the great gatsby writing assignments

185 The Great Gatsby : Best Topics and Examples

Looking for some creative titles for The Great Gatsby essay? There are many themes to explore about this novel. We offer you The Great Gatsby essay examples about symbolism, character analysis, the style of the novel, and many other topics.

📙 The Great Gatsby – Essay Writing Tips

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The Great Gatsby, the masterpiece written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, will help you dive into the Roaring Twenties’ wealth atmosphere. This is a story of a millionaire Jay Gatsby and his passion for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan

Your professor may ask you to analyze topics such as decadence, money, American Dream, or symbolism in your The Great Gatsby Essay. But what if you have no idea what to write? Well, below, you can find some tips and essay samples that you may use to compose your papers

Tip #1. Analyze symbolism in The Great Gatsby

First, let’s define what symbolism is. According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, symbolism is “practice of using symbols, especially by investing things with a symbolic meaning or by expressing the invisible or intangible using visible or sensuous representations.” The Great Gatsby story is full of symbols. And here are just two examples of them:

The eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg painted on a billboard in the Valley of Ashes. You can find a lot of The Great Gatsby essay samples that draw the conclusion that Eckleburg represents God. However, let’s ask a few more questions. Why do these eyes have no mouth or arms, or legs? Does this mean that Eckleburg can only watch people transgressions without any ability to punish them as a God-like entity? Does this billboard mean anything?
Use of color in Fitzgerald’s story. If you carefully read the novel, you might notice the use of a few colors throughout the book. They are green, gray, gold, and yellow. Think, what do these colors can symbolize and represent these ideas in your paper.

Tip #2. Think about point of view in The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby is written in the first-person point of view. Nick Carraway, one of the main characters, tells us about the life and thoughts of Gatsby. In your writing, you can imagine how different the novel would be if it were told in the third-person point of view.

You also can provide some examples if the story was told from Gatsby’s perspective.

Tip #3. Assess how the book relates to the American Dream

If you look through the vast majority The Great Gatsby essay titles, you can find out plenty of samples that address the validity of high society or the social class divide. Gatsby had achieved the American Dream by building his wealth. However, he’s still not satisfied with the shallowness of the upper class and wants something more.

In your paper, you can argue why does one can never attain the American Dream, and why dreamers always want more.

Tip #4. Analyze the characters and their relations

Fitzgerald put each character into the novel for a particular reason. And your job is to analyze what they represent and why they are in the story. For example, Tom represents evil, while Daisy represents innocence. Another aspect you should examine is relationships between Daisy and Gatsby, Tom and Daisy, Nick and Gatsby.

Tip #5. Examine the tone of the novel

When we talk about the tone of the story, we mean how the author describes the events and characters. In your paper, decide what the tone of the novel is and analyze how it affects the readers’ attitude to characters and events.

Now, check The Great Gatsby essay examples below and use the acquired ideas to write your own paper!

Analysis of the Shirt Scene in “The Great Gatsby” Film Although the shirts mean nothing to Gatsby without Daisy, the audience watches Gatsby’s facial expression display a great deal of empathy and love whenever Daisy seems distressed, especially in this scene when she begins to […]
Tom and Gatsby: Compare and Contrast Essay In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald pays attention to the relationships between both Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan and Daisy Buchanan. Scott Fitzgerald’s book is mainly focused on the relationship of Daisy with Gatsby and Tom, […]
Autobiographical Elements in “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The story is set during the roaring twenties, a period of significant social and cultural change, and it incorporates many of the author’s personal experiences, feelings, and perceptions of the time.
Daisy Buchanan: “I Did Love Him Once, but I Loved You, Too” Another scene shows Daisy’s immoral behavior when she is in the room with Gatsby, Jordan, and Nick. This view shows Daisy’s lustful side in that she pushes Jordan to do the same and is out […]
The Great Gatsby Reflection Paper Throughout the novel the major character Nick who was the narrator managed to bring out the main themes of the novel as well as developing other characters.
The Clock as a Symbol in “The Great Gatsby” By incorporating metaphorical elements that allude to the fleeting nature of time, “the Great Gatsby” emphasizes the idea of the futility of life and the inescapability of the past and its mistakes.
The Great Gatsby: Analysis and Feminist Critique The feminist critique is an aspect that seeks to explore the topic of men domination in the social, economic, and political sectors.
Daisy’s Character Study in “The Great Gatsby” The argument is that the author attempts to describe her as a pure and innocent female to ensure that the reader understands the perspective of Jay, but particular aspects of her true identity are revealed […]
The Great Gatsby All these characteristics of America during 1920 are evident and inherent in the main character, Jay Gatsby, in the novel The Great Gatsby. This is one of the themes in the novel The Great Gatsby.
Nick as the Narrator in The Great Gatsby Therefore, his connection with the Gatsby’s story is that he is depended upon to serve as the mouthpiece of the older generation as he metaphorically transcends through time to retell the Great Gatsby tale accurately […]
Silver & Gold: Color Symbolism in The Great Gatsby Although the color palette presented in Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is rich, the problem of differing social status is most vividly described in the novel through the use of golden and silver colors that stand […]
American Culture in the Novel “The Great Gatsby” In The Great Gatsby, Scott Fitzgerald documents these changes through an in-depth exploration of cultural changes such as the rise in consumerism, materialism, greed for wealth, and the culture of loosening morals in the 1920s […]
“The Great Gatsby” Film by Baz Luhrmann The Great Gatsby is a film that stars Jay Gatsby, Nick Carraway, Tom Buchanan, and the Southern Belle Daisy. The influence of the past comes out throughout the course of the film.
Gatsby & Nick in The Great Gatsby The Great Gatsby is a novel of vibrant characters, and paradox is one of the main themes of the book. Even though Daisy and Tom are married, Nick agrees to help Gatsby be with the […]
Fairy Tale Traits in The Great Gatsby Basing on the several evident parameters, for instance, the character traits, the behavior of prince and princess, and gender distinctions amongst others, Fitzgerald’s masterwork stands out as a variation and sophisticated version of the fairy […]
Female Characters in A Streetcar Named Desire & The Great Gatsby: Comparative It can be seen in the case of Stella and Daisy wherein in their pursuit of what they think is their “ideal” love, they are, in fact, pursuing nothing more than a false ideal that […]
Novel Analysis: The Great Gatsby and Siddhartha Hesse’s Siddhartha seems complementary to The Great Gatsby as Brahman, the main role in Siddhartha, finds contentment in self-realization and not in money, sensuality, and love.
‘The Great Gatsby’: Tom and Blanche Like Tom, Blanche in the book of Street Car Named Desire, is loyal to her sister who is the only member of her family that we come across.
The Great Gatsby and Winter Dreams by Scott Fitzgerald In this analysis, the researcher will try to confirm the argument that the Great Gatsby was a continuation of the Winter Dreams.
‘The Great Gatsby’ and ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ Literature Comparison Stella is a devoted wife struggling to make her marriage work, even though her husband Stanley, subjects her to a lot of pain and suffering.
Babylon Revisited & The Great Gatsby: Motifs & Themes When he pleads his case to the guardians of Honoria, his sister-in-law Marion, and her husband, he continually evades his escapades of the past and recounts his hard work and sincerity of the present.
Architecture in “The Great Gatsby” by Fitzgerald From this perspective, the case of Gatsby’s mansion is a symbolic call for leaving behind the anachronistic ideas of aristocracy and embracing American ideals.
“The Great Gatsby” by Baz Luhrmann The filmmakers never stop depicting Gatsby’s wealth and his otherness. He throws money around and he is a topic of heated debates in the society.
Fitzgerald’s ‘The Great Gatsby’, Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men’ and the American Dream “The America Dream’ is a longstanding common belief of the American population that in the United States, people are free to realize the full potential of their labor and their talents and every person in […]
Why is Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby a Satire? Another aspect of satire in Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is the wealth associated with Gatsby, as the reader observes in chapter two.
The American Dream in The Great Gatsby After spending some time in this neighborhood, Nick finally attends Gatsby’s exuberant parties only to realize that Gatsby organizes these parties to impress Daisy, Nick’s cousin, and wife to Tom.
Time as a Theme in The Great Gatsby The embodiment of these negative aspects comes in the form of Gatsby and his life, which in the end is seen as hollow and empty, just as the morals and values of the characters seen […]
The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald Review Gatsby’s dream to become wealthy to gain Daisy’s attention “is simply believable and is still a common dream of the current time”. However, Gatsby is the story’s main character and is a “personification” of the […]
Fertile Questions: “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald The two fertile questions arising from the novel are: what are political and economic impacts of the World War I? and what are the challenges faced by American students born from poor families post-World War […]
Tom and George in Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby At the same time, the motives of Tom and George’s behavior differ due to their backgrounds, origins, and belonging to different social classes.
“The Great Gatsby”: The American Dream in the Jazz Age The Jazz Age is a period in the history of the United States of America from the end of World War I to the beginning of the Great Depression due to the remarkable popularity of […]
Women’s Role in “The Great Gatsby” by Fitzgerald Though the women in the novel are depicted as careless, treacherous, and selfish, the author uses them to underscore the power of the will to rebel against societal norms in pursuit of happiness.
“The Great Gatsby Directed” by Baz Luhrmann This is due to the fact that the film is an indirect adaptation of Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald’s book “The Great Gatsby”.
The Corrupted American Dream and Its Significance in “The Great Gatsby” The development of the American dream and its impact on the society of the United States is a pertinent topic of discussion for various authors.
Jay Gatsby: The Great Fool or the Unfortunate Genius The main idea of the work is to show the unfairness of the fate of a poor young man who cannot marry the girl he loves.
“The Great Gatsby” by Scott Fitzgerald Who will take care of the dead creatures seems not to be in Tom’s order of what to bother him and together with the wife is comfortable enjoying their wealth while the creatures are rotting […]
Characters in Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” and Angelou’s “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” The author presents challenges faced in the society as a result of the mixture racial and gender discrimination that a young black girl goes through in search of her dream and personal identity.
Greene’s “Our Man in Havana” and “The Great Gatsby” by Fitzgerald It is imperative to realize that the purpose of the paper is not to carry out a critical analysis of the plays but to carry out a comparison of the attributes in which they relate […]
What Money Cannot Buy: ‘The Great Gatsby’ Book by F. S. Fitzgerald The Great Gatsby is a book that unveils the instrumental role of the social aspect of life among people; which not only concentrates on the economic part of it.
First-Person Narrative in Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby,” Joyce’s “The Boarding House,” Bowen’s “The Demon Lover” In Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Joyce’s short story “The Boarding House,” and the Scottish poem The Demon Lover, the first-person narrative is used differently to achieve the authors’ objectives and create a comprehensive picture of […]
First-Person Narrative in Bowen’s ”The Demon Lover,” Updike’s ”A&P,” Fitzgerald’s ”The Great Gatsby” In this work, the unworked, repressed experience of the First World War is personified and embodied in the image of the ghost of a person who died in this war.
“The Great Gatsby” by Fitzgerald: Betrayal, Romance, Social Politics and Feminism This work seeks to outline the role of women in the development of the plot of the book and in relation to the social issues affecting women in contemporary society.
Jay Gatsby, Jean Valjean and Henry Fleming: The Compare and Contrast Analyses of the Characters The way the characters of the main protagonists are revealed in the novel is one of the most important things in every piece of literature.
“The Great Gatsby” Novel by Francis Scott Fitzgerald However, what the reader should acknowledge is that the author manages to present a wholesome and clear image of the issues and occurrences that defined the United States throughout the 1920s.
The Great Gatsby’ by Scott Fitzgerald Literature Analysis This is one of the details that can be identified. This is one of the issues that can be singled out.
Political Satire in American Literature Scott Fitzgerald was one of the more famous satirists of the time, particularly in his production of the work The Great Gatsby.
The Dilemmas of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby The Great Gatsby is a story of a young man in the early twentieth century who seems to know what he wants in the way of that dream and what to do to achieve it.
The Great Gatsby – Love, Wealth, and Illusion In the novel, the fictional village of West Egg is perhaps one of the key items that symbolize the life of the new millionaires in the city.
Gatsby & Jean Valjean He is a mysterious person, and no one exactly knows his origins and the ways he used to acquire his fortune.
The Ethicality of an Action Jay Gatsby As well, an action is “wrong” if it results in the opposite of happiness to the people. Mill’s utilitarian theory can be used to assess the ethically of Jay Gatsby’s action, as presented in the […]
Francis Scott Fitzgerald & His American Dream In the novel “Tender is the Night,” Fitzgerald describes the society in Riviera where he and his family had moved to live after his misfortune of late inheritance.
Jay Gatsby & Eponine From Les Miserables: Compare & Contrast Gatsby is the main character in the book “The Great Gatsby,” while Eponine is one of the characters in the book “Les Miserables”.
Jay Gatsby & Gean Valjean: Characters Comparison This essay compares and contrasts the characters of Gatsby and Jean Valjean in the Les Miserable novels and films. Gatsby strikes the readers as a na ve and lovesick individual though his character is negative.
Jay Gatsby and Valjean in ‘Les Miserables’: Comparative Valjean’s life contains a series of misfortunes in the sense that he has to hide his true identity. Most of the people in his life were there just for convenience and for the fact that […]
The Idea of Love in The Great Gatsby and the Parallels or Contrasts That Can Be Drawn With the Presentation of Love in The Catcher in the Rye Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and Jerome Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, it is possible to state that the notion of love is presented there similarly even though the texts are absolutely different and […]
Fitzgerald’s American Dream in The Great Gatsby & Winter Dreams To my mind, Winter Dream is a perfect example of the American Dream, since the main hero, Dexter, implemented each point of it, he was persistent and very hard-working, he was a very sensible and […]
What Are the Literary Devices Used to Create the Image of Jay Gatsby?
Analyze How Fitzgerald Uses Imagery in the Great Gatsby
What Do Colors Symbolize in the Great Gatsby?
How Does Fitzgerald Use Geographical Setting to Show the Contrast Between Social Classes in the Novel?
How Does Fitzgerald Convey a Notion of the American Dream Through Metaphors and Symbols?
What Does the Green Light in Daisy’s Window Represent in the Great Gatsby?
What Does the Valley of Ashes Symbolize in the Great Gatsby?
What Role Does Nick Carraway’s Narration Play in the Story? If We Got It Through an Omniscient Third-Person Narrator, What Would We Gain or Lose?
Could the Story Have Been Set in Other Places, Like Chicago or Los Angeles, or Were New York City and Long Island Absolutely Necessary?
Look at the Novel’s Opening Lines. If We Accept Nick’s Advice When We Read the Story, Will Our Views of It Change? Or, in Other Words, Does Refraining From Criticism Promote Compassion?
Is There a Hidden Meaning of the Title of the Great Gatsby? What Is It?
How Is the Color White Used Within the Novel? When Does It Make a False Representation of Innocence? When Does It Truly Represent Innocence?
What Is the Role of a New York Setting in the Novel’s Storyline?
What Is the Real Meaning of ‘Great’ in the Title of the Great Gatsby?
What Significance Do Colors Have in the Party’s Descriptions in Chapter 3?
Elaborate on the Green Light as the Symbol of the American Dream
What Is the Meaning of the Phrase “Can’t Repeat the Past?.. Why of Course You Can!” What Does Gatsby Really Want From Daisy?
What Role Do the Eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg Play in the Great Gatsby?
How Is the Great Gatsby a Satirical Representation of the Society?
Are the Rich in the Novel Really So Careless as Everyone Believes Them to Be?
Create an Alternative Ending for the Great Gatsby. Justify Your Choice
What Is the Relationship Between Those Born Rich and Those Who Became Rich in the Novel?
Discuss Female Characters and Their Significance in the Great Gatsby
Compare Gatsby and Wilson. In What Ways Are They Similar?
Who Is the Most Responsible for Gatsby’s Death? Why Is It So?
Why Do Tom and Daisy Stay Together at the End of the Novel?
Does Gatsby’s Money Bring Him Real Happiness?
Can Jay’s Feelings for Daisy in the Great Gatsby Be Considered Love?
How Do Secondary Characters Affect the Story?
Who Is the Real Hero in the Great Gatsby?
Can We Call Jay Gatsby a Romantic Hero or a Villain?
What Does Jay Gatsby Really Live For in the Novel: the Present or the Past?
Compare Myrtle and Daisy
What Does Tom’s Quarrel With Myrtle in Chapter 2 Tell Us About His Personality?
Elaborate on How Both Tom and Gatsby Want to Change Not Only the Future, but the Past in Chapter 7.
What Was Gatsby’s Power of Dreaming Like? Was Daisy a Worth Object?
Is Anyone to Blame for Gatsby’s Death?
Are There Any Moral Characters in the Novel?
Can Jordan and Daisy Be Considered Perfect Role Models for the Upper Class in America? Why or Why Not?
Is Gatsby Really Great? In What Way? How Does His Greatness Evolve as the Plot Unfolds?
How Does Nick’s Character Change over the Course of the Great Gatsby?
Does Gatsby Deserve the Definition of a Self-Made Man? Why or Why Not?
What Role Does Daisy Play in the Conflict Between Gatsby & Tom?
Describe How F.S. Fitzgerald’s Life Experiences Influenced the Great Gatsby
What Are the Central Themes in the Great Gatsby?
What Roles Do Fidelity and Infidelity Play in Fitzgerald’s the Great Gatsby?
What Importance Does Sex Have in the Story?
What Role Does Alcohol Play in the Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald?
Did Fitzgerald Really Criticize the Idea of the American Dream in the Great Gatsby?
Does Love Play Have Any Importance in the Great Gatsby?
What Role Does the Relationship Between Geography and Social Values Play in the Novel?
What Is the Meaning of Time in the Great Gatsby?
How Do the Aristocratic East Eggers, Tom and the Sloanes, Regard Gatsby in Chapter 6? How Is Their Contempt Connected to the Theme of Social Class in the Novel?
Analyze the Great Gatsby Through the Prism of Feminist Theory
How Are the Themes of Kindness and Compassion Presented in the Great Gatsby?
Describe How the Theme of Ambition Is Presented in the Novel
Elaborate on How Fitzgerald Contrasts Education and Experience in the Great Gatsby
Make a Critical Comparison of the Novel With the 2013 Movie
Make a Comparison of the Novel With the 1949 Movie
Compare the Great Gatsby Movies of 1949 and 2013
Compare and Contrast Two Classic American Novels: The Great Gatsbyand the Grapes of Wrath
How Are Donald Trump and the Great Gatsby’s Tom Buchanan Alike?
Compare Miller’s Death of a Salesman and the Great Gatsby
What Other Fictional or Non-fictional Character From a Book or Movie Can Nick Carraway Be Compared To?
Make a Critical Comparison of the Sun Also Rises and the Great Gatsby
Compare the Great Gatsby With a Farewell to Arms
Make a Comparison of Daisy From the Great Gatsby With Henrietta Bingham From Irresistible
What Pop Stars of Nowadays Daisy Can Be Compared To?
Macbeth vs. Jay Gatsby: Make a Character Comparison
Why does Daisy cry about the shirts in chapter 5 of The Great Gatsby?
What is Daisy’s opinion of Gatsby’s party in chapter 6?
How does The Great Gatsby explore the ideas of illusion versus reality?
How did Gatsby measure the success of his party in chapter 6?
What is the true relationship between Daisy and Tom in The Great Gatsby?
What does Gatsby tell Nick about himself and his past?
What role do the first lines of The Great Gatsby play?
What destroyed Gatsby’s dreams in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald?
What is the cause of the problem between Jordan and Nick?
Describe Daisy and Gatsby’s new relationship. What is it like?
Why does Jordan want to leave the group from East Egg?
What does Old Money vs. New Money mean in The Great Gatsby?
Which excerpt from The Great Gatsby is the best example of foreshadowing?
How does Fitzgerald represent the society of his time in thenovel? Would you like to live in the Jazz Era? Why or why not?
How does Nick describe himself at the beginning of The Great Gatsby?
How do we know that Myrtle Wilson is not an intellectual?
Who does the narrator think Daisy is at the end of the story?
What role does the book “The Rise of the Colored Empires” play in The Great Gatsby?
How is America shown in The Great Gatsby? What values do the East and the West represent?
Why did Gatsby fail to achieve the American Dream?
How did F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby reflect the culture of the 1920s?
Which excerpt from The Great Gatsby best indicates that Nick is not fully content with his life?
What role does social class in The Great Gatsby play?
What does Nick mean by the last line of The Great Gatsby?
What are the main differences between The Great Gatsby book and movie?
How does Fitzgerald provide a critical social history of Prohibition-Era America in his novel?
How does Nick know Daisy and Tom in The Great Gatsby?
What did Dan Cody do for Gatsby? What did Gatsby learn from him?
How does Myrtle behave as the party progresses in chapter 2?
Describe the meeting between Gatsby and Daisy in chapter 5. What was it like?
How does The Great Gatsby reflect the Jazz Age?
What were the rumors about Gatsby?
What does The Great Gatsby’s ending mean?
What part does social class play in The Great Gatsby?
Why was young Gatsby drawn to Daisy?
How does Nick describe Tom Buchanan in chapter 1?
In The Great Gatsby, is Nick a reliable narrator?
What is the main conflict in The Great Gatsby?
How does Nick meet Gatsby for the first time?
Why is Gatsby great?
How women are portrayed in The Great Gatsby?
Who killed Myrtle in The Great Gatsby?
What was Jay Gatsby’s real name & background?
How is Gatsby different from his guests?
Who killed Gatsby and how did that happen?
In chapter 7, why does Gatsby stop giving parties?
Does money buy love in The Great Gatsby?
What does “owl eyes” reveal about Gatsby’s books?
What does Gatsby want from Daisy in chapter 6?
How does the Narrator describe Gatsby?
What is Gatsby doing when Nick first sees him?
How did Gatsby get rich?
Is The Great Gatsby about love or money?
Why did Daisy marry Tom in The Great Gatsby?
What role does Dan Cody’s yacht play in Great Gatsby?
Who attended Gatsby’s funeral?
What is the climax of The Great Gatsby?
What is Gatsby’s real history?
How is society shown in The Great Gatsby?
What does “her voice is full of money” mean?
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Essays on The Great Gatsby

