Intro to The Great Gatsby

the great gatsby

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PRESENTATION

Essential Questions

Lesson Objectives

Lesson components

• I will be able to identify and discuss key themes, historical context, and characters of The Great Gatsby.
• I will analyze the setting of the 1920s to understand the American Dream and its critique in the novel.
• I will engage in close reading of the novel's opening paragraphs to identify F. Scott Fitzgerald's use of language and tone.

• What does The Great Gatsby reveal about the American Dream?
• How does F. Scott Fitzgerald’s writing style reflect the themes of the novel?
• In what ways do the social and historical contexts of the 1920s influence the story?

Do Now:

• What do you know about the 1920s in America?
• How do you think it might relate to a story about wealth, ambition, and social status?
• Think about it and write your answer in the chat!

The 1920's

• This decade was a time of major change and cultural transformation in the U.S., often referred to as the 'Roaring Twenties.'
• We’ll explore three key aspects that made the 1920s such a unique period:
• the Roaring Twenties
• Prohibition
• the Jazz Age

The Roaring Twenties

• Describes the period of economic growth and societal change after World War I.
• Cities grew, new technologies emerged, and social norms shifted.
• There was a sense of optimism and excitement as people enjoyed more leisure time, and many industries—like automobiles and film—boomed.
• Urbanization also surged, with more people living in cities than ever before.

What other periods in history can you think of that had a similar surge of excitement and optimism?

Prohibition (1920-1933)

• Prohibition was a nationwide ban on the production, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages.
• This law, established by the 18th Amendment, was meant to reduce crime and moral decay, but instead, it led to the rise of illegal bars called speakeasies and organized crime.
• Figures like Al Capone became famous for defying Prohibition, and eventually, the 21st Amendment repealed the law in 1933.

How might banning alcohol lead to unexpected consequences?

The Jazz Age

• During the 1920s, jazz music became incredibly popular, especially in cities like New York and Chicago.
• The 'Jazz Age' was marked by new forms of entertainment, such as dance clubs, radio shows, and movies.
• Jazz musicians like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington became cultural icons. The music also brought people from different racial and social backgrounds together, even as segregation still existed.

Jazz Music

• As we listen, make a mental note and describe how the music makes you feel and why you think it was so influential during this time.

The Novel

The Great Gatsby, set in the 1920s, captures the essence of the Roaring Twenties, a time of wealth, excess, and rapid social change. The novel critiques the American Dream by showing how characters like Jay Gatsby are driven by the pursuit of material success and social status, yet remain unfulfilled. Gatsby’s lavish parties and attempts to win back Daisy symbolize the era’s obsession with wealth, while his tragic downfall reveals the emptiness behind the Dream. Fitzgerald suggests that the American Dream, based on the promise of happiness through wealth, is ultimately corrupt and unattainable.

The American Dream

The American Dream is the belief that anyone, regardless of background or social class, can achieve success and upward mobility through hard work and determination. It often embodies the ideals of freedom, opportunity, and the pursuit of happiness.

Main Characters

Jay Gatsby

Jay Gatsby is a mysterious and wealthy man, driven by his obsession with reclaiming a lost love,

daisy Buchanan

Daisy Buchanan is a beautiful, shallow, and self-centered woman, whose charm and allure mask her indecisiveness and inability to commit to anything beyond her own comfort and status.

Nick Carraway

Nick Carraway is a reflective and morally conscious narrator.

Main Characters

Tom Buchanan

Tom Buchanan is a wealthy, arrogant, and aggressive man with a lack of moral integrity.

Myrtle Wilson

Myrtle is a restless and ambitious woman, trapped in an unhappy marriage, whose desire for a better life leads her to pursue an affair with Tom Buchanan.

George Wilson

George is a downtrodden, grief-stricken mechanic who is trapped in a loveless marriage.

As you read, I would like you to think about the following questions:

• What do we learn about Nick Carraway’s background and values in the opening pages?
• How does Fitzgerald describe Jay Gatsby in these early passages? What tone or mood do you notice in the writing?
• What initial questions or predictions do you have about the story based on this introduction?

We will now read the first two pages as a class.

Chapter One

Exit Ticket

• Based on what you’ve read and discussed today, what do you think the 'American Dream' means to Gatsby?
• Write 2-3 sentences explaining your thoughts and put them in the chat!

HOMEWORK:FINISH CHAPTER ONE