Great Gatsby essay help?

[MmMmM]

Hi, I have been told to write an essay on the Great Gatsby, on how "Fitzgerald combines the fantastic and realistic".

Problem is I'm not sure where to start or what they're asking me to do.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Raymott]

Hi, I have been told to write an essay on the Great Gatsby, on how "Fitzgerald combines the fantastic and realistic".

Problem is I'm not sure where to start or what they're asking me to do.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

"Fantastic" is the adjective from "fantasy". You need to identify the examples of fantasy in the novel. For example, Gatsby has a fantasy that he and Daisy can get back together. He has a fantasy that Daisy still loves him, that she will leave Tom, etc.
Other characters have fantasies. Some of the plot lines are unrealistic.
So, you have to show how the fantasy bits interact with the realistic bits.

[MmMmM]

"Fantastic" is the adjective from "fantasy". You need to identify the examples of fantasy in the novel. For example, Gatsby has a fantasy that he and Daisy can get back together. He has a fantasy that Daisy still loves him, that she will leave Tom, etc.
Other characters have fantasies. Some of the plot lines are unrealistic.
So, you have to show how the fantasy bits interact with the realistic bits.

Thanks! That's really helpful. I was beginning to think that by "fantastic" they meant something incredible. But your way makes sense.

They also tell me to "refer in close language detail to one or two passages from the novel", right now I'm thinking of the parts where Gatsby is first reunited with Daisy and perhaps where Nick describes the Valley of Ashes. However I'm not really sure I know enough about the Valley of Ashes, my analysis is not great.

Anyone recommend any other parts from the novel which would be good to include in the essay?

Thanks again.

[Raymott]

Thanks! That's really helpful. I was beginning to think that by "fantastic" they meant something incredible. But your way makes sense.

They also tell me to "refer in close language detail to one or two passages from the novel", right now I'm thinking of the parts where Gatsby is first reunited with Daisy and perhaps where Nick describes the Valley of Ashes. However I'm not really sure I know enough about the Valley of Ashes, my analysis is not great.

Anyone recommend any other parts from the novel which would be good to include in the essay?

Thanks again.

In school essays, you need to be aware of the primary meanings of words.
For example, "incredible" means unbelievable.
I don't remember the novel in too much detail, but the place where Nick says "You can't relive the past", and Gatsby says "Of course you can" (which is part of his fantasy) would be one place that I'd consider using.

[MmMmM]

In school essays, you need to be aware of the primary meanings of words.
For example, "incredible" means unbelievable.
I don't remember the novel in too much detail, but the place where Nick says "You can't relive the past", and Gatsby says "Of course you can" (which is part of his fantasy) would be one place that I'd consider using.

I'll be sure to find that part!

Thanks a lot.