The Great Gatsby Introduction - Cornell Notes
- 1. Write a 3-4 sentence response to the picture below. What does it make you think of? What do you notice right away? What mood is conveyed? etc... You will need an entire sheet of paper! Please be sure to sit in your assigned seat!
- 2. Number 1-11. Then, simply write yes or no in response to the following questions. Would you marry for money? Do you think other social classes are better than yours? Would you ever knowingly commit a crime? Does a college degree make you more socially accepted? Is there a circumstance in which adultery should be allowed? Are people with money happier than people without money? Have you ever been misunderstood and been unable to correct the misunderstanding? Does the end justify the means? Is it OK to watch others and mimic their behavior? Should we conform to societys rules just to feel accepted? Can you ever recover from a bad first impression?
- 3. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Based on the picture, when do you think the story is set?
- 4. Setting The Great Gatsby takes place in the 1920's in New York City.
- 5. Life in the United States in the 1920's known as "The Roaring Twenties" Spirit of rebellion (people drank and partied) booming economy people flocked to the city and purchased Model-T's jazz music and bootleg liquor
- 6. Prohibition a period in US history when the manufacturing, selling, and transportation of liquor was illegal a time in which the average citizen broke the law speakeasies, or secret bars, were popular
- 7. Plot Overview Nick Carraway moves to New York City from Minnesota and makes his home in the West Egg which is a part of Long Island. West Egg is made up of people who are newly rich and is also less fashionable than East Egg where Nick's cousin lives. Nick's next door neighbor is a mysterious man who throws lavish parties and gets Nick involved in situations he would like to avoid.
- 8. Main Characters Nick Carraway: quiet, reflective guy from the midwest who is adrift in NYC Jay Gatsby: rose from a life of poverty to one of mysterious and extreme wealth Daisy Buchanan: beautiful cousin of Nick who is married to Tom Tom Buchanan: Daisy's husband who comes from a stable and wealthy background
- 9. How do you think The American Dream will compare in The Great Gatsby to what it was in Of Mice and Men?