Transcript Literary Analysis.pptx

Symbols, Motifs, & Themes
by
Melisa Blake
What could a lock
symbolize?
~~~~~~~~
Would the fact
that it was locked
or unlocked
change your mind?
Representations of abstract ideas or concepts
•
•
•
•
•
•
Objects
People
Situations
Events
Actions
Colors
The Green Light is a symbol of Gatsby’s hopes and
dreams
 At the end of Daisy’s Drive
 Nearly out of sight
 Completely out of reach
 Is a metaphor for the American Dream
The Green Light also represents the decay of the
American Dream
Situated between West Egg & New York City, The Valley of
Ashes is a dumping ground for industrial ashes
• It represents the moral & social decay that
accompanies the uninhabited pursuit of wealth
• It illustrates the self-indulgence of the rich
• It symbolizes the plight of the poor
The fading, bespectacled eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg
stare down over The Valley of Ashes from an oldforgotten billboard
• No concrete significance, except to George Wilson
• Perhaps, the eyes signify God watching down upon
& judging American society as a moral wasteland
• Essentially meaningless to the world
• Arbitrariness of attaching meaning to objects
Reoccurrences of elements that help to explain or to
develop the overall theme of a piece of literature
•
•
•
•
•
•
Places/Settings
Weather
Structures
Contrasts
Literary Devices
Symbols
New York City
(Amoral quest for money & pleasure)
What important events are foreshadowed by weather in
The Great Gatsby?
Love Rekindled
Gatsby’s Confrontation w/
Tom
Gatsby’s Death
Please take 10 minutes with a partner and find
evidence of the themes in The Great Gatsby
 Find 3 direct quotes from the story that helps defend
the theme of materialism
 Identify what is going on (context) at the point quote
in the story
 Include chapter/page number of quote