What is the significance of place in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner?

In ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’, places are used in a way that is significant because they allow the reader to distinguish certain factors of the storyline and occasionally even the emotions of the Mariner through the use of pathetic fallacy. There are four notable locations within the poem; these include the initial location of the church, moving onto the ice-locked landscape which is then juxtaposed by the ‘hellish’ landscape that occurs after the Mariner has committed his ‘sin’. Finally, there is the forest which appears near the end of the poem in which a hermit lives.

The church makes an appearance at both the beginning and the end, giving the poem a cyclical nature. The fact that the Mariner never actually goes inside the church on either occasion signifies the separation between himself and religion – because the Mariner has sinned, even though he has suffered, it seems he is permanently detached from religious conviction which indicates that even after an extended length of time, the Mariner is yet to be forgiven. In turn, this is also indicative of non-Christian morals, as surely any Christian tale would have allowed the Mariner his freedom and redemption.

As the Mariner and his crew set off, they soon find themselves trapped in an ice-locked landscape. This landscape in particular is significant due to the fact that it could be symbolic of ‘heaven’; in the case of the poem being non-religious, the ice is representative of a benevolent force. Although the ice had the Mariner and his crew trapped, it also kept them from immediately heading into the drought ridden area that is discovered later on, and it also acts as the setting for our introduction to the albatross which is also depicted as benevolent as it acts as a guide.

After the albatross is pointlessly shot by the Mariner, the setting then changes to one that firmly juxtaposes the icy sanctuary. The landscape is hot and somewhat supernatural, and is significant due to the fact that it could represent the ideology of ‘hell’ just as the ice represents ‘heaven’.

Because this new placement of the ship is hot and dry, the Mariner and crew soon find themselves parched, however the fact that they are on the sea is significant because it adds to the torture of the Marnier’s overall punishment. “Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink.” – The men are being tormented by the thing that they desire most.

Finally, the forest in which the hermit resides is the last notable location before the reoccurrence of the church; it is significant because it holds a strong sense of pantheism which is its own religion, however unconventional. The hermit displays a strong aversion to the Mariner and his ship by saying things such as “Strange, by my faith” and “Dear Lord! It hath a fiendish look”. This shows that the Mariner has now become completely detached from his own and others’ spirituality after committing his apparently abhorrent sin.

Overall the significance of place in ’The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ is to emphasize the theme of crime and punishment through a number of techniques such a pathetic fallacy and stereotypes (e.g. fires to represent hell).

Review of Act 2: Much ado about Nothing

Act 2 Scene 1

Explain Beatrice’s motives in calling Benedick a ‘Prince’s jester’ and why this is deemed as offensive and thus ‘un-comedic’

Beatrice takes advantage of the fact that Benedick doesn’t know that she knows who she is talking to, this way she can be outlandishly rude and she does so to such an extent that she actually breaks the boundaries of humour and enters offensive territory. She makes him appear a fool, someone who is ungentlemanly by referring to him as “in the fleet” which links to the idea of sailors being untrustworthy and therefore not manly. It is this aspect of her insult that perhaps makes it so controversial, for a woman to be stripping a man of his dominance would have been completely subversive at the time.

Explain the following quote, commenting on metaphor and theme; “She speaks poniards and every word stabs.”

This quote ties in with a running metaphor throughout the play of words being used and referred to as destructive items.  When Leonato talks about Beatrice and Benedick’s arguing routine, he calls is a “merry war.” Shakespeare has possibly chosen the word “poniards” because it almost has onomatopoeia like effects, it practically ‘sounds’ sharp, emphasizing Beatrice’s vicious linguistic nature.

Relate the following quote connected to disease to a quote from Beatrice; “If her breath were as terrible as her terminations, there were no living near her – she would infect to the North Star”

This quote can be connected to the quote that Beatrice says about Benedick; “O lord he will hang upon him like a disease he is sooner caught than the pestilence… if he had caught the Benedick, it will cost him a thousand pound ere a’ be cured.” In this quote, Beatrice is referring to Benedick as a contaminant – she shows false caring for Claudio, whom has been declared his “new sworn brother”. There are a couple of differences between these quotes, however – as Beatrice suggests that Benedick is ‘easier to catch than the plague’, whereas Benedick suggests that ‘no one wants to be around Beatrice due to her bad attitude’.

Analyse the following linguistic technique; “I cannot endure my Lady Tongue”

"Lady Tongue" is used not only to refer to Beatrice, but also to a common type of meat – ox tongue.  In this metaphor, Benedick is saying that all Beatrice does is talk, as would be a common stereotype of women at the time. Paradoxically Benedick talks a lot more than Beatrice does – this is an example of verbal irony used by Shakespeare to show a sexist double standard.

Analyse lines 252-255

Beatrice is saying that Benedick made her love him more than he loved her (“a double heart for his single one”). She feels that he put on a facade to make her love him. She feels that she lost her heart when Benedick broke it by making her fall in love and then showing his true colours, thus winning her heart under “false dice”.

