IB ENG Language and Literature
The SIX Prescribed Questions
Reader, Culture, and text
1. How could the text be read and interpreted differently by two different readers?
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Younger age groups may have a difficult time comprehending
Connotation
Maturity
Different ethnic background
Social status
People who lived and experienced that time period would have a very different
understanding than people these days because they have a very different
mindset.
German people of the time period would find Gatsby extremely wasteful and
disgusting because he was throwing opulent parties while many of them could
barely afford bread. On the other hand, Americas of the time would respect
Gatsby and envy his way of life.
Younger and more naïve people might view the Great Gatsby as a tragic love
story rather than comment on the corruptness of some aspects of life.
People could view the great Gatsby through a positive light by climbing up the
ladder to success or a negative slope from the top.
IB ENG Language and Literature
The SIX Prescribed Questions
Reader, Culture, and text
2. If the text had been written in a different time or place or for a different
audience, how and why would it change?
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If the time were different in The Great Gatsby, the style of the story would
change because the lifestyle was different in the 1920s than what it is now.
If the Great Gatsby was written in modern day. Gatsby’s actions (parties) would
be seen as more corrupt instead of a way of showing off.
If The Great Gatsby was written in modern times the gap between lower and
upper classes would not have been as apparent there, lessening the impact of
the book.
If The Great Gatsby was written to be set in any other time of place, the ability to
distinguish the rich and the poor would not have been as severe. In addition, the
attitude of the rich towards the poor would have not been as cynical or hostile.
Text and Genre
1. How does the text conform to, or deviate from, the conventions of a particular
genre, and for what purpose?
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The 1920s –extreme gap between wealthy and poor, the rich took away from the
por.
Historical fiction: The only thing fictitious are the characters.
Story revolves around speakeasies.
Women were not as conservative
Historical fiction doesn’t have many conventions.
There is no “happy ending” to this story, as is often found in romance novels.
The great Gatsby borrows from the tactics of historical fiction to create more
realistic story.
2. How was the text borrowed from other texts? Which effect has it drawn on?
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References from the Bible
o Religious references – shows the relationship between god and man and
the rich and the poor.
 Glorifies the perception of success in 1920s society. Glorifies wealth.
 Bible, Jazz song mentioned.
 Religious imagery of the eyes watching over in the Valley of Ashes
 The Great Gatsby utilizes religious allusions to the bible to create more impact.
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Power and Privilege
1. How and why is a social group represented in a particular way?
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In the Great Gatsby, the upper class is characterized as corrupt and
emotional through elements such as Gatsby’s obsession and Tom’s affair.
This representation most likely arose from Fitzgerald’s personal experiences
in the upper class of the 1920’s.
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The upper class in the Great Gatsby is portrayed as supercilious and
unconcerned with real life issues that may be faced by people who actually
work for wealth.
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In the Great Gatsby, to really distinguish the difference between the classes
of the rich and the poor, the rich shows their extremely extravagant life
while the lower classes demonstrate their severe poverty. This emphasizes
the distinguishment between the two.
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The upper class is very self-centered. The rich lifestyle is depicted as ideal.
The middle and lower class was portrayed as worthless, unimportant to
society and lacked meanings to the rich.
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The rich are depicted as very surface-level, selfish and harsh.
2. Which social groups are marginalized, excluded or silenced within the text?
- Ostrozized… so 99% of the American population were excluded because now
a days there are mainly middle class and poor.
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Fitzgerald depicts the 1920’s as a time when people would flash their
money- excludes ordinary family and the lower class.
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The poor were silenced as the only ones whose story was told were Tom and
Myrtle Wilson.
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Fitzgerald silenced both the middle and lower class and focused directly on
the lives of the rich.
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Fitzgerald marginalized the lower, poor class by focusing on the American
dream yet excluding the hard work of the people the dream is supposed to
be for.
Text and Genre
1. How does the text conform to, or deviate from, the conventions of a particular genre,
and for what purpose?







The 1920s –extreme gap between wealthy and poor, the rich took away from the
por.
Historical fiction: The only thing fictitious are the characters.
Story revolves around speakeasies.
Women were not as conservative
Historical fiction doesn’t have many conventions.
There is no “happy ending” to this story, as is often found in romance novels.
The great Gatsby borrows from the tactics of historical fiction to create more
realistic story.
2. How was the text borrowed from other texts? Which effect has it drawn on?






References from the Bible
o Religious references – shows the relationship between god and man and
the rich and the poor.
Glorifies the perception of success in 1920s society. Glorifies wealth.
Bible, Jazz song mentioned.
Religious imagery of the eyes watching over in the Valley of Ashes
The Great Gatsby utilizes religious allusions to the bible to create more impact.