1. Pre-AP English II February 5, 2018
In your journal, write about one example of imagery or symbolism from The Great Gatsby. Be sure to include the chapter in which it is found, and your impression of its meaning and significance.

2. Announcements
The optional rough draft of your Gatsby Style Analysis Essay is due one week from today (Feb. 12). The final draft is due one week from this Friday (Feb. 16). If you are going to be absent on the 16th, you MUST turn your style analysis essay in before you leave. If you do not turn it in before you leave, it will be considered late. This assignment is a test grade.
There will be an optional extra credit assignment due on February 23rd. I will give you more details about that assignment later in the week.
We will move on to poetry after next week and will spend about 3 weeks on it. Then, we will read Julius Caesar. That will take us right up to the EOC test. After the EOC, we will start doing some serious digging into AP Style work to prepare you for next year.

3. The Great Gatsby – Imagery, Symbolism, Allegory
Here are a few important symbols from The Great Gatsby. This is by no means a complete list, and you may choose different symbols for your style analysis essay, but this list includes most of the major symbols.
Gatsby’s books
The Owl Eyed Man
T.J. Eckleburg
The Green Light
Colors

4. The Great Gatsby – Imagery, Symbolism, Allegory
Gatsby’s Books -- Fraud
Books used to come with the pages uncut. This was so the pages could be folded to insure that they weren’t cut on the top when they were unpacked. Buyers had to cut the pages before the books could be read.
What do Gatsby’s uncut books tell us about the man and what he presents to the world? How does this synch with Fitzgerald’s characterization of Gatsby?

5. The Great Gatsby – Imagery, Symbolism, Allegory
The Owl-Eyed Man – Wisdom, Death, & True Sight
Nick meets the owl-eyed man in Gatsby’s library. But, before long, this character is reduced to little more than Nick’s impression that he is just a man with big eyes. Fitzgerald’s characterization is more like a symbol than a full- blown character. Do you agree or disagree?
What is significant about the “owl” characterization? How might this characterization have dual symbolism?
What is significant about Fitzgerald carefully calling our attention to the man’s glasses? How is this ironic?
Why do you think the owl-eyed man is the only one of Gatsby’s former party guests to come to Gatsby’s funeral?

6. The Great Gatsby – Imagery, Symbolism, Allegory
T.J. Eckleburg’s Eyes – Death of the American Dream
It is no coincidence that we first hear of T.J. Eckleburg and his bright blue eyes that are a yard high in Chapter 1 as Nick is describing the Valley of Ashes. Separately, each contains important symbolism, but paired together, their symbolism is even more powerful.’
What symbolism regarding the American Dream might be attached to the Valley of Ashes?
Though there is a marked absence of religion in Gatsby’s characters, T.J. Eckleburg is symbolic of God, and especially his omniscience. Given this, what is significant about the symbolism associated with the “vigil” he is keeping over the Valley of Ashes? How is this related to the death of the American Dream?

7. The Great Gatsby – Imagery, Symbolism, Allegory
The mysterious green light and other colors…
We have already discussed in some detail the significance of the mysterious green light that Nick finds Gatsby reaching out to in Chapter 1, as well as the symbolism of some of the other colors which Fitzgerald repeatedly uses in the novel.
Yellow – What is ironic about the color yellow symbolizing money and/or wealth?
Blue – Speculate on the significance of the color blue? What might Fitzgerald be suggesting in the way he uses it?

8. The Great Gatsby – Imagery, Symbolism, Allegory
There are many allegorical elements in Gatsby. Name some of them and explain how they are allegorical. I’ll get you started…Gatsby’s dream….

9. The Great Gatsby – Allusion
We didn’t talk much about allusion in Gatsby, but there are several of notable importance. On your own, spend some time researching these allusions:
T.S. Eliot
King Midas
Maecenas
J.P. Morgan
John Lawson Stoddard – Stoddard’s Lectures
Henry Clay – Economics: An Introduction for the General Reader

10. Homework
No “official” homework, but take some time to review the various examples of imagery, symbol, and allegory that we’ve discussed today. Be sure that you are familiar with them and their significance. A solid understanding of the will be crucial to successfully writing your style analysis essay.