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Questions and Answers
What is the main theme explored in the novel through the comparison between the Midwest and the East Coast?
What does the Midwest represent in the novel?
What is symbolic of the immorality of the 1920s in the novel?
What is the contrast between the East Coast and the Midwest in the novel?
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What is the significance of the characters' origins in the Midwest?
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What is the main idea explored in the novel through the theme of Superficiality versus Truth?
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Which character is an exception to the general indifference to moral consequences in the novel?
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What is the significance of the abandoned billboard of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg in the novel?
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What is the contrast between the characters of Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan in the novel?
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What is the main theme explored in the novel through the character of Jay Gatsby?
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What is the approximate number of copies of The Great Gatsby sold per year today?
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What is the title of F. Scott Fitzgerald's first novel?
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What is the name of the unfinished novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald?
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From which social class did F. Scott Fitzgerald's family belong?
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What is the commonality between Jay Gatsby and F. Scott Fitzgerald's life experiences?
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What is the approximate number of copies of The Great Gatsby sold in 1944?
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What is the commonality between Jay Gatsby's character and the American Dream?
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What is the social class that F. Scott Fitzgerald's family struggled to be part of?
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What is the name of the city where F. Scott Fitzgerald moved to after joining the army?
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What is the significance of F. Scott Fitzgerald's family's wealth?
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Study Notes
The Great Gatsby Novel Context
- Published in 1925
- Genre: Drama, Fiction
- Told in the first-person point of view, from the perspective of Nick Carraway
The 1920s American Society
- Characterized by more freedom, more free time, and more disposable income than in any previous generation
- A stark chasm developed between society's haves and its have-nots
- Appliances were becoming common in the home
- Automobile ownership started to become widespread
- People were leaving rural areas for life in cities, resulting in the country's urban population outnumbering its rural population for the first time
Chapter 7 Analysis
- The turning point in the novel
- The tension that has been mounting blows open in the climactic moment when, after a heated fight, Daisy chooses Tom over Gatsby
- Gatsby's dream is shattered, and everything he has worked to achieve slips away
- Everyone in the hotel room feels the excruciating tension as both men vie for Daisy's commitment
Chapter 8 Summary
- The morning after the accident, Nick Carraway visits Jay Gatsby and tries to encourage him to leave West Egg for a while
- Gatsby refuses to leave Daisy
- He describes how he first met and courted Daisy before the war, dazzled by her beauty, wealth, and social position
- The symbolism of Dr. Eckleburg's eyes returns in this chapter
Character Insights
- Daisy Buchanan: not truly content with her role as a frivolous, wealthy wife; wants to save her and is drawn to Gatsby's romantic idealism
- Jay Gatsby: the perpetual dreamer; has given up everything to pursue his dream of living a happy life with Daisy
- Nick Carraway: a fair and moral narrator; prefers Gatsby's dreams to the moral emptiness of the "rotten crowd" Daisy and Tom are a part of
Themes
- The American Dream: questions the sacrifices individuals must make to achieve their dreams, and whether the ends justify the means
- Superficiality versus Truth: or facade versus reality, permeates The Great Gatsby
- Class Theme: the divide between the rich and poor in the novel; wealth and opportunity aren't equally divided
The Great Gatsby
- Published in 1925, a time of significant social change in America
- Characterized by more freedom, free time, and disposable income than previous generations
- Urban population outnumbered rural population for the first time
Social Context
- Women gained the right to vote and played a larger role in the workforce
- Appliances became common in homes, and automobile ownership started to become widespread
- A stark chasm developed between society's haves and have-nots
- The rich were regarded with esteem simply because of their wealth and were awarded tax benefits
- Frivolous spending and recreational leisure were prevalent among the wealthy
- Those in the middle and lower classes suffered greatly due to little income or status
- Advances in technology fueled consumption by the elite, as they purchased luxuries outside the reach of most Americans
Author Biography
- F. Scott Fitzgerald was born on September 24, 1896, in St. Paul, Minnesota
- His mother's wealth provided opportunities to mingle with the social elite, but the family wasn't quite rich enough to be welcomed into the highest class
- Fitzgerald left his Minnesota hometown for an Ivy League education, joined the army, and later moved to New York City
- He fell in love with socialite Zelda Sayre when he was 22 years old
- Many aspects of Fitzgerald's life are mirrored in his work, including The Great Gatsby
- The novel received mediocre reviews and sold poorly when first released, but gained popularity after World War II
Writing Style and Themes
- The Great Gatsby is told in the first-person point of view from the perspective of Nick Carraway
- The novel is primarily told in the past tense
- The themes in The Great Gatsby echo and scrutinize the societal influences prevalent in the Jazz Age
- The characters embody the various classes, values, behaviors, and customs of the time
- The novel is the collision of all these factors—and most especially of two polarized classes both chasing the American dream
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Description
This quiz is about the cultural, social, and economic changes that took place in the United States during the 1920s. It covers topics such as women's rights, consumerism, and automobile ownership.