The great gatsby essay topic examples.

Whether you want to analyze the American Dream, compare and contrast characters, vividly describe settings and characters, persuade readers with your viewpoints, or share personal experiences related to the story, these essay ideas provide a diverse perspective on the themes and complexities within the book.

Argumentative Essays

Argumentative essays require you to analyze and present arguments related to the novel. Here are some topic examples:

1. Argue whether the American Dream is achievable or illusory, as depicted in The Great Gatsby .
2. Analyze the moral ambiguity of Jay Gatsby and the consequences of his relentless pursuit of the American Dream.

Example Introduction Paragraph for an Argumentative Essay: F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby is a tale of ambition, decadence, and the elusive American Dream. This essay delves into the complex theme of the American Dream, exploring whether it remains attainable or has transformed into a tantalizing illusion, luring individuals like Jay Gatsby into its enigmatic embrace.

Example Conclusion Paragraph for an Argumentative Essay: In conclusion, the analysis of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby invites us to reevaluate our perceptions of success and fulfillment. As we contemplate the fate of Jay Gatsby and the characters entangled in his world, we are challenged to define our own version of the American Dream and the sacrifices it may entail.

Compare and Contrast Essays

Compare and contrast essays enable you to examine similarities and differences within the novel or between it and other literary works. Consider these topics:

1. Compare and contrast the characters of Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan, exploring their contrasting worldviews and motivations.
2. Analyze the similarities and differences between the portrayal of the Jazz Age in The Great Gatsby and Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises .

Example Introduction Paragraph for a Compare and Contrast Essay: The characters and settings in The Great Gatsby and other literary works offer a rich tapestry for comparison and contrast. This essay embarks on a journey to compare and contrast the enigmatic Jay Gatsby and the brash Tom Buchanan, delving into their contrasting values, aspirations, and roles within the novel.

Example Conclusion Paragraph for a Compare and Contrast Essay: In conclusion, the comparison and contrast of Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan illuminate the divergent paths individuals can take in pursuit of their desires. As we consider the consequences of their choices, we are prompted to reflect on the complexities of ambition and morality.

Descriptive Essays

Descriptive essays allow you to vividly depict settings, characters, or events within the novel. Here are some topic ideas:

1. Describe the opulent parties at Gatsby's mansion, emphasizing the decadence and extravagance of the Jazz Age.
2. Paint a detailed portrait of Daisy Buchanan, focusing on her beauty, charm, and the allure she holds for Gatsby.

Example Introduction Paragraph for a Descriptive Essay: The Great Gatsby immerses readers in the lavish world of the Roaring Twenties. This essay embarks on a descriptive exploration of the extravagant parties at Gatsby's mansion, capturing the opulence and hedonism of the era, as well as the illusions they create.

Example Conclusion Paragraph for a Descriptive Essay: In conclusion, the descriptive portrayal of Gatsby's parties serves as a vivid snapshot of the Jazz Age's excesses and the fleeting nature of indulgence. Through this exploration, we are reminded of the allure and transience of the materialistic pursuits that captivated the characters of the novel.

Persuasive Essays

Persuasive essays involve arguing a point of view related to the novel. Consider these persuasive topics:

1. Persuade your readers that Nick Carraway is the moral compass of the story, serving as the voice of reason and morality.
2. Argue for or against the idea that Gatsby's love for Daisy is genuine and selfless, despite his questionable methods.

Example Introduction Paragraph for a Persuasive Essay: The Great Gatsby presents a tapestry of characters with complex moral dilemmas. This persuasive essay asserts that Nick Carraway emerges as the moral compass of the story, guiding readers through the labyrinth of decadence and disillusionment in the Jazz Age.

Example Conclusion Paragraph for a Persuasive Essay: In conclusion, the persuasive argument regarding Nick Carraway's role as the moral compass underscores the importance of ethical navigation in a world characterized by excess and moral ambiguity. As we reflect on his influence, we are compelled to consider the enduring value of integrity and virtue.

Narrative Essays

Narrative essays offer you the opportunity to tell a story or share personal experiences related to the themes of the novel. Explore these narrative essay topics:

1. Narrate a personal experience where you encountered the allure of materialism and extravagance, similar to the characters in The Great Gatsby .
2. Imagine yourself as a character in the Jazz Age and recount your interactions with Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan.

Example Introduction Paragraph for a Narrative Essay: The themes of The Great Gatsby resonate with the allure of a bygone era. This narrative essay delves into a personal encounter with the seductive pull of materialism and extravagance, drawing parallels to the characters' experiences in the novel.

Example Conclusion Paragraph for a Narrative Essay: In conclusion, the narrative of my personal encounter with the allure of materialism reminds us of the timeless nature of the themes in The Great Gatsby . As we navigate our own desires and ambitions, we are encouraged to contemplate the balance between aspiration and morality.

Lies and Deceit in The Great Gatsby

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How Do The Clothes Symbolize in The Great Gatsby?

The delusion of the american dream in the great gatsby, a novel by f. scott fitzgerald, the theme of money in the great gatsby, the concept of american dream portrayed in the great gatsby, let us write you an essay from scratch.

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"The Great Gatsby": Theme and Symbols

The main ideas of "the great gatsby" by f. scott fitzgerald, instability of love and desire in the great gatsby, sex talk: an analysis of the relationship between gatsby and nick, get a personalized essay in under 3 hours.

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The Portrayal of Female Characters in F.s. Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby

The great gatsby: pursuing the american dream, the great gatsby by f. scott fitzgerald: book review, representation of the american dream in the great gatsby, the unpleasant character of tom buchanan in the great gatsby, a look at the character of daisy buchanan as depicted in the great gatsby, representation of the lost generation in the great gatsby, the symbolic use of eyes in the great gatsby, the theme of materialism in the great gatsby, a novel by f. scott fitzgerald, "love conquers all": analyzing romance and relationships within the great gatsby, symbolism of the yellow color in the great gatsby, the significance of color use in the great gatsby and the grapes of wrath, criticizing the american dream as shown in the great gatsby, the great gatsby: how the american greatness has decayed, beauty and foolishness: the role of pammy buchanan in the great gatsby, how women empower themselves in the great gatsby, the american dream obsession in the great gatsby, gatsby's transformation into the tragic hero in the great gatsby, the theme of temporariness in the great gatsby, depiction of america during prohibition in the great gatsby.

April 10, 1925, F. Scott Fitzgerald

Novel; Fiction, Tragedy

Jay Gatsby , Nick Carraway, Daisy Buchanan, Tom Buchanan, Myrtle Wilson, Jordan Baker, Meyer Wolfsheim, George B. Wilson, Trimalchio, Mr. Gatz

F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote "The Great Gatsby" with multiple motivations in mind. Firstly, he sought to critique the materialistic excesses and moral decay of the Roaring Twenties, a period of post-World War I prosperity. Fitzgerald aimed to expose the disillusionment and hollowness behind the glittering facade of the American Dream. Additionally, he drew inspiration from his own experiences and observations of the wealthy elite and their decadent lifestyles. Through the character of Jay Gatsby, Fitzgerald explored themes of unrequited love, longing, and the pursuit of an unattainable ideal. Ultimately, Fitzgerald's intent was to capture the essence of an era and offer a profound commentary on the human condition.

The story revolves around Jay Gatsby, a mysterious millionaire, and his pursuit of Daisy Buchanan, a married woman with whom he had a romantic past. Narrated by Nick Carraway, a young man from the Midwest, the novel delves into the opulent and extravagant lives of the wealthy elite in Long Island. As Gatsby throws lavish parties in the hope of rekindling his relationship with Daisy, the narrative explores themes of love, wealth, illusion, and the disillusionment that comes with the pursuit of the American Dream.

The American Dream , decadence, idealism, resistance to changes, social excess, caution.

The influence of "The Great Gatsby" extends far beyond its initial publication in 1925. F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel has become a literary classic, revered for its exploration of themes such as wealth, love, and the elusive American Dream. It remains relevant due to its timeless portrayal of human desires, societal decadence, and the consequences of relentless pursuit. The book's vivid characters and atmospheric prose have inspired countless writers and artists, shaping the landscape of American literature. With its commentary on the dark underbelly of the Jazz Age, "The Great Gatsby" continues to captivate readers, serving as a cautionary tale and a poignant reflection of the human condition.

1. During F. Scott Fitzgerald's lifetime, approximately 25,000 copies of the book were sold. However, since then, it has gained immense popularity, selling over 25 million copies and establishing itself as one of the most renowned American novels. 2. The Great Gatsby did not have its original title as the author considered various options, ranging from "Under the Red, White and Blue" to "The High-Bouncing Lover." These alternative titles were potentially revealing too much about the content prematurely. 3. In 1926, just a year after its publication, the book was adapted into a film, demonstrating its quick transition from page to screen. 4. Fitzgerald's cause of death is believed to have been tuberculosis rather than a heart attack. Sadly, he passed away at the age of 44. 5. The price of this famous novel at the time of its publication in 1925 was $2, representing its value in that era. 6. The Great Gatsby did not immediately receive critical acclaim upon release. However, it has since garnered recognition and praise, becoming a significant literary work.

"The Great Gatsby" has made a significant impact on various forms of media, captivating audiences across generations. The novel has been adapted into several films, with notable versions including the 1974 adaptation starring Robert Redford and the 2013 adaptation featuring Leonardo DiCaprio. These cinematic interpretations have brought the story to life visually, further immersing audiences in the opulent world of Jay Gatsby. Additionally, the novel has been referenced and alluded to in countless songs, television shows, and even video games, solidifying its cultural significance. Its themes of love, wealth, and the pursuit of the American Dream continue to resonate and inspire creative works in popular culture.

