The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka “THE SNIPPET”

Analysis vs. Plot-Telling

SAMPLE 1: What NOT to do – PLOT TELLING is not Analysis! Quote from The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald “…a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock” (21). As Gatsby stands on the shore of his palatial house on Long Island, he longingly looks across the bay at the green light illuminating the end of Daisy’s dock. Gatsby loves Daisy and fondly remembers the short time when their love affair burned brightly, not unlike the green light on the end of Daisy’s dock. Jay spends every waking moment trying to woo Daisy back, even though she is now married to the unfaithful Tom. In spite of his efforts, Jay is destined to lose Daisy a second time. His life tragically ends as he is snuffed out, not unlike the green light on Daisy’s dock.

Sample 2: This is an example of what you are aiming to do: show understanding of the meaning of the work, not simply tell what happened. It is arguable that Jay Gatsby values two things above all others: love (particularly his love for Daisy Buchanan) and money (the means by which he hopes to win Daisy’s heart). His motivation for both converge in Fitzgerald’s use of the color green, a symbol that represents love and money as well as Gatsby’s ultimate goal: a spring-like renewal that will put his past behind him and plant the seeds for a future with Daisy. The first glimpse of green occurs in the initial chapter as Nick stumbles upon Gatsby who has his arms outstretched toward “a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock” (21). The light marks the end of the Buchanan’s’ pier and embodies all of Gatsby’s hope. He stands, stares and reaches out to the light as if reaching out to Daisy herself. Gatsby’s dream eventually progresses from that dim light in the distance to the reality of illusions turned to ashes. Even with money and power at his disposal, Gatsby can’t possess the object of his affection; however, at this moment, if only for a moment, the light represents what had been and what could be.