suprise us the readers in many ways, throughout the book. I really like the connection that Gatsby and Daisy had before as we read of chapter 4. I wonder what's so great about Gatsby? and why did the author named the book this way. hopefully i get to find out as i read the book.
Chapter V was a really romantic chapter. I was really happy to read that Gatsby and Daisy get to be togther and reunite.
Even though I was happy for both Daisy and Gatsby, I still feel sorry for them in a way. I feel sorry for Gatsby because he is all alone and has to deal with seeing Daisy with Tom married since they live right across the bay.
I also feel sorry for Daisy because she is stuck between two men; one who she loves and the other who she is married to, but does not love.
I hope that by the end of this book they are able to get married (first with Daisy's divorce from Tom) and live happily together.
"when your reading the parts in the book that don't matter much or the parts that do you have to just know how to separate the two."
by: Kayla
This comment by Kayla is rather interesting. She tries to meke the novel easier to comprehend. Just wanting to add that sometimes what you state as "unimportant" can play a major role in the novel. In all of my blogs I've said that you always have to look at the WHOLE picture. You have to be SKEPTICAL and careful when you're reading. Small parts can lead to major parts. I feel that everything written in the novel has it's own purpose. Clues build up. The reason I think this way is because this novel holds so much mysteries.
So far everything that we have read about every character is mysterious. When Kayla said about Nick "What kind of honest man see's their cousin getting cheated on and goes to see the mistress? I think he was wrong for that and he shouldn't judge other people."
Nick is very myserious if you see it from diffrent point of views.
Gatsby is also mysterious like Elayne and Yarizta points out on why he is given the title of "The Great Gatsby."
Luis also has mysteries about Gatsby that needs solving as said in his blog.
So far everyone has mysteries they want to solve in this book.
Just feel that we can't differentiate important parts and unimportant parts just yet.
Chapter 6 gave a whole lot of information for us readers. This chapter made me curious of Tom Buchanan. He seems to be a selfish character in this novel. Tom has been cheating on Daisy since their honeymoon and also cheating on Daisy with Mrs. Wilson. He got jealous over the simple fact of Gatsby knowing Daisy. Tom seems to want everything for himself plus more. I am also curious of Tom's appearance in Gatsby's mansion? Who invited him?
Well a good fact so far is that we are starting to unravel Gatsby's identity. We learned his origins. Like his false statement of becoming wealthy from relatives who passed away. Gatsby also lied about his college he really attended St. Olaf's in Minnesota, and he dropped out in 2 weeks.
Well everything is starting to fit in like a puzzle. =]
wow seems like josue is enjoying this web a lot!! anywho, ok The Great Gatsby...i get it, but i dont!! like yes im doing the vocabulary and all, but thats really the main thing that helps me loose track of what im reading. Im sort of behind the class only because ive read chapters over and over...Ive finally gotten it but wat i really dont get is why daisy didnt marry gatsby???!!!...
ok so maybe ill get this thingto work now...ok so the scandal with daisy on her weddind day..? i noe she got drunk and all but that was the reason they rushed the wedding right? b.c of the letter??...oh yea the anonymous person above me is me
I am enjoying all of your comments.
I am also glad to hear that Katherine is re-reading chapters to gain understanding- that is an excellent reading comprehension strategy.
Also, if you find yourself getting lost while you are reading, make a note of it in your notebook and write down questions/talking points that you can bring up in class discussion for clarification.
See you all tomorrow! -Ms. Levine
Chapter VII was a long but climatic chapter. There was the humid setting and undescribable tension between all of the main characters.
What stunned me the most was the fact that Daisy killed Myrtle. This is a perfect example about how wealth can breed carelessness.
She comes off as an innocent person, but does such crazy things.
I also cannot believe that Gatsby is willing to give it all up for Daisy. He is already involved in illegal activities and now he is going to be on the run and take the blame for Daisy's crime.
I think that this type of behavior is exactly what makes Gatsby so "great". He is romantic and follows his heart no matter what how crazy it might be. He also is a charcater that is so in love with Daisy that he will give up everything he has worked for, even though she clearly is unsure about who she really loves.
This chapter has given readers so many ideas to discuss. It has given us conflicts that the characters must face in the novel that are similar to the ones we face in our day-to-day lives.
I am really starting to enjoy this book!
thankx i never thought about that strategy i might just use it...i love what devisa said because its quite true, greed can lead to many horrible things in life. Death even! Daisy displays a different side of herself in chapter seven and i kind of like it..it shows her true feelings, it shows what exatly what she'll do for The Great Gastby. She seems to be confused but knows exactly what she wants. For example, she definitley wants Gastby, (there will always be something there) but cant leave Tom only because of her "name" and the whole old money situation.
When the book mentoins that gatsby deals with bootlegging, exactly what does he bootlegg?
The Great Gatsby was a boring book in the beining. But now that we are getting into the middle it is getting good. I guess Miss. Levine was right, the book is a great book.Now in the story things are getting juicy and everyone is headed into the city.Emtions are running high and who knows what is going to happen next.
well in these recent chapters the book has been really good and intresting like the fact that gatsby is always dreaming about re-creating the past to a time when he was once was with daisy and he cant because daisy isnt going to leave her husband tom for gatsby but yet tom cheats on daisy for myrtle and daisy seems to stay with him....george wilson who is myrtles husband loves his wife and really wants to be with her just as gatsby wants to be with daisy but coincedentally they both seem to lose the one they love over tom
wow! the book was an ok book..i only say that because the ending stinkx!!!i hated it! here i was, thinking "oh yea gatsby is gonna get the gurl of his dreams, and live in LaLa land." Like i actually liked it and was enjoyimg it but then not only did gatsby get killed, he never got daisy, and nobody!, yup NOBODY went to the furneral excet 4 2 people: including NIck! it just mad me feel really bad b.c i was really rooting for him and Daisy:(...
omg i noe ur gonna hate me Ms.Levine but the movie is soooo ugh..i guess like its cool but the characters are nothing like the book.I just have to say im very dissapointed!!! u see i blogged!!!!lol
I have'nt read thios book. Howeveit looks very intrigueing to read. I would like to read it in the near future.
"The Great Gatsby" I have to say is a great book . Even tho A lil hard to follow , when you pay close attention it is very interesting . It shows how love can keep you in the past and have you stuck on your emotion for someone that has moved on . It also shows that money isnt everything in life and can't get you everything in life . Without the love story and money moral thing taking place I really like the flash-back and puting puzzles together to find out who jay gatsby really is . It keep you ready to find more out about who he really is , is he lieing about what he is saying , or are all the gossip around him true about what he has done or been threw true ?. In my opinion it is a very enjoyable book
4pd - Robert L .
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