“In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since. ‘Whenever you feel like criticizing any one,’ he told me, ‘just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had.’” “I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life.” “Let us learn to show our friendship for a man when he is alive and not after he is dead.” “So we drove on toward death through the cooling twilight.” “I hope she'll be a fool -- that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.”

Studying "The Great Gatsby" holds great importance due to its enduring relevance and literary significance. The novel offers profound insights into themes such as wealth, love, social class, and the corruption of the American Dream. Its exploration of the Jazz Age exposes the allure and emptiness of a materialistic society, making it a compelling study of human desires and societal decay. F. Scott Fitzgerald's masterful prose and symbolic imagery provide rich material for analyzing character development, narrative techniques, and social commentary. Moreover, delving into the novel's historical context allows for a deeper understanding of the cultural and societal shifts of the 1920s.

The inclusion of "The Great Gatsby" as an essay topic for college students stems from its exploration of themes like the American Dream, the juxtaposition of poverty and wealth, and the destructive allure of corruption. The character of Gatsby embodies the American spirit and can be paralleled to contemporary individuals fixated on materialism and fame as measures of romantic success. Furthermore, this literary masterpiece holds a significant place in American literature, as F. Scott Fitzgerald skillfully weaves socio-cultural elements into each sentence, providing a timeless portrayal of American life that resonates across generations. The choice to analyze and write about "The Great Gatsby" allows students to delve into these thought-provoking themes and examine their relevance to society.

1. Stallman, R. W. (1955). Conrad and The Great Gatsby. Twentieth Century Literature, 1(1), 5–12. (https://doi.org/10.2307/441023) 2. John Jerrim, Lindsey Macmillan, (2015). Income Inequality, Intergenerational Mobility, and the Great Gatsby Curve: Is Education the Key?, Social Forces, Volume 94, Issue 2. (https://academic.oup.com/sf/article/94/2/505/2583794) 3. Robert C. Hauhart (2013) Religious Language and Symbolism in The Great Gatsby’s Valley of Ashes, ANQ: A Quarterly Journal of Short Articles, Notes and Reviews, 26:3 (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0895769X.2013.798233) 4. Burnam, T. (1952). The Eyes of Dr. Eckleburg: A Re-Examination of “The Great Gatsby.” College English, 14(1), 7–12. (https://www.jstor.org/stable/371821) 5. Tom Phillips (2018) Passing for White in THE GREAT GATSBY: A Spectroscopic Analysis of Jordan Baker, The Explicator, 76:3. (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00144940.2018.1489769?scroll=top&needAccess=true&role=tab) 6. Matterson, S. (1990). The Great Gatsby and Social Class. In: The Great Gatsby. The Critics Debate. Palgrave, London. (https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-349-20768-8_9) 7. Licence, A. (2008). Jay Gatsby: martyr of a materialistic society: Amy Licence considers religious elements in The Great Gatsby. The English Review, 18(3), 24+. (https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA173676222&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=09558950&p=LitRC&sw=w&userGroupName=anon%7E5a84816e) 8. Khodamoradpour, Marjan and Anushiravani, Alireza, (2017) Playing the Old Tunes: A Fiskean Analysis of Baz Luhrmann's 2013 Cinematic Adaptation of the Great Gatsby. International Letters of Social and Humanistic Sciences, Volume 71. (https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3020752) 9. Anderson, H. (1968). THE RICH BUNCH IN" THE GREAT GATSBY". Southern Quarterly, 6(2), 163. (https://www.proquest.com/openview/6a9e704a476d873aada2d2529821b95a/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=2029886)

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Essays About The Great Gatsby: Top 5 Examples and Prompts

The Great Gatsby is a classic American tale; if you are writing essays about The Great Gatsby, find interesting essay examples and writing prompts in our guide.

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby (1925) revolves around a young man named Nick Carraway and his interactions with his New York neighbors, including the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby. Throughout the novel, Gatsby attempts to rekindle his relationship with Daisy Buchanan, a cousin of Carraway’s; along the way, he is revealed not to be who he seems. The novel is regarded as a literary masterwork due to its profound exploration of love, social class, gender, and race, among other themes. As a result, it has developed into one of the most well-known ls of all time.

If you need to write a good essay about The Great Gatsby , look at our featured essay examples below.

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1. The Great Gatsby – Really Great by Grace Nguyen

2. five reasons ‘gatsby’ is the great american novel by deirdre donahue, 3. “the great gatsby” color analysis by kurt medina, 4. in defense of plot: an analysis of the tension in the great gatsby by aatif rashid.

5. Behind The Great Gatsby by William Peace

Top Writing Prompts on Essays about The Great Gatsby

1. how does the novel manifest the american dream, 2. the story behind the title, 3. compare and contrast, 4. how is new york city portrayed, 5. the great gatsby’s legacy, 6. the theme of race, 7. the theme of social class.

“Gatsby is the prime example of a person disregarding whatever morals he might have had, in order to pursue Daisy, his own personal American Dream. Consequently, his actions were reprehensible, not great. Gatsby also showed himself to be a generally dishonest person. Daisy

was married to a man named Tom. By trying to win her affections Gatsby is, in turn, adamantly trying to get Daisy to cheat on her husband.”

Nguyen writes about the novel’s titular character and how he changed himself so much for one person. This would be admirable if not because he was most enamored with Daisy’s rich life rather than her shallow character. From a working-class background, Gatsby acquired massive amounts of wealth through illegal means to match Daisy’s life, letting go of his morals to achieve his goals. In the end, Nguyen writes that Gatsby dies due to his deception.

“One reason: It offers complicated characters who can be interpreted in fresh ways for new readers. Is Nick in love with Gatsby, as Greg Olear theorized on Salon? Could Gatsby — the other, the outsider — actually be a black man? Often dismissed as a selfish ditz, is Daisy victimized by a society that offers her no career path except marriage to big bucks?”

Donahue enumerates reasons for which The Great Gatsby is so highly regarded and considered the “great American novel.” These include an “American Dream”-type story, complex and exciting language, and most importantly, the unbelievable love story of Gatsby and Daisy. The millionaire is not motivated by greed but by love; however, he is in love with the idea of Daisy and the past in general rather than Daisy herself.

“These colors connect the reader to the novel by making him see and feel the actual events and emotions a character has and not only an imaginative image. Gatsby’s example, which is full of lines rich of color imagery, makes the reader feel what he feels; sense what he senses; and try to be what he is. Gatsby’s figure is greatly shaped by this color imagery, validating and supporting the title of the book, colors show how great The Great Gatsby was.”

In his essay, Medina explains how Fitzgerald uses color symbolism to progress the plot and characters, using quotes from the novel as sources. For example, yellow represents Gatsby’s wealth, green symbolizes his greed and jealousy, and white symbolizes the pure, innocent idea he has of Daisy. Medina believes that these colors help readers connect more to the characters, making them feel what they feel and identify with them.

“The central tension and conflict in the novel is not just whether Daisy will chose Gatsby or Tom but whether Nick will come to sympathize with Gatsby or not. And with this line, it’s clear that Nick does indeed sympathize with Gatsby. He realizes that old money Daisy and Tom are rotten, and that Gatsby is worth more than them. Human sympathy, thus, becomes more expansive than Nick had previously thought.”

Rashid starts off his essay by summarizing The Great Gatsby, then reveals how much of an impact tension has on the novel. Rather than the tension between Gatsby and Daisy, he believes that the tension lies in the extent to which Nick’s sympathy goes. He sympathizes greatly, going so far as to help invite people to Gatsby’s funeral (barely anyone comes, however). Rashid says this is emblematic of the “larger failures of society.”

5. Behind The Great Gatsby by William Peace

“Drawing on his own personal experience, Fitzgerald specialises in drawing characters who yearn to break into the ranks of the rich and powerful. Through his vivid depiction of the Wilsons, the unhappily married couple who run the gas station in Ash Valley, Fitzgerald captures the sense of life literally passing them by.”

Peace’s essay explores the background of Fitzgerald, the novel’s author, and how it inspired him to write it. He joined the army, fell in love with another wealthy woman named Zelda Sayre, and proposed to her; however, she rejected him, and he fell into despair. However, his later success led Zelda to accept him. Nevertheless, their relationship was rocky, as they struggled to sustain their extravagant lifestyle. Peace writes that the story, particularly the character of Daisy, is based on this period in his life.

A significant reason for the novel’s status today is its reflection of the“American Dream” many desperately wish to achieve. Explain exactly what the American dream is and how it is represented in The Great Gatsby , particularly in the character of Gatsby.

The title refers to Gatsby as “great”; the question is, is he truly deserving of this title? Analyze the character of Jay Gatsby, citing quotes from the novel and online sources, and determine whether you believe he is indeed “great” or not. Be sure to justify your response correctly; there is no wrong answer as long as it is well-supported.

For your essay, compare and contrast any two characters from the novel. How are they similar? How are they different? What is their fate at the end of the story? Answer these questions in your essay and cite text evidence when analyzing a character.

The Great Gatsby has also gained much notoriety due to its portrayal of New York City. Analyze the setting of the story and the way it is described- what is he trying to say about the city and its way of life? Compare Fitzgerald’s vision of the city to how it is seen today.

The novel has left a longstanding impression on American literature and the world, having been adapted countless times. Write about why the novel has become a classic and how its legacy can be seen today in film, literature, television, art, and pop culture. What exactly has been its impact on society? Delve into this question in your essay to create an exciting piece of writing.

Being set in the 1920s, when racism was rife in society, The Great Gatsby is littered with racial prejudice. Discuss the presence of racism, particularly against Jewish people and African-Americans. Which characters show it? Who is the racism being subjected to? Answer these questions in your essay and use quotes to support your arguments.

The theme of social class is prevalent in the novel. Write about how Fitzgerald views the social hierarchy of the 1920s based on the novel. Keep in mind the author’s background when writing; the book is primarily based on his own experiences.

Tip: If writing an essay sounds like a lot of work, simplify it. Write a simple 5 paragraph essay instead. If you’re stuck picking your next essay topic, check out our guide on how to write an essay about diversity .

The Great Gatsby

Literary Analysis

Character analysis, character development.

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Literary Devices

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Social-Historical Context

Social and historical context.

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Themes and Motifs

Central theme.

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The Great Gatsby Unit Plan | Entire Novel Study

This resource includes an ANTICIPATION GUIDE (pre-reading activity) for the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

An anticipation guide is a comprehension strategy that is used BEFORE reading to activate students’ prior knowledge and build curiosity about a new topic.

In this lesson, students will respond to several claims by indicating if they agree or disagree with that said statement. Next, students will work collaboratively in groups to answer related discussion questions to further build anticipation about the novel before reading.

Are you looking for pre-reading activities for The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald ? Why not pay homage to the beautiful artwork of Spanish artist Francis Cugat who painted the original cover of the novel The Great Gatsby !?

Have students analyze the text and graphics of the famous artwork; they will literally judge a book by its cover by answering questions about the emotions and associations they think of while looking at the image. Then, students should make predictions about what the story will be about.

This activity is fun and engaging for students! It’s a great reading strategy to build anticipation prior to a novel study on the American novel The Great Gatsby.

This resource includes guided notes for Background Information for the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The Great Gatsby background info is essential for students to learn and be familiar with before reading the novel!

The focus of this lesson entails a brief history of the 1920s to include the following topics: author background, setting of The Great Gatsby, 1920s culture, the Jazz Age, the Roaring Twenties, the economic boom, gender roles, racism, prohibition, modernism, art deco, new money vs old money, social class, the Harlem Renaissance, post-war era, the Lost Generation, organized crime, and the American Dream.

Before reading the novel The Great Gatsby , teach your students about the author, the setting, society, and culture of the 1920s to ensure they truly understand the prominent themes in the novel.

In this lesson, your students with be engaged as they take notes from a Powerpoint presentation and answer questions using the accommodating worksheet provided.

Students will answer questions along the way that create personal connections to the time period of the 1920s.

f scott fitzgerald author study collaborative poster

Have your students create a collaborative poster and learn about F. Scott Fitzgerald in a fun, engaging way!

Your students will create an author biography by researching F. Scott Fitzgerald and establishing his profile on a poster.

Students will learn about Fitzgerald and his body of work as a legendary author.

This goes perfectly for any novel study on The Great Gatsby!

Additionally, they will learn the importance of collaboration and effective communication.

Project Steps:

1) To construct the author study poster, your students will work in groups to conduct research on Fitzgerald.

2) Students will then transfer their findings to boxes on the poster.

3) Next, they will work together to color or paint the pieces of the poster.

4) Lastly, students will tape together the final product.

The poster is made up of six pieces of paper, which can be printed on regular copy paper or card stock.

Once taped together, the final product will be 28″ x 15″ and can last a lifetime if you laminate it!

This resource includes the following:

Step by Step Student Directions (PDF & editable word document)
Author Study Project Rubric (PDF & editable word document)
Author Study Graphic Organizer for Students (PDF & editable word document)
6 Blank Coloring Pages that come together as one beautiful poster (PDFs)
F. Scott Fitzgerald Author Study Answer Key
Example of Final Project: Completed Text & Fully Colored Body

This resource includes a fun, engaging activity that will get your students talking about The Great Gatsby before reading the novel! This pre-reading activity for The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald consists of over 20 classic “Would You Rather” questions.

The questions are all closely related to themes, motifs, and events directly from the novel—but without any spoilers! For example… Would you rather: marry someone rich OR make your own fortune??

Your students will be able to personally connect with the text, make predictions, and build anticipation before completing a novel study on the famous American novel The Great Gatsby!

This resource entails 90 academic words defined: Vocab Lists & Quizzes for All 9 Chapters! All The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald vocabulary resources you need in one place!

Included in this resource The Great Gatsby Vocabulary:

1. Powerpoint presentation with 90 words—and their definitions—from The Great Gatsby.

2. Graphic organizers for students to record all definitions as well as write their own.

3. Teacher answer key for all 90 words.

4. Three quizzes: 30 words each, separated by every 3 chapters.

5. Answer keys for quizzes.

Make sure your students are completing their independent reading for the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald with these quick Reading Checks or Chapter Quizzes ! This product works well if your students are reading independently or if you are reading as a class and you want to ensure students are paying attention! 🙂

These questions require brief responses; they are recall questions that are meant to be easy to remember for anyone who has completed the reading. This is a tool used simply to check that students are completing the independent reading, comprehending the basic information, and/or are engaged during class.

The reading checks are divided by every individual chapter (9 chapters altogether). There are two different versions of every set of questions (a & b). This is so you can use different quizzes for different classes and avoid cheating (students talk and share answers).

This product includes a Powerpoint presentation as well as printable worksheets that are meant to be cut in half and distributed to students (optional).

To administer quizzes:

project the questions on your board for students to see
have students use scrap paper or lined paper to write their answers down (or print the worksheets included)
when everyone is done, have students grade each other’s answers by switching papers in class
review the correct answers out loud and project them on the board
collect graded quizzes

Teacher answer keys included!

The Great Gatsby Chapter Activities — Chapter by Chapter Literary Analysis & Text-Dependent Reading Questions!

This resource includes literary analysis, reading comprehension, and discussion-type questions for all nine chapters of the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, as well as 10 after reading discussion questions.

As your students read the novel The Great Gatsby, chapter by chapter, have them digest, analyze, and discuss the important scenes and literary elements Fitzgerald demonstrates.

There are 10 questions per chapter, plus 10 after reading questions, totaling in 100 awesome questions in this product! Thorough answer keys are included.

You can print this resource as one all-encompassing packet or you can provide students worksheets one chapter at a time.

Students will analyze point of view, theme, imagery, symbolism, irony, and more with this lesson.

