YEAR 12 LESSON FIFTY-TWO/FIFTY-THREE [6th/7th May 14]: Homework

Tuesday's lesson involved a timed essay. The past exam question was:

HOW FAR DO YOU AGREE WITH NICK'S VIEW THAT GATSBY IS 'WORTH THE WHOLE DAMN BUNCH PUT TOGETHER'?

These essays were...er..pretty bad! The most alarming feature of the essays was the complete lack of textual reference. Students need to be aware that an Aii question such as this will demand a link to historical context and a consideration of different readings. The big feature that students never really managed to explore was the idea that Carraway is in love with Gatsby and offers a very romantic and subjective perception of this violent gangster. CARRAWAY IS NOT FITZGERALD. 

The Wednesday session explored the idea that Carraway offers a very romantic representation of Gatsby and attempted to link this feature of narrative to author's aim. Class discussion attempted to construct a more sophisticated response to the timed essay question.

The rest of this session considered the two past exam questions:

• To what extent do you agree with the view that The Great Gatsby is a love story?
• Write about the ways three writers use symbolism to shape meaning.

Class discussion was excellent but it really is time to stop talking and produce some timed essays. I will mark any work that you can be bothered to produce before the exam. If you email me work I will scan your essay and send it back to you with guidance notes. Obviously, all students are welcome to visit me in the department at any time.

GOOD LUCK FREAKS. GET READING. GOOD LUCK.

Don't forget...this blog is full of resources. Use the bar in the left hand corner of the blog to explore all the relevant Auden/Fitzgerald/Coleridge resources.

GATSBY RESOURCES:
http://becuriouslit.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/year-12-lesson-nineteen-7th-feb-13.html
http://becuriouslit.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/year-12-lesson-fourteen-23rd-oct-13.html
http://becuriouslit.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/year-12-gatsby-resourcesthe-film-is.html
https://soundcloud.com/fishymedia/literature-podcast-an-as-level
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VhYMdnAsyM
TROTAM:
http://becuriouslit.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/year-12-lesson-thirty-fourthirty-five.html
https://soundcloud.com/fishymedia/literature-podcast-two-the
http://becuriouslit.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/year-12-lesson-twenty-nine-7th-jan-14.html
http://becuriouslit.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/year-12-lesson-thirteen-13th-dec-12.html