The Great Gatsby Written by: F. Scott Fitzgerald
F. Scott Fitzgerald 1896-1940
F. Scott and Zelda
Fitzgerald at Newman This is a typical school picture of the ’20s Gatsby carries one very like it
The Jazz Age
1920’s Clothing: Men
1920’s Clothing: Women
Women’s Hair Louise Brooks in the 1920’s Clara Bow: The “It” Girl
Setting --New York
Gatsby’s House Page 9 “The one on my right…” Typical 1920’s Mansion on Long Island
Daisy’s House Page 10 “And so it happened…”
Gatsby’s Car Page 68 “I’d seen it…”
Gatsby’s Parties 1920's life
West Egg Train Station This is actually the Great Neck train station Fitzgerald lived down the street while writing the book
Grand Central Station 1920’s This is where Tom and Nick would have gotten off the train when they visited Myrtle in New York. It is still just like this today!
Page 27 “About halfway between…” Valley of Ashes Page 27 “About halfway between…”
Downtown New York Manhattan - 1920’s Page 32 “We went on…”
Downtown New York Today
Nick Carraway Page 7 “I never saw…” Paul Rudd as Nick Carraway in the recent A&E production
Daisy Buchanan Page 13 “I looked back at my cousin…” Mira Sorvino in the A&E production Mia Farrow in 1970’s film
Jay Gatsby Page 52 “He smiled…” Robert Redford in the 1974 version of The Great Gatsby
Ch 1 and 2 Short Answer Questions: Complete Sentences How do you feel about Myrtle Wilson? What has she said or done that makes you feel this way? How do you feel about the other characters that you have met in The Great Gatsby so far? Do any of the characters remind you of anybody that you know? If so how, if not, describe two other characters in the novel. How have the female characters been portrayed so far?
Ch 3 Questions Why does Gatsby throw huge, expensive parties for people he does not even know? Describe the two ways in which Nick differs from the other guests at the party? What does Nick learn about Jordan after he’s spent some time with her? What is the significance of Jordan’s lies? Pay attention to Nick's judgments. What do they reveal about his character that he does this (especially in relation to his opening comments)? Describe Gatsby the first time Nick sees him. What rumors have been told about Gatsby? Why does Fitzgerald reveal rumors rather than fact? What does Nick think of Gatsby after meeting him? How is Gatsby different from his guests?
Ch 4 Questions 1. What is the date at this point in the novel? 2. Whom does Nick encounter at Gatsby’s party? 3. What is the suggestion about Henry L. Palmetto’s death? 4. In the description of Gatsby’s car, what is the significance of its being bright with nickel and swollen in its monstrous length with all kinds of boxes? 5. What phrase does Gatsby repeatedly use to address Nick and others? 6. In what country did Gatsby receive a medal “For Valour Extraordinary”? 7. Gatsby tells Nick details of his past. What are they? Do you believe Gatsby? Explain. 8. Fitzgerald presents the reader with another bizarre image, the character of Meyer Wolfsheim. Consider the details of his appearance, his behavior and topics of discussion, and his illegal activities. What does this suggest to you? 9. If you were Daisy, would you have waited for Gatsby? Fitzgerald seems to be contrasting Daisy and Gatsby’s love; after Gatsby went over seas, it wasn’t long before she married Tom. However, Gatsby’s devotion to Daisy has lasted.
Ch. 5 Study Questions 1. How does Gatsby dress for the rendezvous with Daisy? 2. Who is the Finn referred to in chapter 5? 3. How long has it been since Daisy and Gatsby had seen each other? 4. In what way are the various rooms in Gatsby’s mansion described in historical terms? 5. Who was Gatsby’s best friend and mentor from when he was younger? 6. Imagine you are a writer for a magazine like Seventeen, Cosmo, US Weekly or People. Write a short account of the romance between Gatsby and Daisy. 7. Choose 2 of the following symbols in Ch. 5 and explain their meaning/purpose/message: Clock, Gatsby’s clothes, weather or the green light.