Choose 1:
150-250 words only
1. Write a compare and a contrast paragraph between the novel and the movie.
2. Discuss one symbol in the novel and how it impacted the theme and characters.
3. Discuss the stream of consciousness in the novel- how would the story be different from another character's point of view? Reference the novel.
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ReplyDeletePrompt #1:
DeleteThere are multiple similarities and differences between the book The Great Gatsby and the movie that is based on Fitzgerald’s masterpiece novel. In both the screenplay and the text, the green light shining at the end of the dock at Daisy’s home acts as a significant symbol, Jordan is the one who mentions a man in West Egg named Gatsby, and Nick is fascinated with Gatsby’s smile, as well as his intriguing personality. Quotes shared by the book and movie include, “…that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool,” “I understand you’re looking for a business gonnegtion,” “…I just remembered that today’s my birthday,” “I’ve always been glad I said that,” and “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy.” Additionally, the shirt scene and the events taking place in town towards the end of the novel (when Gatsby argues that Daisy never loved Tom), as well as circumstances surrounding Gatsby’s parties, are strikingly similar both inside and outside of Hollywood. However, regardless of the fact that the film and the book are alike in various ways, they also exhibit evident reinventions of Fitzgerald’s writing. First, the music used in conjunction with the events in the movie is an incorrect reflection of the time period in which the book takes place (in Long Island, New York, in the 1920’s). Second, the narration of Nick’s experiences in the East is encompassed by a series of flashbacks in the movie (with a doctor included as an extraneous character), rather than the stream-of-consciousness style that appears to capture the flow of thoughts and emotions that Nick experiences in the book. Third, while the majority of prominent and substantial figures in the novel are accurately portrayed in the movie, it is interesting to note the subtle actions taken by directors to distort viewers’ perceptions of Daisy (her first words), Myrtle (physical appearance), and Owl Eyes (his obsession with books in Gatsby’s library versus the theory that Gatsby doesn’t exist). Certain aspects of the book are not included in the movie, while other elements of the movie build upon and/or go beyond information provided in the novel. Overall, despite the vivid contrast between the book and movie entitled The Great Gatsby, the means through which they are comparable indicates that both contribute to a thorough and brilliantly crafted depiction of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s creativity, imagination, and literary skill.
The green light at the end of Daisy and Tom’s dock was a very significant symbol for Jay Gatsby throughout the book. It represented a beacon of hope for Gatsby that he could be with his true love, Daisy. The color of the light, green, signified that Gatsby felt as though now was the time to pursue his love, green means go. The fact that Gatsby looked across a bay at this green light for many years represents the idea that what he wants can be so close yet seem as though it is impossible to overcome the separating factors between you and your desires. The light gives Gatsby an in adamant object to tie his wants too and depend on for a feeling of security. The green light adds to the overall theme of the story by exemplifying the idea that life’s desires will almost always stay just out of reach. In the story the significance of the green light disappears after Gatsby spends a day with Daisy, his true desire. This shows how once a goal is reached it begins to mean less because of its apparent ease in accomplishing.
ReplyDeleteDuring the Great Gatsby movie, I felt there were more similarities than differences. The movie was pretty similar to the book which I was grateful for, but there were some important scenes that were cut out in the movie that I thought were essential to the plot. Some similarities were that all of the important characters that were in the book, appeared in the movie as well. Especially the character Jordan. Her personality and appearance in the movie represented what I thought of her while reading the book. Jordan's attitude towards life was well portrayed through her character just as well in the movie as in the book. Also, the scene with Gatsby throwing shirts over his balcony to Daisy was very comparable to the book. The book and the movie portrayed this scene quite similarly and both were able to show Daisy's depression and guilt about not being able to be with Gatsby and how that overwhelmed her in that moment. Although the movie and book were quite similar, there were still some major differences. One from the start was that Nick was narrating from a sanitarium and was having flashbacks of his time with Gatsby. This never happened in the book and readers knew as much as Nick knew, and were not gaining information second hand. Another large difference was Nick's attitude towards Gatsby. Throughout the entire book, Nick was usually rude towards Gatsby and did not show any signs of respect towards him until the end. Unlike in the movie where Nick seemed to be infatuated with Gatsby and his mysterious background. Towards the end of the movie, I was surprised when I saw three scenes missing that were in the book. The audience or Nick never met Gatsby's father, who came to Gatsby's funeral in the book. Nick also never made the effort to converse with Wolfsheim to try to convince him to attend Gatsby's funeral. Finally, after Jordan and Nick had a small quarrel, Nick did not go to tell Jordan that he was leaving in the movie as he did in the book. The movie did a great job at trying to incorporate the important and meaningful parts that were in the book, but there were also minor parts that were not included.
