(845) 563-3400     124 Grand Street, Newburgh, NY 12550
 

NFA West Scholars Analyze The Great Gatsby – Tragic Hero or Just Pathetic?


High school scholars in Ms. Jillian Paige-Lyon’s English Language Arts class at NFA West analyzed The Great Gatsby to answer an essential question: Is Gatsby a tragic hero or is he just pathetic?

 

Scholars read the novel, watched the film, and then got to work analyzing the question. During a culminating activity, scholars worked in groups to depict Gatsby from their eyes and added their thoughts about the question. Next, scholars engaged in a silent conversation by looking at the work of their classmates and adding post-its either agreeing or disagreeing with the thoughts. Finally, scholars reviewed the post-its on their work and grouped the notes by themes to better reflect on the feedback.

 

Arguments for why Gatsby is just pathetic included his profession as a cheat, scam artist, and bootlegger. Additionally, that five years is too long to have an unreciprocated infatuation with someone.

 

Some arguments as to why Gatsby is a tragic hero included the idea that being stuck on someone is a natural human flaw and that Gatsby was so in love with Daisy that he would never let anything bad to happen to her. One student shared, “I don’t think being stuck on the past is pathetic. Plenty of people go through a lot and get stuck on a feeling. I think Gatsby is brave for taking a risk and doing everything he did for Daisy.”

 

Overall, the scholars enjoyed the novel and the conversations that stemmed from their reading the work.

 

 

 


ATTENTION: Are your scholars or colleagues doing something great? Please contact the district Communications Team at communications@necsd.net. We’d love to visit your class or event and/or post your pictures and recap to highlight the amazing accomplishments throughout our district!



Students critiquing the work of their classmates.
Students critiquing the work of their classmates.
Students critiquing the work of their classmates.
Students critiquing the work of their classmates.


Students critiquing the work of their classmates.
Students critiquing the work of their classmates.
Students critiquing the work of their classmates.
Students critiquing the work of their classmates.


Students critiquing the work of their classmates.
Students critiquing the work of their classmates.
Students critiquing the work of their classmates.
Students critiquing the work of their classmates.
Students critiquing the work of their classmates.
Students critiquing the work of their classmates.
Students critiquing the work of their classmates.
Post-it with feedback.
Date: 2020-01-24 09:42:54 AM





QUICK CONTACT

Main Switchboard
845.563.3400
Food Services
845.563.3424
Registration
845.563.5437
BOE Clerk
845.563.3503
Transportation
845.568.6833
Payroll
845.563.3440
Athletics
845.563.5420
Business/Fin.
845.563.3448
Human Resources
845.563.3460
Technology
845.568.6540
Tax Office
845.563.3490
Newburgh Free Library
845.563.3600

SCHOOLS

Balmville
845.563.8550
Fostertown
845.568.6425
Gardnertown
845.568.6400
GAMS Tech
845.563.8450
Horizons
845.563.3725
Meadow Hill
845.568.6600
New Windsor
845.563.3700
Temple Hill
845.568.6450
Vails Gate
845.563.7900
Heritage Middle
845.563.3750
South Middle
845.563.7000
NFA Main
845.563.5400
NFA North
845.563.8400
NFA West
845.568.6560