Explain the scheming/plotting in this scene and how it relates to the comedic genre of the time

In this scene, Don Pedro, Leonato and Claudio make a plan to enamour Benedick with Beatrice. This is so that they can attain the glory of conquering Cupid by pairing together the two people who seem most unsuitable for one another. They form a plot to make it so that Benedick and Beatrice will hear people telling of their love for each other – consequently, Benedick will only discover his love for Beatrice when he ‘knows’ Beatrice loves him and vice versa. This would have been seen as comedic at the time due to the fact that there is a high chance of the characters being made a fool of as a result of Don Pedro’s, Leonato’s and Claudio’s Machiavellian styled deceit. There is also a lot of opportunity for the situation to go wrong as cases of mistaken identity usually do.

Act 2 Scene 2

Write a summary of the events in this scene comparing the scheming developments here with the previous scene

In Act 2 Scene 2, Don John learns of Claudio and Hero’s upcoming marriage, and he tries to think of a way to prevent it. Don John’s servant Borachio devises a plan that will make it seem as if Hero is not a virgin but a woman who has willingly had sex before marriage and simultaneously been unfaithful to Claudio. He will achieve this by setting up a scene where Hero looks to be cheating on Claudio with Borachio by dressing up Margaret, (Borachio’s real partner), as Hero and making sure that both Claudio and Don Pedro witness them in the act of ‘cheating’.  This shows scheming developments from the previous scene because before, the characters were using deceit to achieve a pleasant end result whereas the plotting that is taking place in this scene is being used for a malicious venture, even though it follows along similar lines.

Explain why these plans are beyond the ‘comedic’ and harbour potentially tragic outcomes

This kind of scheming breaks comedic boundaries because there is nothing funny to be found in its content. It is purely being undertaken for the means of villainy and it will almost certainly harbour tragic outcomes for several of the characters. Claudio, he will feel cheated and untrusting of Hero, who is being accused of something that was seen as slanderous at the time – something that she didn’t even do and perhaps even Leonato will suffer as he would  have to live with the burden of ‘knowing’ that his daughter is a ‘whore’.

Act 2 Scene 3

Why do you think Benedick is delivering a soliloquy and furthermore, why does he deliver it in prose?

Benedick delivers a soliloquy after he hears of Beatrice’s affections because it is clearly a significant event to him  – his pent up feelings for Beatrice that have for so long been hidden by his denial are now allowed to come forth and influence his thoughts and actions. The fact that these thoughts are presented in a soliloquy are so that the audience has a clear picture of his stream of consciousness. The fact that the soliloquy is delivered in prose is significant because if it were to be presented in elaborate code such as Petrarchal terminology, then it would have appeared to be less sincere whereas the realisation is actually a very important matter to Benedick, even if it is more of a joke to Leonato, Don Pedro and Claudio.

Explore Benedick’s attitudes towards ‘masculinity’ in this soliloquy and how being in love might affect it

All throughout the beginning of the play, Benedick is constantly setting himself up for a fall my swearing that he will never fall in love or be married; it is at this point he decides to change his mind. He has slight concerns that people will mock him for betraying his beliefs so readily and so he almost instinctually creates excuses to perhaps even reassure himself and others that it is simply a matter of his tastes (beliefs) “maturing”.  However, there is a definite difference in the way Benedick talks and presents himself in thins soliloquy compared to the rest of the play, for instance – his usual sense of arrogance has gone amiss and has been replaced with something resembling modesty – he even suggests that the only dent in Beatrice’s cleverness is loving him which shows the change in his masculinity now that the idea of ‘love’ has been introduced.

What could Shakespeare’s motives be for including the ditty and how does it add thematically to the play?

The song has the message of telling women not to worry any more (“sigh no more, ladies”) – they should relax and sing as there is nothing that they can do to change their men.  Shakespeare may have wanted to include this in the play to show that men were supposed to be reliable and non-impulsive characters which shows a little bit of Benedick’s subversive nature which is also reflected in his lack of Petrarchal terminology. The song could add thematically to the play as there is always a lingering idea that people are always based on stereotypes and the song could be there to show that stereotypes can and will be broken.

What witty remark does Benedick say after the song? Do you think he believes the song’s message?

After the song has been played, Benedick compares the singer to a dog howling, furthermore – a dog howling so badly that it would have been hung. He also makes reference to the plague, saying that he would rather catch it than listen to the song again. It is of my opinion that Benedick protests too exuberantly, perhaps he does agree with the song but he feels ashamed about it. After all, the song is about men deceiving and/or cheating on women – this could once again be a reference to Benedick and Beatrice’s past that Benedick may not be too proud of, and so he slates the song for being terrible to once again hide his real emotions.

From line 210-233 Benedick delivers a soliloquy. In what ways does the soliloquy mark a change in Benedick?

This soliloquy marks a significant change within Benedick and his attitude towards Beatrice. Where once he had insisted that he were never to have a wife, he now considers marriage an option (“I did never think to marry” / “When I said I would die a bachelor, I did not think I should live till I were married”). And, where once he was adamant that Beatrice was a “harpy” and that he could not “endure [his] Lady Tongue”, he now sees her as the partner to which he would like to marry. All of this change has been a result of his eavesdropping and so it could even be classed as comedic – not just because he has been made to look like somewhat of a fool, but because of how easily influenced he can be on matters of which he was previously so rigidly set upon.

How is Benedick’s attitude different to Beatrice at the end of the scene?

