The Great Gatsby

Student Workbook

Miss. Lambs English 11

Name________________________________

Table of Contents

What Makes Gatsby so Great Anyway?

Here are some questions to keep in mind while you read:
1. What do you notice about how we learn about Gatsby? Are we learning about
Gatsby from his own descriptions or through others? What is the best way to
learn about someone?
2. What do the other characters knowor not knowabout Gatsby? Can we trust
their perceptions of him? Why? Why not?
3. What, if anything, makes Gatsby great? Is the adjective great ever used to
describe him? How does he compare to the other characters in terms of
greatness?
4. Why do you think Fitzgerald called the novel The Great Gatsby? What is it that
Gatsby symbolizes?
5. What ideas or images come to mind when you hear the phrase the American
Dream?
6. Where do the characters seem to be situated in relation to the American Dream?
Have they achieved it? Are they struggling to achieve it? What are they striving to
achieve? (look at characters individually and then compare them to each other)
7. The narrator controls how the characters are represented so we need to
understand his perspective on the culture of his time and how its changed
through certain experiences.
8. Is there a character who seemson the outsideto have achieved the American
Dream? Is there something on the inside that this person is lacking?
9. Does the novel seem to be sending a message about the culture of the 1920s in
relation to the American Dream?

Themes
Please note that these are not the only themes in The Great Gatsby. These are simply here to guide you in what to look out for in the text. If you think
theres another theme thats not mentioned here (and for the record, I do) feel free to pursue it and take note of it while you read.

The Roaring Twenties

F. Scott Fitzgerald coined the term "__________" to describe the decade of decadence
and prosperity that America enjoyed in the 1920s. After _______________ ended in
1918, the United States and much of the rest of the world experienced an enormous
___________________. The surging economy turned the 1920s into a time of easy
_________, hard ________ (despite the ______________________ to the
Constitution), and ________ parties. Though the 1920s were a time of great
___________, Fitzgerald portrays the much bleaker side of the revelry by focusing on
its ___________, ___________, shallow _____________, and its perilouseven
fatalconsequences.
The American Dream
The American Dreamthat hard work can lead one from rags to richeshas been a core
facet of __________________ since its inception. Settlers came west to America
from Europe seeking _________ and ____________. The pioneers headed west for
the same reason. The Great Gatsby shows the tide turning ________, as hordes flock
to ______________ seeking stock market fortunes. The Great Gatsby portrays this
shift as a symbol of the American Dream's _______________. It's no longer a vision
of building a life; it's just about getting rich.
Class (Old Money, New Money, No Money)
The Great Gatsby portrays three different social classes: "old money"
(_____ and ________________); "new money" (________); and a class that
might be called "no money" (________ and ______________). "Old money"
families have fortunes dating from the 19th century or before, have built up powerful
and influential ______________, and tend to hide their wealth and superiority
behind a ________________. The "new money" class made their fortunes in the
1920s boom and therefore have no ________________ and tend to overcompensate
for this lack with lavish displays of ____________.
Your Own Theme Here: _______________________
Explain how this theme works its way into the novel (textual support is important)
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CrashCourse: The Roaring Twenties Notes

1. The chief ___________ of the American people is ___________.
Calvin Coolidge
2. T/F Laissez-Faire Captialism involves high amounts of government
regulation.
3. The Government Corruption of the 1920s can mostly be pinned to the
administration of __________________.
4. During the 1920s the annual production of cars __________ to 4.8 million.
5. The dollar replaced the ___________ as the most important currency for
trade, and by the end of the decade America was producing ______ of the
worlds cars and _______ of its overall manufactured goods.
6. The widespread use of _________ and layaway buying plans meant that it
was acceptable to go into debt to maintain what came to be seen as ______
______________________
7. This was part of the spirit of the ___________ Renaissance, which rejected
___________________ and __________________ and sought to
celebrate __________________________ experience.
8. Real industrial wages rose by a ___________ between 1922 and 1929, but
corporate profits rose at __________ that rate. By 1929, ____ of the
nations banks controlled ______ of the nations financial resources and the
wealthiest ____ of Americans share of national income exceeded the bottom
______.
9. For the first time in American history, the number of _________ declined
during the 1920s.
10. Freedom to ___________ as you will and to ________ as you think are
indispensable to the ____________ and spread of ____________ truth.
11. President Coolidge himself declared when he signed the 1924 __________
law, ____________ must be kept____________.
12. What are Traditional American Values?
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Chapter One Discussion Questions

