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Historical Context
Historical Context
Click the image in order to explore The Roaring Twenties museum, which explains various aspects of society and life in America during the 1920s. Alternatively, you can click the button below to access links to different websites that about life in American during the 1920s.
Accessing The Text
Accessing The Text
Click here for access to a PDF version of the text
Click each of the chapter cards below to listen to the audiobook of each chapter, read an annotated versions of the book, and access learning resources.
Who Wrote The Great Gatsby?
Who Wrote The Great Gatsby?
Read through the slides to learn more about F. Scott Fitzgerald. As you read the slides, it might be an interesting exercise to try and consider parallels between the author's life and the events in The Great Gatsby, or to consider the ways in which the events of the author's life might have motivated him to explore some of the themes in the text.
Gatsby as Modernist Literature
Gatsby as Modernist Literature
Modernist literature represents a significant shift in literary style and content, emerging in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This movement marked a departure from traditional narrative techniques and themes, reflecting the profound changes in society, culture, and technology during this period. Analysing The Great Gatsby as a piece of modernist literature could be an interesting line of inquiry for a HL essay.
You can also click the image of a pile of books to visit the 'Analysing Novels & Short Stories' page, which can help you explore this text.
“The Great Gatsby is considered to be one of the most significant novels of the 20th Century. This wouldn’t be the case if it was told from the perspective of an objective, third person narrator.” To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
What do you think makes Gatsby “great”? Does he deserve that title?
Did you find Nick a reliable narrator, or is his perspective too biased?
Is Daisy truly to blame for Gatsby’s downfall, or is Gatsby responsible for his own destruction?
How does the novel make you feel about the American Dream — hopeful, cynical, or something else?
Do you think Gatsby really loved Daisy, or was he in love with an idealized version of her?
What role does wealth play in shaping the characters’ personalities and choices?
Did you sympathize with any character? Why or why not?
Is Tom Buchanan purely a villain, or does Fitzgerald give him more complexity?
How does setting (East Egg vs. West Egg vs. the Valley of Ashes) influence your interpretation of the characters?
Do you think The Great Gatsby is still relevant today? Why or why not?
How do character arcs shape meaning within the novel?
How does Fitzgerald use symbolism (such as the green light, the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg, or Gatsby’s mansion) to develop key themes in the novel?
In what ways does The Great Gatsby critique the idea of the American Dream?
How does Fitzgerald’s use of narrative perspective shape the reader’s understanding of Gatsby and the world he inhabits?
Analyze the portrayal of social class divisions in the novel. How do these divisions affect the characters’ relationships and fates?
Discuss the role of women in the text. How does Fitzgerald depict gender dynamics and expectations?
To what extent does nostalgia drive Gatsby’s actions, and how does this shape the novel’s tragedy?
How does the setting (both time and place) influence the themes and conflicts of the novel?
Examine the ways Fitzgerald uses parties and social gatherings to reveal the moral and emotional emptiness of the characters.
How does The Great Gatsby explore the theme of perception versus reality?
In what ways does Fitzgerald present the tension between old money and new money, and what are the consequences of this tension?
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