By the end of the scene, Benedick’s attitude towards Beatrice has changed most dramatically – he would usually address Beatrice by insulting her a few times and indulging himself on an argument with her, however – due to the fact that Beatrice has not been ‘baited’ yet, she still greets Benedick in the regular fashion whereas he meets her with a lighter and more casual tone. He also tries to find positive aspects in her frosty discourse that prove what he had just overheard (“there’s a double meaning in that”). He manages to not be rude to Beatrice throughout their entire conversation, which, as would be expected, is met with some confusion from Beatrice.

Research on key characteristics of Romanticism

Literature

·         Belief in the individual and common man

·         Interest in the bizarre, supernatural and gothic.

·         Love of (reverence for) nature. (sublime) - Romantic literature tends to emphasize a love of nature, a respect for primitivism, and a valuing of the common, "natural" man; Romantics idealize country life and believe that many of the ills of society are a result of urbanization.

·         Interest in the past.

·         Looks at the world with more than reasonable optimism (rose-colored glasses).

·         Romantics were attracted to rebellion and revolution, especially concerned with human rights, individualism, freedom from oppression

·         Faith in inner experience and the power of the imagination - imagination is a gateway to transcendent experience and truth.

In literature, romanticism was popularized by poets and authors such as John Keats, Shelley, William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. These authors of romantic literature believed in creative expression through pieces of prose and poetry, a movement that soon began to affect the world in terms of emotions and relationships. Romanticism is alive in literature to this date, and traces of this genre can be viewed in some pieces of writing. Romantic authors made an attempt to view the mundane in a very extraordinary manner. A good example is the poem Daffodils by William Wordsworth. An analysis of Daffodils by William Wordsworth clearly exhibits many characteristics of romanticism, one of which has been mentioned above.

Another important characteristic of romanticism is the view of life in its minor aspects and not as a whole. In his popular work Defence of Poetry, Shelley argued that human beings must understand and learn to appreciate the little things that life has to offer, to make the pain and pleasure of another individual one's own, in order to truly comprehend the meaning of life. The basic effort of the romantic movement was to incorporate creative expression, transform the ordinary to the extraordinary, and experience emotions at not a superficial but at a deeply intense level.

All in all, the influence of romanticism in literature reflected a profound attempt to experience life more passionately, be it the self or another, be it an emotion or an object. Instead of focusing on a practical, logical or scientific approach, as popularized during the Enlightenment or the industrial revolution, romanticism was directed towards focusing within oneself for solutions and newness, and encouraged people to trust themselves and their instincts. Romantics also made an attempt to focus on nature, to give it importance above the scientific revolution that had overtaken the world. This they believed, would change the way the world was perceived, and would help individuals understand themselves better.

The romantic movement in literature also gave rise to a sub-genre, dark romanticism. While romanticism in itself focused on beauty and an 'out of the world view' of life, dark romanticism focused mainly on tragedies and horror. Though a sub-genre of romanticism, dark romanticism turned out to be almost an opposite of romanticism in itself. This sub-genre was more of an extension of American romanticism in literature, which later spread to other parts of the world. Some popular works of dark romanticism include those by William Blake and Edgar Allan Poe.

All in all, it can be said that the romantic movement that influenced literature restored hope in the human race; hope for the fact that not everything could be mechanized and rendered lifeless. By coming a full circle, romanticism taught people how to experience pleasure in the little things in life, to think out of the box, to dream, and to explore. In today's day and time, romanticism, the definition of which has been reduced to pure mush, will regain lost ground. Not everything can be looked at with a practical approach, not everything has to be logical. By returning to the beliefs of romanticism, one may in effect, be able to bring back to life that little hope, that little desire to dream and believe, and make life a little more colorful, to say the least.
 

Poetry

There are many angles and point-of-views from which one can study romantic poetry. The most of important characteristic of this form of poetry is imagination. The different characteristics of romantic poetry are elaborated on in the article below.

Imagination
In the words of William Wordsworth, 'poetry is the first and last of all knowledge'. The phenomenon of imagination is the essence or core of romantic poetry. According to romantic poets, it is possible to attain a transcendental experience by means of imagination. It takes us near to the spiritual truth.

Emotions
When it comes to romantic poetry, reason and logic take a backseat. The one thing which rules the world of romanticism is emotion. Romantic poetry is one of the best means to let loose one's emotions through words. The overflow of emotions depicted through romantic poetry transcends the boundaries of logical reasoning. Spontaneity in romantic poetry arises from an emotional outflow, and sometimes pain is the inspiration.

Nature
A romantic poet can let loose his/her imagination in the process of interpreting natural phenomena. It is said that romantic poetry associated with nature is a kind of a meditative process. The rationalists tend to view or associate nature with some kind of machine. A romanticist's perception of nature is that of an organic phenomenon. Nature is also viewed as a setting or place which offers respite from the artificial world that we inhabit.

Pastoral Life
The pastoral life, culture and traditions are mentioned on a frequent basis in romantic poetry. In most cases, the relaxed and slow-paced pastoral life of shepherds is depicted in these poems. Romantic poetry employs this feature in order to present before readers the complexities of life in a simple manner. Contrasting features of country and urban life can also be depicted by the portrayal of pastoral life.

