Literary Analysis of The Great GatsbyDue: Wednesday February 26(plus TURNITIN.COM)

Choose one topic from the list below. You must write a correctly formatted essay of 700-1000 words (typed, MLA format). Your essay MUST:

  • Have a creative/unique title (not Gatsby Literary Analysis or Literary Analysis)
  • Contain an introductory/topic sentence
  • Indicate author’s name and novel title somewhere in the first paragraph
  • Contain a clearly stated thesis in the first paragraph; which is reworded in the last paragraph
  • Contain NO LESS than 6 CORRECTLY FORMATED CITATIONS to support your points
  • Contain NO colloquialism (slang phrases “that’s lame”, “back in the day”, etc.)
  • Contain NO questions – NONE whatsoever!!
  • Contain NO spelling/punctuation errors – you have a dictionary and people who can spell, there is no excuse for spelling errors!
  • Be written in PRESENT tense (e.g. “When Gatsby asks Nick to invite Daisy over for tea…” and NOT “When Gatsby asked Nick to invite Daisy over for tea…”)

I recommend creating an outline. Feel free to show me your outline to check the strength of your paper. DO NOT try to write it the night before it is due – it will be obvious in the quality of your work.

From our class discussions and reading, you should be clear on the fact that The Great Gatsby is a period piece; critiquing the most visible issues in the 1920s. You may choose one of the topics below or you may choose your own topic (provided I approve). You may also combine more than one topic.

  • Discuss Fitzgerald’s use of color symbolism throughout the novel
  • Choose a color – discuss the color’s meaning in the novel.
  • Analyze Fitzgerald’s use of this color throughout the novel.
  • Give examples of the color’s use (who, what, where) – and why Fitzgerald chose that particular color. Do the items correlate to each other through meaning?
  • Analyze Fitzgerald’s intentions for this color – what was he thinking?
  • Analyze if there were a better color choice he could have made.

Alternative Topic Choices

  • Discuss Fitzgerald’s use of weather symbolism throughout the novel
  • Analyze Daisy’s character – was she truly innocent? Who is the real Daisy?
  • Discuss the novel as a critique of wealth and status
  • Discuss the novel as a critique of “The American Dream”
  • Discuss Fitzgerald’s use of motif throughout the novel (motif means a repeated element)
  • Drinking/driving/lying/unfaithfulness/illusion/gangster connection
  • Who is the real Gatsby? Explore various stories regarding Gatsby and decide what is true and what isn’t. How does Fitzgerald use the mystery regarding this character to keep the reader interested?
  • Contrast Nick, the honest realist, with Gatsby, the romantic idealist. Whose state of mind makes the most sense? Support your thoughts with textual examples.

** Remember to consult for assistance with MLA format or writing a literary analysis