Thursday - 1.7.10

Students received copies of the study guide for Great Gatsby. It was explained that this will not be collected for a grade, but will help students review for the test. The chart for the color symbol journal was also handed out, and students will begin to fill it out tomorrow as we read. Students then took notes on Chapter 1 and the possibilities for writing the critical analysis.

Summary Notes from Chap. 1:

- Background information given on Nick
- East Egg (old rich) vs. West Egg (newly rich)
- Nick drives to East Egg to have dinner with his cousin Daisy and her husband Tom
- Tom a former football player, physically enormous
- Daisy is very delicate, and absent minded
- Nick is introduced to Jordan Baker- she yawns as if bored by her lavish life
- At dinner, Tom receives a call from his lover. Jordan reveals that Tom is having an affair.
- Nick arrives home to see Gatsby standing on his lawn, reaching out over the dark water of his dock, staring at a distant green light

Critical Analysis Notes from Chap. 1 (Historical or Biographical):

- Explore how this chapter reflects life in the 1920s or elements from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s actual life (Remember that F. Scott Fitzgerald is the author)
Examples:
- F. Scott Fitzgerald and Nick both had traditions of old money, but did not actually have it themselves
- Fitzgerald & Zelda and Tom & Daisy both have rocky relationships littered with affairs and abuse
- Drinking at dinner-prohibition
- Women’s rights and the changing roles of women. Compare/Contrast Daisy and Jordan
- War aftermath
- American Dream- all trying to pursue it
- Division of wealth- East Egg vs. West Egg, time of unprecedented wealth

After taking notes, we read Chapter 2 together in class.

Homework: Students should download and print the semester calendar (from the handouts page, link on the right), and the Vocabulary Unit #6 is due on 1.22 and the quiz is also that day.