Nicks Father tells him Whenever you feel like criticizing any one, just remember that
all the people in this world havent had the advantages that youve had. In our society
there are still large divisions between the advantages afforded to certain people. After
reading the first chapter, what are some of the advantages that Nick has had in his life?
How about the other characters? What advantages and disadvantages have you come
across in your own life? ____________________________________________
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Nick feels lonely in his new neighborhood until another man asks him for directions and
Nick discovers that he has become acquainted enough with the area to help this
stranger. What about this encounter sticks out to you? What are things that help you to
feel as though you belong in a new environment or group of people? _____________
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Nick claims that Life is much more successfully looked at from a single window. What
do you interpret this to mean? Do you agree or disagree and why? _______________
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Tom backs up his argument for look[ing] out for the white race by falling back on the
explanation that Its all scientific stuff; its been proved. Can you think of any other
harmful beliefs in history that have been held up with the citation of science? Can you
think of any examples of this that are going on now? ________________________
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Daisy utters one of her iconic lines in this chapter, thats the best thing a girl can be in
this world, a beautiful little fool. What do you think Daisy means by it, and why do
readers tend to find it so significant? ___________________________________
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Daisy, Jordan, and Tom all seem to have their true selves and their presented selves.
What are the benefits (particularly for the women) of doing this? ________________
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What stood out to you in chapter one? (Lines, Questions, Ideas, etc.)
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On a scale of 1-5 with one = what did I just read, and 5 = Im totally tracking, where do
you rank your understanding of the novel?
1

Words I didnt know (remember to use pg. #)

Gatsbys American Dream

Do you think that the way The Great Gatsby portrays luxury and wealth and the
American Dream accurately reflects the truth about those things, both in the Jazz Age,
and today?
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Character Chart
Use the chart to fill in the different components of the characters in the novel. Make
sure to use things that are stated implicitly as well as explicitly.
Character
Nick Carraway

Jay Gatsby

Tom Buchanan

Daisy Buchanan

Jordan Baker

George Wilson

Myrtle Wilson

Chapter Two Discussion Questions

What impression do you get from Nicks description of the billboard of Dr. T.J.
Eckleburg? What do you hypothesize could be the significance of this sign?
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What is the tone you sense from the description of Tom and Myrtles apartment? How
do you think this reflects on the couple? ________________________________
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How do the priorities of the get-together in the apartment compare and contrast to the
get-together at Tom and Daisys house in the chapter before? __________________
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What are your thoughts on the change in Myrtles attitude as she shifts from the garage
to the party in the apartment? _______________________________________
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Do you agree with Catherine that Tom and Myrtle would be better off divorcing their
spouses and getting married? Do you think it would be a positive or negative move for
their relationship? What do you make of the lie about Daisys Catholicism? ________
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What do you think of the idea of being within and without? What does this mean to
you? What does it mean about Nick as a narrator? __________________________
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What stood out to you in chapter two? (Lines, Questions, Ideas, etc.)
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On a scale of 1-5 with one = what did I just read, and 5 = Im totally tracking, where do
you rank your understanding of the novel?
1

Words I didnt know (remember to use pg. #)

