The Great Gatsby: chapter 2

• Engels
• Middelbare school
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• Leerjaar 5

Seating plan DP1 Lang & Lit  HL

board

Window

Door

Mitch, Kate, 

Fay 

Tommy, Emma, Bram 

Isla, Maxine, Riddhi

Srujan, 

Isabelle

Matthew, Naomi, Naha

Arina, Clodagh, Flynn 

Jolye, Nicole, Sanne 

Goals for today 

We will consider a new setting in chapter 2 and the symbolism connected to it. 

We will explore some new characters 

We will explore some of Fitzgerald's stylistic features 

Rate the word 1 to 4

1. I do not know the word, and I have never seen it before. 

2. I've heard or seen the word before, but I'm not sure what it means. 

3. I know the word and can recognise and understand it while reading, but I probably wouldn't feel comfortable using it in writing or speech. 

4. I know the word well and can use it correctly in writing or speech. 

Eloquent 

Word of the day

Eloquent - using language to express ideas or opinions clearly and well, so that they have a strong effect on others

Can you think of three synonyms for eloquent? 

many people were deceived by the politician's eloquent words

What is the importance of this to your reading of chapter 2 

Setting The Valley of the Ashes 

“...a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens; where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and, finally, with a transcendent effort, of ash-grey men, who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air”​ (p. 26)

​

Task: ​

Consider the word choice used in this extract . What do you find interesting? 

Setting The Valley of the Ashes 

The juxtaposition of ‘Wheat’ and ‘gardens' which  are associated with life, growth and nature and ‘Ashes’ which convey death and decay. Combining them suggests that beauty has been destroyed.​ 

​

Polysyndeton in the repetition of ‘and’ in "forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and, finally " creates a long list of objects made from ash to emphasise the SCALE of the DECAY and slows the pace of the sentence emphasising the trudging drudgery of life.​

Symbolism setting 

This is a place of poverty that is a dumping ground for all the waste produced by the city.​

​It is an ugly by-product of  forgotten by the wealthy Egg communities.​

​Symbolically it represents the moral and social decay that results from the pursuit of wealth and riches. The rich indulge themselves with no regard for anything but their own pleasure.​

Interpretation 

‘…above the grey land and the spasms of bleak dust which drift endlessly over it, you perceive, after a moment, the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleberg…[his] eyes…are blue and gigantic – their retinas are one yard high. They look out of no face, but, instead, from a pair of enormous yellow spectacles which pass over a non-existent nose…his eyes, dimmed a little by many paintless days, under sun and rain, brood on over the solemn dumping ground.’(p.26)

Which ideas, themes and topics do these "eyes" highlight? 

1. The eyes of T.J. Eckleburg  overlook the Valley of Ashes

2. The importance of advertising in society

3.  Lack of vision

4. Symbol of God? Symbol of moral judgement? 

Chapter 2

The only impoverished characters in the novel live in the Valley of the Ashes. Notably their home is made of yellow brick. “The only building in sight was a small block of yellow brick sitting on the edge of the waste land, a sort of compact Main Street ministering to it, and contiguous to absolutely nothing.” (p.27) 

The symbolism of colour is both complex and revealing.

a. What do you think the colour ‘yellow’ could symbolise? Do some research. b. How do you see Myrtle and George Wilson from the perspective of this  quote?

Contiguous

 being in actual contact : touching along a boundary or at a point

yellow 

The yellow brick road from The Wizard of Oz leads to the ruler of Oz who is an imposter. 

Yellow = symbol of false promise 

George Wilson  

start from "He was a blond"(p.27) to "who moved closer to Tom." (p.28)

Myrtle Wilson (p. 28)

Make two columns in your exercise book or class notebook. 

Write down all the descriptive language used to give a vivid image of George and Myrtle Wilson. 

