YEAR 12 LESSON FOUR [18th Sept 13]: Homework.

The session began with the Lord of the Lard modelling a paragraph response to the metaphor essay question. Class response was really good throughout the modelling exercise...I salute you all. The session moved on to a contextual consideration of THE GREAT GATSBY with students encouraged to digest the resources placed on BE CURIOUS.
Students were asked to consider how the following texts represent America:

• The Emma Lazarus poem 'The New Colossus' written in 1883 as this poem can be found inside the Statue of Liberty.
• The lyrics to The Star Spangled Banner
• Walt Whitman's poems 'America' and 'I hear America Singing'.
• Reference was also made to The 1776 Declaration of Independence.

Students were asked to consider how these texts represent the idea of America. This representation is important as Fitzgerald's representation of America is very different to the America being presented in these pre-twentieth century texts. Students need to consider how Fitzgerald represents America and why he chooses to represent his country in this manner.

The final section of the lesson involved a consideration of Nick Carraway's representation of Gatsby in the opening section of Chapter One and the significance of 'foul dust'. The lesson concluded with The Lardmaster shaking violently in a Gatsbyesque manner and staring at a green classroom wall! What can it all mean??

Homework: Students need to read the first three chapters of the novel and consider the following questions:

• What kind of a narrator is Nick Carraway?
• Why does Fitzgerald choose to narrate his tale from the perspective of a rich and traumatised War veteran?
• How would you describe Daisy and Tom?
• How does Fitzgerald want the reader to view Gatsby?
• What is the significance of The Valley of Ashes?

YOUR FIRST ESSAY NEEDS TO BE HANDED TO ME WHEN WE MEET NEXT TUESDAY.

GOOD LUCK FOLKS.

Below is the trailer used to promote the recent film version of the novel:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rARN6agiW7o