Chapter Three Discussion Questions

Nick describes the effort that go into the parties thrown by his neighbor. What
impression do you get from the amount of excess that goes into these events? How does
this relate to the desire for excess today? ________________________________
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The partygoers speculate about the mysterious Mr. Gatsby. What does their appetite for
information, but lack of concern as to the validity of it suggest about their priorities?
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How does the treatment of Gatsbys unknown history compare to modern treatment of
celebrities? ____________________________________________________
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Nicks description of Gatsbys smile is that he understood you just as far as you wanted
to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself. What do you
interpret this to mean? ____________________________________________
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How does the party at Gatsbys compare with the party in Tom and Myrtles apartment?
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This chapter contains, arguably, the best drunk driving scene in all of literature. What
does this scene and the attitudes of the characters involved suggest about the culture
around consumption in the 1920s? ____________________________________
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What do you make of Nicks description of New York? Do you think its an honest
description? ___________________________________________________
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Nick says, Most affectations conceal something eventually, even though they dont in
the beginning. Do you agree with this statement? If not which portion(s) d0 you
disagree with? Dont forget to support your arguments. ______________________
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What do you think is the literary benefit of pairing Nick, who considers himself one of
the most honest people he knows, with Jordan, who he claims is incurably dishonest?
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Does Jordans justification remind you of any modern argument tactics used in wide
scale discussions? _______________________________________________
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What stood out to you in chapter three? (Lines, Questions, Ideas, etc.)
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On a scale of 1-5 with one = what did I just read, and 5 = Im totally tracking, where do
you rank your understanding of the novel?
1

Words I didnt know (remember to use pg. #)

Chapter Four Discussion Questions

What is the tone that you sense when reading the list Nick provides of those who came
to Gatsbys parties? What do you think is the significance of this tone choice?
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Nick mentions Gatsbys fidgety behavior. What does this behavior suggest to you in
general? About Gatsby in particular? ___________________________________
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Gatsby, up to this point, has seemed content to let rumors about himself run rampant
throughout New York. Why do you think he cares what Nick thinks of him?
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What particular details do you notice about Gatsbys story? Do you think hes being
honest? Why or why not? __________________________________________
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Gatsby has gained a lot of things through his wealth and social position. How do you feel
this compares with our current day social order? ___________________________
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What is your general impression of Wolfsheim? ___________________________
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We learn more about Daisy in the chapter from Jordan. How does Jordans description
influence or change the way you may have thought about Daisy after chapter one, if at

all? _________________________________________________________
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Do you agree or disagree with the quotation, There are only the pursued, the pursuing,
the busy, and the tired? Please back up your argument. ______________________
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What stood out to you in chapter four? (Lines, Questions, Ideas, etc.)
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On a scale of 1-5 with one = what did I just read, and 5 = Im totally tracking, where do
you rank your understanding of the novel?
1

Words I didnt know (remember to use pg. #)

Crash Course: Like Pale Gold Notes

1. I dont know where you got the idea that the __________ of a novel should be
judged by the ______________ of its characters, but let me submit to you that
Daisy Buchanan doesnt have to be _____________ to be _______________.
2. Thats the pleasure and challenge of reading great novels: You get to see
___________ as others see _______, and you get to see ___________ as they see
_______________.
3. Dear _______________,
Like champagne poppers, youre always a little bit _____________. The thing
is heroic past, which of our pasts was so heroic? Was it the part where we owned other
_________________? Was it the part where we ____________ over the right to
own other _______________? Was it Gatsbys ____________, with its fast cars,
deliciously illegal ________ and rapidly expanding _______ portfolios? I mean the
amazing thing about The Great Gatsby is that Fitzgerald didnt know the _______________________ was coming, but his book sure reads like
__________. The truth is, heroic past, is that we may think we want to __________
you, but what we actually want to do is we want to ___________ without all the
_________ we dont remember. And thats how you ruin your life over a girl you dated
for a month five years ago.
Best wishes,
John Green
4. Everyone wanted enough money to buy ______________ and enough
__________ to ___________ them.
5. Nick calls that green light at one point an __________________ and thats what
__________ really are, in both literature and ______________.
6. Unless youre at McDonalds, _______ is the color that conflates wealth and
________.
7. Wealth was the American Dream but the ______________ that trailed in the wake
of those dreams the casual destruction, the ____________________, the erosion
of altruism make it clear, that at least to Fitzgerald, __________ isn't simply good.

