YEAR 12 LESSON 11/12 [15th/16th Oct 13]: Homework.

The aim of the first session was to deepen student understanding of F.S.Fitzgerald's THE GREAT GATSBY. The specific focus was Chapter Three and the class produced some wonderful group work that explored some key features of this chapter. Students were asked to consider:

• The significance of the language at the beginning of the chapter and how Fitzgerald shapes a world of affluence and extravagance.
• The significance of OWL EYES in the library and the crying girl.
• The significance of Gatsby's understated entrance. Author's aim?
• The symbolic association being shaped by the aural imagery. The chapter begins with the melody of music, laughter and jazz and concludes with the discordant sound of car horns and drunken conflict. What is the author's aim?
• The structure of the chapter and how this structure could represent the whole novel. Is the structure of this chapter symbolic? Author's aim?

The response to this session was OUTSTANDING. Furthermore, student explanation of the Beverley photographs was equally impressive. A fine session.

The second session on Wednesday aimed to reinforce the understanding of chapter three and consider the significance of Carraway's comments in the final section of this key chapter. Do Carraway's comments reinforce the enigmatic quality of this narrative voice or do the comments allow the reader to understand Carraway's character in a manner that has not been possible in the previous chapters? Is Carraway mocking himself at the end of this chapter. Is this self deprecation?

Class discussion considered how language, structure and form is used to shape meaning in chapter three. Both lessons were aimed at considering the author's aim. This is a BIG chapter and students need to reflect on the content of this week's lessons.

Homework: Read chapters four and five. Chapter five is the moment when Gatsby meets Daisy. I look forward to your reaction to these chapters. Are any new themes introduced? Are any themes developed and reinforced? What are the key moments in each chapter and why? What is Fitzgerald's aim?
ALL students need to digest this resource. We will be discussing these comments in the next session:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLSVx84uPrY
I might play this and ask for comments:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rARN6agiW7o
READ THE TEXT. READ THE TEXT. READ THE TEXT. READ THE TEXT.
I will offer feedback to the first Gatsby essays at the start of the next session.

Cake on Tuesday!