Depending upon which novel you are reading first, post an answer to one of the following questions. Be sure to sign your name to your post so I know who is actually posting:
1. In The Great Gatsby, who is the narrator, and what aspects of his personality are revealed in the first two chapters?
2. In Wuthering Heights, who is the narrator in the first 3 chapters, and what information does he/she reveal to the reader?
General Question: Why would an author use first person narration in a novel, rather than taking teh position of the "omniscient narrator?"
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About Me
- Mrs. Gironda
- I received my Bachelors degree and my Masters degree from Rutgers-Newark. My undergrad major was English Education and my minor was Latin. My graduste school major was English Literature. I am presently writing my dissertation for the Doctor of Letters Program in Drew University. I have recently retired after 40 years of teaching, but I tutor privately and am starting to edit and teach online. I am married for 34 years to Michael, and I have two children, Matthew and Megan. Matthew is married to Kristen Walsh.
4 comments:
Hi folks, my name is Mr. Pascarella. I'm a former English teacher from Technology HS across town and I trained as a teacher with Mrs. Gironda at University. I may be returning as a teacher this coming year in Newark and have been given the privilege of joining your blog to discuss Gatsby and Wuthering Heights. I've read The Great Gatsby before, though I can't seem to find my copy. So I've started with Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights, which represents a more difficult reading level among the two texts. What strikes me first about this novel is the rich historiography of the text involving Emily's life with her two surviving sisters, Anne and Charlotte, and brother Branwell. Written in 19th century northern England, women had little rights, but as the Brontë sisters' biographies reveal - some women had much ambition to resist a male-dominated society and sustain their own lives and well-being. I'm particularly impressed by this ethos, given the fact that many women today still struggle against the oppressive effects of a male-dominated contemporary society. Being raised by a single mother, I am especially supportive of women's rights and particularly grateful for the successful efforts of the Brontë sisters to publish some of the most significant works of literature to enter the British canon.
The title Wuthering Heights evokes rich imagery and symbolism prior to turning the first leaves of the book. The denotative meanings (literal): wuthering meaning weathered, and heights meaning a high place upon a hill or mountain; the connotative meanings (implied or metaphorical) could mean struggling to reach high places or though a person reaches a high position or social class - a weathered appearance may indicate the years of struggle taken to achieve this position - high upon the mountain. Perhaps, Wuthering Heights is a biblical allusion, connoting heaven - or maybe I'm reading too much into the title before analyzing the text itself ;o). So far, I've read a modest three chapters and I began my dialectical journal.
Mr. Lockwood is quite a funny fellow, remarking at one point in Chapter 2 that he finds himself to be "tolerably attractive." Who says that? I often see bumper stickers or Facebook profiles that read "Princess" or "Hot Stuff," but "tolerably attractive"? Well, I suppose an urban Englishman of 1800 would say it.
Though the book was published in 1847 and the setting of the book takes place largely in the final quarter of the 18th century, many critics believed Brontë's characters, events, and diction to reflect rural Yorkshire life of the 1840s. Timing is important though - keep in mind that significant changes in industry and growth took place around the turn of the 19th century (1775-1825) in England, the US and elsewhere, effecting growth in working class society and expanding the growth of cities that often overtook rural areas like the one depicted in the novel. By 1847, many people had adopted to these changes and expansions. Mr. Lockwood's reactions do not reflect this adoption to the integration of rural and urban life as represented by the "peevish displeasure" of Mr. Heathcliff due to Lockwood's "unexpected advent," the "atmospheric tumult" that results in the parlor (stealing from Lockwood's prior description of the actual dwelling). Lockwood's reactions arguably indicate an urban "civilized" gentleman's reaction to the rustic countenance of his receivers, Mr. Heathcliff, his servants, relatives, and dogs.
Though I haven't answered Mrs. G's questions - I encourage you to have your dialectical journal open with your pencil ready as you read, also noting vocabulary. When you respond on this blog, try out some of the words as you make sense of the text.
I think you will find your interpretation of WH as heaven quite interesting as you complete your reading of the text -- and yes, Lockwood's comment is interesting -- but maybe Englishmen are more honest about theri actual appearances!! LOL
Hello-Gloria here.
I began reading The Great Gatsby. It is very interesting thus far, as the secrets of Mr. Gatsby are being gradually revealed. Nick Carraway, a veteran of World War I and a Yale graduate, is the narrator of the novel. Throughout the first two chapters, Fitzgerald potrays Nick as an honest, amicable, character; ironically, the opposite is to be said about most of his associates.
Hello! I can definitely see why The Great Gatsby was such a hit during its time. What troubles me about the story is the morality and maturity level of the characters. If they were to live in our time, they'd all be in rehab and be major focal points of tabloids!
Anyway, the narrator of the novel is Nick Carraway. He is not as outrageous or dramatic as his peers. Rather, he stays neutral throughout the whole story. In the first two chapters, Nick gives the impression that he is just around for the ride, but innocent and unassuming, nonetheless. He seems oblivious to what is really going on. Like us the reader, he is sent through a whirlwind of drama and confusion probably to conclude that "the rich don't always live blissful lives."
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