Chp 1 Subjective & Objective Narrators

Name: ______________________________

Read the quote Fitzgerald uses to begin The Great Gatsby:

Then wear the gold hat, if that will move her;
If you can bounce high, bounce high for her too,
Till she cry Love, gold-hatted, high bouncing love,
I must have !
- Thomas Parke DInvilliers
What does this quote suggest about getting a girl to fall in love with a man?

What do you think Fitzgerald is suggesting will occur in The Great Gatsby?

Subjective 1st-Person Narrator vs. Objective 1st-Person Narrator

1st-Person Narrator = The person telling the story is a major (or minor) character in the story.
The narrator only has access to his/her thoughts, feelings, and perspective of the events.
Subjective = Unreliable to tell the whole story; will allow his/her own opinions to shape the
readers perspective of events and characters.
Objective = Remains neutral to characters and events; does not share his/her opinions and
allows readers to generate their own

Subjective 1st Person Narrator

Pros

Cons

Objective 1st Person Narrator

Pros

Cons

Chp 1 Subjective & Objective Narrators

Name: ______________________________

Read Chp 1 and answer the following questions:

1. How does Nick describe himself at the beginning of the book? (pg. 5-6)
2. Why did Nick move from the Midwest to the East Coast? (pg. 7)
3. How does Nick describe Tom Buchanan? (pg. 11)
4. Who is Jordan Baker? What does Nick find appealing about her? (pg. 15 & 18)
5. How does Daisy react to the phone calls from Toms woman in New York? (pg. 20-21)
6. What is Gatsby doing when Nick first sees him? (pg. 25)
7. Describe Nick. What facts do you know about him, and what can you figure out about him? (Chp
1)
8. How does Nick react to Jordan? (Chp 1)
9. What does Toms behavior reveal about his character? (Chp 1)

Nick begins the novel by sharing his fathers advice: Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just
remember that all the people in this world havent had the advantages that youve had (5)
Nicks response: In consequence Im inclined to reserve all judgments (5).
Make a prediction: Do you think Nick will be able a subjective or objective narrator? Explain your
answer.