1. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby

2. About the Author September 24, 1896-December 21, 1940
“Daddy Issues” and success v. failure
Good looking, popular, Princeton boy…who partied too much
Commissioned into the Army and sent to Alabama: enter Zelda Sayre.
Life is marked by extravagance
Success ebbed and flowed; died of a heart attack at 44, a depressed alcoholic
Coined the term “The Jazz Age” about the excesses of the 1920s
“Something had to be done with all the nervous energy stored up and unexpended in the war.”
“It was an age of miracles, it was an age of art, it was an age of excess, and it was an age of satire.”

3. The Jazz Age/The Roaring Twenties
U.S. involved in WWI
Jan Prohibition
Changing moral code, social code (blue to white, men to women)
Role of Women
Had jobs during the war, continued afterwards
Received the right to vote
Took more masculine look to symbolize new freedom/power (helmet hats, bobbed hair, straight dresses to camouflage curves)

4. The Flappers
Flappers were women who rebelled against the fashion and social norms of the early 1900’s.
They married at a later age and drank and smoked in public
Flappers were known for their carefree lifestyles.

5. Prosperity in the 20’s
Nearly half the population owns automobiles, radios, vacuum cleaners and washing machines
Advertising and public relations begin to campaign for the American household
Widespread electrification helps reduce manufacturing costs of existing products
Introduction of Consumer Credit

6. Poverty in the 20’s Rural poverty is widespread
Mainly affected African Americans, White farmers, and immigrants - DEBT
Agricultural economy of the 1920’s experiences depression despite booming economy
The newly wealthy = obsessed with minority culture

7. Characters in The Great Gatsby
Jay Gatsby- The self-made wealthy man who lives next door to Nick Carraway and loves Daisy Buchanan

8. Characters in The Great Gatsby
Nick Carraway- the narrator, Daisy’s cousin, Gatsby’s neighbor

9. Characters in The Great Gatsby
Daisy Buchanan- married to Tom, Gatsby’s love interest before the war, socialite

10. Characters in The Great Gatsby
Tom Buchanan- Daisy’s arrogant husband, has an affair with Myrtle Wilson

11. Characters in The Great Gatsby
Myrtle Wilson- Tom’s lower-class woman in the city, married to George

12. Characters in The Great Gatsby
George Wilson- owns the auto shop, wants success/love/respect

13. Characters in The Great Gatsby
Jordan Baker- Daisy’s wealthy friend, professional golfer

14. Settings in The Great Gatsby
West Egg- where Nick and Gatsby live, represents new money
East Egg- where Daisy lives, the more fashionable area, represents old money

15. Settings in The Great Gatsby
The City- New York City, where the characters escape to for work and play
The Valley of Ashes- between the City and West Egg, where Wilson’s station is

16. Symbols/Motifs in The Great Gatsby
Green Light- at the end of Daisy’s dock and visible from Gatsby’s mansion. Represents Gatsby's hopes and dreams about Daisy.

17. Symbols/Motifs in The Great Gatsby
The Valley of Ashes- the area between West Egg and New York City. It is a desolate area filled with industrial waste. It represents the social and moral decay of society during the 1920’s. It also shows the negative effects of greed.

18. Symbols/Motifs in The Great Gatsby
The Eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg- A decaying billboard in the Valley of Ashes with eyes advertising an optometrist. There are multiple proposed meanings, including the representation of God’s moral judgment on society.

19. Symbols/Motifs in The Great Gatsby
Cars
Industrialization, status symbol, carelessness, recklessness
Water
Barriers and boundaries
Gatsby’s restraints from Daisy
Abandonment

20. The American Dream Not just a love affair between characters!
Fitzgerald showcases disillusionment with the AD
Post-war soldiers found social mores stifling
Stock market boom creates easy money, the CONSUMER!
Old money scorned the new “instant” wealthy
The AD was discovery, individuality, and happiness…in 1920s it is corrupt.

21. The Great Gatsby

22. INTRODUCTION and THESIS
MLA FORMATTING
INTRODUCTION and THESIS
BODY PARAGRAPH #1
Minimum 2 Gatsby DIRECT quotes required
Minimum 1 LitCrit Source DIRECT quote required
Additional paraphrasing of material is encouraged.
BODY PARAGRAPH #2
Minimum 2 Gatsby DIRECT quotes required
Minimum 1 LitCrit Source DIRECT quote required
Additional paraphrasing of material is encouraged.
Optional additional analysis paragraph --- very impressive.
CONCLUSION
WORKS CITED PAGE