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ReplyDeleteJay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan fell deeply in love before Gatsby went off to war. Gatsby at the time, was not a wealthy man and could not provide for Daisy like she needed in her perfect rich world. When Gatsby was released from war, he began his businesses with Wolfsheim and became extremely wealthy. Gatsby bought his house across the bay from Daisy’s house. At the end of Daisy’s dock was a green light that shined throughout the night. The green light was a part of Gatsby’s dream to become a wealthy man, to live the American Dream, and be a perfect son of God. He looked to that light for motivation, because he wanted to become that man for Daisy, to fit into her world. When Daisy was at Gatsby’s house for the first time, laying in Gatsby’s bed, he says to her “if it weren’t for the fog we could see the green light at the end of your dock”. Nick describes this because he notices how the green light is no longer important to Gatsby, it no longer signifies his only connection with Daisy. He has Daisy in his life and never has to look at the light hoping to be with her anymore. Gatsby has built himself up to be the man he is for Daisy, once he shows Daisy what he has and how he is finally apart of her world, he doesn’t feel like he has to dream anymore because the green light is in reach. But in reality, his dreams seemed so close but were always out of reach and the green light signifies that. It was so close, but could never be reached, just like Daisy.
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ReplyDeletePrompt #2:
ReplyDeleteThere were several different symbols in "The Great Gatsby." One of the big symbols that was mentioned several times throughout the book was the green light at the end of Daisy's dock. This shining green light that Gatsby could see from across the lake symbolized a future for him. He was able to see this light from his bedroom and every night he could glance out his window and see the light. This meant that everyday, he was able to glance out and see what his future could be like. The green light symbolizes the American dream as well. The American dream is seemingly off in the distance (across the water) as it is signified in the book. The green light was mentioned multiple times during the book. When it was foggy out and he was unable to see the light, it was almost as if the green light had faded in the distance and he wasn't able to see the light anymore.
Prompt 1
ReplyDeleteThe difference between the novel and movie was that in the novel everything was just kind of said with little to no background info in the beginning and it was hard to match someone with a face. Most of the time what the actors said were straight from the book. Although they didn't repeat everything from the book it was pretty close. So in reality there were not many differences. The only difference that I noticed was that the audience never met Gatsby's father. Or the attempts of Nick trying to phone anyone to come to Gatsby's funeral. Also the movie was narrated inside a doctor's office. The movie ended with a flashback of Gatsby and Nick walking outside, which obviously wasn't in the book. Also the music was different to what I thought it would be during that time period in the movie. Besides that there were no huge differences between the novel and the movie. The descriptions in the book fit the movie well with no huge differences. Gatsby had the yellow car in the book and Tom had his blue coupe.
Prompt #1
ReplyDeleteThroughout the movie and novel of the Great Gatsby, there are several similarities and differences. One significant similarity between the novel and movie is that the main theme are the same. The movie follow the main theme of the book that the American dream died when Gatsby died. Once difference is that the description of the characters aren't entirely accurate where in the book Daisy was described with dark hair and in the movie Daisy has blonde hair. Another dissimilarity is that the movie doesn't portray the funeral of Gatsby and Gatsby's father visiting after the death of Gatsby. The music was also very peculiar because the music would have been different than what the music would have been in 1920s.
Prompt 2
ReplyDeleteF. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby has countless symbols throughout the story, but in my opinion the most important one is Dr. T.J. Eckleberg’s billboard. The eyes on the billboard watch over the city of ashes and all events that unfold there. They force the characters to feel as though they are being watched both by God and by their own inner consciousness. Some of the most influential parts of the book happen under the view of the eyes, including Nick meeting Myrtle for the first time, and Daisy killing Myrtle in Gatsby’s car. One of the main themes of The Great Gatsby is isolation, as Nick notes his feelings of being “within and without,” as the world seems to be moving all around him. Eckleberg’s godlike eyes combat this main theme, causing even the most isolated of characters like Nick and Gatsby to feel the watchful gaze’s judgement of their actions.
Of all the book to movie adaptations I have seen the Great Gatsby has proved to be one of the best. The order of events and different scenes and locations seem to pop right out of the novel, most of the dialogue between characters are direct quotes pulled from the book, and the characters seem to come to life. However, there are some minor differences that create a lasting impact. The music is the most obvious of these differences. You can hear Jay-Z being played in the opening scene. As the film goes on the music goes back to its roots while still maintaining that modern feel, giving the film a sense of modernity even though it takes place in the early 20th century. The other major change I found in the book to movie adaptation was the role of Nick in the story. In the book, it is in present tense from Nick’s perspective, however, in the movie it is Nick looking back on past events and writing a memoir, with him in the end writing the Great Gatsby. While this is interesting it cause Nick to sometimes feel outside the dialogue and the story like someone looking through a glass window at what’s happening. Overall I thought the book to movie adaptation was quite excellent.
ReplyDeleteIn many cases the movie version of a book usually falls short of expectations, although that is not the case in regard to The Great Gatsby. The movie and book share many similarities, including direct quotes from specific characters. Other instances where direct quotes from the book appeared in the movie include: when Daisy says to Nick that she hopes her daughter will grow up to be a "beautiful little fool", Daisy crying to Gatsby over having "never seen such beautiful shirts", and finally when on the way to town Daisy states to Tom that she will "be the man on the corner smoking two cigarettes." Among the many similarities there are a few distinct differences. In the film when Gatsby takes Nick to lunch to meet Wolfshire, Wolfshire has a single tooth adorning his tie, instead of cuff links. Myrtle, Tom's mistress, is also very slender in the movie, compared to the book where she is described as being a bit of a heavy set. One difference between book and movie that bothered me in particular is Daisy's hair color. The book describes her as having dark brown hair, but in the movie her hair is bright blonde and instead Jordan Baker has dark brown hair.
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