Genre

The Great Gatsby may simultaneously be described as a love story, a tragedy, a fable about the American Dream and a crime story.

'Destructive passion'

In short, these four elements come together to make the overall narrative about ‘destructive passion’.
We already know much about it being a love story and a tragedy.
By fable, we mean that it contains many archetypes and that within the narrative, there is a moral message for the reader.

American Dream

The American Dream refers to the fact that in the opening up of America in the twentieth century, many people felt that they could go there and find not only material wealth but also long-term happiness.
In essence, this derived from the idea that America is a ‘new country’ and is not restricted by the boundaries of either European classes or other issues of poverty in developing countries.
Many people in the present are still seeking residency in the USA. This suggests the American Dream still exists.

Moralistic fiction

Fitzgerald writes The Great Gatsby as a moralistic fiction.
This means the novel is there to teach us something.
When Nick returns from the East, he wants the world to be ‘at a sort of moral attention forever’.
In this, Fitzgerald seems to want his readers to be morally attentive too. The tragedy warns us of over-ambition.

1Specification Overview

1.1Specification Overview

1.1.1Specification A

2Context

2.1Context

2.1.1F. Scott Fitzgerald

2.1.21920s America

2.1.3Tragedy

2.2Criticism & Approaches

2.2.1Early & Modern Criticism

2.2.2Psychoanalytic Approach

2.2.3End of Topic Test - Context

3Plot Summary

3.1Chapter One

3.1.1Chapter One

3.1.2Analysis of Chapter One

3.1.3Chapter One: Love & Historical Context

3.1.4End of Topic Test - Chapter One

3.2Chapter Two

3.2.1Chapter Two

3.2.2Chapter Two: Love & Historical Context

3.2.3End of Topic Test - Chapter Two

3.3Chapter Three

3.3.1Chapter Three

3.3.2Analysis of Chapter Three

3.3.3Chapter Three: Love & Historical Context

3.3.4End of Topic Test - Chapter Three

3.4Chapter Four

3.4.1Chapter Four

3.4.2Chapter Four: Love & Historical Context

3.4.3End of Topic Test - Chapter Four

3.5Chapter Five

3.5.1Chapter Five

3.5.2Chapter Five: Love & Historical Context

3.6Chapter Six

3.6.1Chapter Six

3.6.2Chapter Six: Love & Historical Context

3.6.3End of Topic Test - Chapters Five & Six

3.7Chapter Seven

3.7.1Chapter Seven

3.7.2Analysis of Chapter Seven

3.7.3Chapter Seven: Love & Historical Context

3.7.4End of Topic Test - Chapter Seven

3.8Chapter Eight

3.8.1Chapter Eight

3.8.2Chapter Eight: Love & Historical Context

3.9Chapter Nine

3.9.1Chapter Nine

3.9.2Chapter Nine: Love & Historical Context

3.9.3End of Topic Test - Chapters Eight & Nine

4Character Profiles

4.1Nick Carraway

4.1.1Nick Carraway

4.1.2Nick Carraway 2

4.1.3End of Topic Test - Nick

4.2Jay Gatsby

4.2.1Jay Gatsby

4.2.2Jay Gatsby 2

4.2.3End of Topic Test - Gatsby

4.3Daisy Buchanan

4.3.1Daisy Buchanan

4.3.2Daisy Buchanan 2

4.4Tom Buchanan

4.4.1Tom Buchanan

4.4.2Tom Buchanan 2

4.4.3End of Topic Test - Daisy & Tom

4.5Minor Characters

4.5.1Minor Characters

4.5.2End of Topic Test - Minor Characters

5Key Ideas

5.1Key Ideas

5.1.1Love

5.1.2Class

5.1.3Idealism

5.1.4Patriarchy & Presentation of Women

5.1.5End of Topic Test - Key Ideas

6Writing Techniques

6.1Structure, Genre & Narrative Voice

6.1.1Structure & Narrative Voice

6.1.2Genre

6.2Form & Language

6.2.1Form & Language

6.2.2Symbolism

6.2.3End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques

7Love Through the Ages - Thematic Analysis

7.1Love Through the Ages

7.1.1The Examination

7.1.2Love Through the Ages Reading

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