THE GREAT GATSBY- F. SCOTT FITZGERALD

biographical info.- his 1st published was a detective story in the paper when he was 13. He continued writing and fell in love with Zelda. She said that she would not marry Scott until he had money. After his book was published they married and had a daughter... Frances Scott Fitzgerald. Their marriage was very complex after that and Zelda and Scott had gotten a divorce. They both later died. Scott in his girlfriend's home and Zelda in the asylum.
" an author ought to write for the youth of his generation, the critics of the next and the schoolmasters of ever afterward"-  when he says this, it says that every book written should be important and entertaining for the children, the critics, and any that enjoy reading , but he also thinks it should be one to teach of.
important 1920s historical events- prohibition, teapot scandal, stock market crash
"Exegit monumentum aere perennius"- translation... i have errected a monument more lasting than bronze.

Thesis

Henry has an excuse for EVERYTHING.

• 1.His excuse for losing the battles. (chapter 17)-
• He blames the general for the loss of battles rather than taking it upon himself to defeat and be bigger than that… to try. "Good Gawd," the youth grumbled, "we're always being chased around like rats! It makes me sick. Nobody seems to know where we go or why we go. We just get fired around from pillar to post and get licked here and get licked there, and nobody knows what it's done for. It makes a man feel like a damn' kitten in a bag. Now, I'd like to know what the eternal thunders we was marched into these woods for anyhow, unless it was to give the rebs a regular pot shot at us. We came in here and got our legs all tangled up in these cussed briers, and then we begin to fight and the rebs had an easy time of it. Don't tell me it's just luck! I know better. It's this derned old--" ( Crane16.30)… Henry feels that rather than taking matters into his own hands, he has to make excuses for himself.
• 2. His excuse for hiding from his regiment and the lies he will provide for them.-
- Rather than being a man and facing his regiment again after being lost, he hides because he’s afraid they’ll make fun of him for running. They find him anyway, but he tries to hide from them. He searched about in his mind for an adequate malediction for the indefinite cause, the thing upon which men turn the words of final blame. It--whatever it was--was responsible for him, he said. There lay the fault. The haste of the column to reach the battle seemed to the forlorn young man to be something much finer than stout fighting. Heroes, he thought, could find excuses in that long seething lane. They could retire with perfect self-respect and make excuses to the stars. (Crane 11.7-8)
• 3. His excuse for running away.-
- Throughout the story Henry thinks he has to prove himself to everyone and explain to himself why he did it and if he was right in doing it. He had fled, he told himself, because annihilation approached. He had done a good part in saving himself, who was a little piece of the army. He had considered the time, he said, to be one in which it was the duty of every little piece to rescue itself if possible (Crane 7.4). Then when he came about the squirrel, he felt that putting something else in danger would prove that what he did was right. Feeling that it was okay to do wrong to someone else just to prove himself. The youth felt triumphant at this exhibition. There was the law, he said. Nature had given him a sign. The squirrel, immediately upon recognizing danger, had taken to his legs without ado. He did not stand stolidly baring his furry belly to the missle, and die with an upward glance at the sympathetic heavens. On the contrary, he had fled as fast as his legs could carry him; and he was but an ordinary squirrel, too--doubtless no philosopher of his race. The youth wended, feeling that Nature was of his mind. She re-enforced his argument with proofs that lived where the sun shone (Crane 7.15). He showed that his childish ways were nowhere near gone, when doing wrong to something else just to show he was right. Grrr.

Saving Private Ryan

Themes: an idea that recurs in or pervades a work

Courage- In this movie courage was shown by all the soldiers who fought especially when it came to their order of getting Private Ryan and they stayed until they knew that he could be brought home safely.

Manhood- The men showed a lot of manhood except for the translator because he went to basic and hadn't done anything with it since then. The men had a bravery that most men before going into battle would not. In the end, even the translator had killed his first and helped with controlling the surrender.

Self-preservation- When assigned to find private Ryan, all of the men that were fighting in combat saw it as an excuse to get him out of war.Most of them felt that they should be fighting for themselves instead of putting their lives on the line for one man. In the end, they realized what good it did for them to save him when they would stop and put themselves in his and his mother's position. For the loss of his brothers.

Disregard for Human Life- near the end of the movie, the German soldier killed the U.S. soldier by stabbing him in the heart and handled it carelessly. He then walked away acting as if his life was worth more than any other soldier and his purpose was more.

