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CPE Literature Activity 1

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10 views2 pages

CPE Literature Activity 1

Uploaded by

Eliriza Hapsan Alilaya
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Contemporary, Popular and Emergent Literature| ENGL333

1st Semester| A.Y 2024-2025- Pre-midterm|


Vladimer S. Lopez- Instructor

THE GREAT GATSBY


F. Scott Fitzgerald, 1925
Tragedy and Literary Fiction

SUMMARY

"The Great Gatsby," written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a novel set in the Jazz Age on Long Island, near New York City. The story
is narrated by Nick Carraway, a Yale graduate and World War I veteran who moves to West Egg, a fictional area of Long Island,
to learn about the bond business. Nick rents a small house next to the mansion of Jay Gatsby, a mysterious and wealthy man
known for his extravagant parties.

Nick becomes friends with Gatsby and learns that he is in love with Nick's cousin, Daisy Buchanan, who lives in East Egg with
her husband, Tom Buchanan. Daisy and Gatsby had a romantic relationship before World War I, and Gatsby's lavish lifestyle is
an attempt to win her back. Despite Gatsby's efforts, Daisy ultimately chooses to stay with Tom, leading to a series of tragic
events. The novel ends with Gatsby's death and Nick's disillusionment with the American Dream.

THEMES

1. The American Dream: Gatsby’s pursuit of wealth to win Daisy.

2. Class and Social Status: The division between old money (East Egg), and new money (West Egg).

3. Love, Relationship, and Obsession: Gatsby’s idealization of Daisy.

4. Moral Decay: The corruption and sense of emptiness of the wealthy elites.

PLOT

1. Exposition: Introduction of Nick, Gatsby, Daisy, and the social environment of the East and West Egg.
2. Rising action: Gatsby’s desire to reunite with Daisy and his attempts to rekindle their past romance.
3. Climax: Confrontation between Gatsby and Tom in New York City.
4. Falling action: Daisy’s decision to stay with Tom, and Myrtle’s death.
5. Resolution: Gatsby’s murder by George Wilson, Gatsby’s funeral, and Nick’s disillusionment.

CHARACTERS

1. Jay Gatsby: Gatsby is a complex character who embodies the American Dream's potential and its flaws. His wealth
and charisma mask his insecurities and his illegal activities. His tragic end underscores the novel's critique of the
American Dream.

2. Nick Carraway: As the novel's narrator, Nick provides a critical perspective on the events and characters. His moral
ambiguity and eventual disillusionment reflect the novel's themes of corruption and the loss of innocence.

3. Daisy Buchanan: Daisy represents the object of Gatsby's desire and the superficial nature of the upper class. Her
indecisiveness and ultimate choice to stay with Tom highlight the novel's critique of materialism and the emptiness of
the American Dream.

4. Tom Buchanan: Tom embodies the arrogance and entitlement.

5. Myrtle Wilson: Tom’s mistress

6. Goerge Wilson: Myrtle’s husband

7. Jordan Baker: Daisy’s friend


SETTING

1. West Egg: Where Gatsby and ick live; symbolizes new money.
2. East Egg: Where Daisy and Tom live; symbolizes old money.
3. The Valley of Ashes: Industrial area between West Egg and New York City; represents moral decay.
4. New York City: Symbolizes the moral corruption and pursuit of pleasure.

SYMBOLS

1. The Green Light: The green light at the end of Daisy's dock symbolizes Gatsby's hopes and dreams for the future. It
represents his desire for Daisy and, more broadly, the American Dream. The light's inaccessibility reflects the
unattainable nature of these dreams.

2. The Eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg: The billboard featuring the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg in the valley of ashes
symbolizes the moral decay of society and the idea of an all-seeing, judgmental presence. It suggests that the
characters cannot escape the consequences of their actions.

3. The Valley of Ashes: This desolate area between West Egg and New York City represents the moral and social decay
resulting from the pursuit of wealth. It is a stark contrast to the opulence of the Eggs and highlights the disparity between
the rich and the poor.

References: Mizener, A. (2024, August 2). F. Scott Fitzgerald | Biography, Education, Books, & Facts. Encyclopedia Britannica.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/F-Scott-Fitzgerald

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Plot summary | LitCharts. (n.d.). LitCharts. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-great-
gatsby/summary

Alilaya, Elirisa H.
Bernezer, Jhonmer L.
Nogra, Kayce Althea G.
Ramillano, Chares Blache B.

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