Symbolism
It is a way of expressing so much in so little. The use of symbolism in literature allows to infer / derive different meanings from a single expression. Symbolism rouses the curiosity of readers and also adds a kind of enigma to the expressions or thoughts of the poet. Representing a particular thing allegorically, lies at the core of symbolism. Repetitive presentation of an object or character is one of the ways in which symbolism is depicted in poetry.

Individualism
It is one of the important romantic poetry characteristics. Representation of a hero, a person with exceptional genius, is of common occurrence in romantic poetry. Heroes are depicted as personalities which exhibit boldness. This quality boldness is in contrast with that of restraint depicted in ancient classics.

Art

Nineteenth-century romanticism was characterized by the avoidance of classical forms and rules, emphasis on the emotional and spiritual, representation of the unattainable ideal, nostalgia for the grace of past ages

Romantics would endow inanimate objects with human values (e.g., the wild trees and shimmery moonlight used in the paintings of Caspar David Friedrich to suggest infinity of human longing)

The thoughts and feelings that ruled this romantic philosophy were appreciation of the beauty of nature, exultation of emotion over reason, the senses over intellect and a focus on heroes.

As the Romantic period emphasized on human emotions, the position of the artist or the poet also gained supremacy. In the earlier times, the artist was seen as a person who imitated the external world through his art. However, this definition was mooted in the Romantic era and the poet or the painter was seen as a creator of something which reflected his individuality and emotions. The Romantic perception of the artist as the creator is best encapsulated by Caspar David Friedrich, who remarked that "the artist's feeling is his law". It was also the first time that the poems written in the first person were being accepted, as the poetic persona became one with the voice of the poet.

Gender Stereotypes in Elizabethan Times and in ‘Much ado About Nothing’

During Elizabethan times, there was an unmarried woman on the throne in England, and yet the roles of women in society were extremely limited­­. An example of this limitation was that only women of nobility were allowed a standard education, whereas if you were deemed not worthy of this by not being born into nobility, then you would be destined to stay at home and learn how to run the household. This would include such skills as cooking, cleaning and sewing.

Those women considered to be appropriate for a ‘normal’ education, would be given the knowledge of several languages including Latin, Greek, Italian and French, however this education would cease when they reached the stage of university as it didn’t matter how noble the woman was, they would still not be allowed to attend university and so if they wished to continue their education, they would have to be taught from home.

A large amount of restrictions on the life of women were in the field of profession. Women were not allowed to become lawyers, doctors, politicians or writers as well as being forbidden to enroll for the army or navy. This could be because in Elizabethan times, women were seen as untrustworthy and deceitful due to the wide belief at the time that women’s periods were controlled by the moon and that their uterus migrated around the body, causing hysterics and lunacy.

The greatest thing that a woman could do at the time was to become a mother, however due to the “untrustworthy nature” of women at the time, the fidelity of the woman was always kept under a high level of scrutiny, as it was impossible to take a test to determine who the biological father of a child was at the time.

There were countless other ways in which women were viewed as “the weaker sex” such as the fact that they were forced to become dependent on male figures and if they disobeyed them, it was viewed as a crime. It was also forbidden for women to vote, thus demeaning and objectifying them further.

Men, on the other hand – lived life as the superior gender. This is because society in the Elizabethan era was a patriarchal one, a society governed by men. They were entitled to any position of power, besides the queen of course, and they saw this level of gender dominance to have been set in place by God and nature.

They were expected to be the ‘breadwinners’ and furthermore, they were trusted with all of the important decisions that entailed family life – women were only expected to obey the decisions and not be a part of making them.

In Shakespeare’s ‘Much ado About Nothing’, the character of ‘Hero’ is the epitome of the stereotypical Elizabethan female as she hardly says a word throughout the play and at some point, her fidelity is questioned due to a case of mistaken identity. Shakespeare, however – was known to challenge conformity, already recognized for mocking traditional Petrarchal poetry with Sonnet 130. He created the character of Beatrice in ‘Much ado’ to challenge the female stereotypes of the time, making her loquacious and outspoken which would have been quite shocking for the audience due to the extremities of his incongruence to the rest of society.

Coleridge described his poem as a 'work of pure imagination'. To what extent do you agree with his assessment of 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner'?

Coleridge described his poem, ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ to be a work of ‘pure imagination’. This could be in referral to any number of things throughout the poem, for instance – the consistent ambiguity in the significance of the different aspects of the story which could be in relation to the albatross or even the dramatic and spectacular changes in the environment that are somewhat reminiscent of fantasy.

Many people argue that this is an accurate assessment of this poem because of these features, as well as others such as the extraordinary experiences which the Mariner and his crew are forced to endure such as the contrast between freezing in a glacial wasteland and dehydrating under a blistering sun, and then the even more stranger – witnessing the crew return from the dead and coming into contact with a full ghost crew and ship.

It is these aspects specifically which may lead the reader to believe that the entire poem was spawned purely from Coleridge’s imagination, however – it can also be argued that ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ is not purely imaginative. This is because there are several points throughout the story which seem anchored into the morality of religion, for example - sleep is ascended to the ideal image of a gift from the Virgin Mary, because it had been impossible to achieve before, the Mariner saw the escape as somewhat ‘sacred’.

