Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/6-1-2-genre [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [A Level](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level.md) › [English Lit](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature.md) › [AQA](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa.md) › [English Lit: AQA A Level The Great Gatsby - Specification A](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a.md) › Genre # Genre English Lit: AQA A Level The Great Gatsby - Specification A, topic 6.1.2 ## 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'__ ![__'Destructive passion'__](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/76d289c8-59e4-4eca-85c6-aae572c2bd32/shutterstock_126066824.jpg) - 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 ![American Dream](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/f319357b-4037-43f3-8aae-3a192c93cbb9/flag-south-usa-america-.jpg) - 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 ![Moralistic fiction](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/e4dc28ad-27f8-4c91-8820-1dc5aed3fbcc/teach-teacher-learn-.jpg) - 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. ## Test yourself on Genre - Fitzgerald writes _The Great Gatsby_ as a **moralistic fiction**. What does this mean? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/374d9d81-edad-4590-9774-fca24dd46e2f/section/b0fbc413-45bd-4046-9b41-e43c6afaec03/session) - Previous topic: [6.1.1 Structure & Narrative Voice](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/6-1-1-structure-and-narrative-voice.md) - Next topic: [6.2.1 Form & Language](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/6-2-1-form-and-language.md) ## English Lit: AQA A Level The Great Gatsby - Specification A contents ### 1 Specification Overview - 1.1 Specification Overview - [1.1.1 Specification A](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/1-1-1-specification-a.md) ### 2 Context - 2.1 Context - [2.1.1 F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/2-1-1-f-scott-fitzgerald.md) - [2.1.2 1920s America](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/2-1-2-1920s-america.md) - [2.1.3 Tragedy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/2-1-3-tragedy.md) - 2.2 Criticism & Approaches - [2.2.1 Early & Modern Criticism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/2-2-1-early-and-modern-criticism.md) - [2.2.2 Psychoanalytic Approach](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/2-2-2-psychoanalytic-approach.md) - [2.2.3 End of Topic Test - Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/2-2-3-end-of-topic-test-context.md) ### 3 Plot Summary - 3.1 Chapter One - [3.1.1 Chapter One](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-1-1-chapter-one.md) - [3.1.2 Analysis of Chapter One](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-1-2-analysis-of-chapter-one.md) - [3.1.3 Chapter One: Love & Historical Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-1-3-chapter-one-love-and-historical-context.md) - [3.1.4 End of Topic Test - Chapter One](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-1-4-end-of-topic-test-chapter-one.md) - 3.2 Chapter Two - [3.2.1 Chapter Two](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-2-1-chapter-two.md) - [3.2.2 Chapter Two: Love & Historical Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-2-2-chapter-two-love-and-historical-context.md) - [3.2.3 End of Topic Test - Chapter Two](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-2-3-end-of-topic-test-chapter-two.md) - 3.3 Chapter Three - [3.3.1 Chapter Three](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-3-1-chapter-three.md) - [3.3.2 Analysis of Chapter Three](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-3-2-analysis-of-chapter-three.md) - [3.3.3 Chapter Three: Love & Historical Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-3-3-chapter-three-love-and-historical-context.md) - [3.3.4 End of Topic Test - Chapter Three](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-3-4-end-of-topic-test-chapter-three.md) - 3.4 Chapter Four - [3.4.1 Chapter Four](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-4-1-chapter-four.md) - [3.4.2 Chapter Four: Love & Historical Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-4-2-chapter-four-love-and-historical-context.md) - [3.4.3 End of Topic Test - Chapter Four](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-4-3-end-of-topic-test-chapter-four.md) - 3.5 Chapter Five - [3.5.1 Chapter Five](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-5-1-chapter-five.md) - [3.5.2 Chapter Five: Love & Historical Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-5-2-chapter-five-love-and-historical-context.md) - 3.6 Chapter Six - [3.6.1 Chapter Six](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-6-1-chapter-six.md) - [3.6.2 Chapter Six: Love & Historical Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-6-2-chapter-six-love-and-historical-context.md) - [3.6.3 End of Topic Test - Chapters Five & Six](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-6-3-end-of-topic-test-chapters-five-and-six.md) - 3.7 Chapter Seven - [3.7.1 Chapter Seven](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-7-1-chapter-seven.md) - [3.7.2 Analysis of Chapter Seven](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-7-2-analysis-of-chapter-seven.md) - [3.7.3 Chapter Seven: Love & Historical Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-7-3-chapter-seven-love-and-historical-context.md) - [3.7.4 End of Topic Test - Chapter Seven](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-7-4-end-of-topic-test-chapter-seven.md) - 3.8 Chapter Eight - [3.8.1 Chapter Eight](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-8-1-chapter-eight.md) - [3.8.2 Chapter Eight: Love & Historical Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-8-2-chapter-eight-love-and-historical-context.md) - 3.9 Chapter Nine - [3.9.1 Chapter Nine](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-9-1-chapter-nine.md) - [3.9.2 Chapter Nine: Love & Historical Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-9-2-chapter-nine-love-and-historical-context.md) - [3.9.3 End of Topic Test - Chapters Eight & Nine](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-9-3-end-of-topic-test-chapters-eight-and-nine.md) ### 4 Character Profiles - 4.1 Nick Carraway - [4.1.1 Nick Carraway](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-1-1-nick-carraway.md) - [4.1.2 Nick Carraway 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-1-2-nick-carraway-2.md) - [4.1.3 End of Topic Test - Nick](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-1-3-end-of-topic-test-nick.md) - 4.2 Jay Gatsby - [4.2.1 Jay Gatsby](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-2-1-jay-gatsby.md) - [4.2.2 Jay Gatsby 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-2-2-jay-gatsby-2.md) - [4.2.3 End of Topic Test - Gatsby](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-2-3-end-of-topic-test-gatsby.md) - 4.3 Daisy Buchanan - [4.3.1 Daisy Buchanan](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-3-1-daisy-buchanan.md) - [4.3.2 Daisy Buchanan 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-3-2-daisy-buchanan-2.md) - 4.4 Tom Buchanan - [4.4.1 Tom Buchanan](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-4-1-tom-buchanan.md) - [4.4.2 Tom Buchanan 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-4-2-tom-buchanan-2.md) - [4.4.3 End of Topic Test - Daisy & Tom](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-4-3-end-of-topic-test-daisy-and-tom.md) - 4.5 Minor Characters - [4.5.1 Minor Characters](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-5-1-minor-characters.md) - [4.5.2 End of Topic Test - Minor Characters](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-5-2-end-of-topic-test-minor-characters.md) ### 5 Key Ideas - 5.1 Key Ideas - [5.1.1 Love](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/5-1-1-love.md) - [5.1.2 Class](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/5-1-2-class.md) - [5.1.3 Idealism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/5-1-3-idealism.md) - [5.1.4 Patriarchy & Presentation of Women](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/5-1-4-patriarchy-and-presentation-of-women.md) - [5.1.5 End of Topic Test - Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/5-1-5-end-of-topic-test-key-ideas.md) ### 6 Writing Techniques - 6.1 Structure, Genre & Narrative Voice - [6.1.1 Structure & Narrative Voice](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/6-1-1-structure-and-narrative-voice.md) - [6.1.2 Genre](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/6-1-2-genre.md) - 6.2 Form & Language - [6.2.1 Form & Language](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/6-2-1-form-and-language.md) - [6.2.2 Symbolism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/6-2-2-symbolism.md) - [6.2.3 End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/6-2-3-end-of-topic-test-writing-techniques.md) ### 7 Love Through the Ages - Thematic Analysis - 7.1 Love Through the Ages - [7.1.1 The Examination](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/7-1-1-the-examination.md) - [7.1.2 Love Through the Ages Reading](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/7-1-2-love-through-the-ages-reading.md)