Chapter Five Discussion Questions

Gatsby seems to not understand Nicks willingness to do him a favor with no form of
reciprocation. What does this suggest to you about Gatsbys character? Does it match
the ideas previously held about Gatsby? _________________________________
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Despite Nick opening his house to Gatsby, Gatsby still feels the need to contribute a
majority of the details of the tea. How does this reflect on Gatsbys feelings about
situations where he is dependent on another? ____________________________
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Gatsby seems particularly concerned about whether or not he has damaged Nicks clock.
What do you think is the significance of this moment during this scene? In regards to
the novel so far? _________________________________________________
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When touring the house, Gatsby revaluates all of his choices in regards to his
possessions through Daisys response to them. What does this suggest about Gatsby and
his priorities? What does it indicate about the nature of value? _________________
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Gatsby has reached a goal he has been striving towards for years and now that its
present, his reaction is an interesting one. What aspects of human experience are being
explored through this passage? ______________________________________
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What do you think Daisy was sad about when she was crying into Gatsbys shirts? Do
you think it was just the beauty of the shirts, or something else? ________________
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What do you think of the idea of enchanted objects? What do you think an enchanted
object is? Have you ever had one in your own life? _________________________
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Do you find any significance in the lyrics of the song Klipspringer plays? __________
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At the end of the chapter, Nick comments that even Daisy could not have lived up to
Gatsbys expectations. What do you think about this gap between idealism and reality?
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What stood out to you in chapter five? (Lines, Questions, Ideas, etc.)
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On a scale of 1-5 with one = what did I just read, and 5 = Im totally tracking, where do
you rank your understanding of the novel?
1

Words I didnt know (remember to use pg. #)

Chapter Six Discussion Questions

What thoughts are brought to mind when Nick describes the various ridiculous stories
going around about Gatsby? ________________________________________
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This chapter isnt the point in the story where Gatsby himself tells Nick about his past,
so what significance do you think there could be to Fitzgerald placing the story of James
Gatz here as opposed to where it fits chronologically? _______________________
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Nick comments about how Gatsby would be at ease until he offered something to his
guests. What does this suggest about the power dynamic between the class of old money
Tom and new money Jay? __________________________________________
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Nick says that Daisy is offended by Gatsbys party, because it wasnt a gesture but an
emotion. What do you think this means, and what does it indicate about class
differences between West Egg and East Egg? _____________________________
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What is so important about the past that Gatsby has to replicate it as opposed to being
satisfied with the present? __________________________________________
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What stood out to you in chapter six? (Lines, Questions, Ideas, etc.)
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On a scale of 1-5 with one = what did I just read, and 5 = Im totally tracking, where do
you rank your understanding of the novel?
1

Words I didnt know (remember to use pg. #)

Chapter Seven Discussion Questions

In Fitzgeralds early drafts of this novel he had named it Trimalchio. This term is used
to describe Gatsby at the beginning of this chapter. Why do you think it was such an
important characteristic of Gatsby that Fitzgerald considered to use it as a title? (In this
case, Wikipedia is a fine resource for researching what Trimalchio means.) _________
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When Nick finds Daisy and Jordan, he finds them in the same spot he found them in
chapter one. What has changed from that scene to this one? Whats stayed the same?
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This is the only scene in which we see Daisys daughter. What sticks out to you about the
interaction? What do you think Daisys daughter represent in this scene? To Daisy? To
Gatsby? ______________________________________________________
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This chapter contains a lot of people communicating ideas without stating them directly.
How does this impact the atmosphere of the exchanges? _____________________
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Daisys voice is described as being full of money. What do you interpret this to mean?
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Tom makes several references to certain aspects of Gatsbys behavior to convince

himself that he, Tom, is still superior, and he makes reference of these things to Nick
and Jordan in the car. What do you think Tom is trying to accomplish in this exchange
with his passengers? ______________________________________________
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T.J Eckleburg makes another appearance in this chapter while Tom stops for gas. What
do you think may be the significance of the sign in this scene? __________________
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Tom and George have both just discovered the affairs of their wives. What similarities
and differences do you find in how they respond to these situations? Nick makes a
comment that there is no more profound difference between them than the difference
between the sick and the well. What does this comment suggest to you? __________
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What stood out to you in chapter seven? (Lines, Questions, Ideas, etc.)
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On a scale of 1-5 with one = what did I just read, and 5 = Im totally tracking, where do
you rank your understanding of the novel?
1

Words I didnt know (remember to use pg. #)