Motifs: distinctive feature or dominant idea

Noise and Silence- The few times when the captain got shell-shock. It went from in the battle to kind of observing the battle.

Light and Dark- During the day, the soldiers would fight, but @ night they would finally be @ rest and preparing themselves for another fight.

Clean and Dirty- all of the battles were dirty with the blood and explosions, etc.

Youth and Maturity- The translator matured from the beginning to the end by showing a little more courage and bravery, but when his friends were killed by the soldier, he stood there and acted pitiful. He found a fear within him.

Symbols: objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas

The Dead Soldier- When the captain died it had an impact through private Ryan's life till he died, knowing that he had died to save him and bring him home to the people he loved and to save another life.

The Flag- The flag is a symbol of freedom to every soldier and what they're fighting for when they enlist and what other men before them have died for for their country.
The Note- Every man that died in the movie had a note in their pocket to pass on to their loved ones.

themes, motifs, and symbols

Themes: an idea that recurs in or pervades a work

• Courage- Henry showed his courage in battle not until later in the story and i believe it was a major theme in the story because it showed the men's growth from when they left home to when they had to fight or their country and lives as many do today still.

• Manhood- When the men start depending on themselves and each other instead of their mothers they show their manhood.. It is relevant in this story because they all had so far to grow to get through battle.. Henry also feels that he became a man by the end of the story. :)

• Self-preservation- Henry in the beginning was a mama's boy and he doubted himself while in the regiment, and as the time went on, he made excuses for himself and saw that he was different than the other men... the way they thought, acted, and anything else he could think of, but when he changed he saw that he really was like them and he became braver, bolder, more confident, and he felt that he became a man over the time he was gone from home and was @ ease with himself to live his own life.
  

• Disregard for Human Life- In the beginning the men take no concern for the lives of others and as the story progresses they realize what a life is worth and value each others' as friends. Henry defending the tattered soldier(in his mind) @ the end of the story, shows that he knows this and he also wanted to die on the battle field rather that run away again because he knew what he was fighting for. He was more of a man than before and believed many things that he didn't when he arrived.
  

Motifs: distinctive feature or dominant idea

• Noise and Silence- Noise and silence were things in the story that were primarily in battle or in a soldier's mind. Some from war trauma, but mainly from battles the man fought and by the sounds coming from different directions, it was easy to tell who was winning or losing.
  

• Light and Dark- Light and dark were shown by colors of uniforms or blood, or even night and day... telling when they fought and when they marched, or when they slept.
  

• Clean and Dirty- After battles or when someone was hurt they would describe them as dirty, but when the men first put their uniforms on, it was a clean feel.. i think when they describe a bright new day it makes me think of clean, but when they spoke of grey sky and the colors within it, it seemed very dirty to me.
  

• Youth and Maturity- You can tell who's in charge or been there longer by the respect level the soldiers have for them. Henry was called the youth throughout the entire story, but he as the story progressed, started being notified as Henry which tells me that he no longer is the youth, bu he is a man... The mature.
  

Symbols: objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas

• The Dead Soldier- The dead soldier was a symbol to Henry of what could be of him if he continued to do what he was doing and that he needed to grow to be a man and he would no longer fear what he was entitled to die for and to appreciate the life he was given.
  

• The Flag- In the last battle, Hery was a flag bearer and the flag stood as their sign that they were still going and weren't going to stop... not till the last man down.
  

Chapter 25!!! YAYY LAST ONE

• ABSTRACT- The regiment had to retrace its steps and they aren't happy about it. Now Wilson took the flag away from Henry. The flag is taken to the house and Henry says its over. Understands that the concept of shot and countershot is a thing of the past. Henry is analyzing himself now. Henry feels like he can critisize his comrades. Wilson did not know that Jim had died. Henry is remembering all the things that happened and all the people that got injured in the battle. He thinks that his comrades for taking credit for winning the battle is selfish. Henry is open to new ways since he despises his old ones. Henry feels he has earned manhood. He is now in eternal peace.


• RESPONSE- After surviving the battle, he is at peace with himself and that he can live his own life and everything will be ok for him.


• QUESTION- Does Henry ever see his mother again?

