The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby

Taking a few mintues to read some background information on the author will enhance your understanding of the text.

Here are a few quotes to also think about from the text:
 “ Whenever you feel like criticizing any one…just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had” (1).

“”a single green light, minute and faraway, that might have been the end of a dock” (22).

”He smiled understandingly-much more than understandingly. It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life. It faced–or seemed to face–the whole external world for an instant, and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor. It understood you just as far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself” (48).

“Everyone suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues, and this is mine: I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known” (60).

Trump and The Great Gatsby:

https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/09/how-the-great-gatsby-explains-trump/562673/

Article from class today on the green light:

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2008/02/17/education/17gatsby.html?referrer=&_r=1

and one on the American Dream:

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/08/09/opinion/sunday/nicholas-kristof-usa-land-of-limitations.html?referrer=&_r=1

This article is about Jay Gatsby as a dreamer:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/12/books/review/jesmyn-ward-great-gatsby.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=mini-moth&region=top-stories-below&WT.nav=top-stories-below


This link discusses some random facts about the novel and the writer:

http://gothamist.com/2013/05/07/gatsby_facts.php

The Wire breaks down The Great Gatsby (There is some strong language here):

http://www.openculture.com/2012/08/ithe_wirei_breaks_down_ithe_great_gatsbyi_f_scott_fitzgeralds_classic_criticism_of_america_nsfw.html

Footage of Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda:

http://www.openculture.com/2012/11/rare_footage_of_scott_and_zelda_fitzgerald_from_the_1920s.html

http://query.nytimes.com/search/sitesearch/?action=click&contentCollection&region=TopBar&WT.nav=searchWidget&module=SearchSubmit&pgtype=Homepage#/THE GREAT GATSBY

http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=the%20great%20gatsby

Race and The Great Gatsby:

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/06/rise-of-the-colored-empires/276844/

https://www.uscupstate.edu/uploadedFiles/Academics/Undergraduate_Research/Reseach_Journal/006_ARTICLE5_2009.pdf

http://flavorwire.com/391193/the-complicated-and-troubling-role-of-race-and-class-in-baz-luhrmanns-Gatsby

https://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/news/why-i-believe-that-jay-gatsby-was-black/153166.article

Outside Sources for "Babylon Revisited"

Outside Sources for "Babylon Revisited"

Link to the story:

http://gutenberg.net.au/fsf/BABYLON-REVISITED.html

Outside Sources:
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00144940.1990.9934031

http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-94-007-0773-3_8?LI=true

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/8289335/Babylon-Revisited-When-the-money-runs-out.html

http://iws2.collin.edu/mtolleson/2328online/2328notesbabylon.htm

http://www.jeffersonflanders.com/2006/07/f-scott-fitzgeralds-babylon-revisited-and-the-lost-decade-damaged-men-and-fractured-pasts/

https://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/bruce.brogdon/engl1301/oral-reports/short-story-criticism/babylon-revisited-a-story-of-the-exiles-return/view

http://kb.gcsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1080&context=thecorinthian

http://libguides.fau.edu/c.php?g=325462&p=2181967

Themes found in the story:

• Facing the consequences of one’s actions
• The struggle to change

Symbols found in the story:

• Honoria’s doll
• Snow

This link has some background information and criticism of the story (there is a lot of info here that could be used if you choose to write your first essay about this story):

http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tdlarson/fsf/babylon/chap_3.htm

In the next two weeks we will discuss The Great Gatsby which “Babylon Revisited” shares many themes and issues with. Here is a short description of how they are similar:

“Babylon Revisited”: Similarity to The Great Gatsby
In both works, the main character is trying to create a new identity. In the case of Jay Gatsby, he has reinvented himself by a name change and by becoming rich through criminal acts to win Daisy. In Charlie’s instance, he has made a serious effort to reform to gain custody of Honoria.

Both The Great Gatsby and “Babylon Revisited” are also statements about the twenties, the pursuit of wealth and careless living of that generation. Gatsby’s pursuit of wealth, hoping it will bring him happiness and fulfillment, is the embodiment of the American Dream gone wrong. “Babylon Revisited” makes a statement not only about Charlie’s his personal dilemma but the irresponsible seeking of pleasure that was characteristic of the post-war Roaring Twenties generation.

From: http://vickie-britton.suite101.com/babylon-revisited-summary-and-analysis-a204727

NYTimes article:

http://www.nytimes.com/books/00/12/24/specials/fitzgerald-taps.html

America and Second Chances:
http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2009/09/19/history/post-perspective/f-scott-fitzgerald.html

https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2015/07/13/president-obama-announces-46-commutations-video-address-america-nation-second-chance

http://billmoyers.com/2014/10/31/america-really-believe-second-chances/

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-second-chances-for-elites-only-perspec-1196-20141105-story.html

Link to "Babylon Revisited"

http://gutenberg.net.au/fsf/BABYLON-REVISITED.html

W will go over this on Monday.

Syllabus

Modern Literary Masterpieces

ENG215 Essex County College

Prof. Sean O’Connell                                                  M/W 10:00

Email:soconnel@essex.edu     

Phone: 973-877-1926                                                   Office: 1137

Office Hours: M/T/W            /9:00-10:00     

                        R 10:30-1130  

                                                                                   

Texts: YOU NEED TO BUY THE TEXTS!!!

• The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald
• A Lesson Before Dying Ernest J. Gaines
• Their Eyes Were Watching God Zora Neal Hurston

*In class assignments will be handwritten; all homework assignments should be typed and double spaced using 12-point Times New Roman font.

I will use the class blog weekly to post assignments, links and back up information. Visit it a few times a week!!!

Class Blog: eng215spring2020.blogspot.com

THERE ARE NO LATE PAPERS. IF YOU DO NOT HAND IN A PAPER ON THE DAY THE FINAL DRAFT IS DUE, YOU WILL RECEIVE AN F FOR THAT PAPER.

YOU MUST HAND ME EACH PAPER. EMAIL IS NOT GOING TO WORK FOR FORMAL ESSAYS.

Course Description: The Development of modern literary thought is examined from the post-Renaissance era to the present day.  Students will do an intensive study of selected masterpieces of world literature.

January

22 Introduction, discuss syllabus, Handout

27 “Babylon Revisited” (Handout)

February

3              The Great Gatsby 1-3

5              The Great Gatsby 4-6

10           The Great Gatsby 7-9

12           Outside Sources, Assign First Essay

17           President’s Day—NO CLASS

19           Film

24           Film

26           FIRST PAPER DUE, “Revelation” (Handout)

March

2              A Lesson Before Dying

4              A Lesson Before Dying

9              A Lesson Before Dying

11           Film

16        Film, Assign Second Paper

18           “How It Feels To Be Colored Me” (Handout)

23           Their Eyes Were Watching God

25           Their Eyes Were Watching God

30           Their Eyes Were Watching God

April

6              NO CLASS

8              Film, SECOND PAPER DUE

13           Film

15           “The Lottery” (Handout), Assign Third Paper

20           “The Veldt” (Handout)

22           Paper Help in my Office (1137)

27           Paper Help in my Office (1137)

29           MEET IN 1137, THIRD PAPER DUE