Symbolisim in the GG

Question 1

differences between east egg and west egg

Answer 1

East Egg West Egg

old money Worked for money
Tom and Daisy New money
High social status Imitates upper class
Inheritance Tacky with money
Elegance Excess
Careless Can be loyal
Shallow
Didn’t work/ earn

Question 2

quotation about Gatsby and the green light

Answer 2

’ Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter - tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther’

Question 3

explain how the type of parties link to the different locations

Answer 3

• Tom and Daisy’s dinner. East egg and old money. Tradition, corrupt, bored, pointless
• Myrtle’s = attempted imitation of Daisy’s. Immoral, tacky, violent, sexual, drunkness
• Gatsby’s = all over the top, extravagant, all to get Daisy’s attention

Question 4

What does Daisy’s voice symbolise

Answer 4

• Nick says she sounds like money
• Flirtatious
• makes people lean in to hear her
• Soft, quiet voice

Question 5

What does New York City symbolise

Answer 5

• anything goes
• most crime in the novel here
• Gatsby’s business connection, Wolfisheim
• Limited morality. Tom and Myrtle’s affair

Question 6

what does the Midwest symbolise

Answer 6

• family values
• traditional America
• morality
• all the characters are from the Midwest but become corrupt in the east
• Nick returns here at the end of the story

Question 7

what does ‘boats against the currents symbolise ‘

Answer 7

• mentioned in the last line of the novel
• passage of time
• trying to recapture the past. Pushing back against time
• Gatsby’s dream
• the American Dream

Question 8

what is the idea of Fitzgeralds Magic

Answer 8

• the act of ‘magical transformation’ could be considered a them as characters are often wanting to be someone they aren’t
• e.g. Myrtle wants to be like Daisy
• ‘f Scott Fitzgerald was interested in the way symbolism could produce a kind of magical transformation ‘ Jason Cowley