The Great Gatsby Technique Summary

Narrative Technique We see the events and characters through Nicks eyes, therefore the narrative is biased. Events are narrated after 2 years have passed, therefore recall may well not be accurate (plus Nick will want to show himself in the best possible light). He is controlling and manipulative what we see, when we find out, how we see it; he is also changeable his opinion of Gatsby switches about, and he lies.

Structure The tension in the novel follows a gradual progression towards the show-down between Gatsby and Tom in the hotel. Whilst primarily chronological, there is some time-switching as Nick leaps backwards and forwards in revealing key pieces of information. As a tragedy, structurally we anticipate a progression towards the protagonists death. Characterisation Fitzgeralds technique is largely one of visual description with contrasts in the imagery between characters. The dialogue is also vital in helping us to understand the characters personalities. Links with narrative because it is all about perception Nicks our character info is filtered through him.

Setting Time and Place are important. The setting of the novel makes the contrast between East v West vital the East is for the wealthy elite, the West for the less wealthy, less well-educated, less privileged. The two houses are important, again because of contrast Gatsbys mansion is incoherent (i.e. it doesnt all go together, it is a hodge podge of architectural styles) whereas the Buchanans is a beautiful traditional, colonial mansion which suits its surroundings. The post-WWI setting is important because whereas many were affected negatively by the war, it was a boom time for the wealthy the gap between rich and poor widened (this is symbolically expressed in the novel through the Ash Heaps). Symbolism Green Light: a sign of hope to Gatsby that he would get Daisy Ash Heaps: symbol of rich dumping on the poor Eyes of TJ Eckleburg: all-seeing eyes of God The ivy: it is verdant and established on the Buchanans but is straggly thin beard as befits his houses nouveau status Dialogue (the speaking bit) Everyone is extreme, bar Nick. Gatsbys Old Sport! affectation is linked v much with his characterisation. Toms dialogue is aggressive and domineering; Daisys

dialogue is meaningless nonsense; Gatsbys dialogue is very stilted, as if rehearsed, v repetitive (the claim of telling the truth to Nick in car on way to NYC is v important); Jordan is stubborn, opinionated, demanding, contemptuous, self-centred.

Climax The big show down between Tom and Gatsby Tom researches Gatsby and throws this info at him; Gatsby tries to force a declaration of love from her, she refuses; as the incident is taking place, the sounds of a wedding reception can be heard filtering from the hotel reception rooms below; it is a suffocatingly hot day (mirroring the tension in the room). Imagery The imagery of the novel is based very heavily on adjectives and similes. Much of the imagery is colour based making the description highly visual (even sound and atmosphere is described using colour). Colour takes on symbolic importance, insofar as all things pale are good, all things vibrant are bad. Binary opposition is another key element. Themes The novels themes include: Truth / Morality / Betrayal; Class; Love / Relationships; Gender roles; The American Dream (and its decline)