Questions and Answers
What does the Green Light symbolize?
What does Gatsby's car symbolize?
Status, symbol of the American dream
What does the Valley of Ashes symbolize?
Moral and social decay from the pursuit of wealth
What do the seasons symbolize?
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What does Gatsby's Schedule symbolize?
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What does the move from west to east symbolize?
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What do West and East Eggs symbolize?
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What do Gatsby's Shirts symbolize?
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What do Gatsby's Parties symbolize?
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What are four major themes in the novel?
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What do the Eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg symbolize?
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Define American Modernism.
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Define 'The Lost Generation'.
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What were law changes in the 1920s?
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What were four key changes in the 1920s?
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What era followed the 'Roaring Twenties'?
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What major event helped to create the 'Roaring Twenties'?
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Fitzgerald coined this term for the 1920s - 'The _____ Age'
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What is the meaning of Nick's description: One of the strangest communities in North America, 'notorious island'?
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Study Notes
Symbols in The Great Gatsby
- The green light symbolizes Gatsby's dreams for the future and his yearning for Daisy, representing broader themes of hope and the American dream.
- Gatsby's car represents status and the pursuit of the American dream, showcasing wealth and ambition.
- The Valley of Ashes reflects moral and social decay resulting from wealth pursuit, highlighting the struggles of the impoverished, like George Wilson.
- Seasons signify stages in life, with spring representing new beginnings, summer correlating with joy and love, and fall representing the end of youth and disillusionment.
Economic and Social Themes
- Gatsby's meticulously planned schedule embodies hard work leading to the American dream, contrasted by the irony of his illegal wealth acquisition.
- The transition from west to east symbolizes a quest for a better life, but ultimately reveals the futility of chasing false values; only Nick escapes back to the Midwest.
- West Egg contrasts with East Egg; West Egg represents new money and ambition, while East Egg signifies old money, established wealth, and elitism.
Key Symbols and Their Interpretations
- Gatsby's shirts are enchanted objects that symbolize wealth and the allure of materialism.
- Gatsby's extravagant parties illustrate carelessness and a decline in moral values, associated with chaos and wastefulness.
- The Eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg may symbolize a judgmental God observing societal decay and the meaninglessness of life, reflecting a post-WWI perspective.
Major Themes in the Novel
- The decline of the American Dream in the 1920s indicates the disillusionment and unattainable aspirations post-exploration.
- Moral irresponsibility leads to a wasteland depicted in the Valley of Ashes, portraying societal failures.
- The hollowness of the upper class is examined through characters and their disconnected lives.
- The tension between illusion and reality manifests in Gatsby's constructed identity and history.
Historical Context
- American Modernism (1913-1945) emerged post-WWI, dealing with themes of loneliness and rejecting traditional values in favor of individualism.
- The Lost Generation refers to disassociated writers reflecting on a distorted post-war America.
- The 18th Amendment prohibited alcohol, while the 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote, indicating significant societal changes in the 1920s.
Cultural Shifts in the 1920s
- The decade saw mass consumerism, prohibition, the jazz age, and a transformation of arts and culture.
- World War I catalyzed the Roaring Twenties, as people sought escapism through consumption and social revelry.
- Fitzgerald coined the term "Jazz Age" to capture the spirit and excess of the 1920s.
Economic Unraveling
- The Great Depression followed the Roaring Twenties, marking a stark contrast to the previous decade's prosperity.
- Nick describes the East as a "notorious island," reflecting its alienation and departure from traditional American values.
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Description
Explore the rich symbolism and economic themes in F. Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby'. This quiz delves into how symbols like the green light and Gatsby's car reflect the pursuit of the American dream, as well as the deeper social implications presented through the novel's characters and settings.
