The Great Gatsby: Chapter 6

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Extract chapter 5 pg 85 - 86 

Read the passage carefully. Answer questions: 

1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12 & 15 

sailing Yacht 

alcohol 

what is the significance of these to your reading of chapter 6 ? 

Why is this chapter 6 important? 

• The chapter opens with an inquisitive reporter turning up on Gatsby's doorstep on the basis of rumours. The suggestion is that there is more to Gatsby than we think. 
• Gatsby's past is revealed. 
• The reader becomes more aware of why Gatsby wants to be with Daisy. His poor upbringing spurred him to achieve the American Dream, and Daisy appears to represent the class and wealth he aspires to. 

Chapter 6- The Great Gatsby

1.  Who is Jay Gatsby really?

2. Explain the allusion “He [Gatsby] was a son of God—a phrase which, if it means anything, means just that—and he must be about his Father’s Business…” (p.95) How does Gatsby perceive himself?

3. What was the connection between Gatsby and Dan Cody?

4. Why does Gatsby not drink? What is the irony of this? 

5. Describe Daisy’s reaction to Gatsby’s party. Why does Gatsby say she “didn’t have a good time”?

6. What are Gatsby’s expectations of Daisy? Are they realistic?

7. How does this chapter represent the American Dream?

Draw Gatsby's pathway in life 

Draw Gatsby's path in life from leaving home in North Dakota as James Gatz to going to the first world war.

• Leaves his parent's farm in North Dakota aged 16 
• Clam-digger and salmon fisher on the south shore of Lake Superior. For over a year (1911) 
• Lutheran College St Olaf's in southern Minnesota (two weeks) 
• Back to Lake Superior 
• Dan Cody's yacht anchors at Little Girl Bay (1912)
  
• James Gatz changes his name to Jay Gatsby  

 

• Becomes steward, mate, skipper, secretary and jailor on Cody's yacht.
• Sails to the West Indies, Barbary Coast and further for 5 years 
• He is bequeathed 25,000- dollars but does not receive it.
• Dan Cody dies in (1917) 
• Gatsby meets Daisy when he is a Lieutenant stationed in Louisville 1917
• Leaves to go to  War in Europe (1918)

Gatsby reinvented 

"formed the habit of letting liquor alone". pg 97

"It was James Gatz who had been loafing along the beach that afternoon ...but it was already Jay Gatsby who borrowed a row boat" pg 94 - 95

"His parents were shiftless and unsuccessful farm people"pg 95

"A universe of ineffable gaudiness spun itself out in his brain while the clock ticked on the washstand". pg 95

Discuss 

1. What does Gatsby's transformation tell us about the type of person he is? 

2. What do we admire about him? 

3. What is the effect on the reader that Gatsby never received the money that he was bequeathed? 

The past - topic 

"Can't repeat the past? he cried incredulously. "Why of course you can!" pg 106 

"I'm going to fix everything just the way it was before," he said, nodding determinedly. "She'll see."

1. What is the message (theme) that Fitgerald is illustrating around the topic of the past? Post your constructed theme on the next slide. 

What is the theme, constructed by Fitzgerald, around the topic of the past?

Daisy characterisaton discuss 

Daisy, together with Tom and Nick, goes to one of Gatsby's parties. 

"But the rest offended her ... was appalled by West Egg," pg 103 

"I knew that except for the half-hour she' been alone with Gatsby she wasn't having a good time." 

She is appalled by the vulgar behaviour of the drunken guests. 

1. Can Daisy live up to the image that Gatsby has of her? 

2. Why or why not? 

Tom characterisaton discuss 

"I may be old-fashioned in my ideas but women run around too much these days to suit me." pg 100 

"Tom was evidently perturbed at Daisy's running around alone" pg 100 

The reader notes the irony in this statement considering the unfaithfulness of Tom in his marriage. 

1. Does this statement make the reader think that it is acceptable for Daisy to cheat on Tom? 

Goals for today 

Homework check 

The shallowness of the upper classes as a theme and the failure of the American Dream

Consider a key quote, the message and the techniques used 

Chapter 7 characterisation 

AWL

Identify 

Indicate

Interpret 

Gatsby's faux pas 

Re-read the section when Tom and Mr and Mrs Sloane visit Gatsby. This starts from "They were a party" to "out the front door" (pgs 98 - 100) 

1. Mark all the quotes that highlight that Gatsby is not considered by Tom and his guests to be part of their social class. 