This Imagery Project is an after reading activity based on the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

For this project, students will carefully select a scene from the novel The Great Gatsby that is filled with imagery. Students will illustrate and analyze the scene. To analyze the scene, students will pick out textual evidence that appeals to the five senses: sight, taste, touch, smell, and sound. Students will describe the effect the descriptive language has on the reader and the overall mood of the scene. Student’s must also explain Fitzgerald’s purpose for the use of imagery in the scene.

For this after reading activity based on the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, students will write an obituary for Jay Gatsby using characterization skills.

If you are looking for engaging after reading activities for The Great Gatsby, this writing task provides students an opportunity to analyze Jay Gatsby’s character in an interesting way! Students will discuss Jay Gatsby’s history, his accomplishments, his personality, and more, all in a well-written tribute to his memory.

Have your students analyze characters from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby in a fun and engaging way: Character Collabs !

Your students will use several characterization methods to depict each character’s profile, demonstrate their understanding of the literature, and present their final work on a poster.

Posters will showcase your students’ body of work after completing each character’s biography.

Additionally, students will learn the importance of collaboration and effective communication.

There are seven characters included in this resource:

Nick Carraway
Daisy Buchanan
Tom Buchanan
Jordan Baker
Myrtle Wilson
George Wilson

1) To construct each poster, your students will work in groups to analyze their specific character.

2) Students will then transfer their findings to boxes on each poster.

3) Next, they will work together to color the pieces of the posters.

4) Lastly, students will tape together the final products.

Each poster is made up of six pieces of paper, which can be printed on regular copy paper or card stock.

Once taped together, each final product will be 28″ x 15″ .

Teacher Guide
Student Directions
Brainstorm Character Analysis Worksheet
Blank Coloring Pages for each character
Answer Keys
Example of Final Project for Jay Gatsby
Digitally Colored Examples for every character
Editable documents: directions, rubric, brainstorm worksheet

After reading the beloved American novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, have your students reexamine the most important quotes and dialogue throughout the book.

In this lesson, students will first identify 10 popular quotes by their speaker. Next, students will take a closer look at 25 quotes from all nine chapters of The Great Gatsby. Students will analyze these quotes for their meaning and significance by answering open-ended questions pertaining to each quote.

This activity is a great addition to any novel study of The Great Gatsby and a nice review for after reading! Detailed answer key included.

In this resource, students will conduct a literary analysis of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and write a TDA Essay using textual evidence to support their responses.

There are TWO writing options students can choose from for this Response to Literature/TDA essay.

Included in this product you will get one copy of the following each as PDFs (ready to print) as well as one copy of the following each as WORD Documents (as to be editable for teachers ).

Essay Prompts for two different topics on the novel The Great Gatsby
Two Prewriting Graphic Organizers for students to brainstorm ideas, thesis, examples, and textual evidence
TDA Essay Rubric broken down into categories: content, focus, organization, style, conventions, and format

Teach your students about the Symbols/Symbolism and Colors in the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

In this resource, you will get a Powerpoint lesson that is 58 slides, filled with information, quotes, examples, and photos to help your students analyze the important symbols and colors in the novel.

Below is a list of symbols your students will analyze:

Dan Cody’s Yacht
Gatsby’s Shirts
New York City
Valley of Ashes
Wolfsheim’s Cufflinks
Gatsby’s Uncut Books
The Eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg
West Egg and East Egg
Gatsby’s Car
Gatsby’s Mansion
Gatsby’s Bedroom
Gatsby’s Swimming Pool
The Green Blinking Light on Daisy’s Dock

This lesson is great for cooperative learning and group work. Instructions for a jigsaw activity are included (optional).

In addition to the Powerpoint presentation, you will receive two graphic organizer options and an answer key.

Your students are going to love The Great Gatsby Digital Escape Room! Students will decipher and solve puzzles in this dramatic, backyard pool scene from the novel. In this 360° digital escape room, students will try to evade the police and enter Gatsby’s mansion to pack a get away bag!

This activity is designed to work for a laptop, tablet, or smart phone. Students will solve a series of clues based on the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald in order to crack the master lock and escape the premises.

This game entails reading comprehension skills, finding textual evidence, and making inferences. Watch the preview video to get a closer look of what this resource entails.

Included in this download are teacher instructions, student instructions (digital), the master lock graphic organizer, answer keys, and a reflection sheet (optional).

PLEASE READ: While using this resource, you must have a wi-fi connection and the ability to access the following sites: Google Forms and Kuula.co. Please check that these websites are not blocked by your district’s filter before purchasing. Your students do not need to have a Google account.

This resource includes The Great Gatsby Final Unit Test with a Study Guide for Review and Answer Keys!

This test, based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby , requires students to demonstrate what they learned from the novel and their overall comprehension of the book. (Answer key included)

This exam consists of 68 questions and offers students an opportunity to demonstrate knowledge, skills, and abilities in a variety of ways, to include:

multiple choice questions
true or false
short answer (1-2 sentences)
character identification (with word bank)
extended response (5 sentences or more)

Also included in this product is an accommodating study guide that closely mirrors the expectations of the test. (Answer key included)

Additionally, I provide an “answer sheet” for any teachers that prefer students to not write on the actual tests because it is quicker to grade multiple choice questions with answer sheets. Answer sheets are completely optional!

The Great Gatsby Movie Guide worksheet is an in-depth Film Analysis and Book Comparison based on the 2013 movie The Great Gatsby, directed by Baz Luhrmann.

This exercise is meant for students to analyze the film as well as specific decisions made by the director. Students will also be required to input personal opinions regarding the movie, such as cast and music choice.

Answer guide included!

Have your students share their unique understanding of the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald by imaginatively blending their written ideas with colorful images based on information from the text.

With this one-pager reading comprehension project, students will analyze the literature by determining theme, symbolism, characterization, point of view, setting, important quotes and more. Students’ artwork make for unique and creative analyses of the literature and also make great bulletin boards! This is the perfect project for students to work on at the end of a novel study and to summarize their thoughts/ideas about the book.

Included in this purchase is:

Student directions for the one pager summary project
Rubric for the one pager project
Example one-pager based on the novel The Great Gatsby
10 BLANK TEMPLATES (printable—optional)

This resource includes FIVE FULL WEEKS of content for The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald!

Additionally, in this UNIT PLAN BUNDLE , you will receive a teacher guide that encompasses an example Unit Schedule/Pacing Guide!

Lessons Included in this Bundle:

Anticipation Guide and Questions
Judge The Book by its Cover Before Reading
Background Info on 1920s, the American Dream, the Roaring Twenties culture, and F. Scott Fitzgerald
Would You Rather Pre-Reading Game
Vocabulary For Every Chapter with Quizzes
Reading Checks/Quizzes for All 9 Chapters
Imagery and Descriptive Language Project
Obituary for Jay Gatsby Project
Character Analysis and Characterization Activity
Important Quotes Explanation and Analysis
Reading Questions for Every Chapter
TDA Essay Prompt and Rubric
Symbols and Colors Powerpoint Lesson
Digital Escape Room Reading Comprehension Game
Study Guide and Final Test
Movie Guide and Comparison Worksheet (Baz Luhrmann Film, 2013)
One Pager Creative Project

1 thought on “The Great Gatsby Unit Plan | Entire Novel Study”

This unit is awesome! It is well designed and includes everything that I wanted to include in my personal unit plus the ancillary materials that I will not have to make myself. Thank you!!

The Great Gatsby

F. scott fitzgerald.

Ask LitCharts AI: The answer to your questions

Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

The Great Gatsby: Introduction

The great gatsby: plot summary, the great gatsby: detailed summary & analysis, the great gatsby: themes, the great gatsby: quotes, the great gatsby: characters, the great gatsby: symbols, the great gatsby: literary devices, the great gatsby: quizzes, the great gatsby: theme wheel, brief biography of f. scott fitzgerald.

Historical Context of The Great Gatsby

Other books related to the great gatsby.

Full Title: The Great Gatsby
Where Written: Paris and the US, in 1924
When Published: 1925
Literary Period: Modernism
Genre: Novel
Setting: Long Island, Queens, and Manhattan, New York in the summer of 1922
Climax: The showdown between Gatsby and Tom over Daisy
Point of View: First person

Extra Credit for The Great Gatsby

Puttin' on the Fitz. Fitzgerald spent most of his adult life in debt, often relying on loans from his publisher, and even his editor, Maxwell Perkins, in order to pay the bills. The money he made from his novels could not support the high-flying cosmopolitan life his wife desired, so Fitzgerald turned to more lucrative short story writing for magazines like Esquire. Fitzgerald spent his final three years writing screenplays in Hollywood.

Another Failed Screenwriter. Fitzgerald was an alcoholic and his wife Zelda suffered from serious mental illness. In the final years of their marriage as their debts piled up, Zelda stayed in a series of mental institutions on the East coast while Fitzgerald tried, and largely failed, to make money writing movie scripts in Hollywood.

Quizzes, saving guides, requests, plus so much more.

30+ fantastic yet manageable activities for The Great Gatsby

by mindroar | Mar 28, 2022 | blog | 0 comments

Are you looking for activities for The Great Gatsby ? Are you wanting to add to an established curriculum or are you starting from scratch? Either way, we’ve got you.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is one of those American classics that features in curriculums the world over.

This post will help you out if you’re teaching The Great Gatsby by showing you pre-reading, while-reading, after-reading, and whole-unit bundles of activities for the novel.

We\’ll look at fun activities for The Great Gatsby , as well as other The Great Gatsby teaching resources.

Pre-reading activities for The Great Gatsby

1. the roaring 20s learning stations.

A great way to help your students understand the historical context for Gatsby is by using these six learning stations by Write On with Miss G.

You can either use all of the stations, or if time is short, you pick and choose which stations are best suited to your class. You can assign parts digitally for homework.

Each station contains a link to an informational text and a few questions. Topics covered include:

disillusionment and the Lost Generation
economy and consumerism
prohibition and organized crime
the changing role of women
the jazz age

2. The Great Gatsby gallery walk pre-reading stations

If your students are more visual, you might like this gallery walk by Mondays Made Easy.

You can use it both in-class or through distance learning with Google Classroom.

In the activity, students will look at primary sources including music, film, archived newspaper articles, photos, and book covers.

Using worksheets, students will then draw inferences about the context of Gatsby (the Roaring 1920s) and make predictions about the plot.

3. The Great Gatsby bias discussion

Another great pre-reading activity for The Great Gatsby is this bias discussion by Created for Learning.

In the bias discussion, students are given nine controversial statements that they then need to agree or disagree with. Students who agree move to one side of the room, while those who disagree move to the other.

Students then need to defend their opinions, while you challenge students’ opinions through questioning.

The discussion activity includes a printable handout and a PowerPoint presentation to accompany the discussion.

4. Pre-reading webquest for The Gre at Gatsby

If your students prefer to work by themselves, they may prefer this pre-reading webquest by Robert Cant.

Students learn about the author, historical context, key literary terms, genre, and more.

There is also an optional written task, meta-cognition activity, and a marking rubric if you wish to use it. The document is in word format and is fully editable so you can adapt it to your needs.

5. Agree or disagree activity

Similar to the bias discussion earlier, this agree or disagree activity by The Lit Guy asks students to choose the ‘agree’ or ‘disagree’ side about various issues raised in The Great Gatsby .

Students must then defend their opinions. Students often engage in great discussion using this format.

The activity includes tips on how to use the resource in your classroom.

6. Roaring 20s research project

If your students love to work individually, then this 1920s research project by Books and Bloom Teaching may be what you need. In the activity, students select a topic that is most interesting to them.

Choices of topics include:

economic booms and stock market crashes
the Great Depression
flappers and women\’s rights
the impact of World War One
the film industry and celebrity worship
immigration

Once students have chosen a topic, they create a thesis statement, three main points, and follow the guideline to find pictures with captions, an aligning literary text, an important historical character, and more.

If you are using this as a pre-reading activity, students could use excerpts from the novel (that you select) and information about F. Scott Fitzgerald etc.

Students then create a poster or documentary. The product has an editable version so that you can tweak it to your circumstances.

7. The Great Gatsby pre-reading activities

Another option is one of the two pre-reading activities in this bundle by Selena Smith. Included in the bundle are a PechaKucha presentations activity (20 images for 20 seconds presentation) or a gallery walk.

Detailed instructions for both options are included, as are an evaluation checklist for students and a grading rubric for teachers (for the presentations activity).

Students complete the activity on one of twelve topics from the Roaring 20s. You could either ask students to choose a topic, or you could assign them.

8. The Great Gatsby pre-reading exploration board

Another option for a research pre-reading activity for The Great Gatsby is this exploration board by Julie Conlan.

Students use the ‘board’ of topics to choose activities that explore contextual information about The Great Gatsby . And to ensure they cover enough information, students must cover the whole board (all the topics) in one way or another.

The resource is fully editable, so you can tweak the activity or information to suit your specific classes.

9. Pre-reading activities for The Great Gatsby

Another option for pre-reading activities are these ones by Mud and Ink Teaching.

Student activities include

a notes sheet to use for the documentary Sincerely Fitzgerald
an informal assessment of students\’ understanding of the documentary in the form of a Fitzgerald banner coloring activity
editable bookmarks for annotation guidance
station activities to introduce the novel
and a Socratic seminar pack of ideas for preliminary discussions to have as your students prepare to read The Great Gatsby

10. The Great Gatsby pre-reading carousel discussion

If your students love to talk, then this pre-reading carousel discussion by English Bulldog may be a good option.

In this pre-reading activity for The Great Gatsby , students travel around the classroom or hallway to read several posters including statements that are designed to create strong agreement or disagreement. Working in pairs, students need to leave a statement of agreement or disagreement with an explanation.

After that, students will be assigned a poster along with its responses. They need to review each response and determine the trend in thinking. Following this, students engage in a debriefing discussion with the class to share their thoughts and understandings.

You also get a teacher lesson plan with common core objectives, preparation steps, a classroom agenda, and assessment strategies. Similarly, you get a PowerPoint with student-friendly objectives, student directions, and activity time limits.

While-reading activities for The Great Gatsby

Now that your students are primed and ready to read, you may be looking for some activities to do while reading The Great Gatsby .

You’re probably looking for things to ensure your students are understanding the plot, but also some of the more complex literary elements of the novel.

Never fear, if you’re teaching The Great Gatsby and want while-reading resources, you’re bound to find something useful below.

1. Crash Course Literature video worksheets

First up we have these worksheets (by me) to accompany the free Crash Course Literature YouTube videos about The Great Gatsby .

The worksheets are designed to keep students engaged in the videos, while also ensuring they get important information recorded. (See here for the first video and here for the second).

These worksheets are great for homework, flipped classroom activities, leaving for a substitute teacher, or giving yourself a bit of a break from talking!

The topics covered in the Crash Course videos are

the main characters of the play
how the novel interprets the American Dream
color symbolism in the novel
how the novel views wealth
how F. Scott Fitzgerald creates a compelling novel with characters that are unlikeable
varying viewpoints on whether Gatsby is great
commonalities with Romeo and Juliet
Gatsby’s motivations for acquiring wealth
the idea of restoring a ‘perfect’ past
and the horror of living a carefree life

Warning that there may be spoilers in the video though! So be sure to preview the videos and ensure that you’re not spoiling anything you don’t want spoiled.

These worksheets are print-and-go, but they also include teacher notes so you can assist students.

2. Free chapter one activities

If you’re looking for chapter activities for The Great Gatsby , this list of chapter one activities by Modern ELA Materials is free and a good way to check out if you want to buy the rest of the set.

The chapter activities are Google Slides, so are completely digital, and include

character guide
quote spotlight
informational article
character analysis
quote analysis
and writing prompt

3. Party cost activity in The Great Gatsby

Another fun The Great Gatsby activity is this part cost activity by Modern ELA Materials.

The graphic organizer steps students through the process of examining what the party in chapter three would cost today.

In doing so, students examine the text and make inferences about the party based on the descriptions in the chapter.