The entire story of the poem could also be compared to the original sin made by the first humans, Adam and Eve. Just as Eve ate the forbidden fruit albeit she was explicitly warned against it and was henceforth banished from the Garden of Eden, the Mariner shot down the albatross for no apparent reason, even though it had acted as a guide for him and his crew and was forced to suffer the consequences. The heavy morality linked with this classic tale of crime and retribution may also influence readers to believe that the poem was not formed purely based on imagination.

In my own opinion, I believe that the framework of the tale is based on external factors such as religion or superstition created by someone other than Coleridge, however I also believe that the nature of the punishment delivered to the Mariner, and in fact the crime that he committed was a work of Coleridge’s own imagination. Of course, if the reader is non-religious, the only part of the poem that will seem non-fictional is the ideology of morality and the theme of crime and punishment, however – I believe that there is definitely a structure to Coleridge’s work as opposed to it being purely self-invented, and therefore I must somewhat disagree with Coleridge, as I do not believe that the ideals of the story are imagined, even if the actual story is.

Characteristics of Comedy

The genre of comedy uses humour as a driving force and yet occasionally it will take on a more serious subject, however usually the story will have a happy ending – although generally Shakespeare is excluded from this rule.

There are several techniques used throughout comedy such as the use of hyperbole but some people argue that the most important of these techniques is timing which is the use of pausing to enhance the humour. Both Rowan Atkinson and Ricky Gervais are known for their superior use of comic timing.

As well as the use of certain techniques, comedy can be combined with other genres to create a subgenre, for example ‘Rom-Com’, ‘Dramedy’ or ‘Slapstick’. However, these sub-genres are mostly used in more modern comedies.

One distinctive Shakespearian comedy characteristic is that the majority of his comedy scripts include a love plot even though they are not primarily classed as ‘romance genres’.

There are several characteristics of comedy that can be picked out from an extract from the ‘Only Fools and Horses’ script, the most obvious of which is possibly ‘Boycie’s’ use of hyperbole when he refers to ‘Trigger’ as a creation of “a chemical spillage at a germ warfare plant”. This comedy technique is met with another in Trigger’s response in which he remains ignorant to the fact that he has been insulted.

Trigger is consistently ‘dim-witted’ throughout the extract, meaning that anyone can get an idea of his character traits, even if they have never even heard of ‘Only Fools and Horses’ which could be part of the reason why it is such a long-standing comedy programme, as it is not just the character of Trigger that is consistent, but each of the characters have a definite personality about them, making them more relatable to the viewer and it also helps to develop a bond between character and viewer.

The Great Gatsby Study Questions

Chapter 1

1.       Who is the narrator of this book? List details about the narrator and the narration

The narrator of The Great Gatsby is Nick Carraway. It is written in first person and Carraway seems to think quite highly of himself, or at least – he believes that he has high standards, generally as he graduated from Yale.

2.       What advice does Nick’s father give him?

Nick’s father gives him advice to not to make criticisms or judgements of people because they may not have had the same advantages that he has had.

3.       What is the result of Nick reserving judgements about people?

Nick's ability to reserve judgment kept him in the know of whatever was happening, allowing other characters to trust in him. Theoretically, it should also allow for a more impartial narrative.

4.       Explain fully how nick describes Gatsby

Nick describes Gatsby as sensitive with a ‘gift for hope’; he says that Gatsby was exempt from his anger towards other people who involved him in their personal lives and that he has a desire to be a better person.

5.       Describe the house Nick rents and compare it to Gatsby’s house

Nick’s house is described as a “weather-beaten cardboard bungalow” compared to how Gatsby’s house is described as much more grand and immoderate.

6.       Describe the difference between East and West Egg

East Egg is the place where people of a higher social standing live in their larger, more fashionable mansions or houses whereas West Egg, which is where Nick lives – is a lot less elitist. Nick tells the reader that the only two aspects that are comparable are their shape and size.

7.       How does Nick know Daisy and Tom Buchanan?

Nick knows Daisy because she is his cousin and he knows Tom from his time at Yale.

8.       How is Tom described?

Tom is described as having a “hard mouth” as well as “arrogant eyes” and a “cruel body” which provides the reader with a strong picture of Tom’s physical being. His wealth is also emphasized by Nick’s admiration for it.

9.       How is Daisy described?

Daisy comes across as quite flirtatious and also quite vain; however this does not make the reader perceive her as a ‘bad character’ as she also has an air of ridiculousness and charm.

10.   Who is Jordan Blake? Describe her fully

Jordan Blake is Daisy’s friend and she is also a golfer and a potential love interest for Nick.

11.   Why is it significant that Daisy mentions her bruised finger?

Daisy mentioning her bruised finger is significant as it could suggest that she is involved in an abusive relationship with Tom, whose appearance was described in a way that makes him appear to be quite intimidating.

12.   To whom is Jordan acquainted in West Egg?

Jordan was acquainted with Gatsby in West Egg when she attended his party.

13.   What is significant about the phone call Tom receives?

The phone call that Tom receives is significant because he is having an affair with the person on the phone. Jordan mentions his affair as if it is nothing which implies that it is usual for Tom to cheat on his partner.

