Annotated Bibliography On The Great Gatsby

Chuck Jeter

Dr. Josephine Koster

ENGL 600

22 September 2014

Selected Bibliography: Research on Hope in Modern Literature

Backman, Melvin. Faulkner: The Major Years. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1966. Print.

Backman book provides an in-depth examination to Faulkner’s most important works. In the small amount of space I am given to discuss my sources, I would not even begin to be able to express my attachment to this particular work. I have never discussed Faulkner without referencing this work. Backman’s book has always been an essential part of my work with Faulkner, and since I keep a copy of this on my bookshelf, I would be remiss if I didn’t add it to my research. It is especially important for this project since it served

The work is an in-depth look at how the “hopelessness” of Jay Gatsby’s life is transformed to hope. He examines how the book became part of the American ethos and how the novel has helped Americans understand their lives and their place in the world. Moreover, he discusses how Gatsby and his relentless pursuit of the American Dream have made him the poster boy for hope in America. I hope to show that all literature, even modern literature, must contain some semblance of hope, and I believe Batchelor’s look at The Great Gatsby will assist me in my research because the entire work discuss how the novel has become entwined with American culture. I believe the “American Dream” is rooted in the hope that we may achieve greatness. Gatsby comes to represent a form of hope that has endeared his character to American culture and made his story

I find this comparison particularly intriguing because the two men’s literature is years apart and miles away from each other. Hemingway’s novels often set the standard for hopelessness and meaninglessness. Morgan’s stories, however, are inspiring tales of hope that embrace a purpose and meaning in life. While I have skimmed the articles, I am going to have to read all the short stories to determine how important this work may be to my project. If the two works share commonalities, one can possibly make an argument that they share common themes, which in this case is hope.

Hemingway, Earnest. The Letters of Earnest Hemingway. Ed. Sandra Spanier and Robert W. Trogdon. New York: Cambridge, 2011. Print.

I may actually regret choosing this source. However, I do believe that is necessary to read Hemingway’s personal writing to better understand his perspective on the world. These letters may contain something to bolster my cast that “hope” is a central idea in The Sun Also Rises. On the other hand, an examination of these letters may complete destroy my entire theory. Either way, I felt it was necessary to include Hemingway’s personal writing since I have examined and taken into account some of Faulkner and Fitzgerald’s personal