4. Cloze reading passages for The Great Gatsby

If you’re wanting to evaluate your students’ comprehension of The Great Gatsby , these cloze reading passages by The Green Light might be exactly what you need.

Written like a summary of each chapter, the quizzes have blanks that students need to fill in with key details.

You can use these activities as reading quizzes, review activities, bell ringers, or homework.

They are also great for substitute or emergency lesson plans as answer keys are provided.

5. The Great Gatsby activities bundle

If you’re interested in the carousel discussion by English Bulldog mentioned earlier, this The Great Gatsby activities bundle might be a great fit for you.

Included in the activities bundle are four activities including

the pre-reading carousel discussion mentioned earlier in this post
a fishbowl debate – which provides a framework for discussing the novel and you can get students to write an ACT-style argumentative essay afterward
a themes textual analysis activity – you give students quotes and they have to decide on a common theme for the quotes. Students then create a poster using the most powerful quote to illustrate the theme and write an analysis of the author’s language choices.
and a review game – you divide your class into teams and then use a laptop and projector to complete the review game. Teams compete to get the best score. The game is also editable so you can adapt it to fit your class.

The activities bundle also includes The Great Gatsby lesson plans for the activities, common core objectives, preparation steps, a classroom agenda, and assessment strategies.

There are also PowerPoints with student-friendly objectives, student directions, and activity time limits.

6. Characterization poster activity

If you’re wanting your students to take a deeper look at characterization in The Great Gatsby , this characterization poster activity by The Green Light might be what you need.

Designed to be used after the first chapter (Nick, Tom, Daisy, Jordan, and Gatsby), students create posters for each of the five characters introduced.

Each poster has black and white clipart for your students to decorate based on the characters’ descriptions. Questions are included around the poster for students to complete.

Students can complete the activity in groups or as an independent project. The posters make for great classroom decorations and they also help students keep track of characters in the text.

This activity could be done in groups, with each group working on a different character, or as an independent project. The posters will make for great classroom displays once completed and can help your students keep track of who’s who in the novel.

7. The Great Gatsby coloring pages

If your students need a chilled-out lesson, then these ten coloring pages that feature significant quotes from The Great Gatsby might be perfect.

Created by The Crazy English Teacher they can be used in a variety of ways:

as essay starters
for test review
as homework tasks
for classroom decorations
to help settle an anxious class
as a break between heavy reading-and-writing lessons
for fast finishers
as an easy lesson activity for a substitute teacher

8. The Gre a t Gatsby character charts

If you are looking for a digital product that will help you teach about the characters in The Great Gatsby , then this character chart activity by Mondays Made Easy may be just right for you.

The activity asks students to analyze characters and develop inferences using the text. Including digital worksheets, students explore thematic representations and characteristics of Tom and Daisy Buchanan, Jay Gatsby, Nick Carraway, and others.

The activity begins with an introductory handout that has F. Scott Fitzgerald’s descriptions of each character’s physical appearance, words, thoughts, actions, and interests. Students use a chart to help them look for evidence from the text about the characters.

Students then use the charts to make inferences and real-world connections about the character. The activity includes a worked-through example for Tom Buchanan if you wish to model what students need to do.

There is also a blank character chart should you wish to cover a character that isn’t included in the bundle.

9. The Great Gatsby before, during, and after reading activities

If you are looking for activities to make The Great Gatsby more accessible for lower-level readers, then you might like this bundle of activities by Julie Conlon.

Designed to supplement your own teaching resources for The Great Gatsby , the bundle includes eleven activities.

probable passage – a before-reading activity that introduces characters and events in an upcoming chapter
story impressions – a before-reading prediction activity that helps students engage in the events of the upcoming chapters
character analysis – students find evidence to support their judgments about a character
journaling (connections) – students think about a time they have faced a similar situation to better understand a character’s motivations and/or actions
making inferences – students learn to differentiate facts from rumors and in doing so make inferences and recognize their own gaps in understanding
party invitation – students create party invitations for each of the nine parties (chapters) of the novel to help them summarize each party/chapter
predictions – a during-reading strategy that gets students to pay attention to current events in the novel and think about how they will influence what happens later in the text
positive profile – a character analysis activity with a creative writing component. Students write a creative positive profile of the character (a speech/poem/newspaper article etc) using a graphic organizer to assist them.
found poems – a fun creative writing activity. Instructions on how to do it are included, as well as a sample poem about Nick and Jordan baker. A rubric is included.
visualizing – an after-reading strategy that takes students back to the text to search for details, which helps them better understand what they’ve read
retellings – an after-reading activity where students practice summarizing and demonstrating their comprehension of the text. Students do it after reading a chapter and can do them either in writing or orally. A rubric is included.

10. The Great Gatsby themes activity

Also included in the bundle by English Bulldog shown earlier, is this textual analysis activity is a way of getting students to identify and analyze themes in the novel.

Students read a group of quotations from The Great Gatsby and then decide on a theme that relates to all of the quotations. Students then create a wall poster that includes the most powerful quotation to represent their theme. They also analyze the author’s use of language in the quote.

Afterward, students do a carousel discussion where they review other groups’ posters and ideas. The Great Gatsby lesson plan includes common core objectives, preparation steps, a classroom agenda, and assessment strategies.

The activity also includes a PowerPoint with student-friendly objectives, student directions, and activity time limits.

11. The Great Gatsby color symbolism PowerPoint and activities

If you are wanting to teach a lesson about color symbolism in The Great Gatsby , then this activity by O Some Great Stuff for English Teachers might suit your needs.

The bundle includes three separate activities, as well as a set of color symbolism posters to display in your classroom.

The first activity is a handout that they can work on independently or in groups. It includes eight pages of discussion and questions about color symbolism in the novel, as well as excerpts and quotes from the text.

Students use a variety of tasks to identify the imagery and discuss how it enhances characterization and setting.

The second activity is a color symbolism PowerPoint presentation of over sixty slides that discuss colors, their symbolism, as well as any general symbols associated with the color.

The PowerPoint slides also include relevant graphics, quotes from the novel, and questions to prompt students’ engagement.

The third activity in the bundle scaffolds an essay response about the color symbolism in The Great Gatsby .

Students choose what color and symbolism they want to discuss, and how it enhances the characterization or setting and mood. In the activity, there is a fill-in-the-blanks thesis statement, and the basic steps for writing a literary analysis essay, including

determining three main points
locating quotes from the text to illustrate the points
citing quotes correctly using MLA
developing paragraphs by discussing how points and quotes support the thesis
concluding with a restatement of the thesis and a comment on the effectiveness of the use of color symbolism

Finally, the bundle also includes color symbolism posters for thirteen colors. Each has a color and symbolism, along with relevant graphics.

12. Chapter 7 who is winning? activity

Another great tool to analyze character is this ‘Who is winning’ tracking sheet by Write on with Miss G.

Students examine Fitzgerald’s use of the ‘scenic method’ by awarding Gatsby and Tom points (both positive and negative) to see ‘who is winning’ at key points in Chapter 7.

The activity gets students to practice close reading and analysis skills while tracking who is winning the competition.

13. Chapter 1 character report card

Another fun idea for character analysis in The Great Gatsby is this character report card activity, also by Write on with Miss G.

In the activity, students have to ‘grade’ the characters on certain traits. Students have to justify the grades with evidence from the text.

After grading, students then have to explain the most and least likable characters. This helps students understand that as a reader you’re not necessarily supposed to like the characters in the novel.

This helps students understand Fitzgerald’s message and social commentary.

After-reading activities for The Great Gatsby

Ok, you’re on the home stretch. Your students have read The Great Gatsby and you’re prepping them for some kind of assessment.

We have revision activities, as well as assessment tasks listed here. So take a look if you want those sorts of teaching materials for The Great Gatsby .

1. Literary criticism matching game

If you are trying to help your students understand literary approaches to texts, then this literary criticism matching game by Moore English could help you out. This product shows students examples of literary criticism that could be applied to The Great Gatsby .

Literary criticism approaches used include formalist, New Critical, feminist, Marxist, psychoanalytical, historical, biographical, and archetypal/mythological.

The game comes in a few different formats, so you can choose which style best suits your class

a match-up worksheet where students match the statement from the text with its corresponding literary criticism idea/approach – these are available to print or as Google Forms
a card sort (also available as Google Slides with moveable cards and Google Jamboard format)
concentration game cards
task cards with literary criticism statements that students then need to find evidence for from The Great Gatsby – these are in Google Slides format, so you can edit them to suit your needs

2. Common Core-aligned test and activity pack for The Great Gatsby

If you’re looking for a test to evaluate your students’ understanding of the novel, this test and activity pack by Marci Brockman might be exactly what you need.

Included in the pack are

a persuasive letter assignment
The Great Gatsby conflict and symbols
The Great Gatsby character trait analysis
what the houses say about the characters in The Great Gatsby
rumors vs. truth about Jay Gatsby
The Great Gatsby – symbolic analysis
a soundtrack project
quotation analysis
critical lens essay
The Great Gatsby short-response paragraphs
The Great Gatsby project – group presentations
chapters quizzes for chapters one to two, three, four to five, six to seven, and eight to nine
a vocabulary quiz
a unit test and answer key
an answer key for all quizzes and the final test

3. Creative assessments and activities for The Great Gatsby

If you’re looking for something other than a test, you might prefer these activities by O Some Great Stuff for English Teachers.

The activities are designed for students to creatively show their understanding of The Great Gatsby ’s characterization, plot, and symbolism.

The first activity is a found poem, where students copy and paste a page from the novel, underline illustrative words and phrases, create a topic or theme, and compose a poem using Fitzgerald’s words. A sample poem is included, along with a brief explanation of the poem and a grading rubric.

The second activity is a creative writing activity that ‘adds on’ to chapter five. Because Nick Carraway is an unreliable narrator, students write as the narrator and compose the scene of what they think happened between Jay and Daisy in their reunion in chapter five.

Students must consider dialogue, sensory description, figurative language (alliteration, simile, personification), symbolism, and plot. A scoring rubric is provided.

The third activity is a character’s cell phone activity. Students imagine the characters as they might exist in our society. They imagine a homepage that displays the character’s apps and then complete an illustration/discussion component for each.

Students must fill in a blank cell phone homepage and choose options to display from entertainment apps, social connections, online shopping, legitimate news, and self-indulgence such as selfies, avatars, ringtones, or games.

Students then discuss why the character would have accessed or posted various items.

The final creative assessment task is a Gatsby one-pager. From a template, students will create a one-page assignment of illustrations, quotes, and explanations to show their understanding of the theme, characterization, and symbolism in The Great Gatsby .

Students must use quotes and citations in the one-pager, and a sample is included in the bundle. There is also a scoring rubric included.

4. The Great Gatsby wordsearch review activity

If you’re looking for a fast and fun review activity for The Great Gatsby, perhaps in preparation for a test, your students might enjoy this word search activity by Puzzles to Print.

Students review the plot and characters from The Great Gatsby by hunting for thirty-three hidden words.

5. The Great Gatsby critical thinking activity

Another great way to review the novel is this hexagonal thinking activity by Lindsay Ann Learning – Digital English Resources.

Created for use in both Google Classroom and a paper version, the activity gets students to connect ideas from The Great Gatsby . Students are given (or create their own) hexagonal tiles and place them in an order that they think fits.

Students need to be able to explain how the tiles connect along the sides whether through ideas, concepts, feelings, images, or terms.

The activity can be differentiated, and there is a linked blog post in the product description that you can use to help you differentiate using sentence stems and other ideas. You can increase rigor by asking students to provide textual citations to support the connections they make.

The activity can be re-used too, as you can ask students to reshuffle the tiles and start again.

The activity includes

both digital hexagonal thinking slides and print-use hexagonal thinking cards
gallery walk note sheet
reshuffle and reflect worksheet
a hexagonal thinking synthesis worksheet
write-it-out journal page
sentence stems handout
teacher notes and getting started guide for teachers

6. The Great Gatsby quote race

Another fun The Great Gatsby activity is this review quote race by Laura Randazzo. The two-page quote race has 34 short lines from The Great Gatsby .

Students must work either individually or in pairs to match the lines to the characters from the text.

The student or team with the highest number of right answers wins. And if two students or teams have the same score, the one that handed theirs in first wins.

You can also extend the activity by discussing the answers and related scenes once all of the teams have submitted their papers.

The Great Gatsby teaching units (whole-unit bundles)

Now, if you’ve made it this far, you might be looking for something more than a few activities here or there to supplement your curriculum. You might want the whole unit bundle for The Great Gatsby .

Below we’ve got four whole-unit bundles of teaching resources for The Great Gatsby , so you’re bound to find one that suits you and your class.

These unit bundles generally include pacing guides and lesson plans for The Great Gatsby , as well as a myriad of activities.

1. Modernism and The Great Gatsby unit

The first bundle is this one by The SuperHERO Teacher. With lots of hands-on activities, this unit views the novel through the lens of modernism and includes

a modernism scavenger hung
a 1920s ‘radio show’ project
The Great Gatsby common core reading literature booklet
The Great Gatsby newspaper project
a Langston Hughes poetry project
The Great Gatsby novel vs film analysis activity
The Great Gatsby board game
1920s guiding principles

2. The Great Gatsby Unit Plan

A second option is this The Great Gatsby bundle by The Green Light. This bundle of lesson plans for The Great Gatsby is massive and includes

cloze reading passages for the entire novel (as mentioned earlier in this post)
close reading activities
task cards with discussion questions, quizzes, and bell ringers
interactive activities
an anticipation guide
a setting map project including a worksheet, template, and samples
essay writing assignments
short writing prompts
a common core unit map
The Great Gatsby teacher’s guide with sample pacing calendar and daily aims
character charts for the four main characters (Gatsby, Daisy, Nick, and Tom)
imagery activities
vocabulary assignment
group discussion prompts and assignments
critical theory activities
paired poetry prompts and assignments
characterization activities with samples

3. The Great Gatsby activity, lesson, and assessment bundle

The third whole-unit bundle of activities for The Great Gatsby is this one by Mud and Ink Teaching.

The unit focuses on the essential question, Is the American Dream more likely to inspire or destroy us? Each lesson returns back to that question.

The unit includes activities such as

a Gatsby party stations activity that covers the setting, characters, and Fitzgerald’s writing style
close reading passages that explore the Valley of Ashes and Gatsby’s mansion
novel and film comparisons
comparison and contrast between James Gatz and PT Barnum from The Greatest Showman
a funeral for Gatsby activity where students read the eulogies they\’ve written
and a 3-week condensed unit option with its own materials designed for a film/audio experience of the novel in a hybrid or distance learning scenario

The product is editable, which means you can adapt it to suit your class. It also includes a variety of fun activities, as well as activities that are academically rigorous.

4. The Gre at Gatsby unit

The final full unit bundle of lesson plans for The Great Gatsby is this one by Write on with Miss G.

The bundle includes engaging activities such as escape rooms, Instagram posts, and character report cards. Topics covered include:

roaring 20s learning stations
Fitzgerald documentary viewing guide
novel introduction stations
print and digital chapter activities for all chapters (including fun activities such as character report cards, chapter 1-3 escape room, doodle notes, Gatsby Instagram posts, heat symbolism close reading, Gatsby vs Tom Who’s winning?, Gatsby obituary/eulogy/elegy, Gatsby’s death blame chart, and more)
post-reading literary analysis speed dating discussion activity
three-question multiple-choice reading check quizzes for every chapter (with 3 versions to prevent cheating)
multiple-choice reading check quizzes bundle
vocabulary in context worksheets for every chapter
vocabulary bookmarks for every chapter in both print and digital
film analysis guides in both print and digital
film analysis worksheets – scaffold literary analysis

That’s all for The Great Gatsby activities folks . . .

Phew! So many The Great Gatsby teaching resources. Hopefully, you’ve found something that will work for you and your class.

If you’re teaching The Great Gatsby and have come across some great teaching resources for The Great Gatsby , let us know on Facebook or Instagram . We’d love to add more The Great Gatsby teaching resources to the list.

