Teachable Moments

Day 60 Quote of the Day: “The terrorist and the politician both come from the same basket.” —Joseph Conrad Since I knew I would miss school yesterday, I decided to hold off assigning Chapter V reading until I could perform the chapter for the students. Yesterday, I instructed the classes to complete some daily assignments on vocabulary, the study guide questions, and the trivia sheet. I will check on their progress with these ongoing assignments after Chapter V. Since the custodians erased my marquee from the front board, I needed to redraw it before the students arrived. I listed Nick's bungalow and Gatsby's mansion as the two settings. This chapter's characters are Nick Carraway, Daisy Buchanan, Jay Gatsby, and Klipspringer, Gatsby’s houseguest. I began each class by drawing the "witch's hat" plot-structure diagram on the front board. Then I mapped out the various chapters and where they fit on the chart. Chapter I is the exposition, while Chapters II, III, and IV present the rising action. My goal was to allow the students to see that this chapter could qualify as the novel's climax. However, if Nick is the main character, the turning point must come later because Nick has not yet come to his "turn,” or realization. Gatsby has not finally come to his "reversal" either. And so, I performed Chapter V. I let Nick tell how, after nearly five years, Gatsby finally reunites with his one true love, Daisy Fay Buchanan. Nick points out that Gatsby was so nervous that he knocked a defunct clock off the fireplace mantel. Then, Nick relates how Gatsby leads Daisy through his mansion. They even meet a houseguest from the weekend party who plays piano for them. Meanwhile, Gatsby continually attempts to impress Daisy with his newly acquired wealth and status. Nick's tone in narrating these events mirrors the chapter's ominous emotional feel. Nick points out that intermittent rain fell throughout the afternoon. When Nick finally extricates himself from Gatsby and Daisy in the mansion, he walks out into the rain at the end of the chapter. Gatsby has spent the past five years creating an idolized vision of Daisy in his mind. In Nick's eyes, Daisy struggled to measure up to Gatsby's "ideal" woman. While Nick senses this reality, Gatsby believes he can repeat the past.