The Great Gatsby The Jazz Age The Roaring 20s
"The Great Gatsby takes place during the summer of 1922. Fitzgerald coined the phrase, 'the Jazz Age' that same year to describe the flamboyant—'anything goes'—era that emerged in America after World War I. Find out more about the popular culture and historical events that shaped and defined the 1920s" Click HERE for source |
F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Great American Dreamer Part 1 of a documentary about the author of The Great Gatsby. Watch a few minutes in order to get a feel for the 1920s and to understand a bit about the author. Should you want to watch the whole documentary, go to youtube and keep watching. It is definitely worth your time. |
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The American Dream
After watching the video in the right-hand column, create a definition for the American Dream. As you reread, pay attention to which characters are striving to accomplish the American Dream and how they are achieving it (or not achieving it). What might Fitzgerald be trying to say about the American Dream and society? |
chapter_1_adverb_characters.doc | |
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Socratic seminar questions
Chapter 1:
Chapter 2:
Chapter 1:
- What is your impression of Tom and Daisy?
- How is Gatsby described when he appears at the end of chapter 1?
- Why is Gatsby looking at the green light while standing on the dock at the end of chapter 1? What does the light symbolize?
Chapter 2:
- In what way is the description in the opening paragraphs appropriate to the total atmosphere of this chapter?
- Myrtle buys a dog in the city, the furniture in Tom’s apartment is overabundant and gaudy, and Myrtle changes outfits several times. What do these actions reveal about her character or symbolize?
- What does the scene in this New York apartment reveal about Tom?
- What does Nick say to prove that he is being corrupted by the East?
The Valley of Ashes
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- Diction: Identify all of the adjectives and phrases that are used to describe the valley of ashes.
- Characters: Who lives here? What is their life like?
- Symbolism: Pick apart the billboard of the eyes of T.J. Eckleburg. In what ways could the billboard be symbolic of modernism? What connections do you see between these eyes and the poem "The Wasteland"?
- Themes: Based on our quick analysis, what are some central themes that are emerging from this scene?
Gatsby's Parties: Chapter 3
What is the purpose of chapter 3? How is this chapter a social critique?
What is the purpose of chapter 3? How is this chapter a social critique?
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- What words would you use to describe Gatsby's party?
- Who is Gatsby? Fill out the character chart with what you know about him based on chapter 3. Include page numbers and direct examples, when possible.
gatsby_-_character_chart.doc | |
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Time, Dreams, The Past: Chapter 5
A Dream Realized / Reality and Illusion / Time and the Past / Materialism and Wealth
A Dream Realized / Reality and Illusion / Time and the Past / Materialism and Wealth
- 10 key plot points in this chapter. GO!
Language and Stylistic Devices for the Clock Scene:
- Symbolism of the clock
- What does the text reveal about Gatsby's character?
- What is the atmosphere of this passage and how is it conveyed through language?
- What is the purpose of the adverbs in the passage?
- What is Nick's role in this scene and how is it different from any other scene so far?
- What is the main theme of this passage?
- In the larger context of the novel, why might this scene be seen as the most pivotal in the novel?
chapter_5_-_clock_scene.docx | |
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"He took out a pile of shirts and began throwing them, one by one, before us, shirts of sheer linen and thick silk and fine flannel, which lost their folds as they fell and covered the table in many-colored disarray. While we admired he brought more and the soft rich heap mounted higher --shirts with strips and scrolls and plaids in coral and apple-green and lavendar and faint orange, with monograms of Indian blue. Suddenly, with a strained sound, Daisy bent her head into the shirts and began to cry stormily.
'They're such beautiful shirts,' she sobbed, her voice muffled in the thick folds. 'It makes me sad because I've never seen such - such beautiful shirts before.'"
Why is Daisy crying? Describe the symbolism of the shirts.
Language and Stylistic Devices for the Rain and Clouds Scene:
'They're such beautiful shirts,' she sobbed, her voice muffled in the thick folds. 'It makes me sad because I've never seen such - such beautiful shirts before.'"
Why is Daisy crying? Describe the symbolism of the shirts.
Language and Stylistic Devices for the Rain and Clouds Scene:
- Why is polysyndeton (the use of multiple conjunctions when it is not necessary - and, and, and) used in the opening line of this passage?
- Why is it raining? What could it symbolize?
- Symbolism of the green light (and the color green).
- Describe the pace of the passage. How does the passage gain momentum and slow down throughout?
- What is the structural purpose of the dialogue? How does it contribute to the development of these characters?
- What is the main theme of this passage?
chapter_5_-_rain_and_clouds.docx | |
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Chapter 6: Can't repeat the past?!