Chapter 24

• ABSTRACT- They must fight to survive or die; running is not an option. Henry begins to realize that he gets further away from home every time he kills a man. He sees the other flag and is angered and runs towards it. Henry and the other flag carrier seemed to be thinking the same thoughts. Henry kills the other flag carrier. They have won the battle and are conversing with the rebels. Henry feels guilt for killing the flag carrier.
• RESPONSE- They won the battle.
• QUESTION- Has Henry earned the right with the army and with himself to go home to his mommy, and if he does, how will she feel about how he has changed?

Chapter 23

• ABSTRACT- Henry can't tell who is winning the battle. Despite a severed arm, the lieutenant continued to fight his hardest. Henry feels like a bystander in the battle since he is holding a flag. Union soldiers are firing without command and rebels are sneaking up from variouse directions. The Mule-Drivers are now known as Mud-Diggers. Henry wishes death on the battlefield as a form of revenge. The orderly serjent was shot in the cheek. The lieutenant was unharmed at the rear.
• RESPONSE- They are still losing the battle, but the Lieutenant, Wilson and Henry won't give up...they are tired of losing all the time.
• QUESTION- Is this the battle that they will win?

Chapter 22

• ABSTRACT- The general is unhappy with the mule drivers because they are incapable of winning and the mule drivers are unhappy with the general for giving them the nickname. The regiment still believes that it is bad luck and bad leadership that is causing them to lose since they all agree that they fight like animals.
• RESPONSE- The lieutenant and the colonel were talking about Wilson and Henry's great efforts and the other men are ecstatic that they share the fighting quality.
• QUESTION- Will Wilson and Henry be transferred to a different regiment because of their superior skills in battle?

Chapter 21

• ABSTRACT- Lieutenant severs his arm in the battle causing it to lay limp at his side. The mule drivers retreat because of confused firing from the rebels coming from all directions.
• RESPONSE- They still are unnable to win
• QUESTION- will they ever be victorious in battle?

chapter 20

• ABSTRACT- A battle in uneven terrain makes it difficult for the regiment to hold their lines. There were already dead soldiers on the field indcating that a battle had already taken place prior to the regiments' arrival.
• RESPONSE- The regiment was dissapointed when they discovered that the rebels had already fought there. This ment they were alwase a step ahead of them. Henry relieved the dead flag carrier of his duties.
• QUESTION- Did the rebels know the mule drivers were on their way?

chapter 19

• ABSTRACT- A battle takes place and they are thirsty but there is no water to be found. They look for a river that is supposed to be in the arera but they cant find it. They are sent to aid another regiment in fighting againts the rebels.
• RESPONSE- We have come to find that the regiment is called the mule drivers by the general because of their lack of victories.
• QUESTION- Were they sent to combine with another regiment because they continue to lose battles?

chapter 18

• ABSTRACT- Henry makes it obvious that losing battles is aggrivatingto him and he wants to defeat someone. After this battle is over, he still plays it in his mind and shoots @ nothing.
• RESPONSE- Henry is taking his anger and using it in his fighting... He seems to be traumatized.
• QUESTION- Is Henry getting war trauma?

chapter 17

• ABSTRACT- Henry's regiment never seems to win.. as if it's all luck. They blame bad luck and the general's tactics for their losing.
• RESPONSE- It is obvious that the men don't like the general and are upset about losing their battles.
• QUESTION- Is this affecting the men's moral during battle?

chapter 16

• ABSTRACT- In this chapter, Henry found out that no one even knew he ran away, so he didn't have to worry anymore about the name calling and criticism towards him... And the letters he recieved from Wilson earlier in the book were returned to him.
• RESPONSE- Everyone is a little more confident in themselves @ this piont and are gaining more courage.
• QUESTION-Will Henry develope a feeling of guilt that will cause him to confess to anyone about fleeing the battle?

chapter 15

• ABSTRACT- Henry wakes up and hears a battle in the distance. He sees dead soldiers walking and realizes that he is just like the other men and is no longer ashamed of running away from the battle.
• RESPONSE- Henry is prouder of himself now than before. He sees himself as a soldier of war now and not a runner.. He's stronger.
• QUESTION- Will Henry be more confident in batttle now that he feels this way about himself?

chapter 14

• ABSTRACT- Henry wants to run and hide to avoid his friends. He feels they will make fun of him for running. After being lead back to his regiment , they find him and care for him. @ the end he feels like his comrades. He no longer feels like he is alone.They sleep.
• RESPONSE- He's welcomed back by his regimentso he feels more like them.
• QUESTION- Does Henry change after feeling and now knowing that his regiment doesn't hate him?

