Name: ____________________________
APLAC – Mrs. Moore and Mrs. Kingston The Great Gatsby Major Grade Assignment: MAJOR GRADE
Part I. Style Analysis
F. Scott Fitzgerald is a master of imagery and diction. You will read The Great Gatsby looking closely at Fitzgerald’s style. While reading, you will choose any of the following options to comment. YOU NEED A TOTAL OF 6 for Ch. 1-5 and 6 more for ch. 6-9. You do not have to do one of each. Choose whatever you want. But you should choose throughout each section. Points will be deducted if all of your selections come from the same general area of the book.
Name the element and then give one of many examples. Finally discuss the effect of that technique. I have included a sample. Don’t forget the effect.
1. Diction—the selection of words; the words chosen by the writer to best convey his intended effect on the reader.
2. Syntax—the way words are put together to form constructions, such as sentences and phrases. Analysis of syntax includes the following ideas:
 patterns (repetition, rhetorical questions, parallel construction, variations in sentence beginnings)
 mixture of sentences (length of sentences, combination of long and short sentences, types of sentences, including periodic etc.)
 punctuation (use of dashes, semi colons, etc.)
3. Point of View—the position from which the narrator observes and considers the story, as well as his attitude toward what he observes.
In The Great Gatsby , Nick is the narrator.
4. Imagery—words or phrases that create pictures, or images, in the reader’s mind.
 sensory details (primarily visual, but can also appeal to any of the five senses)
 figurative language - similes, personification, metaphor, alliteration, etc.
5. Details -selection of details (the writer makes conscious, discerning choices among possible details to best convey his intended effect on the reader)
Organization - - how the story is put together. Look at the broader structure or framework in the piece of writing.
 flashbacks, foreshadowing,
 beginning, middle, and end - a noticeable chronology
 how the author did it - literary techniques that are prominent
EXAMPLE
“The lawn. . . ran toward the front door, jumping over sundials”(Fitzgerald 6) “Groan of a picture” (8) “Slender riotous island” (4)
1.
Quotations Literary Terms
Present
Imagery –
Personification
Commentary (should be at least 2 GOOD sentences. The quality of your analysis is what you are mainly graded on. This could be the difference between a C and a B or an A.)
Fitzgerald uses personification to bring life into his description. In his words pictures “groan”. Rugs “ripple” and lawns “run and jump”. A picture of life to bring the reader into the scene - to breathe the Long
Island air and to wish to dine in Daisy’s garden. Suddenly the place comes alive - exactly what personification is meant to do. The setting is three dimensional, reaching out and biting the reader in the arm.

2.
3.
4.

5.
6.
Part II. Color Tracking

Blue
Gray
Directions: Pay attention to colors while reading The Great Gatsby. As you run across one of the following colors, quote the context or direct quote and page number. That’s it!
Green Gold/Yellow
Silver
Other