Bekkoned
Jul 6, 2012
Book Reports / I need help with my first English Lit essay (The Great Gatsby & the American dream) [4]
Ok, so first of all I haven't written for a few years and Im taking an eccelerated pathway to university course.
The essay statement is "GATSBY IS A FLAWED HERO WHOSE LIFE AND IDENTITY INVOLVE A COMMENTARY ABOUT THE AMERICAN DREAM OF THE 1920s." (1500 words excluding quotes).
It sounds simple, and I am sure it is, but I am seriously lacking confidence at this point. So...
First Question: Any advice or criticism on the two introductions below (these are my first two attempts).
INTRODUCTION IDEA ONE:
The concept of taking a postmodern issue and giving it a human face is one often accredited to artists such as Picasso or Andy Warhol, whose paintings have been able to timelessly represent significant cultural ideals of their eras. Another such artist, of a different genre however, is American author Scott Fitzgerald, whose depiction of a wealthy gent living on the French Riviera, post WW1, has created the image of the "American Dream" as a wealthy man named Jay Gatsby who, like the ideal itself is both complicated and flawed.
INTRODUCTION IDEA TWO:
Upon first glance, The Great Gatsby could be mistaken as a tale of love affairs and wealth during the 1920s. Indeed this is true on a simplified scale; however, American author Scott Fitzgerald had a much more complex theme in mind when writing the tale of Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan. Published in 1925, the Great Gatsby provides an in-depth understanding of the issues associated with the "American Dream", as well as insight into the lifestyles of wealthy men such as James Gatsby, who like the ideal itself is both complicated and flawed.
Second Question: Once I have the introduction, where do I start with the body; Do I start with evidence based on setting, protagonist..etc?
Any comments you can give would be greatly appreciated, thankyou
<3 Bekkoned
Ok, so first of all I haven't written for a few years and Im taking an eccelerated pathway to university course.
The essay statement is "GATSBY IS A FLAWED HERO WHOSE LIFE AND IDENTITY INVOLVE A COMMENTARY ABOUT THE AMERICAN DREAM OF THE 1920s." (1500 words excluding quotes).
It sounds simple, and I am sure it is, but I am seriously lacking confidence at this point. So...
First Question: Any advice or criticism on the two introductions below (these are my first two attempts).
INTRODUCTION IDEA ONE:
The concept of taking a postmodern issue and giving it a human face is one often accredited to artists such as Picasso or Andy Warhol, whose paintings have been able to timelessly represent significant cultural ideals of their eras. Another such artist, of a different genre however, is American author Scott Fitzgerald, whose depiction of a wealthy gent living on the French Riviera, post WW1, has created the image of the "American Dream" as a wealthy man named Jay Gatsby who, like the ideal itself is both complicated and flawed.
INTRODUCTION IDEA TWO:
Upon first glance, The Great Gatsby could be mistaken as a tale of love affairs and wealth during the 1920s. Indeed this is true on a simplified scale; however, American author Scott Fitzgerald had a much more complex theme in mind when writing the tale of Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan. Published in 1925, the Great Gatsby provides an in-depth understanding of the issues associated with the "American Dream", as well as insight into the lifestyles of wealthy men such as James Gatsby, who like the ideal itself is both complicated and flawed.
Second Question: Once I have the introduction, where do I start with the body; Do I start with evidence based on setting, protagonist..etc?
Any comments you can give would be greatly appreciated, thankyou
<3 Bekkoned