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: jheelbarad@gmail.com

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
Individualis
m
Experiment
ation
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 Eyes 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.