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Radio National: Tragic love triangle in 'The Great Gatsby'

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Radio National: Tragic love triangle in 'The Great Gatsby'

SUBJECTS:  English

YEARS:  9–10


Who will Daisy Buchanan choose when she finds herself torn between the love of two men in F Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 classic novel, 'The Great Gatsby'?

Draw on the discussion in this audio clip to improve your skills in developing character in creative writing.

This clip from 'Books and arts daily' on Radio National is one in a series of eight.

If you like this clip, listen to the full ABC RN documentary by clicking 'Download Audio' on this webpage.


Things to think about

  1. 1.Love triangles are a common feature in many novels: think of the conflict between Edward and Jacob in the 'Twilight' saga! See if you can think of another example. How was this love-triangle conflict resolved? What might you do if you were at the centre of a love triangle? How would you make your decision?
  2. 2.Listen carefully throughout the clip, identifying all the reasons why Daisy Buchanan doesn't leave her husband Tom to be with Jay Gatsby. Note these down. Next, write down any clues that reveal the kind of person Daisy is. Despite reinventing himself to try and win Daisy, what lesson does Gatsby fail to learn?
  3. 3.Using the evidence you have collected, compose a letter from Daisy telling Gatsby why she can't be with him. Incorporate the evidence you collected from the clip. Focus on using appropriate language to develop a strong sense of Daisy's character. Draft and edit your letter to improve its sense of character and the tragedy of Daisy's situation.
  4. 4.Turn your letter into a monologue (a speech delivered by a single character). Rehearse your monologue using appropriate drama and speaking skills to develop a sense of Daisy's character. Record it and critique your own performance before you present it to your class.


Acknowledgements

Produced by RN Books and Arts Daily.


Date of broadcast: 31 May 2013


Copyright

Metadata © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia Ltd 2012 (except where otherwise indicated). Digital content © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). Video © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). All images copyright their respective owners. Text © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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