6.2.2

Symbolism

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Symbols and Motifs

Many of the symbols and motifs in The Great Gatsby are tragic ones. Here are a few of them:

The colour yellow

The colour yellow

  • Decadence and decay.
Green light at the end of the dock

Green light at the end of the dock

  • A symbol of hope and reuniting with Daisy.
Eyes of Dr T. J. Eckleburg

Eyes of Dr T. J. Eckleburg

  • That a God-like figure is watching and making moral judgements.
East and West Egg

East and West Egg

  • The word Egg seems to symbolise new life and growth.
__‘Valley of the Ashes’__

‘Valley of the Ashes’

  • A representation of humanity’s fall from Eden.

Symbols and Motifs

Many of the symbols and motifs in The Great Gatsby are tragic ones. Here are a few of them:

Gatsby’s mansion

Gatsby’s mansion

  • A symbol of ‘new money’.
The Plaza Hotel

The Plaza Hotel

  • Luxury and high fashion in New York City.
The Mid-West

The Mid-West

  • An ideal, but also a reality check.
Pammy

Pammy

  • A symbol of the unbreakable nature of Tom and Daisy’s relationship.
Jump to other topics
1

Specification Overview

1.1

Specification Overview

1.1.1Specification A
2

Context

2.1

Context

2.1.1F. Scott Fitzgerald2.1.21920s America2.1.3Tragedy
2.2

Criticism & Approaches

2.2.1Early & Modern Criticism2.2.2Psychoanalytic Approach2.2.3End of Topic Test - Context
3

Plot Summary

3.1

Chapter One

3.1.1Chapter One3.1.2Analysis of Chapter One3.1.3Chapter One: Love & Historical Context3.1.4End of Topic Test - Chapter One
3.2

Chapter Two

3.2.1Chapter Two3.2.2Chapter Two: Love & Historical Context3.2.3End of Topic Test - Chapter Two
3.3

Chapter Three

3.3.1Chapter Three3.3.2Analysis of Chapter Three3.3.3Chapter Three: Love & Historical Context3.3.4End of Topic Test - Chapter Three
3.4

Chapter Four

3.4.1Chapter Four3.4.2Chapter Four: Love & Historical Context3.4.3End of Topic Test - Chapter Four
3.5

Chapter Five

3.5.1Chapter Five3.5.2Chapter Five: Love & Historical Context
3.6

Chapter Six

3.6.1Chapter Six3.6.2Chapter Six: Love & Historical Context3.6.3End of Topic Test - Chapters Five & Six
3.7

Chapter Seven

3.7.1Chapter Seven3.7.2Analysis of Chapter Seven3.7.3Chapter Seven: Love & Historical Context3.7.4End of Topic Test - Chapter Seven
3.8

Chapter Eight

3.8.1Chapter Eight3.8.2Chapter Eight: Love & Historical Context
3.9

Chapter Nine

3.9.1Chapter Nine3.9.2Chapter Nine: Love & Historical Context3.9.3End of Topic Test - Chapters Eight & Nine
4

Character Profiles

4.1

Nick Carraway

4.1.1Nick Carraway4.1.2Nick Carraway 24.1.3End of Topic Test - Nick
4.2

Jay Gatsby

4.2.1Jay Gatsby4.2.2Jay Gatsby 24.2.3End of Topic Test - Gatsby
4.3

Daisy Buchanan

4.3.1Daisy Buchanan4.3.2Daisy Buchanan 2
4.4

Tom Buchanan

4.4.1Tom Buchanan4.4.2Tom Buchanan 24.4.3End of Topic Test - Daisy & Tom
4.5

Minor Characters

4.5.1Minor Characters4.5.2End of Topic Test - Minor Characters
5

Key Ideas

5.1

Key Ideas

5.1.1Love5.1.2Class5.1.3Idealism5.1.4Patriarchy & Presentation of Women5.1.5End of Topic Test - Key Ideas
6

Writing Techniques

6.1

Structure, Genre & Narrative Voice

6.1.1Structure & Narrative Voice6.1.2Genre
6.2

Form & Language

6.2.1Form & Language6.2.2Symbolism6.2.3End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques
7

Love Through the Ages - Thematic Analysis

7.1

Love Through the Ages

7.1.1The Examination7.1.2Love Through the Ages Reading

Practice questions on Symbolism

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    What does the __‘Valley of the Ashes’__ symbolise?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    What does the colour yellow symbolise?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    Who or what is a symbol of the unbreakable nature of Tom and Daisy’s relationship?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    Which of these is a symbol of __'new money'__?Multiple choice
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Form & Language

End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques