The Great Gatsby
Answer each question in complete sentences unless otherwise specified.
Skim the biography of F. Scott Fitzgerald. List the major influences on his life and writing.
2. World War I
After the War: List the postwar American attitudes and the major movements of the 1920's. Pay close attention to the attitudes of the "Lost Generation" and the "Prosperity & Consumerism" movement.
The Lost Generation: Skim the blog and tell me what you think of the "Lost Generation" and its members. What do you like? What don't you like?
3. 18th Amendment
What exactly did the 18th Amendment abolish? What was the result?
4. 19th Amendment
What right was gained from the 19th Amendment?
5. The Roaring Twenties
List three major events that occurred in 1922 (the year which the novel is set).
6. Prohibition
What is a Speakeasy?
Why were Speakeasies created?
7. Organized Crime and Arnold Rothstein
List three elements of Rothstein's character that interest you and explain why each one interests you.
Read the quotes at the beginning of this site. What was his primary occupation? What were his "side jobs"?
8. Flappers
What are the essential elements of being a true flapper?
Does Louise Brooks (click on the "Louise Brooks" link in the lower right) fit the "flapper" profile? Explain.
Do you think Dorothy Parker approves of Flappers based on her poem? Explain.
9. Automobiles
Why were cars considered "the most important catalyst for social change in the 1920's"? (See the "Automobiles" link in the lower right)
Reproductions of the 1920's era automobiles. The white and gold car is similar to what Jay Gatsby would have driven. What do you think?
10. 1920's Slang
List 5 slang words or phrases and their definitions that appeal to you and why you choose these terms. (See the "1920's Slang" link in the lower right)