Chapter Eight Discussion Questions

Nick says that Gatsby felt the fact that other men had loved Daisy increased her value.
What do you make of this? What does it reveal about Gatsby? __________________
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Gatsby comments, What was the use of doing great things if I could have a better time
telling her what I was going to do? This suggests that fantasy and reality are very
separate things. Where have you seen this separation before in the novel? Why do you
think it may be important? _________________________________________
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Gatsby has this obsession with replicating emotions from the past. Do you find this
obsession admirable or not? Do you think its possible to recreate past emotions?
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Nick mentions that hes always glad he paid Gatsby that compliment. How do you feel
this relates to the way we can speak with those around us? ____________________
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George comments that he murdered her in regards to the man that she had an affair
with. Regardless of who George thinks the identity of the man is, do you agree? How, if
at all, is Tom responsible for Myrtles death? Do you think he should be held
accountable for these actions? _______________________________________
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Okay, so secrets pretty obviously out. The eyes of T.J Eckleburg are a symbol for God. I
was just as surprised by how blatant that was when I first read the book, too. But look
beyond that. What does it mean for the eyes of T.J. Eckleburg to be a symbol for God?
What happens if you apply some of the attributes of the sign to God? What does this
suggest? ______________________________________________________
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Does knowing this symbol more clearly change how you may have thought of the signs
appearance previously in the novel? ___________________________________
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What stood out to you in chapter eight? (Lines, Questions, Ideas, etc.)
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On a scale of 1-5 with one = what did I just read, and 5 = Im totally tracking, where do
you rank your understanding of the novel?
1

Words I didnt know (remember to use pg. #)

Chapter Nine Discussion Questions

We finally get to see how far removed Nick is in time from these events. Why do you
think that, after waiting this long, Fitzgerald decides to disclose this information now?
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When the media gets ahold of Gatsbys story, they make certain changes to how the
story is told. What are these changes? Why do you think they were made? How does this
make you think about the news reporting tactics of the time? How about the news tactics
of today? _____________________________________________________
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Nick comments about how his responsibility to Gatsby due to the nature of his interest
in his neighbor, a very different interest than the rest of the world. What specifically
differentiates public and personal interest in a person? ______________________
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Nick argues that everyone has the right to someone being personally interested in them.
Do you agree or disagree? Why? ______________________________________
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What do the reactions of the characters closest to Gatsby after his death convey about
the priorities in the relationships with which Gatsby surrounded himself? __________
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All the characters seem to have different ideas of who Gatsby was. What does this
suggest about the way he was perceived by those around him? What does it suggest
about the way we perceive people in general? _____________________________

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Do you think that the way we remember the dead says more about who they were as
people, or how we prefer to view the world? Do you feel the characters in the novel back
this position up? ________________________________________________
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What do you make of Wolfshiems comment Let us learn to show our friendship for a
man when he is alive and not after hes dead? ____________________________
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What do you think was Gatsbys motivation of buying a house for his father? ________
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What do you make of young Gatsbys schedule? What does it reveal about Gatsby that
wasnt obvious before? ____________________________________________
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What does Gatsbys funeral indicate about how the culture of the 1920s thought about
celebrity and reputation? ___________________________________________
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Owl-eyes is the only party goer to show up at the graveside. What impact does he have
on the scene? Why do you think Fitzgerald wrote him back into the story at this point?
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Nick comments that all our main characters originally came from out west. What is the
deficiency you think Nick was talking about as to what made them unsuited for Eastern
life? _________________________________________________________
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What stood out to you in chapter nine? (Lines, Questions, Ideas, etc.)
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On a scale of 1-5 with one = what did I just read, and 5 = Im totally tracking, where do
you rank your understanding of the novel?
1

Words I didnt know (remember to use pg. #)

Crash Course: Was Gatsby Great?

