AP 12: Theory Presentations
(30 points, under Assessment Category)
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Your first step will be to read about and discuss your theory, what it means, and make a list of
attributes/characteristics of that theory/type of criticism. Compare notes and annotations, and discuss as
a group to make sure you understand what your chapter is discussing.
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Block Day, no excuses, have your presentation ready, it is super duper important—you don’t have
it ready, you get a zero
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Presentation should contain the following:
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A general definition of your theory/type of criticism with explanation when needed
The focus of the theory (conflicts, types of characters, topics)
A list of characteristics (no paragraphs in visuals)
Key terms and vocabulary
Reasons why you would want to use this theory, how is it beneficial?
An APPLICATION OF YOUR THEORY to previous novels you read for class (that
everyone would be familiar with.) Summer reading novels are a good start, so there are 5
that you can start with. Choose fiction, not non-fiction. You can also share the Gatsby one,
but need to move BEYOND just the examples provided here.
o An APPLICATION OF YOUR THEORY to a popular Disney or other animated movie
o An APPLICATION OF YOUR THEORY to a well-known children’s book
o A visual representation to help support your presentation- see the Marxist Itsy Bitsy Spider
cartoon- this also includes having a presentation prepared via Prezi, Google Pres., or PPT.
Here are example theory applications on Gatsby from one of my theory books. You can use these examples to
help create an argument on your summer reading novel.
Gatsby Theories
Post-Colonial: Otherization
- Nick’s maid is referred to as “the Finn” no name, no identity
- Wolfsheim and Nick’s exaggerated, stereotypical descriptions of his Jewish “character”
- Mention of black person crossing the bridge to Manhattan and Nick says, “anything is possible.”
Marxist
- commodification of women
- Daisy is used by Gatsby to raise his wealth status
- Myrtle, to Tom, is just a commodity/product to be used and thrown away
- Nick is middle-class--represented by his small bungalow between the two mansions
Feminist
- Women must be held under control in Gatsby at all times
- Daisy sides with Tom after Myrtle’s death and confrontation at hotel
- Jordan is only independent woman, but Nick describes her with masculine features
- Myrtle attempts to leave her class and Wilson’s control; she is severely punished for this attempt and
loses her life in a violent manner. Her breast is torn off, which represents her femininity
New Historical
- examines outside discourse and a popular book for men at the time that helped men to be “Self-Made”
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every man has the possibility to achieve wealth and status through hard work; Jay Gatsby represents
this—even his children’s book had a daily schedule for self-improvement
Gay/Lesbian/Queer
- Nick is gay
- Jordan is a lesbian
- Look up the references on your own
Deconstruction
- Novel seems to condemn the decadence of 1920s
o Novel contradicts this = inseparability between past and present
o Innocence vs. decadence (Nick romanticizes Gatsby’s innocence, yet condemns him in other
areas)
o West is romanticized vs. East, but there are elements of the West that are equally corrupt
o Nick criticizes the East, yet he cannot leave what he condemns
Structuralist/ Narratology
- seek-find-lose pattern and seek-but don’t find pattern in Gatsby
- Gatsby seeks Daisy, finds her, and loses her twice
- Daisy seeks excitement, finds it in Gatsby as a youth, loses him to war
- Daisy seeks emotional security, finds it in Tom, loses it when Tom has affair with Myrtle
- Tom seeks ego, finds it in football, loses ego when graduates
- Myrtle seeks upper-class status, finds it with Tom, loses it when she dies
- Nick seeks purpose in life, but doesn’t find it in New York
Reader Response
- as readers, we feel the same emotions toward Gatsby as Nick does, his narration shapes our response
o at times we admire Gatsby, at others, we find him despicable, and this is due to the first person
narration and Nick’s reactions to events
New Criticism
- Central theme of the novel is that unfulfilled longing is inescapable
Presentations will go in order of the chapters from the text. EVERYONE should be ready for Block Day, no
matter what.