This session considered some key moments from chapters SEVEN and EIGHT and the main focus of the session was a consideration of the question:
DOES FITZGERALD PRESENT GATSBY AS A TRAGIC HERO?
The class were asked to consider the conventions of dramatic tragedy such as:
HUBRIS....the idea that a man forgets he is mortal and believes himself a God.
HARMARTIA...a good man makes a fatal mistake that leads to his destruction
CATHARSIS...the audience are made to feel a sense of FEAR and PITY that inspires a sense of 'emotional purification' that involves some form of learning linked to the human condition.
Students were also asked to consider whether Gatsby is destroyed by circumstances beyond his control and consider the definition of TRAGEDY offered by D.H.Lawrence and Arthur Miller.
At one point in the lesson we watched the resource below and briefly discussed its content:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLSVx84uPrY
Students really need to digest these two resources posted to my previous blog entry. I'm not sure YOU LOT are visiting these resources:
Definition and discussion of Dramatic Tragedy offered by The National Theatre:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSr6mP-zxUc
A GATSBY podcast created by a bloke addicted to TUNNOCKS' TEA CAKES:
https://soundcloud.com/fishymedia/literature-podcast-an-as-level
HOMEWORK: Consider how you will answer the 'GATSBY TRAGIC HERO?' question as this will be your next essay. We will be planning the written response in the next session so it is important that students READ THE TEXT and bring some ideas to the classroom. Does Fitzgerald really want the reader to view Gatsby as in any way heroic? Is it possible that CARRAWAY views Gatsby as a tragic hero but Fitzgerald wants the reader to view Gatsby in a different manner??
BIG DISCUSSION NEXT SESSION FOLKS.
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