1. The language of the novel elevates Gatsbys triumphs and __________ to the stuff of
real _______, which gives Gatsby a kind of unironic ____________.
2. The adjective indicates the ________ and exaggerated aspects of his life. Hurry,
hurry, hurry! Step right up and see the Great Gatsby!
3. Gatsby believes the key to the beautiful ___________ is a perfect restorations of the
beautiful __________.
4. Gatsby is the ultimate ___________________, having both literally and
figuratively __________________ for himself.
5. Dear Prohibition,
You were crazy. I mean, for the rest of American history, our ______________
is going to be this weird document that is perfectly normal until the ______
Amendment, which suddenly bans alcohol, and then the _______ Amendment, which
is suddenly like, No, no, no. Terrible idea! Its almost like ________________
morality doesnt actually _____________ morality. But Prohibition, in you,
Fitzgerald found the perfect metaphor for American ____________ and debauchery.
We are not very good at tolerating _________________ in America, but we love
being ___________. In short, Prohibition, you were a terrible idea, but a fantastic
__________, so thanks for that.
Best wishes,
John Green
6. The great Gatsby lives in a cold world that cares nothing for _________, a world
that makes claims to ___________, but really only further rewards those who have
___________________________.
7. As individuals, and as a collective, the tragedy isnt in ____________, its in chasing
an _____________ dream.
8. Jay Gatsby was a _________ man. But _______ people especially, must be careful
about what they ___________.

Final Project Instructions

Its up to you to show me how much you learned through The Great Gatsby. The
rubric below has some well-defined expectations and other than those, the only real
limitations of project options are limited to your imagination. The only other
requirement is that you write up an explanation of some variety to explain how your
project works to meet the learning standards.
Project ideas

Rewrite a scene from the novel.

Make a soundtrack based off of book
Create visual art pieces
Write a poem
Make a film
Create a diorama
Create an interpretive dance
Write a song
Make a Gatsby themed recipe (not sure how youd do that one, but if you
want to try, go for it)
Write an essay
The sky is pretty much the limit here, go for whatever medium with which
you feel you can express your knowledge best.

Great Gatsby Final Project Rubric

Themes
I can analyze
multiple themes
from a work and
explain how they
influence each
other
Structure
I can
understand how
authors use
different
structures to
impact the
meaning of their
work
Understanding
I can
demonstrate my
understanding of
this work

Writing Level
I can use the
English language
to communicate
effectively by
using correct
grammar usage
and accurate
spelling
Clarity
I can write in a
way that
communicates
my ideas clearly
through the use
of organization,
selection, and
analysis of
content

Excellent (4)

Acceptable (3)

I demonstrated
knowledge of at
least two themes,
as well as how
they connected
to each other
throughout the
novel.
I demonstrated
understanding of
the structural
characteristics of
the novel were
used and it
shaped how I
crafted my work.

I demonstrated
knowledge of at
least two themes,
but did not
thoroughly show
how they related
to each other.

Name:_____________
Period:______
Needs
Improvement (2)
I demonstrated
knowledge of two
themes but not
how they related
to each other.

Unsatisfactory
(1)
I did not
demonstrate
knowledge of
more than one
theme.

I demonstrated
understanding of
the structural
characteristics of
the novel, but it
didnt shape how
I crafted my
work.

I demonstrated
little
understanding of
the structural
characteristics of
the novel.

I did not address

any of the
structural
characteristics of
the novel.

I was able to
convey that I had
a high level of
understanding
for the work,
through
employing
multiple
elements of the
novel in how I
crafted my
project.
I used correct
spelling and
grammar
throughout my
written
explanation.

I was able to
convey that I had
a proficient level
of understanding
for the work,
through
employing two
or three
elements of the
novel in how I
crafted my
project.
I had a few
minor spelling
and grammar
errors.

I was able to
convey that I had
some level of
understanding
for the work,
employing an
element of the
novel in how I
crafted my
project.

I did not
demonstrate a
level of
understanding
for the work.

There were
between an
average of 5-9
errors per every
100 words.

There was, on
average, more
than ten 10
errors per every
100 words.

What I wrote
showed
thoughtful
planning and
organization, as
well as included
exceptional
analysis of the
source material

What I wrote
showed planning
and organization
as well as
included
proficient
analysis of the
source material

What I wrote
showed some
level of
predetermined
structure, as well
as minimal
analysis of the
source material.

What I wrote
showed no
evidence of
planning or
organization,
and included no
analysis of the
source material.