The Roaring Twenties

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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?

The importance of social status

The clash between old and new money

The struggle for power and wealth

The sacrifices individuals must make to achieve their dreams (correct)

What does the Midwest represent in the novel?

Superficiality and facade

New money and strong ethics (correct)

Old money and elitism

Corruption and immorality

What is symbolic of the immorality of the 1920s in the novel?

The wealthy communities of West Egg and East Egg

The character of Nick Carraway

The abandoned billboard of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg (correct)

The parties thrown by Gatsby

What is the contrast between the East Coast and the Midwest in the novel?

Old money versus new money Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the characters' origins in the Midwest?

It emphasizes their desire for a better life Signup and view all the answers

What is the main idea explored in the novel through the theme of Superficiality versus Truth?

The facade of high society Signup and view all the answers

Which character is an exception to the general indifference to moral consequences in the novel?

George Wilson Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the abandoned billboard of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg in the novel?

It serves as a reminder of God's watchful eyes Signup and view all the answers

What is the contrast between the characters of Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan in the novel?

Moral values versus superficiality Signup and view all the answers

What is the main theme explored in the novel through the character of Jay Gatsby?

The sacrifices individuals must make to achieve their dreams Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate number of copies of The Great Gatsby sold per year today?

500,000 Signup and view all the answers

What is the title of F. Scott Fitzgerald's first novel?

This Side of Paradise Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the unfinished novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald?

The Last Tycoon Signup and view all the answers

From which social class did F. Scott Fitzgerald's family belong?

Upper-middle class Signup and view all the answers

What is the commonality between Jay Gatsby and F. Scott Fitzgerald's life experiences?

Both left their hometown for an Ivy League education Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate number of copies of The Great Gatsby sold in 1944?

120 Signup and view all the answers

What is the commonality between Jay Gatsby's character and the American Dream?

Both are self-made Signup and view all the answers

What is the social class that F. Scott Fitzgerald's family struggled to be part of?

High society Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the city where F. Scott Fitzgerald moved to after joining the army?

New York City Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of F. Scott Fitzgerald's family's wealth?

It helped him to become a successful businessman Signup and view all the answers

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

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.