- On the pages 78-81, we learn about Gatsby's true past. Why has Fitzgerald withheld this information until now? How do these revelations make us, the readers, feel at this point?
- 81-86: To what extent do the interactions between Old and New Money folks prove Fitzgerald's point that the American Dream doesn't exist?
- Does Daisy live up to his dream/fabrication of her?
"He wanted nothing less of Daisy than that she should go to Tom and say: "I never loved you." After she had obliterated four years with that sentence they could decide upon the more practical measures to be taken. One of them was that, after she was free, they were to go back to Louisville and be married from her house -- just as if it were five years ago.
'And she doesn't understand,' he said. 'She used to be able to understand. We'd sit for hours--'
He broke off and began to walk up and down a desolate path of fuit rinds and discarded favors and crushed flowers.
'I wouldn't ask too much of her,' I ventured. 'You can't repeat the past.'
'Can't repeat the past?' he cried incredulously. 'Why of course you can!'
He looked around him wildly, as if the past were lurking here in the shadow of his house, just out of reach of his hand.
'I'm going to fix everything just the way it was before,' he said, nodding determinedly. 'She'll see.'
He talked a lot about the past, and I gathered that he wanted to recover something, some idea of himself perhaps, that had gone into loving Daisy. His life had been confused and disordered since then, but if he could once return to a certain starting place and go over it all slowly, he could fin out what that thing was..." (88).
'And she doesn't understand,' he said. 'She used to be able to understand. We'd sit for hours--'
He broke off and began to walk up and down a desolate path of fuit rinds and discarded favors and crushed flowers.
'I wouldn't ask too much of her,' I ventured. 'You can't repeat the past.'
'Can't repeat the past?' he cried incredulously. 'Why of course you can!'
He looked around him wildly, as if the past were lurking here in the shadow of his house, just out of reach of his hand.
'I'm going to fix everything just the way it was before,' he said, nodding determinedly. 'She'll see.'
He talked a lot about the past, and I gathered that he wanted to recover something, some idea of himself perhaps, that had gone into loving Daisy. His life had been confused and disordered since then, but if he could once return to a certain starting place and go over it all slowly, he could fin out what that thing was..." (88).
Blog Post:
What type of character has Fitzgerald created in Gatsby? How does Gatsby's character help to develop larger themes in the novel?
Chapter 7: Heat, Color, and Myrtle
Motifs: any recurring element that has symbolic significance - the repetition of a motif can help to establish or highlight a theme
- Weather: How does the weather play a role in this chapter?
- Color: What does each color symbolize? Find an example of the color being used in chapter 7 and explain the symbolism.
- White: What does white symbolize? What criticisms could be made about the fact that Daisy's character is always attributed to the color white?
- Gold/yellow: Why might gold/yellow represent money more so than green? What is the distinction between "gold" and "yellow" in the novel?
- Green: If green is meant to symbolize hope (think of the green light), why is Wilson described as having a green face?
- Blue: To what extent could the color blue be symbolic of illusion?Are there any other interpretations for this color?
- Grey/colorlessness: Who/what is attributed to grey? Why?
- How do the settings play a vital role in the events of this chapter? NYC and the valley of ashes?
- How does Myrtle die? What correlation can you make between Myrtle’s death and her desire for material possessions? In what way is this scene a social commentary?
- Is the final scene in this chapter pathetic or heartwarming? Why?
- On page 104, what is the significance of the fact that only Gatsby and Tom are speaking?
- To what extent are Tom and Wilson similar?
- How do Tom and Daisy’s reactions to the evening’s events show their alikeness/true characters?
Important passages for IOC consideration: p. 108-109 / p. 114-116
Chapter 8: Gatsby's Death
chapter_8_-_gatsbys_death.docx | |
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- Gatsby - Characterization
- How does Gatsby act in this scene? How does he interact with his environment, and what does this tell us about his attitude?
- How does Gatsby's characterization highlight key ideas in the novel?
2. Mood and Imagery
- What is the mood/atmosphere of this passage?
- Identify the imagery (simile, alliteration, metaphors, too). How does the imagery support the overall mood?
- How does the imagery reveal Wilson's character/plot points?
3. Language/Stylistic Features - Identify and discuss the intended effect of:
- Weather motif
- Significance of Gatsby's use of the mattress/pool
- Significance of the phone call
- Symbolism of the rose
- Irony of being killed by Wilson
- Pace and narration: Why is it only narrated by Nick?
- Connotation of the word "holocaust" - to what extent could this be a metaphor?
- What is Fitzgerald saying about dreams?
- To what extent is this section a social commentary? How does Gatsby's character reveal the social commentary?