The Great Gatsby Analysis

The Author

• F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940) was a prominent American author.
• He was married to Zelda Sayre, a socialite.
• His works, including The Great Gatsby, reflect the Jazz Age of the 1920s.
• Fitzgerald struggled with alcoholism.
• The Great Gatsby was his most successful novel.

Background to the Novel

• The Great Gatsby is set in the 1920s, a time of prosperity and social change in America.
• The period, often called the "Roaring Twenties," saw increased consumer spending, new forms of entertainment like jazz music and movies, and the rise of the "flappers."
• There was a significant disparity between the wealthy elite and the lower classes, which contributed to financial instability for some.
• The novel explores both the glamorous and dark aspects of this era, particularly the moral and social corruption of the wealthy.
• The setting is the summer of 1922 on Long Island, New York.

Genre and Setting

• The novel's genre is literary realism.
• The novel depicts the world as it was during the 1920s.
• The main setting is Long Island, New York, in the summer of 1922.

Discussion Questions (Chapter 1)

• Is Gatsby a "self-made man" and a good representation of the American Dream?
• How does the setting influence the characters and themes of the novel?
• What is Nick's character and is he a reliable narrator?
• Discuss Daisy's statement about her daughter being a "beautiful little fool."

Discussion Questions (Chapter 2)

• What is your perception of Nick after his trip to New York with Tom?
• How does Myrtle Wilson, Tom's mistress, represent the desire for social mobility?
• How does Tom Buchanan's behaviour towards Myrtle illustrate the social hierarchy?
• Discuss why the American Dream is portrayed as an elusive dream.

Discussion Questions (Chapters 3, 4, 5)

• Discuss the symbolism of Gatsby's parties.
• How does Fitzgerald portray Gatsby's life through his parties and what are the differences between illusion and reality.
• What does Nick's role as an observer at Gatsby's parties reveal about his character?
• Why is Gatsby distant and mysterious at his own parties?
• What significance does Gatsby’s background have?
• Why is Gatsby fascinated with Daisy?
• How does Jordan Baker's account of Daisy and Gatsby's past affect the reader's understanding?

Discussion Questions (Chapters 6, 7, 8, 9)

• Discuss Dan Cody and his relationship to Gatsby.
• Analyze the interactions between Tom Buchanan, Daisy, and Gatsby at Gatsby's parties to understand their rejection of him.
• Examine Gatsby's flaws and how the chapter highlights them.
• Explain the differences in situations between Tom Buchanan and George Wilson.
• Summarize the significant events.
• Explore Gatsby's first impressions of Daisy.
• Explore whether Gatsby truly loves Daisy for who she is or who she represents.
• Examine the significance of Gatsby's funeral and what is learned about his parties.
• Explain why Nick returns to the Midwest.
• Examine Nick's suspicions about Wilson's killing of Gatsby and discuss his conclusions about Daisy and Tom.