Introduction
We have all heard the common phrase "money can't buy happiness...", what do you think? Does achieving wealth and success actually lead to happiness?
Think, does money give people more freedom or does it actually create division and limitations?
Consider someone you see as powerful and successful, is their public identity representative of who they really are?
Within the book, "The Great Gatsby", there are many themes to discover. By observing the themes, tracing character development and analyzing the context, we are able to better understand what the author is trying to get across. Today, we will dive into themes of the book and pick apart what the author is trying to teach.
Task
Read over Ch. 1, 5, 6 and 9 of the Great Gatsby.
Highlight sections of the chapters that are interesting/stand out to you.
Ask yourself, why does this section stand out?
Sticky note questions you have about the text.
Observe Gatsby's love of wealth and approval of others, where in the chapters do you see these characters come out?
Answer: Why is the author depicting Gatsby to be the guy that he is, what is the authors purpose?
Process
Link to an online The Great Gatsby PDF: https://www.planetebook.com/free-ebooks/the-great-gatsby.pdf
Here is an article about the importance of "themes", and why we need to understand them in order to better understand what we are reading.
https://kingdompen.org/why-everything-in-your-story-must-tie-into-your-theme/
Evaluation
| Criteria | 4 — Excellent | 3 — Proficient | 2 — Developing | 1 — Beginning |
|---|
| 1. Identification of Theme | Develops a thoughtful, complex thematic statement that expresses a meaningful message about life, society, human nature, or the human experience. Goes beyond a topic such as “wealth” or “love.” | Develops a clear thematic statement that expresses a meaningful message about the text. | Theme is present but may be too broad, simplistic, or close to a topic rather than a message. | Identifies only a topic, plot detail, or vague lesson rather than a theme. |
| 2. Textual Evidence | Uses multiple specific and highly relevant examples from the novel. Evidence comes from significant moments, characters, conflicts, symbols, or patterns throughout the text. | Uses relevant evidence from the novel that supports the proposed theme. | Uses some evidence, but examples may be general, weak, or only partially connected to the theme. | Provides little or no relevant textual evidence. |
| 3. Explanation & Interpretation | Provides strong analysis explaining how and why each piece of evidence develops the theme. Makes insightful connections between multiple moments in the novel. | Clearly explains how evidence supports the theme. | Explains the evidence but relies primarily on summary or makes connections that are underdeveloped. | Primarily summarizes the plot or characters without explaining how the evidence develops a theme. |
| 4. Author’s Purpose | Thoughtfully considers why Fitzgerald chose to portray events, characters, conflicts, symbols, or patterns in a particular way and connects those choices to the theme. | Explains Fitzgerald’s likely purpose and connects it to the theme. | Identifies a possible purpose but explanation is general or only loosely connected to the theme. | Does not meaningfully address Fitzgerald’s purpose or confuses author’s purpose with plot. |
| 5. Overall Understanding & Complexity | Demonstrates a deep and accurate understanding of the novel. Recognizes contradictions, patterns, irony, symbolism, or character development that contribute to a nuanced interpretation. | Demonstrates an accurate understanding of the novel and develops a logical interpretation. | Demonstrates partial understanding but contains oversimplifications or minor misunderstandings. | Demonstrates significant misunderstanding of the novel or develops an interpretation unsupported by the text. |
Conclusion
Why are themes important?
To help us as readers to understand that the story is about more than just what happens to the characters. A plot tells us the details of the story, but a theme helps readers to understand what the author is trying to say about life, people, society or other life lessons.
By understanding the themes of The Great Gatsby, readers are able to see that the author is making us aware of the conflict between wealth and true happiness. That the "American Dream" isn't all that dreamy, what matters more is what a person is like within- rather than what their life appears to be like on the outside.