chapter 13

• ABSTRACT- Henry got wacked the head with a rifle when he was walking with the wounded and wanted to talk to someone ... He saw a battle and a man found him and lead Henry back to his regiment.
• RESPONSE- Henry is almost trying to find ways to prove to himself through others that what he believes is either right or wrong.
• QUESTION- Henry never saw the man's face that helped him back to his regiment.. How didn't he and where did the man come from? will Henry meet him again?

chapter 12

• ABSTRACT- this chapter sums it down that war is a part of nature and nature has laws. Henry finds that he is different that the other men and men in general.
• RESPONSE- Henry fells he is different than other men and that he doesn't feel or do things as they would.. especially in battle. He continually thinks up excuses for himself.
• QUESTION- Being so different than the other men, will he be able to fess up to the regiment and defend himself if needed?

chapter 11

• ABSTRACT- Henry is in this this cahapter marching with a different regiment and he is sore, hungry and thirsty; which is proably sayingthat he has been working harder in this one than his last. He realizes in this chapeter that having a red badge of courage isn't something to want... He feels now that maybe it would be better to die than be left with a battle wound such as that as a reminder. And he would rather die in battle than run from it.
• RESPONSE- Henry is questioning wheter or not he will get made fun of with his regiment for running away... He thinks they will make him a ... "don't pull a Henry" thing.
• QUESTION- How will he find his own regiment? Will he?

chapter #10

• ABSTRACT- After jim died Henry felt that the tattered man also was going to die like Jim, Henry and the tattered soldier left together; becoming companions, and the tattered soldier lead them to his friend Tom Jamison's house. There they discussed to them and other men in battle, what makes war justifiable.
• RESPONSE- Henry is becoming a stronger individual and not being so dependent on his mommy and realizing what war really is and how independent he needs to be.. it really is every man for himself.
• QUESTION- Henry has been questioning what it is that he feels towards war and is he sure yet? What does he really think of war?

chapter #9

• ABSTRACT- Henry wishes he had a red badge of courage and because of this, he envies the wounded soldiers. Henry says he will take care of jim when he realizes that something is wrong with him, but jim won't let him and he runs away and moments later; henry's friend jim dies.
  
• RESPONSE- Henry's friend died and he has felt throughout the story that he wants to be a good fighter with his own wound, but he doesn''t know how he will get it or if he ever will.
  
• QUESTION- Henry being so angry... What will he do now that Jim has died? Will he take out his anger in battle or will he calmly accept this?
  

chapter #8

• ABSTRACT- Henry runs towards another battle and when he gets there, he examines the dead and wounded. While there, the tattered soldier asks Henry where he was hit. Henry can't say anything because he never was hit in battle because he ran away, so he dodges the tattered man so as not to answer his question.
• RESPONSE- Henry is stuck in a jam... He continually makes himself feel bad for running away and when asked by the tattered soldier where he got hit, he feels alone, like no one has ever done what he did and felt so bad... He just really wants to be brave like the others.
• QUESTION- Was this from the same battle as before?
  

Quiz #2

Henry is referred to as "the youth" and Wilson is referred to as "the loud private." How has each character changed from the beginning of the story to now, specifically in regards to these monikers? Use specific examples from the story to support your answer.

• Henry was called the youth and he changed after he became more confident in himself, seeming older and in charge. This was after he found his regiment and they accepted him and showed him that they cared,
  
• Wilson was called the loud private, but he changed after realizing that he didn't need to yell and be cocky to get people to respect him.
  

chapter #7

• ABSTRACT- Henry thinks he is right for running away and to justify it, he throws a pinecone @ a squirrel. He says, it's okay to run when faced with danger...Many do. After that, he goes to the chapel and sees a dead man staring @ him and being eaten by ants. The fear death keeps Henry from walking away from him with his back to the dead man. The living feed off the dead.
• RESPONSE- Henry feels guilty for leaving the battle without the knowledge of where his regimend is and how he will return. Everyone is scattered.
• QUESTION- Why was Henry going to the chapel?
  

CHAPTER #6

• ABSTRACT- Begins with the battle ending and everyone kinda lounging around, proud of their fight. Then the Rebels regroup and attack unexpectedly. They don't think they can beat the Rebels again. Many run because they're scared. The Lieutenant also runs away and Henry was left to fight for himself, but soon after... Henry runs and the Union still wins the battle.
• RESPONSE- Henry feels that running away was a bad thing to do when he's supposed to be fighting for his country, but as many say... the runners live to see another day while the soldiers that stay lose their lives.
• QUESTION- Are the runaway soldiers willing to return?
  

