Daniel Su 10EngA

3. Complete a Think-Puzzle-Explore on the connection between what you see

within these covers and the themes of the novel. What are these covers
suggesting the novel may be about? What is conflicting about some of these
covers? What are you curious about?

Think Puzzle Explore

- These covers are directly - Some - I am curious about

correlated to the main themes conflicting the plot outline and
of the novel, which include things about conflict within the
love & marriage, gender these covers novel, as well as the
stereotypes, dissatisfaction, include the different
The American Dream, and recurring use temperaments and
class division. Hence, these of the colour characteristics of the
covers suggest that the novel ‘yellow’, as main characters,
may be about the conflict well as the which are crucial to
between people’s constant use of help a novel develop
relationships, the decline of the colour and flow smoothly.
the American Dream, which ‘black’, which
was about happiness and would normally
idealism, and the disparity in be associated
class, which would be clearly with death and
indicated through wealth and darkness.
status.

2. Select one book cover which is most appealing to you. Using some of the
themes and symbols you have identified, and other visual or literary
techniques which you recall to support your response, compose a short
paragraph explaining why you think it is most effective.

The most appealing book cover to me is the fifth one, as it implements a plethora of
visual techniques to convey some of the primary themes of the novel. The depiction of
the salient figure – the woman in green dress inside a person’s head, suggests that they
are constantly musing about them, and trying to find a way to get to them. Furthermore,
the utilisation of green in this context is symbolic of jealousy and envy, which further
highlights one of the main themes of the novel: the conflicts associated with love &
marriage. Additionally, the visage of the woman clad in the green dress implies that she
is insatiable and discontent with her life, similar to the silhouette of the expressionless
figure that is ostensibly thinking about the woman. Finally, the black river in the book
cover acts as a barrier between the silhouette and the woman, and hence, may signify
the distant relationship and conflict entailed in the male’s pursuit of the female.

1. A first person's limited voice/point of view is used by Nick Carraway. Nick is a reliable
narrator because of his connections and relationships with the other key characters of the
story. Nick’s description of his cousin, Daisy’s, temperament, as well as Tom Buchanan’s
 personality, allows readers to gain a deeper insight into the major themes and concepts of
The Great Gatsby.
2. From the fourth paragraph, we see Gatsby is a man that represented all the social norms
of the 1920s, and that he is a unique and interesting individual with peculiar
characteristics, as if “he were related to one of those intricate machines that register
earthquakes ten thousand miles away”. Gatsby is placed from a category by Nick
Carraway, apart from other characters, as Nick is deeply intrigued by his affluent and
mysterious neighbour, Gatsby, “If personality is an unbroken series of successful
gestures, then there was something gorgeous about him”.
3. Three background details of the protagonist Nick Carraway incorporate how his family
“have been prominent, well-to-do people, in this middle-western city for generations”,
how it is said that their family are descendants of the Dukes of Buccleuch, and how Nick
Carraway participated in The Great War prior to his arrival in West Egg.
4. The primary difference between East Egg and West Egg is the disparate residences and
luxurious houses in East Egg compared to West Egg. East Egg is a place of residence for
people who were born wealthy, that is, they were inherited into their wealth, as shown
through the extravagant temperament of Daisy and her partner Tom Buchanan.
Conversely, West Egg is a place where people worked hard for their position in society,
that is, West Egg is primarily populated by those with “new money”, such as Nick
Carraway and Jay Gatsby.
5. The relationship exhibited between Nick Carraway and the Buchanan family is of a
complicated and superficial nature. Despite Daisy being Nick’s cousin, the two share
disparate personalities and lifestyles. On one hand, Nick Carraway is non-judgmental,
and sees the world through sophisticated manners, whereas on the other hand, Daisy is
insatiable, and is described as a charming lady who is “inviting yet sad”, gifted with a
thrilling voice. Furthermore, Nick’s relationship with Tom is also rather contrived. Even
though they were classmates at Yale, Nick developed a rather negative impression of Tom
due to his arrogant, racist, and simple-minded attitude to society. Thus, it can be surmised
that Nick’s relationship with the Buchanans is distant and superficial.
6. Before readers are introduced to Tom Buchanan, we learn from Nick that Tom is a
“sturdy, straw-haired man of thirty with a rather hard mouth and a supercilious manner”.
Here, readers are made privy to the ‘bulking’ physique of Tom as well as his arrogant and
hubristic attitude, which is further corroborated by Nick’s narration of how “not even the
effeminate swank … could hide the enormous power of that body”, foreshadowing how
cruel and brutal he could be. Furthermore, Nick’s description of Tom’s hoarse speaking
voice, “a gruff husky tenor”, which had “a touch of paternal contempt in it, even toward
the people he liked”, suggests Tom’s grumpy and cantankerous attitude towards
surrounding people. Thus, Nick divulges to readers Tom’s ill-tempered personality as
well as his pompous temperament, all of which are further explored during Nick’s
conversation with the Buchanans.
7. Fitzgerald’s imagery describing Nick’s first view of Daisy and Jordan Baker implies that
Nick perceives the two young women as elegant and graceful, as indicated in Fitzgerald’s
visual imagery, “they were both in white and their dresses were rippling and fluttering”.
This notion is further corroborated through Fitzgerald’s description of Nick being
indulged in the serene atmosphere, “I must have stood for a few moments listening to the
whip and snap of the curtains … Then there was a boom”.
8. Nick’s new career is a “bond man”, meaning that he is like a stock broker.
9. Tom played football at Yale University in New Haven, showing that he was well
educated. However all his money was inherited.
10. Tom and Daisy’s rugged relationship is shown through conversations between the two.
Daisy refers to Tom as a ‘brute’, in addition to multiple instances of both interrupting the
other. For example, “What was that word we –’/’Well, these books are all scientific’
insisted Tom”. Furthermore, Tom is rumored to have a mistress, resulting in the dinner
having an awkward atmosphere.
11. Daisy implies that her daughter should be a ‘pretty little fool’ as she feels the world has
many harsh realities. Thus the hope that her daughter would be ignorant towards the
world around her.
12. The dominant mood of the chapter is foreboding. This is depicted through the display of
Tom and Daisy’s shaky relationship along with the story being the narrator, Nick
Carraway, thinking back on these events. Ultimately hinting at undesired events.
13. There is irony in this statement as it is apparent Tom and Daisy’s relationship is not a
healthy one. Therefore, the home influence sets a bad example for Jordan.
14. Nick says that as he has witnessed Tom’s poor treatment and aggressiveness toward
Daisy.
15. The single green light is symbolism which represents Gatsby's unattainable dream for
Daisy, as when he disappears so does the light.