Modernism in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby

This presentation deals with modernism in the Great Gatsby. it was presented in class presentation, in M.A. English programme. Modernism originated in 19th and early 20th century. Fitzgerald blends the intense symbolism and figurative language of modernism. Modernist Techniques used are Loss of control, Alienation, Corruption of the American dream, Breaking societal rules, restlessness and fragmented writing.

1. MODERNISM IN ‘THE GREAT GATSBY’ Department of English, Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University. Paper no.: 106 The Twentieth Century Literature: 1900 to World War II Prepared by: Jheel Barad

2. I am Jheel Barad Roll No.: 12 Enrollment no.: 4069206420210003 Sem.: 2 (M.A.) Paper no.: 106 Paper code: 22399 Paper name: The Twentieth Century Literature: 1900 to World War II Topic: Modernism in ‘The Great Gatsby’ Submitted to: Smt S.B. Gardi, Department of English, M.K.B.U E-mail: [email protected]

3. Modernism Fitzgerald: A Modernist Modernism in The Great Gatsby Conclusion 01 02 03 04 CONTENT :

4. The term modernism is widely used to identify new and distinctive features in the subjects, forms, concepts, and styles of literature and the other arts in the early decades of the twentieth century, but especially after World War I . -M. H. ABRAMS

5. Modernism Originated in 19th and Early 20th century Break with the past and the concurrent search for new forms of expression. Engages with the technological advances and societal changes of modernity moving into the 20th century. The horrors of the World War I saw the prevailing assumptions about society reassessed. Conscious desire to overturn traditional modes of representation and express the new sensibilities of their time.

6. F. SCOTT FITZGERALD AS A MODERNIST Fitzgerald frequented Europe, where he befriended modernist writers and artists of the “Lost Generation” expatriate community, including Ernest Hemingway. Novels were often satires and scathing rejections of the accepted ideas about love, success, and happiness. The Great Gatsby, explores the emptiness of material wealth and the death of the American Dream, perfect depiction of the Jazz Age and the post-war cynicism of the 1920s. Fitzgerald blends the intense symbolism and figurative language of modernism .

7. blended imagery and themes absurdism nonlinear narratives stream of consciousness Individualism Experimentation Formalism Absurdity Symbolism

8. Modernism in The Great Gatsby Modernist Techniques : Loss of control, Alienation, Corruption of the American dream, Breaking societal rules, restlessness and fragmented writing. Modernity in Narration technique We think, see and understand through Nick Carraway. “I’m inclined to reserve all judgements” First-person limited perspective, biased narration, Single window view .

9. Metadiegesis Narrator- Second degree Narrator; John Baker, Henry C. Gatz (Gatsby’s Father) , Wolfsheim Victorian Modern The narrator was all knowing and all seeing, often a judgement of some kind on story It makes a complete break from traditional. Incomplete information. It provides Single window view.

10. Modernity in opening of Character A mystical Aura around a character Delayed character revelation. The character gets deconstructed later Eg. : Gatsby His early life, native is known after his death.

11. Modernity in symbols The E yes of Eckleburg- Billboard - Eyes of God Greenlight- Hope Valley of ashes- plight of poor/ moral & social decay

12. Supplementary modernist techniques Loss of control, restlessness- Tom Buchanan Uncertainty, Alienation- Daisy Buchanan Disillusionment, Corruption of American Dream, Breaking Societal rules, restlessness- Jay Gatsby Fragmented writing, Non-linear narrative- Narration technique

13. Reference of Spanish Modernist Painter El Greco (16th century), in 9th chapter of the novel. Nick's trauma and stress in the aftermath of Myrtle Wilson's and Gatsby's violent deaths. “After Gatsby’s death the East was haunted for me like that, distorted beyond my eyes’ power of correction.” El Greco’s Night painting

14. According to C. Hugh Holman- Modernism is A strong and conscious break with traditional forms and techniques of expression. Modern implies a historical discontinuity, a sense of alienation, of loss, and of despair. It not only rejects history, but also the society of whose fabrication history is a record. CONCLUSION:

15. Work Cited: Abrams, M. H, and Geoffrey Harpham. “Buy A Glossary of Literary Terms Book Online at Low Prices in India | A Glossary of Literary Terms Reviews & Ratings - Amazon.In.” Accessed April 10, 2022. https://www.amazon.in/Glossary-Literary-Terms-M-H-Abrams/dp/0495898023 . Baughman, Judith, and Gale Group. Literary Masters V1 Fitzgerald . Thomson Gale, 2000. Childs, Peter. “Modernism (EBook, 2008) [WorldCat.Org].” Accessed April 10, 2022. https://www.worldcat.org/title/modernism/oclc/264512078 . The Metropolitan Museum of Art. “El Greco (Domenikos Theotokopoulos) | View of Toledo.” Accessed April 11, 2022. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/436575 . Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby . Classic edition. New York: Scribner, 1996. HANZO, THOMAS A. “THE THEME AND THE NARRATOR OF ‘THE GREAT GATSBY.’” Modern Fiction Studies 2, no. 4 (1956): 183–90. Holman, C. Hugh. Three Modes of Modern Southern Fiction: Ellen Glasgow, William Faulkner, Thomas Wolfe . Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1966. Merchant, Nadia. “Conde Library: English Modernism: Modernism and F. Scott Fitzgerald.” Accessed April 11, 2022. https://pymblelc.libguides.com/c.php?g=918892&p=6625558 . Morley, Catherine. “Amazon.Com: Modern American Literature (Edinburgh Critical Guides to Literature): 9780748625079: Morley, Catherine: Books.” Accessed April 10, 2022. https://www.amazon.com/Modern-American-Literature-Edinburgh-Critical/dp/0748625070 . “Poetics Today on JSTOR.” Accessed April 11, 2022. https://www.jstor.org/journal/poeticstoday?refreqid=fastly-default%3Adc757324098ed902f7415ebc9336da6f .