Want more English Language Arts activities?

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Fun, engaging, and easy Shakespearean insults lesson you have to try
13 easy, engaging lessons for Romeo and Juliet
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20 exciting and engaging lessons for To Kill a Mockingbird
9 quick and easy study skills lesson plans for high school
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Teaching The Great Gatsby: How I Plan My Unit

Teaching The Great Gatsby: Unit-Planning

MY PAST: FROM HATE TO GREAT

I love teaching The Great Gatsby now, but in high school, I didn’t enjoy reading it. In fact, I despised it: the eggs, the parties, the wealth, and the carelessness…all of it. I remember thinking, “Why should I care? How is this relevant?” At some point, I think I just tuned out and went through the motions, collecting my As on papers without ever being fully engaged. Fake it ’til ya make it, right? Just like Gatsby!

Over the years, I've developed a love for teaching The Great Gatsby.

Fast forward 5 years, again, just like Gatsby, and suddenly, I was looking at this novel through a new lens. A fresh young teacher, I was preparing to teach The Great Gatsby to my first American Lit classes. So I re-read the novel. As I turned each page, I began to appreciate Fitzgerald’s compelling language, Gatsby’s undying hope, the perfectly crafted symbolism, the transcending themes, and the life and death of the American dream in a mere 180 pages. By the end of the novel, I had found my green light: a goal of making Gatsby engaging and relevant for today’s teens. And I’ve been beating on, a boat against the current, ever since!

TEACHING GATSBY: A BOAT AGAINST THE CURRENT

That current is a mix of adolescent apathy and kids who don’t read, unlikeable characters, and the difficulty of making Fitzgerald’s language accessible to teens. When I’m working against the current, I remember my past hatred of the book, and I’m inspired to dream a little more about how I can engage my students. Over the past 5 years, I’ve reflected and revised my Gatsby approach, throwing some lessons out, creating new activities, and tweaking others. And unlike Jay Gatsby, I’ve embraced my past and used it to create lessons that can withstand the reality of teaching a tough but worthwhile text to teenagers. Now, my Gatsby unit is “my baby.” I look forward to teaching it every year and get a little sad when it’s over (which why I am writing this post and trying to live vicariously through my blog).

Ever since I started religiously Instagram storying my Gatsby units, I’ve received many questions and comments about how I plan and teach this text, so I thought I would address everything in a series of 5 blog posts (one for each year of Gatsby’s broken dreams). In this first post, I’ll outline my approach to teaching Gatsby and how I plan my units. The following posts will walk you through how I teach all of the skills and essential questions I mention below. Enjoy, old sports!

MY APPROACH

I’ve heard (well, mainly seen in ELA Facebook group comments) some fiery debates over teaching the novel vs. teaching the standards/skills. There is merit in both approaches, and certainly, the extremes of both sides should be avoided. So that’s why my approach is a happy medium. I believe that you can have your cake and eat it, too! You can teach students to appreciate literature and what it reveals about the world AND teach the standards without drowning the reading experience in drill-and-kill instruction.

Another debate involves the teaching of whole-class novels vs. literature circles or choice reading. Once again, balance is key. There’s a time, place, and group of students for every approach. I facilitate literature circles with Into the Wild , but I’ve always taught The Great Gatsby as a whole-class novel. That being said, my whole-class approach is very student-centered, and there’s not a whole lot of me standing at the podium and facilitating whole-class discussions. Rather, there are small-group discussions and student-led whole class discussions ( Socratic Seminars ).

PLANNING MY UNIT: STANDARDS TO TEACH

A classic like Gatsby can be overwhelming, because there’s so much you can do with it. I remember having no idea what to focus on as a brand new teacher. Over the years, I’ve been able to determine the primary standards I want to teach, and then plan backwards from there. When I am teaching The Great Gatsby, I focus on the following Common Core standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.3 : Analyze the impact of the author’s choices regarding how to develop and relate elements of a story or drama (e.g., where a story is set, how the action is ordered, how the characters are introduced and developed).
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.5 : Analyze how an author’s choices concerning how to structure specific parts of a text (e.g., the choice of where to begin or end a story, the choice to provide a comedic or tragic resolution) contribute to its overall structure and meaning as well as its aesthetic impact.
Word Choice: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.4 : Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings. Analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including words with multiple meanings or language that is particularly fresh, engaging, or beautiful. (Include Shakespeare as well as other authors.)
Themes & Central Ideas: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.2 : Determine two or more themes or central ideas of a text and analyze their development over the course of the text, including how they interact and build on one another to produce a complex account. Provide an objective summary of the text.
Citing Textual Evidence: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.1 : Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text, including determining where the text leaves matters uncertain.

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

When unit planning, I always make sure I have a collection of essential questions that will drive teaching and learning. Without standards and these “big picture” questions, it’s easy to lose focus of your objectives. Here are my top 10 questions that drive my Gatsby unit:

What is Nick’s complex attitude toward Gatsby?
What is Nick’s attitude toward Eastern Society, and how does it change throughout the text?
How does Fitzgerald use symbolism to accomplish his purpose in writing?
How does Fitzgerald use setting to accomplish his purpose in writing?
Why did Fitzgerald choose Nick to be the narrator?
Why did Fitzgerald choose to end the novel with Gatsby’s tragic death?
What makes Gatsby great? Why did Fitzgerald title the novel The Great Gatsby ?
Why did Fitzgerald write The Great Gatsby ?
What is Fitzgerald’s commentary on the Roaring 20s?
What can we learn from The Great Gatsby ?

HOW TO ASSESS

I utilize a variety of formal and informal assessments and checkpoints throughout my unit, including bell-ringers, quizzes, group work, an escape room , a blame chart , writing tasks, and more. My definition of “assessment” is open-ended, and I like to mix up my approach to support a variety of needs and learning preferences.

I use Socratic Seminars to assess student understanding during The Great Gatsby.

The primary formal assessment model I use for our Gatsby unit is a Socratic Seminar. With this student-centered approach, students are empowered to learn from each other as they demonstrate mastery of the standards and understanding of the questions. I facilitate one seminar halfway through the novel and another at the end. To prepare for seminars, students create their own questions about Fitzgerald’s choices, themes, and other elements. For information on structuring your own seminar, check out this blog post. If you would like to save time with ready-to-print materials, check out my Socratic Seminar For ANY Text resource.

In addition to a Socratic Seminar, I also assess students’ understanding of author’s choices, theme/purpose, and evidence with an extended response question. This is actually on our final exam because Gatsby is the last text we read in the semester, and it has always made sense to do that.

HOW TO SCAFFOLD GATSBY

As you can see, all of the aforementioned standards describe analytical skills, not mere comprehension. But of course, students must be able to comprehend before they can analyze. I teach such a wide range of learners that I’ve realized I have to scaffold comprehension of Gatsby in different ways.

Scaffolding Vocabulary

Teaching The Great Gatsby can be challenging, but these vocabulary bookmarks scaffold Fitzgerald's language.

One of the largest barriers standing in front of comprehension is Fitzgerald’s complex (but beautiful) language. In fact, this is the first thing I see students get frustrated with when we begin reading Chapter 1. But because I know this is a recurring issue, I’ve learned to scaffold it before I hear my students’ grumbles about the “big, fancy words.” To support my students’ understanding of Fitzgerald’s complex language, I created a set of vocabulary bookmarks , one for each chapter. I print, copy, and cut these before our unit and pass out a new one each time a chapter is due. These bookmarks are incredibly helpful to students, and I thoroughly enjoy answering questions of “What does this mean?” with “Look at your vocabulary bookmark!”

Scaffolding Comprehension

Another way to support comprehension in order to move students toward analysis is through using the film version. I’m a big fan of the 2013 version (Hello, Leo!) Pressing play on the movie is not “lazy” teaching; in fact, when you structure it correctly, it can be effective scaffolding for struggling students and English language learners. Students can still practice the standards from above: The text becomes the film, the author’s choices become director’s choices, the textual evidence becomes the visual details, etc.

The movie makes literary analysis more accessible for all students. Literary analysis can be an intimidating, elusive concept for students, but it’s really just a matter of two big questions: Why? and How? Why did the author do this? How did the author do this? Using the film will help your students see the directors also make deliberate choices for certain effects on the viewers. When we dissect Fitzgerald’s language, we’re not just being crazy English teachers! Film directors dissect language, analyze characters, examine theme, and more, and then they make choices about how to best portray those elements on the big screen. For many of my students, analyzing the film has helped them “get it.” It’s also trained them to be more observant and inquisitive as read or watch movies.

In order to facilitate effective film analysis that transfers to literary analysis, I created film analysis worksheets for each segment of the movie. If you’d like more information on creating your own questions, check out the fifth tip on this blog post.

ASSIGNING READING HOMEWORK

When mapping out my Gatsby unit, I typically assign reading homework every other night, with a few exceptions for extension activities or assessments. This gives us 2 days per chapter, which works out well. I do try to read (or listen to the audio) the first chapter aloud and find other pockets of time where students can get some reading done in class. But let’s face reality: If our green light is 100% of students completing their reading homework, that’s unattainable.

Like Gatsby, I was a dreamer my first year of teaching, and when students didn’t do their reading homework, it absolutely crushed me. Let me just let you down now: If your students are anything like mine, some of them are NOT GOING TO DO THEIR READING HOMEWORK. I learned this the hard way, so I learned to approach my Gatsby unit differently. Over the years, I’ve revised lessons so that they aren’t entirely dependent on the reading homework. I know that may sound counter-intuitive, but it’s my way of still reaching those non-readers, who — if they had their way — would just sit in class and shrug, saying “IDK. I didn’t read.” When you plan lessons that make the text accessible, through lots of excerpts, close reads, and group work, you will increase exposure and engagement for those reluctant readers (or non-readers).

If you’d like more information on how plan these kinds of lessons and combat this perpetual problem, I wrote an entire blog post on what to do when kids aren’t reading!

THANKS FOR READING, OLD SPORT!

I hope this post helped you to jump-start or tweak your Gatsby plans! With a beautiful, challenging classic like Gatsby , I think it’s incredibly important to re-read the text, annotate it, and spend some time really thinking about it before you start planning lessons. So while you’re waiting on my following blog posts about how I teach the novel, maybe you can grab your copy of the book, get cozy, and find some time to revel in Fitzgerald’s language and Gatsby’s dreams. While you’re reading, feel free to chat with me in the comments or pop in my Instagram DMs if you just want to talk nerdy to me about The Great Gatsby!

Check out my most popular posts!

August 5, 2018: why i don’t review the syllabus on the first day …, december 16, 2018: 10 ideas for planning engaging novel units, december 11, 2017: comfort in the classroom with flexible seating, july 21, 2018: teaching american literature: my units & favorite lessons.

The Great Gatsby

Introduction to the great gatsby, summary of the great gatsby, major themes in the great gatsby, major characters in the great gatsby, writing style of the great gatsby ‎, analysis of literary devices in the great gatsby, related posts:, post navigation.

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10 Pre-reading Activities for THE GREAT GATSBY

Prime your class for engagement and achievement with The Great Gatsby pre-reading activities. Even advanced students benefit from an insightful introduction when starting an unfamiliar text. Select the pre-reading lessons / worksheets that best align to your instructional goals.

Overview: The Great Gatsby Pre-reading Activities

1. Introductory Slideshow

2. Anticipation Guide

3. Primary Source Gallery: The Roaring Twenties

4. Symbolism Refresher Activity

5. Unreliable Narrators (and How to Spot Them)

6. What does Modernism look like? (fine art activity)

7. Party like Gatsby (budget activity)

8. Style Preview

9. Historical Context Articles (nonfiction)

10. Personal Essay: Friends and Frenemies

1) Introduction Slideshow: Meet The Great Gatsby

Give students a helpful preview of the story and identify key literary concepts and elements. The Great Gatsby Pre-reading PowerPoint contains 35 slides introducing the characters, setting, historical context, theme subjects, and Fitzgerald’s style.

This resource is available in PDF or the larger PowerPoint file (PPTX). The slideshow introduces the characters and the initial situation, but it does not spoil the plot events. You may also want to use the notes worksheet that accompanies the presentation.

2) Anticipation Guide

How can you subtly introduce a novel’s theme subjects while still allowing the students to receive the author’s messages organically as they read? Anticipation guides prompt thought-provoking discussions on key theme subjects without establishing the ultimate themes developed by the text.

Students appreciate the opportunity to share their own views on life and human nature before considering the perspectives of the author. For example, students can discuss their opinions regarding wealth and privilege without knowing the corresponding message developed in The Great Gatsby .

GG Anticipation Guide PDF

Each statement in the anticipation guide correlates to a major theme in the novel. There are ten prompts on this one-page worksheet (PDF). Read on for more pre-reading questions and activities.

3) Primary Source Gallery: The Roaring Twenties

This pre-reading activity gets students exploring historical context by asking them to apply critical thinking skills to primary source visuals. Each group will study, analyze, and research one primary source image from “The Roaring Twenties Gallery” in order to share their findings and analysis with the class.

Pre-reading Activity PDF: The Roaring Twenties Gallery

Group presentations should explain…

Relevant terms
The subject and revealing details
Context (How does it fit within the history of the era?)
Purpose and audience (You may have to make reasonable guesses.)
Informative details from your research
Possible connections to The Great Gatsby

4) Symbolism Refresher Activity

Fitzgerald uses symbolism extensively and to profound effect. This The Great Gatsby pre-reading activity prepares students to trace the development of meanings intertwined with the green light, the Valley of Ashes, Gatsby’s car, the geography of Long Island, the billboard of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg, and the rest.

Symbols and Famous Titles Challenge!

Each slide will display a symbol from a famous title.
Be first to call out the title (movie, book, or poem) and you win.
For super-secret-mega-bonus points, identify a larger meaning behind the symbol.

Symbols and Famous Titles PDF or PPT

You might conclude that your students would benefit from a more extensive review of symbolism. Assign a short story for students to analyze with an emphasis on major symbols. The worksheet shown below is not specific to any one story.

Symbolism Practice Handout

Short story suggestions:

“Marigolds” by Eugenia W. Collier (5 pages)—easy
“Everyday Use” (8 pages) by Alice Walker—moderate
“A White Heron” by Sarah Orne Jewett (7 pages)—moderate
“The Minister’s Black Veil” by Nathaniel Hawthorne (12 pages)—challenging

5) Unreliable Narrators (and How to Spot Them)

It may be necessary to establish that narration should often be taken with a grain of salt. The lesson that follows reminds students to think critically about the point of view as they read.

What is the narrator’s tone?
Does the narrator take different tones toward certain subjects or people?
What information do they emphasize?
Is any information omitted?
What motivates the narrator to share the story?

Note: This The Great Gatsby pre-reading lesson may be unnecessary for savvy readers.

Can you trust the source? This question is important when conducting research, but it is also important in reading fiction. Can you think of any instances in stories (including movies) where the narration turned out to be less than trustworthy?

The narrator might not understand the truth or they may perceive the events through a personal bias. The result might be as minor as diminishing certain details or as major as fabricating the entire story.

Helpful clip: “ Who Can you Trust? Unreliable Narrators ” (8 minutes) from PBS Digital.

Through:

Read the narrative carefully in order to evaluate the reliability of the narrator. Is the narrator trustworthy and fair? How much should we believe?

Story suggestions:

“ The Cask of Amontillado ” (5 pages) by Edgar Allen Poe – EASY
“ An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge ” (10 Pages) by A. Pierce – MODERATE
“ The Yellow Wallpaper ” (15 pages) by Charlotte P. Gilman – CHALLENGING

Beyond:

Nick Carraway narrates The Great Gatsby and provides our only access to the details of the places, people, and events. How much faith should we place in his telling?

Think about what Nick says on the first page. What does he want us to think of him?