14.   When daisy learned she had given birth to a daughter, she said, “I’m glad it’s a girl. And I hope she’ll be a fool – that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.” Why does Daisy say this?

Daisy says this because she believes that by wishing foolishness upon her daughter, she is wishing the best for her, as the society of the time made it so that women could only succeed if they are dim-witted and good looking.

15.   What is Nick’s response when Daisy and Tom ask about his engagement?

When Daisy and Tom ask about his engagement, Nick tells them that it it’s a rumour, that it’s untrue.

Chapter 2

1.       To what does the ‘valley of ashes’ refer?

The ‘valley of ashes’ refers to the area which leads to New York alongside the railroad line. It is called this because it is dreary and bleak compared to East and West Egg.

2.       Why is Dr. T. J. Eckelburg significant?

The advertisement for Dr. T. J. Eckelburg’s practices is significant because it mainly consists of a large pair of eyes which makes it seem as if it is watching the people below it, even though it has not got any other distinct facial features apart from its glasses.

3.       Describe Tom Buchanan’s mistress. What do her actions reveal about her?

Tom’s mistress is quite dissimilar to Daisy, physically speaking as Daisy is quite slender and delicate; Myrtle comes across as a lot stronger and domineering through her “thicker” physique and “smouldering” qualities which also imply her power, although her actions make her appear superficial.

4.       Who is George Wilson? Describe him

George Wilson is depicted as highly working-class as he works in a ‘gas station’ and he is the husband of Myrtle. The fact that he cleans his hands with rubbish suggests that he could be quite uncouth which may be an explanation for Myrtle’s desire for the upper classes. He is described as ‘faintly handsome’, which would have appealed to Myrtle’s superficial nature.

5.       Describe the apartment in New York. What does it reveal about Myrtle?

The apartment reflects Myrtle’s desire to be part of the middle-class although not having the ability to grasp it properly, this is shown in the furniture which is overly fussy and it is as if it is trying to be something that it is not – just like Myrtle.

6.       Describe Nick’s state of mind while at the apartment

Nick appears to be preoccupied throughout his time at the apartment and on multiple occasions he thinks about leaving but he doesn’t. For the majority of the time, nick is drunk and distracted.

7.       Who are the guests that Myrtle invites to the apartment? Describe them?

The guests that Myrtle invites into the apartment are Mr and Mrs McKee and Catherine, Myrtle’s sister. Catherine is quite materialistic, Mrs McKee is describes as “shrill, languid, handsome and horrible”, and Mr McKee is described as more effeminate which is reflected in his work as a photographer and artist.

8.       What does Catherine say about Gatsby?

Catherine says that Gatsby is related to Kaiser Wilhelm which is why he has so much wealth.

9.       Why Does Tom mention a letter of introduction?

Tom mentions a letter of introduction as a way of demeaning the lower class nature of both George Wilson and Mr McKee.

10.   Why does Myrtle say she married George?

Myrtle says that she married George because she initially thought of him as somewhat of a ‘gentleman’, however after the marriage and she learns of his class status, she sees him as ‘unworthy’.

11.   Why does Tom hit Myrtle, breaking her nose?

Tom hits Myrtle, breaking her nose because she says Daisy’s name multiple times whilst arguing with Tom about whether or not she has the right to be saying Daisy’s name.

12.   Where does Nick go when he leaves the gathering, with whom?

Nick goes with Mr McKee when he leaves – he first goes with Mr McKee to his house before going back to his own house in West Egg.

Chapter 3

1.       Describe preparations for Gatsby’s parties

The preparations for Gatsby’s parties are described as histrionic in their extravagance, e.g. full orchestra, etc.

2.       Describe Gatsby’s party guests. In general how do they behave?

Gatsby’s party guests are described in quite a negative way, as most of them are having affairs and generally acting irresponsibly and many of the guests are uninvited.

3.       What rumours are discussed among the guests attending Gatsby’s party?

Rumours that are discussed at Gatsby’s party include whether or not Gatsby has killed a man or whether he was a German spy.

4.       Who is Owl Eyes?

‘Owl eyes’ is an uninvited guest to Gatsby’s party who wears big glasses and is interested in books.

5.       Describe how Nick meets Gatsby

Nick meets Gatsby as a stranger who he fought with in WWI.

6.       Describe Gatsby’s appearance. How does it fit with Nick’s expectations?

Gatsby’s appearance does not meet with Nick’s expectations of ‘fat and middle aged’ as he is actually young and good-looking

7.       To whom does Gatsby speak privately and why?

Gatsby speaks privately with Jordan although we do not know why.

8.       What happens to Owl Eyes after the party?

Owl Eyes gets into a car accident after the party.

9.       How does Nick feel about Jordan?

Nick has a love interest for Jordan.

10.   Describe Nick and Jordan’s conversation about driving, why is this significant?

Nick accuses Jordan of being a hazardous driver. Jordan comes back with ‘it takes two to make an accident’ which suggests that people aren’t taking accountability for their own actions.

11.   What does Nick say about cardinal virtues? Why is this ironic?

Nick says that his cardinal virtue is his honest which is ironic because he is continually dishonest.

Chapter 4

1.       The main topic of conversation at Gatsby’s home is Gatsby. What additional information is added to the list of rumours?

