Focus On Concepts and Issues

Focus on Concepts and issues/themes in a literary text
When we read a novel, play or poem in English we are not just reading it to
determine whether we like it. We are also reading it in order to analyse the
patterns of language and ideas that help us to determine what the main
message or dominant reading of the text may be.
When we look for patterns, we usually start by looking

for concepts and then issues that repeatedly appear in
the text.
Concepts- abstract ideas, usually not context specific, we are looking for where they appear in a text
Exercise 1: examine the table below. In the first column you will see examples of general concepts that
don’t usually relate exclusively to one text or the other. Continue to fill this column with more examples of
general concepts. Then, casting your mind back to when we studied “The Crucible”, use the space in the
second column to write some of the concepts that were relevant to that text. Finally, thinking about The
Great Gatsby, compile a list of concepts that you have identified in the text.
When we look for Concepts in general Concepts in “The Crucible” Concepts in The Great
concepts in a text we are Gatsby
paying attention to how
often we are positioned Hope Power
by a text to think about
this theme. The
Love
cognitive process that we Peace
use is called ANALYSIS Freedom
justice
Issues/themes- specific application of the concepts- context specific to the text
Exercise 1: examine the table below. In the first column you will see an example of a specific issue or
theme that we identified in “The Crucible”. Use the space in this column to write some other issues and
themes that were relevant to that text. Next, thinking about The Great Gatsby, compile a list of issues or
themes that you have identified in the text.
When we look for issues

or themes in a text we
Issues/themes in “The Crucible” Issues/themes in The Great Gatsby
are making a judgement
about whether we think
we are being positioned
Using fear to maintain power and control
to see that the concept
in the text is important-
that we are being
positioned by the text or
author to see it as
important. This will be
context specific. The
cognitive process that
we use is called
EVALUATION
Questions for further thought:

 How can I use my knowledge of issues/themes to help form an argument or contention for a piece
of analytical writing?
 How can my analysis of issues/themes help organise my evidence collection for a piece of analytical
writing?
The Great Gatsby

Looking Closely at the Text
In order to be able to find evidence to support the issues you have
identified in the novel you must complete a “close reading” of relevant
sections or parts of the text. The following exercises will help you hone
your skills of close reading.
Below, you will find several quotes from the novel. Following the quotes, there are questions that relate to
context and analysis.
Context refers to the background textual details that you need to understand the quote. Context comes from
the scene or episode from where the quote originates, and it provides a foundation for the analysis. You need to
understand the basic details of the context in order to understand the deeper meanings.
Analysis refers to the insights and deeper meanings that close reading of the text reveals. You will draw
conclusions and make connections based on the analytical investigation of the quote. Analysis requires you to
look at aesthetic features and stylistic devices. You need to “read between the lines” to aarive at meaning. You
base the analysis upon the scene/episode but let your knowledge of the text as a whole inform your insights.
Instructions:
Respond to each of the prompts attached to the example text (you may enter your answers on this sheet). Do
not guess. DO NOT GOOGLE. You may use your The Great Gatsby to re-read the scene where it appears if you
wish.
For the context, refer to the text and make sure that the basic details are accurate (who, what when, where?). r
To answer the analysis questions, extend the text beyond the literal understanding, you may need to infer
based on where the text is located in the book and what writing features are used. Ask yourself the question-
what does the author reveal more subtly? In the parentheses, note the page number of the example.
When you are finished, submit your work through TEAMS (there is a tab there).
A. “I lived at West Egg, the—well, the less fashionable of the two, though this is a most
superficial tag to express the bizarre and not a little sinister contrast between them. [...]
Across the courtesy bay the white palaces of fashionable East Egg glittered along the
water” ( )
Context:
Who?: The speaker here is
I is
Name and identify other characters.
What?: The key action (plot points) is
Where?: The setting or reference point (text) is
When?: The scene occurs
Identify any “Why?” or “How?” that the example relates to plot:
Analysis:
1. Note the bold text. Explain the contrast as the speaker references. Why does the speaker use the
adjectives he chooses?
2. The speaker uses the word palaces to describe the houses. What is the effect of using the word palaces
instead of houses or mansions?
3. The speaker uses the word white to describe the houses. White can connote purity, innocence, unblemished,
clean. However, it can also connote empty, colorless, blank, lifeless. Explain which of the two connotations best
fits the tone of the novel.
4. Explain the effect of the word glittered to describe the houses.

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B. “Possibly it had occurred to him that the colossal significance of that light had now
vanished forever. Compared to the great distance that had separated him from Daisy it
had seemed very near to her, almost touching her. It had seemed as close as a star to
the moon. Now it was again a green light on a dock. His count of enchanted objects had
diminished by one.” ( )
Context:
Him/his is
Analysis:
1. In chapter one, the green light represents

2. Refer to the italicized text.
a. Colossal significance refers to
b. Explain the change in the meaning of the green light
3. What is the connection to reality versus fantasy as Fitzgerald presents it in this example?
4. Explain the bold text. Identify the figurative element and explain the meaning.
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C. “On the last night, with my trunk packed and my car sold to the grocer, I went over
and looked at that huge incoherent failure of a house once more.”
()
Context:
I is
Analysis:
1. Identify the last night. Why is this the last night for the speaker?
2. What do the details of the car reveal about the speaker?
3. To whose house does the speaker refer?
4. At the beginning of the novel, what does the house represent?
5. Why did the house play such a large part in the novel?
6. Explain the speaker’s description of the house (bold). How does this description connect to earlier events in
the story?
7. This example occurs at the end of the novel. How does the example reflect the central message of the novel?

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Focus on Concepts and issues/themes in a literary text

When we look for patterns, we usually start by looking

Issues/themes- specific application of the concepts- context specific to the text

When we look for issues

Questions for further thought:

The Great Gatsby

4. Explain the effect of the word glittered to describe the houses.

1. In chapter one, the green light represents

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