The Great Gatsby Literary Devices Chapter 5-6

Literary Devices in The Great Gatsby (Chapters 5-6)

• Simile: "He was running down like an overwound clock." Emphasizes urgency and mechanical movement, providing a vivid image of Gatsby’s frantic energy.

• Imagery: "Gatsby, pale as death..." Creates a haunting visual of Gatsby's distressed state, symbolizing his emotional turmoil.

• Metaphor: "It had seemed as close as a star to the moon." Illustrates the unattainable nature of Gatsby's dreams, highlighting the distance between aspiration and reality.

• Metaphor: "Suddenly, with a strained sound, Daisy bent her head into the shirts..." Depicts Daisy's overwhelming emotions, connecting material wealth (shirts) to feelings of love and loss.

• Simile: "You're acting like a little boy..." Conveys frustration with Gatsby’s naïve behavior, contrasting his adult status with childlike actions.

• Hyperbole: "But his heart was in constant, turbulent riot." Exaggerates Gatsby’s emotional instability, emphasizing the intensity of his feelings for Daisy.

• Allusion: "Listening for a moment longer to the tuning fork that had been struck upon a star." References the celestial, suggesting a focus on dreams and the idealism of love.

• Symbolism: "His heart beat faster and faster as Daisy's white face came up to his own." Suggests a deep emotional connection, with Daisy symbolizing purity and desire.

• Metaphor: "Meeting all kinds of crazy fish." Represents the variety of people Gatsby interacts with, signaling the unpredictability of his social ambitions and relationships.

Explore key literary devices in chapters 5 and 6 of 'The Great Gatsby' through this flashcard quiz. Test your knowledge on similes, metaphors, and imagery as used by Fitzgerald. Perfect for literature students looking to deepen their understanding of the text.