IES Cambrils

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Worksheet

ORAL PRESENTATIONS 1. Find information about the writer, Scott Fitzgerald. 2. The Great Gatsby is a novel of the 1920s, find information about its historical and social background. Provide a clear portrait of this period (the Roaring Twenties, the Jazz Age, American Literature (The Lost Generation: Fitgerald, Hemingway, Dos Passos, Wharton, Faulkner..), Prohibition Bill, politics..). Find examples in the book. 3. This novel is filled with multiple themes. What are the main themes the novel focuses on? (death of the American Dream, social discrimination, the thought of repeating the past (How does Gatsby try to repeat the past?), ..) 4. The notion of the American Dream appears in this story. Explain what it is. Jay Gatsby stands for it in the novel. How does Jay Gatsbys story show that the American Dream was still valid? How does his story show that the American dream had been corrupted? 5. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald conveys a series of criticisms on American society of the 20s such as: social stratification, materialism, lack of morality.. comment on them and give examples. 6. Describe the main character in the story, Jay Gatsby, and look for: a) things people say about Gatsby and b) things Gatsby says about himself. 7. Gatsby and Nick Carraway, their relationship. 8. A nice girl: What does Gatsby mean when he refers to Daisy as a nice girl? How does he see Daisy? How does Fitzgerald portray Daisy? Why does Daisy hope that her daughter will grow up to be a beautiful little fool? 9. Honesty: a) Nick tells us that he is one of the few honest people that I have ever known Describe the relationship of Tom, Daisy and Gatsby with the truth with the rest of characters. b) Do you think Nick remain an honest person during the long Summer with the wealthy people of Long Island? 10. Describe the characters: Gatsby, Nick, Jordan, Daisy, Tom, Myrtle, George Wilson, Meyer Wolfshiem. 11. What is the role of the women in the Great Gatsby? Describe it. 12. The relationship between the four locations of the action: West Egg, East Egg, New York, and The valley of ashes. What do they represent? 13. Fitzgerald makes sharp discriminations between the particular locations. Describe these particular settings which many times represent alternative worlds. (The

Buchanans luxurious house, Daisys home in Louisville, Gatsbys house, Plaza Suite, the flat on 158th Street, Wilsons garage, ) 14. Symbolism: The Green Light, The Valley of Ashes, The billboard face of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg? 15. Gatsby was a success, in the end, wasnt he? What do you think? 16. Answer The Points for Understanding (pages 68, 69, 70, 71, 72).