Literary Analysis

1. Briefly summarize the plot of the novel you read. The story is seen through the narration of Nick Carraway. Nick moves to New York next to Jay Gatsby. He visits his cousin Daisy Buchanan and her husband where he is introduced to Jordan Baker a women who tells him Tom is having an affair with a woman named Myrtle Wilson. Tom takes Nick to New York to go see Myrtle. Nick meets Myrtle’s sisters. Myrtle drinks a little too much and begins talking to Tom about Daisy. He breaks her nose. Later, Nick is invited to one of Gatsby’s parties where he runs into Jordan. At the party, Gatsby tells Jordan that he is in love with Nick’s cousin, Daisy, and these parties are attempts to impress Daisy. Gatsby wants Nick to set up day for both of them to meet. That day comes and at first it was an awkward encounter but then turned into an affair. Tom thinks that Daisy is having an affair with Gatsby. They go to the city where Tom confronts Gatsby and reveals to everyone that his Fortune was acquired through illegal activities. Tom Arranges Daisy to be sent back with Gatsby, to show that he is not afraid of him. Daisy was driving and kills Myrtle on accident. When the rest of the party returns from the city, they learn that Myrtle is dead. Nick finds out that Gatsby will take the blame. Tom tells Myrtles husband, George, that Gatsby was driving. George, thinking Gatsby was also Myrtle’s lover, shoots Gatsby and himself. Nick organizes Gatsby’s funeral but nobody comes. Before he leaves back to the Midwest, Nick encounters Tom and tells him that Gatsby was great because he made his dreams reality.                                        
2. Succinctly describe the theme of the novel. Avoid cliches. I believe the theme throughout the novel is love. Gatsby’s parties were for Daisy, his love. He takes the blame for the death of Myrtle for his love because she was the one who killed her.
3. Describe the author's tone.  Include three excerpts that illustrate your point(s).                  His tone is very glum and heavy. Three examples are when Tom breaks Myrtle’s nose, another when myrtle is run over and killed and lastly when Gatsby is shot. These are scenes that are sad but serious.

4. Describe five literary elements/techniques you observed that strengthened your understanding of the theme and/or your sense of the tone.  Include three excerpts that will help your reader understand each one.

Symbolism- The Great Gatsby is full of symbolism. The use of East and West in the novel is highly symbolic. The East Egg represents wealth and the corruption it causes. The West Egg represents morality.

Imagery and Personification- “Occasionally a line of gray cars crawls along an invisible track, gives out a ghastly creak, and comes to rest, and immediately the ash-grey men swarm up with leaden spades and stir up impenetrable cloud, which screens their obscure operations from your sight.” This produces vivid imagery and also gives the cars a touch of human traits.