Answer each question in complete sentences unless otherwise specified.

1. F. Scott Fitzgerald:

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)

1920's Slang

As with any era, the 1920's had time period specific slang. Here is a sampling. It sure is the berries! Have a swell time, but make sure you don't upchuck!
  • Bee's Knees - An extraordinary person, thing, idea
  • Berries - is attractive or pleasing; similar to bee's knees, As in "It's the berries."
  • Big Cheese - The most important or influential person. Same as big shot
  • Bluenose - An excessively puritanical person, a prude
  • Bump Off - To murder
  • Carry a Torch - To have a crush on someone
  • Cat's Meow - Something splendid or stylish; similar to bee's knees; The best or greatest
  • Cat's Pajamas - Same as cat's meow
  • Cheaters - Eyeglasses
  • Crush - An infatuation
  • Dogs - feet
  • Drugstore Cowboy - a guy that hangs around on a street corner trying to pick up girls
  • Dumb Dora - a stupid female
  • Fall Guy - victim of a frame
  • Flat Tire - A dull insipid, disappointing date. Same as pill, pickle, drag, rag, oilcan
  • Frame - To give false evidence, to set up someone
  • Gams - A woman's legs
  • Giggle Water - An intoxicating beverage; alcohol
  • Gin Mill - An establishment where hard liquor is sold; bar
  • Hard Boiled - a tough, strong guy
  • Heebie-Jeebies - The jitters
  • Hooch - Bootleg liquor
  • Hoofer - Dancer
  • Hotsy-Totsy - Pleasing
  • Jalopy - Old car
  • Joint - A club, usually selling alcohol
  • Keen - Attractive or appealing
  • Kisser - Mouth
  • Lounge Lizard - a guy that is sexually active
  • Moll - A gangster's girl
  • Neck - Kissing with passion
  • Pinch - To arrest
  • Pushover - A person easily convinced or seduced
  • Ritzy - Elegant (from the hotel)
  • Scram - Ask someone to leave immediately
  • Sheba - A woman with sex appeal (from the movie Queen of Sheba)
  • Sheik - A man with sex appeal (from the Valentino movies)
  • Speakeasy - An illicit bar selling bootleg liquor
  • Spiffy - An elegant appearance
  • Struggle Buggy - the backseat of a car. A parent's worst nightmare
  • Stuck On - Having a crush on
  • Swanky - Ritzy
  • Swell - Wonderful. Also: a rich man
  • Take for a Ride -To drive off with someone in order to bump them off
  • Torpedo - A hired gun
  • Upchuck - To vomit when one has drunk too much
  • Whoopee - To have a good time

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