CHAPTER #5

• ABSTRACT- They're in the same battle as the previous chapter and there are people still dying and running away from the battlefield. The soldiers appear to feel more in the war now rather than watching from afar, but it's still surreal to them. Henry becomes very blood-drunk and his adrenaline makes him crazy to kill and fight for his life. The union wins.
  
• RESPONSE- This being many of the soldiers' first battle; it leaves them with a surreal feeling where they almost sit back and take it in, and then for others they fear for their lives and need to live to see another day, so they run away. Henry stayed to fight... but he got so bloodthirsty and let the world know it. Killing was very new to Henry and this feeling came about him like never before; as a fight for his life and what he was there to do, and the union won against the Rebels.
  
• QUESTION- Is this one battle really significant?

QUIZ #1

1. What does the title of this book mean? Be specific in your response, noting Henry's comments.

answer - The battle wounds of a soldier are bloody and last for eternity, and any man who is wiling to go forth in battle deserves to be said to have earned a red badge of courage. Also purple heart= bravery

2. What is the importance of the tattered man? What does he represent?

answer - He represents their chances of being defeated and how they must come over and believe that they can do something victorious and everything will be okay.

3. What role does Henry's mother play while he is away from her?

answer - The caring one.. She still wants to care for him and give him everything he needs while he is gone, but she also misses him so dearly, and a little of her is almost angry that he went because of how he feels about the government pushing him to enlist.

4. How does Henry use the squirrel to justify his actions?
answer - After throwing a pine cone @ the squirrel, he says that when someone is faced with danger, it is common to run, as he and the squirrel both did.

CHAPTER #4

• ABSTRACT- In this chapter the confederates were losing their first battle. Soldiers were running away.
• RESPONSE- This being their first battle; it seems like everything is surreal/like in a dream, and they are @ a sit back and take it all in point... they're amatures, so it's so new and there's an adrenaline like one they've probably never encountered before. Their lives are in danger and they fear for themselves.
• QUESTION- Did any of the soldiers run and did any on the north side die..? they won.. any significant characters get wounded or die?
  

chapter #3

• ABSTRACT- This was their first battle. They had been marching and were very exhausted. Everyone is still questioning each other and Henry wants to go home. The loud soldier gives Henry a death letter for him to bring home to his family.
• RESPONSE- Henry feels that he did not enlist on his own will and the government made him do it. The loud soldier being uncertain of himself thinks he will die and gave Henry a letter to give to his family.
• QUESTION- What battle is this leading to?
  

Chapter #2

• ABSTRACT- By this time, the soldiers are preparing for their first battle and questioning who will run from battle and who would stay. They are very unsure of themselves and some question whether or not they themselves would run.
  
• RESPONSE- They begin making bets on each other to guess who would run, rather than preparing themselves for the battle awaiting them or fearing for their lives.
• QUESTION- Why does the loud soldier try so hard to be big when in his heart he feels small?
  

CHAPTER #1

• ABSTRACT- Henry was a farmer and he enlisted in the army. When he told his mother this, and he was to be sent away,his mother was very afraid for him and she still feels that she is to care for him through any time, but he really wants to do this( you can tell by his determination). There's no stopping this boy. He wants to serve for his country and show his mom that he can do more than farm.
• RESPONSE- While reading this, there were obvious signs of caring, fear, determination, and love that this small family shared. War is something many people fear, but Henry was so determined to do this. Also... The reading level is SUPER difficult. Lots of vocabulary.
• QUESTION- They compare a lot of things to Greek sayings or ways. ex: Come back with your shield or on it. Why do they do this?
  

Characters

Jim- soldier, cocky, and uncertain of himself
Henry- main character/ farmer who enlisted on the north(union side), young
Henry's mom- has a fear for her son's life and would just assume he stay home where he can do what he does best.. farm.
comrades- many already formally known
loud soldier- " Huh"... ignorant, mental outcast
tall soldier- long known friend; Private
colonel- thinker... seems smart; thinks strategically
lieutenant- forceful almost to a sense of pushing towards success.
Wilson- inconfident like Henry but still a good fighter, but they are goood friends even in the end.
tattered soldier- caused Henry to question what he wanted and who he really was when he needed to be a warrior.