George Wilson  p 27 & 28

Blond

spiritless 

anaemic 

faintly handsome

light blue eyes 

ghost 

cement colour 

white ashen dust 

pale hair 

Myrtle Wilson pg 28 

middle thirties 

vitality 

smouldering 

wet her lips 

sensuously 

stout 

no facet or gleam of beauty

soft course voice 

Assignment in Teams chpt 2 

Complete the questions for chapter 2. You will find these in Teams => The Great Gatsby => chapter 2. 

Complete questions 4,5,6 & 7 

in your class notebook. You have 17 minutes 

Goals for today 

We will consider the foil character Myrtle 

We will remind ourselves of the influence of weather on the mood or message of the novel

We will consider settings

We will consider some of Fitzgerald's signature moves  

Myrtle's transformation 

Identify the three stages of Myrtle’s transformation. These are directly related to the setting and her clothes. Find quotes which show this transformation of character and remember to fully analyse what this represents about her character.

Myrtle's transformation 

"carried her flesh sensually" "continually smouldering" "spotted dress of dark blue crepe-de-chine"pg 28 (Valley of Ashes) 

"changed her dress to a brown figured muslin ... rather wide hips" "I want one of of those dogs"pg 29 (New York) 

"now attired in an elaborate afternoon dress of cream-coloured chiffon ... her personality had also undergone a change" pg 33 (apartment in NY) 

Myrtle's change of dress is symbolic of the nature of appearance versus reality and pretence that pervades the novel as a whole. Her change from her real self, which is represented through the saturated colour of the blue of her first dress, to her desired self which can be seen in the pastel cream of her final dress. This elaborate dress is similar to that of Daisy described in chapter one. Fitzgerald highlights, through the symbolism of attire, that this character is pretending to be the one person in the world who she cannot hope to emulate - her lover's wife. 

Act 1

Human Experience concepts Literature  

The Great Gatsby 

Human Experience Concepts: 

Belonging    Dreams    Authenticity    Insecurities 

For each of the characters we've met in chapters 1 and 2, which of these human experience concepts could apply to each character? 

Nick, Tom, Daisy, Jordan, Myrtle Wilson & George Wilson 

Weather and seasons 

Pathetic fallacy 

Seasons and dates

Time of day 

"'In two weeks it'll be the longest day in the year'" (pg 17) 

"a few days before the Fourth of July" pg 29 

Goals for today 

We will consider a new setting in chapter 2 and the symbolism connected to it. 

We will explore some new characters 

We will explore some of Fitzgerald's stylistic features 

Seating plan DP1 Lang & Lit  HL

board

Window

Door

Mitch, Kate, 

Fay 

Tommy, Emma, Bram 

Isla, Maxine, Riddhi

Srujan, 

Isabelle

Matthew, Naomi, Naha

Arina, Clodagh, Flynn 

Jolye, Nicole, Sanne 

Rate the word 1 to 4

1. I do not know the word, and I have never seen it before. 

2. I've heard or seen the word before, but I'm not sure what it means. 

3. I know the word and can recognise and understand it while reading, but I probably wouldn't feel comfortable using it in writing or speech. 

4. I know the word well and can use it correctly in writing or speech. 

Soliloquy 

Word of the day

Soliloquy (n) - a speech in a play that the character speaks to himself or herself or to the people watching rather than to the other characters:

What is the difference between a soliloquy and a monologue? 

Hamlet's soliloquy starts "To be or not to be".

Daisy and Myrtle

 ‘low, thrilling voice’ (P.14), 

'both in white, and their dresses were rippling and fluttering' (p.13)

‘immediate perceptible vitality… as if her nerves were continually smouldering’ (p.28) 'Mrs Wilson […] was now attired in an elaborate afternoon dress of cream coloured chiffon […]with the influence of the dress, her personality had also undergone a change. The intense vitality[…] was converted into impressive hauteur. Her laughter, her gestures, her assertions became more violently affected […] and as she expanded the room grew smaller around her, until she seemed to be revolving on a noisy, creaking pivot through the smoky air.'(p.33) 

Based on the quotes above, how would you describe the contrast between Daisy and Myrtle? Write one paragraph using some of this  evidence. Explain why you think that Fitzgerald has made these choices. 

