Fitzgerald has a very poetic way of presenting language. He uses the same devices consistently throughout his writing.

1. Select three passages from the book (about a paragraph or two in length) that we have NOT annotated as a class. Annotate these passages and identify the language features that Fitzgerald uses. Explain the effect of these features and why he may have chosen to use them.

2. Fitzgerald uses many allusions throughout the novel. Select one of these allusions and explain the connection between it and the book. Bonus: how can you link it to our theme of “illusion”.

Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year receded before us.It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—– to -morrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. … And one fine morning- So we beat on , boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”

1. the orgastic future 

“This is a valley of ashes- a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens ;where ashes take the form of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and finally with transcendent effort, of ash grey men , who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air.”

 

Allusion

David Belasco was an American theatrical producer he was well known for how realistic his sets were, Fitzgerald uses allusion when he brings upBelascoo in this quote l “See!” he cried triumphantly. “It’s a bona-fide piece of printed matter. It fooled me. This fella’s a regular Belasco. It’s a triumph. What thoroughness! What realism! Knew when to stop, too—didn’t cut the pages. But what do you want? What do you expect?” The quote references David Belasco when it says this fella’s a regular Belasco during the first party that Nick attended.They use this reference because Gatsby is like David Belasco, he has set up a scene for his life that is all fake and he is acting in, but everyone believes his set and story.