More rumours about Gatsby are that he sells illegal alcohol and that he is second cousin to the devil.

2.       What is the purpose of the detailed description of the guests?

These descriptions help the reader to easily identify the different social classes and how each of the characters acts immorally.

3.       Describe Gatsby’s car

Gatsby’s car is large and cream coloured as well as very extravagant.

4.       What does Gatsby tell Nick about himself?

Gatsby tells Nick that his family are all dead which is where his wealth comes from. He also tells Nick that he wished that he had died in the war, but instead he won a medal for his valour and bravery.

5.       What request does Gatsby make of Nick?

Gatsby asks Nick to let him use his house so that he can meet Daisy.

6.       Who and what does Nick observe as he I riding in Gatsby’s car? Why are they significant?

Nick sees the valley of ashes, Myrtle, some policemen which ignore Gatsby breaking the speed limit and a hearse; these are significant as they foreshadow future events.

7.       Who is Mr Wolfsheim? Describe him fully.

Mr. Wolfsheim is an illegitimate businessman associated with Gatsby, he seems uncomfortable in the ornate restaurant and his is clearly in admiration of Gatsby.

8.       Who does Nick recognise in the restaurant at lunch?

Nick recognises Tom at the restaurant.

9.       What story does Jordan tell Nick while having tea at the Plaza Hotel?

Jordan tells Nick about a soldier called Jay Gatsby who ‘wooed’ Daisy but her mother forbade her to go to New York to say goodbye to him. Eventually, Daisy married Tom, however before the ceremony; Daisy received a letter which we can only assume to be from Gatsby. Daisy then got drunk and changed her mind about marrying Tom. When she became sober, the wedding went on as planned.

10.   What is significant about Daisy’s pearls?

The pearls were Daisy’s wedding present from Tom which were very expensive, they are significant because they symbolise Tom’s wealth

11.   What incident is the first indication of Tom’s infidelity?

The first incident that could indicate Tom’s infidelity is when Tom has a car accident and a hotel chambermaid is in the car with him.

12.   Why does Gatsby throw parties?

Gatsby throws parties because he is hoping to find Daisy again; he hoped that someone would bring her along.

Chapter 5

1.       What preposition does Gatsby offer Nick?

Gatsby offers Nick work that could be illegal

2.       Why does Nick ask Daisy not to bring Tom to tea?

Nick asks Daisy not to bring Tom to tea because he is planning to reunite her with Gatsby, her lost love.

3.       What does the clock symbolize?

The clock symbolizes the passage of time and how it can be manipulated.

4.       What is Gatsby’s state of mind during the chapter?

Gatsby is quite inconsistent throughout the chapter, he is initially anxious, then embarrassed, then angry towards Nick and finally happy with Daisy.

5.       How long has it been since Daisy and Gatsby have seen one another?

It has been five years since Daisy and Gatsby have seen each other.

6.       What change does Nick notice in Gatsby after the reunion with Daisy?

Nick notices how much happier Gatsby becomes once he is reunited with Daisy.

7.       Who is Mr Klipspringer?

Mr Klipspringer is a friend of Gatsby’s who temporarily lives in Gatsby’s house.

8.       Why does Daisy cry?

Daisy cries because she regrets rejecting Gatsby previously now that she sees how successful he has become, although she says she is crying because she’s never seen such beautiful shirts.

9.       What is the significance of weather in the chapter?

The weather is significant because it acts as a pathetic fallacy, the fact that the chapter ends with rain could suggest that something bad is going to happen.

Chapter 6

1.       Who is James Gatz?

James Gatz is Gatsby’s real name.

2.       Who is Dan Cody? What is his relationship to Gatsby?

Dan Cody is a prospector and he hired Gatsby to travel with him by boat. Gatsby’s personal is shaped by Cody.

3.       What does Cody’s yacht represent?

Cody’s yacht represents possibility and potential to Gatsby.

4.       Who is Nick startled to see at Gatsby’s house?

Nick is startled to see Tom at Gatsby’s house.

5.       What is significant about the woman’s dinner invitation?

The woman’s dinner invitation is significant because it shows us how Gatsby is unaware that he is not wanted.

6.       How does Gatsby introduce Tom to the party guests?

Gatsby introduces Tom as ‘the polo player’ and continues to call him this, possibly to humiliate him.

7.       How does Tom suppose Gatsby has acquired his wealth?

Tom believes that Gatsby has earned his wealth through the illegal trade of alcohol.

8.       What does Nick think Gatsby wants from Daisy?

Nick thinks that Gatsby wants love from Daisy.

9.       What is the meaning of “formed a ladder and mounted to a secret place”

This phrase means that Gatsby has the possibility of “climbing” to a more equal social status as Daisy.

Chapter 7

1.       Why does Gatsby replace his servants?

Gatsby replaces his servants because he is worried that the current servants are gossiping about his affair with Daisy.

2.       How does the extremely hot weather relate to the characters?

The hot weather relates to the characters because each of the guests is feeling some extreme emotion, e.g. Daisy being anxious and Tom being quite angry.

3.       How does Gatsby describe Daisy’s voice?

Gatsby describes Daisy’s voice as being “full of money”.