Colour coding body paragraph

1. A clear topic sentence with the wording of the question and an insightful idea. 

2. Clear textual references or evidence If quotations, they are embedded into your sentences.

3. Labelling of stylistic features/techniques and a discussion of their effects. 

4. Discussion of the author/audience(reader) relationship. 

4. Transition and/or linking words.

5. Comparative language  

The reader is presented with a significant contrast between Daisy and Myrtle. Myrtle acts as a foil to Daisy. These characters appear to be placed in juxtaposition in order to highlight and pinpoint certain character traits. Daisy is presented as faintly ephemeral,  angelically dressed "in white"(p.13). Her "low, thrilling voice"(p.14) pulls the listener in in a subtle and refined way. Myrtle, however, is charged with sensual and verbal energy. Fitzgerald employs an oxymoron to describe her "soft, course voice"(p.28) directly contrasting to the detailed descriptions of Daisy's voice.  The narrator notes as soon as Myrtle appears that she has an "immediate perceptive vitality"(p28). unlike Daisy she wears bold, saturated colours to reveal her hot-blooded temperament and her robust femininity.  She is straightforward, commanding and overtly sexual, moreover, her gestures and voice become "violently affected" (p.28) under the influence of alcohol and her potent personality. These two characters vie for Tom's attention and embody two contrasting ways of being a woman. 

Topic: Appearance versus Reality 

The idea of falseness can be seen throughout chapter 2. 

1. Find as many examples as you can of this falseness at Myrtle's  party in NYC and explain what they tell you about the characters and Fitzgerald’s overall impression of this type of society.

2. Now try to find something that can be seen as a “real” reaction at this party. 

p. 32 - 39

• Lie told by Myrtle about the reason Tom cannot divorce Daisy. 
• The abundance of alcohol serves as a reminder of the characters' need to fill their leisure time with artificial stimulants. 
• Myrtle's discussion of her own marriage reveals her own superficiality: the fact that she was appalled that George borrowed a suit for the ceremony only tells the reader that she cannot see beyond the surface appearance. 
• Her husband "dumbly" adores her, but his status in society is the only thing that matters in her materialistic, greedy world. 

Falseness

• The characters are forced out of their drunken stupor and back to harsh reality with the sound of Myrtle's nose being broken by Tom. 
• This first sign of violence is an open admission of the aggressive behaviour that has been alluded to in the novel so far (bruised finger, physical description). With this action, he signals the permanence of his marriage. 
• The one thing in Tom's life that is 'real' is his marriage bond. Despite his lack of fondness or love for Daisy, it is the one unbreakable chain in his life. This is a stark reality for Daisy and Tom.  

Reality 

What is Fitzgerald going on about here? 

I wanted to get out and walk eastward toward the park through the soft twilight, but each time I tried to go I became entangled in some wild, strident argument which pulled me back, as if with ropes, into my chair. Yet high over the city our line of yellow windows must have contributed their share of human secrecy to the casual watcher in the darkening streets, and I saw him too, looking up and wondering. I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life. p. 37

AWL

Analyse 

Approach 

Assess 

Settings

Dual Setting: Valley of Ashes vs. Manhattan

How are the two settings different? How are they alike?

How do these settings influence the characters or plot? 

Picture: The Queensboro Bridge 

Both the Valley of Ashes and Manhattan are mould settings. These settings influence and affect the behaviours of characters who encounter or inhabit these settings. The Valley of Ashes contains "ash-grey" men who work hidden amongst the "powdery air". Mr Wilson lives here and is a member of the downtrodden working classes who are chained to industry and monotony. New York, in opposition to The Valley of Ashes, is described as being "warm and soft, almost pastoral". Nick finds it so rural and pleasant that he expects "to see a great flock of white sheep". Nick and Tom feel at home in this environment and the inhibitions of West and East Egg are temporarily forgotten. Each setting defines how the characters act and what privilege they have.