Great Gatsby

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 5

Great Gatsby: summaries per chapter

Roaring twenties

The Roaring Twenties / The Jazz Agee

- Fashion

- Music

- Dancing

- Prosperity

- Loose morals

-  Alcohol

- Flapper girls

- Mafiosi 

The Roaring Twenties

• The American Dream
• Roaring twenties/The Jazz Age
• Prohibition
• Old money vs New money

Context of composition =

Writers are also affected by their environment and personal experiences. Time, race, gender nationality and family history are a few factors. (Look for contextual clues as evidence that show what the writer wants to convey.)

The American Dream = During the 1920s, the perception of the American Dream was that an individual can achieve success in life regardless of family history or social status if they only work hard enough -> New Money

Roaring Twenties = period of rapid industrial and economic growth and social change. The decade has a distinctive cultural edge in various big Western cities, so in Paris the "roaring twenties" was also a thing. Art and culture were at the center of attention, Jazz also peaked during this period. Roaring Twenties is also known as the Jazz age.  

Jazz: (black) culture, dance.

The spirit of the Roaring Twenties was marked by a general feeling of novelty associated with modernity and a break with tradition. (break from the depressive times associated with WWI)

Everything seemed possible through modern technology! (There's a lot of new technology and machinery at play in the novel)

Prohibition = Progressive party became the leading party. The party was backed by the protestant church, believing that prohibition of alcohol and drugs would decrease crime. Its crowning achievement was the passage of the Eighteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the associated Volstead Act which made illegal the manufacture, import and sale of beer, wine and hard liquor (though drinking was technically not illegal).

Old Money vs Money =

“old money” meaning the generational trend of inheriting money from family opposed to “new money” meaning coming into money independently.

Old money families are proud and value their history and connections. Closed-knit community. Looks down upon New Money because they are lower class people who have climbed up the financial ladder. 

New Money: related to the American dream, to be self-made. Success can be reached when you work hard (new money = labour)

Summarize chapter 1 in one sentence.

Summarize chapter 2 in one sentence.

Summarize chapter 3 in one sentence

Summarize chapter 4 in one sentence.

Summarize chapter 5 in one sentence.

Summarize chapter 6 in one sentence.

01:46

What is the reason Tom and Jay switch cars?

1. There is no reason .
2. Tom wants to show off his new car.
3. Jay wants to show off his new car.

02:24

Which wrong assumption does Myrtle make?

04:21

What does Gatsby tell Tom?

1. That he has feelings for Daisy.
2. That Daisy and Gatsby were running away together
3. That Daisy never loved him

06:01

What is Gatsby doing at the very end of the chapter?

1. Developing a plan to run away to escape the consequences of the car crash
2. Crying on his dock because he realizes that he last lost Daisy forever
3. Standing outside the Buchanan household to make sure Daisy is okay
4. Talking to Wolfsheim in the hopes he can arrange a hit man to murder Tom

06:01

Who was driving the car that killed Myrtle?

1. Daisy
2. Nick
3. Tom
4. Jay

06:01

What are Daisy and Tom doing at the end of the chapter?

1. They are arguing after the events of the Plaza Hotel showdown.
2. They attend an East Egg party and act as if nothing happened
3. They flee town after the car accident.
4. They are talking at the dinner table, as if they are conspiring.

09:01

Do you agree? What do you think of Daisy's decision to choose Tom over Jay? Explain!

Why does Tom let Gatsby and Daisy drive home together?

1. He realizes he can't stand in the way of their love.
2. He has decided that they are not actually having an affair.
3. He has cut the brakes in their car.
4. He realizes that Daisy is not going to leave him for Gatsby.

Any questions about the end of the book?