Block 4 Homework for Monday

Read "Family Reunion" and "John Redding goes to Sea", and "Through the Tunnel"  for class on Monday. Be sure to annotate the stories for for following issues:

1. What are the parent/child conficts in the piece? Where do you find them and what is their significance?
2. How are these conflicts resolved?
3. What message does the piece convey about parent and child conflicts?

Block 1 Reminder

I forgot to collect your books after the graded discussion. Please bring your Gatsby books to class. Thanks and have a nice weekend!

Watching Gatsby

Block 4 will finish watching Gatsby on Friday, and Block 1 will view the film on Monday. I know that you've been looking forward to it :)

Gatsby questions for the graded discussion

American Literature                                                     Name

Directions: Answer each of the following questions. Use specific examples, page numbers and quotations in your answers.

 

1. What is the American Dream? How does Gatsby represent this dream? Does the novel praise or condemn Gatsby's dream? Has the American dream changed since Gatsby's time?

 

 

 

 

 

2. Think about the two worlds, the Midwest and the East, as Fitzgerald describes them, and what they represent for Nick and for Gatsby.

 

 

 

 

 

3. Compare and contrast Gatsby's social class with that of Tom and Daisy Buchanan. How does geography contribute to the definition of social class in The Great Gatsby?

 

 

 

 

4. What is Nick Carraway's role in the novel? Consider Nick's father's advice in chapter one: "Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had." Does telling the story from Nick's point of view make it more believable?

5. What part of his past is Gatsby trying to recapture? Is he successful? Is there a person, feeling, or event in your past that you'd want to revisit?

 

 

 

 

 

6. What is the meaning of the title? In what way is Gatsby great?

 

 

 

 

7. Why does Fitzgerald choose Nick as the narrator of the novel? Reread the first pages of the novel. Now that you know Nick do you agree with his characterization of himself? Is this book more about Nick than Gatsby?

 

 

 

 

 

 

8. Discuss Fitzgerald's use of symbols, such as the eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg, the green light on Daisy's dock, and the valley of ashes.

 

 

 

 

 

9. Is The Great Gatsby a classic novel? What are its main ideas? Are these themes and ideas still relevant to your generation?

 

 

 

 

10. Discuss elements of the Jazz Age that Fitzgerald includes in The Great Gatsby. How does Gatsby represent this period? How does Gatsby represent the rich? The working poor? African-Americans? Other groups? Do you think that this representations are accurate? Why or why not?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12.. One of the points of the novel seems to be that both the desire for money and money itself corrupt. Discuss Gatsby’s dream, his use of money, and the hints about how he got it. What, if any, corruption do you think is coexistent with the wealth?

Block 1 reminders

On Monday we will finish This I Believe speeches.

Then we will complete our discussion of Gatsby.

Block 4 homework/reminders

On Monday we will finish delivering the This I Believe speeches.

There might also (hint, hint) be a quiz on the reading. Remember, to read carefully. If you haven't finished the novel, you have one final chance before the reading quiz.

Block 4 Homework and reminders

On Tuesday (today) we had a graded discussion on Gatsby. If you have an "m" for the grade it's because I did not receive your notes before you left class.

On Thursday of this week we will deliver our This I Believe speeches.

The remainder of Gatsby is due in class on Monday 3/17

Keep reading :)

Block 1 one homework and reminders 3/10

Chapters 8 and 9 are due in class on Wednesday.

Also, bring the revisions that you have made to your This I Believe Speech; we will be practicing delivering them.

This I Believe essays will be delivered in class on Friday.

Block 1 homework

Your homework is to read chapters 6 and 7 in Gatsby. Please remember that your revisions of your This I Believe Speech (which I provided for you on copy you handed in), are due in class on Wednesday.

Chapters 8 and 9 will be due in class on Friday. Happy reading!

Block 4 post your questions

Post your questions for chapters 4 and 5 underneath this post! Be sure the questions are your own, and don't repeat questions that someone else has already posed. We will use the questions for a graded discussion of the first 5 chapters of the novel.

We will work with the revised copy of your This I Believe Speech. Be sure to a copy of your speech with you in class.