4.       Describe the travel arrangements for driving to New York

Tom drives Gatsby’s car and Nick and Jordan are passengers, Gatsby drives Tom’s coupe with Daisy.

5.       What does Tom surmise about Gatsby and Daisy?

Tom surmises that Gatsby and Daisy are having an affair.

6.       Describe Tom’s interaction with Wilson at the gas station

Tom’s entire interaction with Wilson at the gas station is based on belittling him and making him feel bad about his social class and unfaithful wife.

7.       Why is Wilson ill?

Wilson is ill because he finds out that his wife is having an affair and the news makes him physically sick.

8.       Where does the group go in New York?

The group goes to the Plaza Hotel in New York.

9.       What event is occurring in the space below the hotel suite and why is it ironic?

A wedding is happening in the space below the hotel suite and this is ironic because Daisy’s marriage is being tested as her affair is revealed, just as a new marriage is starting.

10.   What does Gatsby angrily reveal to Tom?

Gatsby angrily reveals to Tom that Daisy never really loved him.

11.   Evaluate Daisy’s claim that she never loved Tom?

Daisy disagrees with her initial statement, and she says that she has loved Tom but she has also loved Gatsby.

12.   What is the “death car” and who is driving it?

The “death car” is Gatsby’s yellow car which is being driven by Daisy.

13.   What causes the accident, and what is the outcome?

Myrtle runs out into the traffic and is hit; her injury then leads to her death.

14.   Who does Wilson believe struck Myrtle? How does this idea change?

Wilson believes that Tom has hit Myrtle because when Tom was at the gas station before, he told Wilson that the car was his. This idea changes when Tom tells Wilson that the car is actually borrowed.

Chapter 8

1.       Five years earlier, how had Gatsby mislead Daisy?  Compare this to his real circumstances

Five years ago, Gatsby mislead Daisy by making her think that they were of an equal social status and that he could provide her with a secure life, however this was a lie because he was not from a good family and he couldn’t control his immediate future with much dexterity because of his work in the military.

2.       What compliment does Nick give to Gatsby?

Nick compliments Gatsby by telling him how highly he thinks of him.

3.       What role does Michaelis play?

Michaelis play a supportive role for Wilson before and after the death of his wife.

4.       What object does Wilson find that causes him to suspect that Myrtle is cheating?

Wilson finds an expensive dog leash and he is suspicious when Myrtle lies about it.

5.       What does Wilson think about God? What symbolizes his belief?

Wilson believes that no one can escape the judgement of God; this is symbolized through the eyes on the billboards advertising Dr T. J. Eckelburg which could represent God’s observation.

6.       Where is Wilson at half-past two the day after Myrtle dies? Why?

At half-past two the day after Myrtle dies, Wilson is in West Egg because he is trying to find Gatsby’s house due to the fact that he believes that he had an affair with Myrtle and subsequently killed her with his car.

7.       How does Gatsby spend his afternoon? What happens?

Gatsby spends his afternoon in his pool before he is shot by Wilson.

8.       What discovery does the gardener make?

The gardener discovers the body of Wilson after he has committed suicide.

Chapter 9

1.       How does the Media depict Wilson? Why is this ironic?

The media depicts Wilson as unstable and insane which is ironic because he was actually quite a calm person under normal circumstances.

2.       What does Nick want to assure Gatsby?

Nick wants to assure Gatsby that at least one other person will attend his funeral.

3.       How does Daisy react to the news of Gatsby’s death?

Daisy essentially ignores the news of Gatsby’s death and then moves away with Tom.

4.       How does Wolfsheim react to the news of Gatsby’s death?

Wolfsheim is shocked at the news of Gatsby’s death although he says he won’t go to the funeral because he would rather remain detached.

5.       Who is Henry C. Gatz?

Henry C. Gatz is Gatsby’s father.

6.       Why does Nick hang up on Klipspringer?

Nick hangs up on Klipspringer because he refuses to commit to attending Gatsby’s funeral, instead – all Klipspringer cares about is the tennis shoes that he may have left at Gatsby’s house.

7.       Describe Henry’s pride in his son

Henry Gatz’s pride in his son is measured by his financial success which shows that his relationship with his son is quite shallow and superficial; it shows that he did not know his son very well.

8.       Describe the schedule written in the back of Gatsby’s book. Why is it significant?

Gatsby’s schedule shows how he tried to control his own habits to achieve a higher class; this is significant because he may have been doing so to gain the approval of Daisy.

9.       Who unexpectedly attends the funeral?

Owl Eyes unexpectedly attends Gatsby’s funeral.

10.   What does Nick suggest that he, Gatsby, Tom, Daisy and Jordan have in common?

Nick suggests that they are all Westerners, making them “inadaptable to Eastern life”.

11.   How does Nick resolve his relationship with Jordan?

Nick tries to resolve his relationship with Jordan by meeting up with her and trying to fix things. Nick ends up finishing the relationship.

12.   Why won’t Nick initially shake Tom’s hand?

Nick doesn’t want to shake Tom’s hand because he is angry at the fact that Tom told Wilson that the car that killed Myrtle was Gatsby’s without taking responsibility.

13.   What is the significance of the green light?

The green light at the end of the dock is significant because Gatsby believed that it represented the hope that the future will be the one he dreamed of in the past.