… In consequence I’m inclined to reserve all judgments, a habit that has opened up many curious natures to me and also made me the victim of not a few veteran bores. The abnormal mind is quick to detect and attach itself to this quality when it appears in a normal person, and so it came about that in college I was unjustly accused of being a politician, because I was privy to the secret griefs of wild, unknown men. Most of the confidences were unsought—frequently I have feigned sleep, preoccupation, or a hostile levity when I realized by some unmistakable sign that an intimate revelation was quivering on the horizon—for the intimate revelations of young men or at least the terms in which they express them are usually plagiaristic and marred by obvious suppressions. Reserving judgments is a matter of infinite hope. I am still a little afraid of missing something if I forget that, as my father snobbishly suggested, and I snobbishly repeat a sense of the fundamental decencies is parceled out unequally at birth. And, after boasting this way of my tolerance, I come to the admission that it has a limit.

6) What does Modernism look like?

What is Romanticism? What is Realism? What is Modernism? Fine art can provide an engaging access point for students learning about literary movements. For many students visual representations mean more than lists of definitions. In this activity, recognizing Modernism in fine art creates a stepping stone for students learning about Modernism in literature.

The Great Gatsby Introduction Activity: Modernism in Art

What comes to mind when you think of the word “modern?”

What might the word modern mean when talking about art or literature?

Many creative works can be viewed as part of a larger artistic movement. For example, the famed revenge tale The Count of Monte Cristo is an example of Romanticism. Literature experts view The Great Gatsby as a work of Modernism.

What does that mean?

Realism (circa 1850-1900): An artistic movement portraying realistic people and relatable experiences. Includes familiar places and flawed people (often from the lower classes). Developed as a response to Romanticism .

Modernism (circa 1900-1950): A break with the past and a period of experimentation associated with the period after World War I. Modernists felt a growing alienation from Victorian morality, optimism, and convention. The horrors and consequences of WWI undermined humankind’s faith in the foundations of Western society. Modernists reflect a sense of disillusionment and fragmentation.

Industrialization, urbanization, globalized capitalism, rapid social change, and advances in science, psychology, and political theory characterized the era. As a result, artists and writers explored new approaches and forms of expression.

OK, but what do these fancy ideas look like?

We will visualize Modernism by analyzing examples in fine art. Start with a specific painting to guide your exploration. Be prepared to share the work and your knowledge with the class.

After familiarizing yourself with the work and its importance, explain the…

Title and medium
Author (and biography if relevant)
Subject (and treatment)
Artistic movement
Modernism elements
Message or Mood
Techniques (creating emphasis)
Related works or artists (This could include performances, architecture, consumer goods, etc.)

Note: Artistic movements do not follow orderly timelines. You will see elements of Modernism prior to WWI and elements of realism in modern art. Just go with it.

Related Post: The Great Gatsby Unit Plan: 23 Lessons and Materials

7) Party like Gatsby (fun budgeting activity)

The roaring, hedonistic, lavish parties hosted by Jay Gatsby have fascinated generations of readers, but what such an event cost? This activity asks students to create a budget (in today’s dollars) for a Gatsby-esque party.

The original lesson follows reading #1 (Chapters 1-3) of the unit, but it could also be a fun way to introduce the novel’s iconic party settings and descriptions. To use as a pre-reading activity, share party clips from a film adaptation or excerpts from the beginning of Chapter 3.

Clip: “ The Great Gatsby 2013 Party Scene ” (5 minutes) from Warner Bros.

From Chapter 3:

At least once a fortnight a corps of caterers came down with several hundred feet of canvas and enough coloured lights to make a Christmas tree of Gatsby’s enormous garden. On buffet tables, garnished with glistening hors-d’oeuvre, spiced baked hams crowded against salads of harlequin designs and pastry pigs and turkeys bewitched to a dark gold. In the main hall a bar with a real brass rail was set up, and stocked with gins and liquors and with cordials so long forgotten that most of his female guests were too young to know one from another.

By seven o’clock the orchestra has arrived, no thin five-piece affair, but a whole pitful of oboes and trombones and saxophones and viols and cornets and piccolos, and low and high drums. The last swimmers have come in from the beach now and are dressing upstairs; the cars from New York are parked five deep in the drive, and already the halls and salons and verandas are gaudy with primary colours, and hair bobbed in strange new ways, and shawls beyond the dreams of Castile. The bar is in full swing, and floating rounds of cocktails permeate the garden outside, until the air is alive with chatter and laughter, and casual innuendo and introductions forgotten on the spot, and enthusiastic meetings between women who never knew each other’s names.

8) Style Preview

Students may initially be overwhelmed or confused by Fitzgerald’s use of language. Mediate this challenge by preparing the students with key excerpts from the novel or shorter works by the author.

9) Historical Context Articles (nonfiction)

Incorporate nonfiction texts and explore historical context with these relevant articles. For this The Great Gatsby pre-reading activity you might have the entire class read the same article or assign student groups different articles. If time allows, student groups can share what they learned with the class.

Think about our society today.

What are the strengths and successes of our society today?
What are the pitfalls or shortcomings of our society today?

The Great Gatsby is an entertaining story that is also a critique American society. To understand Fitzgerald’s views on American society in the 1920s, we must have some understanding of the historical context. What must we understand about the era known as “The Jazz Age?”

Helpful clip: “The Roaring 20’s” (13 minutes) from CrashCourse
Fun clip: “Jazz Age Dance Moves” (3 minutes) from Vintage Swing Dance

10) Personal Essay: Friends and Frenemies

One of the most confounding aspects of adulthood is the complexity of friendship. High school students recognize this issue as their relationships develop, change, and sometimes dissolve. Before exposing students to the iconic frenemies found in The Greet Gatsby , encourage them to reflect on friendship in a personal essay.

Writing Task:

In The Great Gatsby you will meet a memorable circle of friends. Some of these “friendships” are not exactly healthy or supportive. Explain your views on friendship in the form of a personal essay. You can take this topic in any direction you choose. Support your ideas with details and examples from your experience.

NOTE: Personal, but not too personal! Do not share anything that you want to keep private!

To start thinking about your views on friendship, consider the following:

What are the different forms of friendship that you see in life?
What personal experiences have influenced your views on friendship?
How are adult friendships different than childhood friendships?
Can you be friends with someone that you do not respect?
Can you be friends with someone even if you do not care about their wellbeing?
Do you know people that are “frenemies?” What does this even mean?

Note: This The Great Gatsby pre-reading activity originally comes from later in the unit when students have the examples of Nick, Jordan, Tom, Gatsby, Daisy, and the rest to use as illustrations.

Wrap-up: The Great Gatsby Pre-reading Activities

Thanks for checking out The Great Gatsby Pre-reading Activities. Expert teachers know that giving students an introduction before reading an unfamiliar text pays significant dividends. If these The Great Gatsby introduction activities / worksheets align to your instructional goals, consider using the comprehensive The Great Gatsby unit from TeachNovels.

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As taught in, learning resource types, writing about literature: writing about love, the great gatsby.

The assignment is a short and focused exercise in what is commonly phrased as close reading . Only 250 words are required; however, this is enough for you to work on a small piece of text in detail . The objective is for you to begin developing a practice of sustained textual analysis with a primary text, but also, for me to see how you engage with the text , or rather, how you read and how you interpret . The attached passage that you’ll be studying is from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby . The scene: Nick Carraway’s seeing of Jordan Baker and his moment of “I thought I loved her.”

A few words to get the wheels turning …

In class we discussed the original 1925 cover art of The Great Gatsby by Francis Cugart , focusing on my question: “What are the categories through which you see and read the figure?” In an effort to complicate notions of gender representation (specifically femininity), I prodded you to re-think how you read the feminine figure’s eyes, her lips, her mascara, her eyeliner, and her missing nose. To extend our reading outside of gender , I cued us to think how a nose doesn’t reveal gender but how it might reveal race (or, to challenge us further, class ). You might also consider the tear, the cityscape, and/or why the woman’s eyes reflect nude female figures.

Drawing a parallel between our reading of the cover art, I prodded you to examine character portraits of Nick Carraway and Tom Buchanan (as a class we read the middle of page 6 and top of page 7 for passages related to Tom).

For your writing assignment I want you to concentrate on the character of Jordan Baker. The passage you’ll be providing your own close reading from, pages 57–58 (end of Chapter Three), starts with, “For a while I lost sight of Jordan Baker … " and concludes with, “It was on that same house party that we had a curious conversation …”

For your assignment, although you may use concepts from lecture, please do not treat this passage as a mere demonstration of these themes. Any claim you make about this passage must proceed from a very close attention to its voice, language, and structure. (You might find helpful to recall our in-class readings of the cover art and of Tom Buchanan’s character). Remember, close reading is about effective reading. Go deep with your thinking. “If you were an artist, you’d be painting with a fine brush here, and not a roller,” as a friend-scholar once put it.

One common weakness of student writing is its tendency to paraphrase or generalize. In an effort to make meaningful statements, students sometimes end up making broad pronouncements meant to apply to all mankind. Steer clear from this type of distant reading. Another pitfall is “padding,” or saying the same thing over and over again in slightly different ways, as if an argument could be made through sheer repetition. Close reading is a remedy to both these well-meaning mistakes.

Put simply: close reading is at the heart of literary analysis. It is a deep engagement with language itself, or rather with the words on the page and what they are doing there . When we read for plot or summary, it sometimes seems that words get in the way, pushing literary language aside so that comprehension can plow its way through the details. This is often the first way we learn how to interact with a text: you are asked to “tell the story in your own words.” But to paraphrase is always to stay on the surface, and satisfying literary criticism is never a surface phenomenon—that’s why I call literary analysis a deep reading . Paraphrasing is exactly the opposite of close reading . In fact, it makes close reading impossible. Remember the primary text is not a “message” but an act of representation . As such, it displays thousands of choices about how to use language. Therefore, instead of moving alongside of (and eventually outpacing) the text, you will enter the text itself, and thus enter into a world of expression, manner, language, and meaning in all its richness and complexity. In this moment of entering the passage of Jordan Baker then, I want you to enter the world of reading gender through Nick Carraway’s eyes—in his seeing Jordan Baker, Nick even states, “for a moment I thought I loved her.” You might also think about what seeing and love have to do with each other. But, please, show me how you are reading gender in this passage.

Please bring two copies of your “Close Reading” to class on Session 3, AND please email me your 250 words (as a Word document or throw it in the body of an email) no later than Session 3 at 12 p.m.—you can still revise your 250 words after you submit it to me by email. I only want to read these before Session 3. Only your hard copy will be graded.

Useful vocabulary:

Gender criticism

For a definition of “gender criticism” and/or “feminist and gender criticism” see:

Gardner, Janet E. Reading and Writing About Literature: A Portable Guide . 3rd edition. Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2012, p. 189. ISBN: 9781457606496. [Preview with Google Books ]

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The Great Gatsby: Essay Topics & Samples

No novel is written for the sake of writing. You can be immersed in the plot and feel sympathy toward the protagonists, but there is something more about every great book. A good The Great Gatsby essay should question the narrative to determine what the text’s broader purpose is.

Are you out of ideas? Our topics and The Great Gatsby writing prompts can kickstart your creative process. They won’t limit the flight of your thought in any way: instead, they’ll show you the right direction to follow. You can also use our essay samples for inspiration or apply for professional writing help .

💡 Essay Topics
✒️ Essay Samples

💡 The Great Gatsby Essay Topics & Prompts

Did Daisy genuinely love Gatsby, or did she want to return the past feelings? Why was preserving her social class so important? Or did she stay with Tom for other reasons, like the shared experience, stability, and the daughter? Do you think Daisy opted for Tom after a careful comparison?
Old and New Money in The Great Gatsby. What did Gatsby lack to feel like he belongs to the Old Money, apart from heritage? What did elevate him above the Old Money representatives and make him more humane? Why didn’t he possess the traits related to the corruption of the upper class?
Money and wealth in The Great Gatsby . Money is helpless in matters of love and friendship. Nick Carraway was Gatsby’s only friend. As far as we know, only Daisy loved him, and even this fact is doubtful. Was it the reason why Gatsby’s success did not make him happy? Write an argumentative essay about it!
Compare and contrast The Great Gatsby 2013 movie vs. the book in an essay. Does the movie represent the characters as profoundly as the book does? Make the book review from the point of view of a person who watched the film first. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the film?
How does Gatsby represent the American Dream ? This essay should start with the historical background that formed the general idea of the American Dream. Is Gatsby’s version of the American Dream universal for all US citizens, or does it have any unique features? “The American Dream in The Great Gatsby ” is a perfect title for this kind of essay.
Is Gatsby great? This essay can discuss the strengths and failures of Jay Gatsby. It could also reveal why the novel is titled like this. Is Gatsby great because he has made a fortune without any heritage, or is the title ironic?
The Great Gatsby symbolism is a good topic for an essay. It could cover the setting of the novel, the color symbolism in The Great Gatsby (especially the green light , gold, and the color white,) and the small symbolic details like bespectacled eyes of various protagonists and TJ Eckleburg on the billboard.
Write The Great Gatsby literary analysis essay , exploring why the author chose these specific characters to convey the main idea to the reader. What is the primary purpose of the novel, and what helped the author to achieve it? Dwell upon the decline of morality as the typical feature of the Roaring Twenties.
Time in The Great Gatsby . Throughout the entire novel, Gatsby is trying to recapture his past feelings. Did he succeed, to some extent? Can living in the memories, even recreated in real life, make someone happy? The novel is full of flashbacks. Explain why the time is non-linear in the story .
The Great Gatsby themes might also be a great as an essay topic. The novel is multifaceted and profound, with several layers of meaning. Money and wealth, society and class, love and marriage , hope, morality, time, and the American Dream in The Great Gatsby are to be discussed in this essay.

✒️ The Great Gatsby: Essay Examples

Below you’ll find a collection of The Great Gatsby essay examples. Use them for inspiration!

Color Symbolism in The Great Gatsby
Symbolism in The Great Gatsby
Masculinity in The Great Gatsby and The Breakfast Club
Imagery in The Great Gatsby by F. Fitzgerald
Conception of The American Dream
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THE GREAT GATSBY Projects and Assignments

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Description

The Great Gatsby Projects and Assignments provides 18 engaging options for assessing and extending learning. Tasks include creative writing, debate, formal research, visual arts, performance, presentation, and more.

The Great Gatsby Projects and Assignments:

Judging a Cover by Its Book (original art)
The American Nightmare (editorial)
Point of View Shift (narrative writing)
Prose Poetry & Poetry Pros
Time Travel Briefing (historical context)
Viewing Guide and Film Review (2013 version)
Read-N-Share: Stories by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Not-So- Great Gatsby ? (debate)
The Great Fitzgerald (research report)
The Geography of Desire (map activity)
Theme Reflection (personal essay)
Poetry Connections
Modernism Story (creative writing)
Character Monologue (performance)
Getting the Green Light (symbol presentations)
Theme Development (essay)
Fitzgerald’s Style (essay)
Characterization (literary analysis)

The Great Gatsby Assignments files:

Assignment Menu (PDF)
Assignment Menu (DOCX)
Supporting materials folder (PDF and DOCX for each item)
This resource is included in the complete unit.
There are NO ANSWER KEYS in this resource.
Each assignment is one page (front and back) with additional organizers when needed.
DOCX files can be modified in MS Word or Google Docs.
The Great Gatsby Projects and Assignments is intended for students who have finished reading the novel. For during-reading activities, check out The Great Gatsby Lesson Plans .

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Whatever You Think You Know About Yourself, You’re Wrong

The Second Rule of Artist’s Journey is this:

If you think you know who you are, you’re wrong.

Hunter S. Thompson’s ambition was to write like Scott Fitzgerald. He copied the whole of The Great Gatsby , trying to teach himself to compose sentences that flowed with the effortless grace of those penned by his hero. How surprised must the avatar of gonzo journalism have been to find his true voice, not in This Side of Paradise but in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Generation of Swine ?

The stories we tell ourselves about ourselves are almost always wrong. That’s their nature. The purpose of these self-conceived narratives is to keep us comfortably unconscious. We tell ourselves these stories so we can avoid the pain of diving deep, to the real story underneath.

The artist’s journey is the dive through the faux story to the true one.

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Steve shares his "lessons learned" from the trenches of the five different writing careers—advertising, screenwriting, fiction, nonfiction, and self-help. This is tradecraft. An MFA in Writing in 197 pages.

TURNING PRO

Amateurs have amateur habits. Pros have pro habits. When we turn pro, we give up the comfortable life but we find our power. Steve answers the question, "How do we overcome Resistance?"

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So true as I am discovering more and more. There seems to be a pattern. The peace and calm before the storm. I settle in being happy with the person that I am. I get the impression -almost conviction -that next time, if a similar situation arises, I will know how my person will react. Then a new event happens. Could be money related or a relationship or anything I deem important. Before I know an earthquake shakes me in my mind as I realise who I thought I was, was wrong. And if I try to live my life with the person that I thought I was, I realise it doesn’t work. Fear takes over.. Need to quickly find new resources within me to cope with the new situation. Sometimes it takes more time than before. Life is, among other things, constantly learning about oneself I find.

Speaking only for myself, the mere fact that I sit down to write is a tacit admission that I am a veritable mine full of fool’s gold, with each subsequent draft my attempt to distill a nugget of something that shines true instead of glittering falsely.

Great post, Steve.

Keep probing, Steve. Thanks for today’s post.

At times it’s this time then next time…then, I ask, where is that great decide?

Thank you very much dear Steve.

First of all I connect the fact that we don’t know who we are, with the fact that when I see myself at a video, that definitely is NOT ME. That body, those moves, that energy have nothing to do with what I am inside. Damn, they are totally different, I really mean that.

So I’m not even me, for what can be more me than my moving and emitting matter? And yet I’m not that at all.

mr. Kahneman, nobelist of an economic theory, believes that we are actually our System 2, meaning the part of our brain that can make deliberately logical thoughts and decisions. He seperates that part from the other part, System 1, which is our intuition in simple terms, and is always automatic and out of our conscious control. It is the System 2 then, the deliberate thinker inside us, whom we control and thus who we are, and whose role among others is to control the unstoppable stimuli and commands that the automatic System 1 brings to our self each second but can be prone to errors of judgement.

Ah, maybe you can connect with good accuracy Resistance with the never-stopping System 1, that has a great power and always sends signals, but is prone to logical errors because of its subjectivity, it’s partial knowledge, its never stopping action and its certain logical errors that mr. Kahneman studies one by one on his book Thinking, Fast and Slow, and other books. For System 2 is lazy and slow and needs hard work, so it doesn’t act automatically by definition, or when it acts it acts much less than it should, and that starts the accumulative disaster of System 1 controlling our decisions. Damn, Sarah Connor said of T101 in Terminator 2, considering the robots’ unending attention to and protection of her leader-to-be son: “I see it now. In an insane world, that robot is the most sane choice.”

So, who are we?

One one hand, we are specific and important for our roles in society, and we have definite IDs.

On the other hand we are something that can’t be expressed with certain traits, for we are an extremely complex mechanism of nature, by definition.

I am not my realistic body for sure.

If what I say to my self that I am is wrong, then I am UNKNOWN by definition (and by Socrates).

On the best scenario, I am my System 2. A logical power that has weaknesses.

Damn, Socrates would laugh.

P.S. 1: yesterday I saw with great concentration Terminator 2 again after many many years. I would now recognize patterns and dynamics and emotions that were invisible for me in all of my past. I was striked by the whole structure of the film, I was smashed, I apprehended the details in which the creators dove deep. That gave me hope that my concentration to detail on my book is important, because even if I couldn’t recognize the T2 details back then, they would still charm me so much, so much. Damn, how many such apprehensions have I lost all these years. Thankfully I’m still 44, maybe I have some more years.

P.S. 2: Happy Birthday for this Sunday! As a humble friend with you and Diana I sent you a very small gift, a book from one of the most important writers of Greece, Nikos Kazantzakis, Zorba the Greek. His works touched me when I was a boy, being half Cretan (he was full), eventhough back then I couldn’t read. I couldn’t read a book ’till I was 25! Then I discovered the journey of personal development, and I tried for so long, it took me about until my forties until finally, reluctantly, I can read and comprehend what I read, even if it is a bit harder stuff. And yet he touched me, moved me, maybe because he used the language of the heart.

P.S. 3: Damn, thank you so much for The Daily Pressfield. It has an effect on me, and I tremble to the thought that it may have an effect of me for a whole year. Damn, a magnificent idea.

P.S. 4: I had something more to tell that is important, but I forgot it! Will return later if the glimpse comes back.

Ah, the Glimpse came back! So, P.S. 4:

Before I wrote you, I checked on John Connor actor, Edward Furlong, his life.

To my grief I saw that he got troubles with drugs and alcohol.

I am so sorry about that. Being the leader-to-be of the Resistance of humanity, and then turning out so badly. Damn this world.

We are not who we think we are then, are we?

[See wiki, where it writes about him: *Speaking on his initial hesitancy to maintain sobriety (from drugs), he said: “I genuinely was afraid of facing what I would be without all that, because I carried all that as who I was.”*]

Feeling sorry about his lack of luck means feeling sorry about me too. For he was me in a way, an archetype of my age and desires at the time. My ideal self in an ideal dark life and adventure, which both were only flaming shadows in Plato’s cave.

Damn it all.

Hi Tolis!! Guess what I am reading right now for Ted Gioia’s Humanities program, my dear friend? For the first time? Homer’s The Odyssey! I know our Gov. Steve has talked about it a lot as well. It was finally time. I am getting lost in the lovely Greek Mythologies and stories while the world around me is repeating history.

In Plato’s cave, I’d like to think the friendships made here in the comment section are all trying to help one another see the light. Resistance makes us want to shadow dance, but our eyes will adjust to the Truth and light. Keep fighting it, Tolis!! <3

In my head, I wanted to be Trent Reznor or TOOL because I listened to them so much. My songwriting is more soft. I must lean in to who I truly am. Trying to be hardcore was a defense mechanism for my sensitivity anyway. Truth Bomb from the Gov today!

My dear Kate, thank you so much for your inspiring energy!

Good luck with the Odyssey! You are an archaeologist of ideas and humanity now! I really hope you got yourself an inspiring translation!

And don’t worry when you feel lost in the passages becaus you will start realizing that it may not be the epic, but the culture’s remains that forged the lines in it, that brought forth democracy and science.

You are close to the Light always! Ah, being there is so fragile: “when you turn on the light, how far away does the dark go? Not very far. If the light starts to fade, even a bit, guess what, the dark will come right back in.” So you follow the Light <3

I'm gonna check TOOL and Trent Reznor, yur defensive ministry 😀

correction, I’m gonna check TOOL and Trent Reznor, your ministry of defence 😛

Yay!! I have a friend in Greece who is extremely knowledgeable about this stuff- his name is Tolis 🙂 Thank you!! I am lost at sea a bit, pun intended, but I am really enjoying the lessons The Odyssey is teaching me already. It’s a tale of Resistance as well! Calypso and temptation–these lessons are so relatable in the 21st Century. Even if it isn’t Romance, anything that takes away from our mission…

I highly recommend listening to Reznor’s The Social Network soundtrack next time you’re writing. It will get you into a flow state dear Tolis!

If all I got out of my time on this site was making your acquaintance, Kate, it was a good run. You’re such a sweetheart!

Thank you, Maureen!! So grateful for you and Steve–all here <3 We are warriors.

Through the pain to become truly alive. Reminds be of childbirth. Lol.

It is much too early this morning to figure out what or who , but I AM!

This one walloped me, Steve.

I AM, you ARE, present and perfect! 👌

And it turns out that avoiding the pain of diving through the faux story is *also* a story we tell ourselves. The true story is love, relief, aha, peace–that’s how you know it when you find it and it is there all along. Such a challenging path, to own our real selves. But there’s our gold, so let’s go. Thanks for connecting with us on this, Steve.

And, when do you know you are you? I think everyone is different and I still don’t know who decide who. One mad guy claimed that someone like me is a hustler. He meant that in a negative way and I was like, how did he knew me and I don’t know myself?

My advice is for you to do your best and leave the judgement to the judges.

I was at a networking meeting this morning. We all went around the room and answered the question, who would be most surprised about your success?

I thought about a teacher who said I wouldn’t amount to anything because I couldn’t sit still and pay attention. Well, that is normal for a 10-year-old boy. He’d be surprised to know, 50 years later, that I am happy and have authored four books. But, if I had embraced his BS, I would be nowhere, as he predicted. I am persuaded that someone else put much of what we think of ourselves on us. I think Mr. Pressfield would agree that this is another form of resistance

Great insight Tom. I agree we carry a lot of baggage from otheres, especially family and the roles that were expected of us. To open up, examine, and discard those things we are not is hard and at times, painful. But it is also freeing. Do the hard stuff, no excuses. Banish resistance.

Who we are is a voyage of discovery.

I think of my own life, almost six full decades, and I’ve been many things: Son, brother, student, baseball nut, reader, Tolkien fanatic, writer, Christian, insurance auditor, husband, father, technology expert, editor, preacher, pastor, father-in-law, football nut, NASCAR nut, grandfather–I think you get the picture. I’m sure I’ve left out many aspects of who I am.

We are too busy or focused on other things to see the whole of who we are. So, we learn about ourselves as the years pass, and we learn best when we are quiet, undistracted, and concentrating on creating something from within. Out flows who we are, and sometimes, what we find surprises us. Self-discovery can be, for some, comforting, but for others, it is shocking and disconcerting.

I hope your journey opens up new avenues of growth and creativity.

Perhaps in the journey of the ever-evolving “me” Is the constant in the chaos of the seeker, you see— It keeps one on one’s toes, these thoughts of Destiny Epiphanies grand or subtle revealing what we’re to see; We’re all madly dancing in this Cosmic Revelry Called “Life”—The collective consciousness of Humanity “If it is to be, it’s up to thee” said one wiser than we Verisimilitude & strife reveals all there is is just “To Be.”

Over 90 years and able to say with certainty that there is no certainty Buy a big eraser

Haha. I love this! Kind of says it perfectly.

Thank you, Chuck, for this insight!

Great post. I just reread Lonesome Dove. I was surprised to note that all of McMurtry’s heroic characters grappled with self-doubt and regret about past mistakes, even Captain Call, the most certain, determined, and fearsome of them all. So it’s not just me. Looks like most everyone has to overcome their doubts, fears, and regrets in pursuit of our goals.

“The artist’s journey is the dive through the faux story to the true one.”

True about the artist, and also true about the part of the world that is the artist’s subject.

Thanks to your insights in The War of Art I’ve been writing consistently!

As I keep working on my current project, I have found myself writing more and more, only to find that the story’s contours keep unveiling as time passes. Your post today connects quite well with your thoughts on sitting down every day to do the work. For the coil of the faux story to be shed, we’ve gotta work at it each day. I’ve only found the truth of this to be more true with every passing day.

Not sure I want to know who I am.. After writing novels, I’m scared to find out. I’m doing things I would never do in real life…kill people. But I have learned a lot about me and am better now. Not so …. sweet and nice. I kinda speak up like a true heroine should. My ladies have taught me much

I agree completely:)

Well, we all have a face That we hide away forever And we take them out and show ourselves When everyone has gone

Some are satin, some are steel Some are silk and some are leather They’re the faces of the stranger But we love to try them on

– Billy Joel, from The Stranger

Dear Fellow Warriors of Art,

First of all, thank you for being a stop on my weekly artist’s journey to refill every Wednesday. I look forward to a weekly fill up every Wednesday morning. While reading The Daily Pressfield this morning which I got for Christmas I was shockingly honored and blown away in the best way possible to find Steve mentioning something that I wrote for a fellow artist out here in the trenches. Day 249 We’re all in the trenches. Here was my original post from four years ago.

Dear Kati/Steve/Fellow Warriors,

I must say that I read this blog every week and this is the first time I have ever felt the need to respond. First Kati I want to congratulate you not only on your journey as an artist but your enduring struggle to find a place for your muse in this world. I would say that you are now in possession of what Mark Mclaughlin refers to in Cognitive Dominance as “Terrible Knowledge.” To quote the book here “(I have a sense) of really knowing the truth in a way that other people don’t know it. And all the truth is harsh and impossible to really accept, and yet you have to go on and function.” I salute how much you gave to your muse. The lengths you must have gone to. The depths of commitment it had to take to remove the people from your life that were holding you back from bringing your gift to the world no matter how much heartache it brought you.

I thank you for writing what you did because while I am not in your exact circumstance I too have failed and failed again while continuing to find a way to stake everything to bring my gift to the world. You may be broke and broken but you are not alone. There are others out there who are suffocating in the belly of the beast and may have been there for years. Your post gives me hope that I am not alone in scratching my way through the side of a whale.

So I ask you this. Can you remember what it was like to write and truly tap into the core of the universe and bring your gift to this side? To quote Cognitive Dominance again: ” But we also have life experiences when we are perfectly in sync with our environment. Our “having” goal is perfectly attuned to our “being” goal. We “feel” like we can’t miss, like we are exactly where we should be at exactly the right time and that our personal skills (agency) are perfectly aligned with our specific environment (arena). If we’re Ted Williams and we come to the plate for the last at bat of our career, we :know” we’ll hit a home run. And we do.” I can say that with this post that you shared with Steve you may not feel like you have done anything with your gift but it hit a home run for me.

If your muse has left you and been gone for years did she leave a note? Do you know her and love her well enough to know where she might have gone? Is there any trail or clue to find your way back to her? Are there small things that built up that she hated that you refused to change?

Of course I hope you find a way to make some kind of money whether that be through telemarketing or some kind of desk job that is not too labor intensive for you. I ask that you keep going. If there are people that you need to connect with then do that .At least give yourself permission to search for the inspiration that will help you find your way again. I wish you the best and good luck.

Sincerely, George Carpenter

Since then I have written my first trilogy of plays, produced them, and acted in the finale. It was the best experience of my life and worth the terrible hardships in the belly of the whale. I graduated with my MFA in Acting and am also working on getting my M.A. in directing as well.

But I have to be honest with you all. My true education has been staring at the blank page. Putting in the miles running and thinking while I run every day about what would work and where. Reading and rereading The War of Art and Turning Pro. Following The Muse to whatever she wants me to read, see, experience, and then create. Fighting the battle anew every day against Resistance. Even when I lose. Especially when I lose. I thank you all for being out there. I pledge anew to fight harder. Until next time.

Thank you Steve for all you have written. I hope one day The Muse shows you not only how impactful your art has been but also all the art you inspired others to make.

P.S. My first play was recorded and put on Youtube if anyone wants to check it out.

A group of friends meet up at the end of summer to face the limits of friendship, love, and the cost of being who you need to be. As night descends the lines between dimensions are blurred as shipwreck approaches:

The Final Voyage of The Edmund Fitzgerald: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd7iMIZ9w9E

There is actually a copy of The War of Art on stage along with Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and The Dark Tower Book IV: Wizard and Glass.

This for me is like the note from Tom Guinzburg about Gates of Fire that Mr. Pressfield describes in Turning Pro where Tom says:

“There’s something great in here, Steve. I have confidence that you will find it and bring it out.”

I plan to frame page 357 of The Daily Pressfield and refer to it in all the future trenches I find myself in to keep bringing out the best that The Muse has gifted me.

I wish you all the best in your own artistic wars against Resistance. May you slay the dragon and bring home the gold. We cheer you on. The world needs more meaningful art.

I am so grateful.

Now back to work.

Just when I think Steve has come up with so many penetrating insights, he couldn’t possibly do it again, he does it. Again and again!

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