2. Write down all the social blunders (faux pas) that Gatsby commits during this brief visit.

What connotations does the name "Sloane" have?

Sloane square in Belgravia 

Home of the hereditry wealthy 

Class and Gatsby 

• "As though they cared!" pg 98
  
• "Mr Sloane wanted nothing." pg 98 
  
• "Realizing in a vague way that that was all they came for."pg 98
  
• "Mr Sloane didn't enter into the conversation, but lounged haughtily in his chair; the woman said nothing either" pg 99 
  
• "said Mr Sloane, without gratitude." pg 99 
  
• " Come along,' he said - but to her only." pg 99
  

Gatsby's faux pas  

• " Gatsby looked at me questioningly. He wanted to go and he didn't see that Mr Sloane had determined he shouldn't." pg 99 
  
• "Mr Sloane murmured something close to her ear." pg 99 
  
• "I used to ride in the army, but I've never bought a horse. I'll have to follow you in my car. Excuse me for just a minute." pg 99 
  
• "My God, I believe the man's coming, said Tom. "Doesn't he know she Doesn't want him?" pg 100 
  
• "just as Gatsby, with hat and light overcoat in hand, came out the front door." pg 100 
  

The shallowness of the upper classes

• The visitors treat Gatsby with contempt. 
  
• In their minds, he has the money but he lacks their superior social qualities. 
  
• Even among the very rich there are class distinctions. Money doesn't give you entry to the established wealthy. 
  
• Gatsby is courteous to his guests and offers them refreshments. They accept without gratitude and leave without him.
  
• Gatsby thinks that they cared and doesn't realise he was supposed to refuse their invitation. 
  
• Gatsby's lack of understanding class prejudice also means he thinks Daisy will abandon her status and position to be with him. 
  

Failure of the American Dream 

Gatsby's pursuit of the American Dream became a pursuit of wealth. His dream of becoming a great man was corrupted. 

When he met Daisy his dream of wealth and status was replaced by a dream of being with her. 

Daisy wants and is used to a life of privilege. She seems to be more interested in Gatsby's possessions than in Gatsby himself, "it makes me sad because I've never seen ...such beautiful shirts before". pg 89

Key quote pg 106

"Out of the corner of his eye Gatsby saw the the blocks of the sidewalks really formed a ladder and mounted to a secret place above the trees - he could climb to it, if he climbed alone, and once there he could suck on the pap of life,  gulp down the incomparable milk of wonder. 

     His heart beat faster as Daisy's white face came up to his own. He knew that when he kissed this girl, and forever wed his unutterable visions to her perishable breath, his mind would never romp again like the mind of God,  so he waited, listening for a moment longer to the tuning-fork that had been struck upon a star. Then he kissed her. At his lips' touch she blossomed for him like a flower and the incarnation was complete." 

Note the metaphors and similes 

Is there a semantic field? If so, around what topic? 

Look at diction choice. Which words do you find unusual or used in and unusual way? 

Key quote pg 106

"Out of the corner of his eye Gatsby saw the the blocks of the sidewalks really formed a ladder and mounted to a secret place above the trees - he could climb to it, if he climbed alone, and once there he could suck on the pap of life,  gulp down the incomparable milk of wonder. 

     His heart beat faster as Daisy's white face came up to his own. He knew that when he kissed this girl, and forever wed his unutterable visions to her perishable breath, his mind would never romp again like the mind of God,  so he waited, listening for a moment longer to the tuning-fork that had been struck upon a star. Then he kissed her. At his lips' touch she blossomed for him like a flower and the incarnation was complete." 

Note the metaphors and similes 

Is there a semantic field? If so, around what topic? 

Look at diction choice. Which words do you find unusual or used in an unusual way? 

chapter construction 

1. Gatsby's past revealed. 

2. Tom and the Sloanes visit - highlighting Gatsby's  social status. 

3. Tom and Daisy visit Gatsby's party. Daisy doesn't enjoy it. 

4. Nick's reimagined meeting of Daisy and Gatsby. 

"'Can't repeat the past?' he cried incredulously. 'Why of course you can!'"

Act 1

Human Experience concepts Literature  

The Great Gatsby 

Human Experience Concepts: 

Belonging    Dreams    Authenticity    Insecurities