Pre-reading Activity
The Great Gatsby
Directions: Use the articles given to your group to answer the questions below.
Assign all group members a task so all are participating. Each student is
responsible for having all of the questions answered by the conclusion of this
assignment. WORK TOGETHER, USE THE INFORMATION GIVEN TO YOU, AND
RESPOND ON A SEPARATE SHEET OF PAPER. THIS INFORMATION WILL BE VERY
BENEFICAL TO THE RESEARCH PAPER YOU WILL BE WRITING SOON!
PART 1:
F. Scott Fitzgerald
1. What were the dominant influences on F. Scott Fitzgerald?
2. When and where was F. Scott Fitzgerald born?
3. Who were Fitzgerald’s parents?
4. Discuss his parents.
5. Who is Zelda Sayre?
6. Which novels publication made Fitzgerald famous?
7. Who is Frances Scott Fitzgerald?
8. What did F. Scott Fitzgerald gain a reputation for that caused him to be seen as an irresponsible
writer?
9. When and where did F. Scott Fitzgerald write The Great Gatsby?
10. What caused damage in the marriage of Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald?
11. What happened to Zelda in April of 1930?
12. Discuss two things that occurred in Zelda’s life in 1932?
13. Discuss Fitzgerald’s “the crack up” period (1936-1937).
14. Who was Sheila Graham?
15. How, when, and where did F. Scott Fitzgerald die?
16. How, when, and where did Zelda die?
17. What theme does The Great Gatsby seriously examine?
PART 2:
World War I
After World War I ended, the economy skyrockets, making it possible for people to spend more time
and money on leisure activities.
1. List three major innovations that came out of the WWI experience.
2. List dominant post war American attitudes and the major movements of the 1920’s—pay close
attention to the attitudes of the “Lost Generation” and the “Prosperity and consumerism” movement.
PART 3:
A New Women Emerges- Women of the 1920’s
1. What significant changes took place for women in the 1920’s?
2. What significant political change took place in the 1920’s?
3. What did this political change give women the right to do?
4. What does the phrase “separate sphere’s” mean?
5. What two professions were considered suitable for women during this time period?
6. By 1930, how many women held a paying job?
7. How wee cigarettes advertised to women in the 1920’s?
8. Discuss flappers.
- Who were they?
-How did they dress?
-How did they behave?
9. In order to be a flapper what did women need to have?
10. According to the poem “The Flapper” by Dorothy Parker, does she approve or disapprove of
flappers? Explain.
PART 4:
The Roaring 20’s
1. List three major events that occurred in 1922. (When The Great Gatsby was set)
PART 5:
Eighteenth Amendment
1. What did the Eighteenth Amendment abolish?
2. What was excluded from this prohibition?
3. When did the Eighteenth Amendment take place?
4. Discuss the results of the Eighteenth Amendment.
PART 6:
Prohibition
1. What was a Speakeasy?
2. Why did Speakeasies begin to pop up across the country?
3. Who ran the Speakeasies?
4. What were New York’s two biggest Speakeasies?
PART 7:
Organized Crime
1. Who was the inspiration for The Great Gatsby character Meyer Wolfsheim?
2. What was Rothstein rumored to be the mastermind of?
3. List three interesting facts about Rothstein taken from Clarke’s memoir “In the Reign of Rothstein”.
4. How does the Mafia Encyclopedia define prohibition?
5. Based on the quotes, what was Rothstein’s primary job?
6. What was his “side jobs”?
7. When did prohibition begin?
8. What were the advantages of prohibition?
9. What were the disadvantages of prohibition?
PART 8:
The Age of Automobiles
1. Discuss the economic revolution caused by the growth of the automobile industry.
2. What types of new jobs began to evolve as a result?
3. What were some negative effects that the rise in automobiles caused?
4. Why were automobiles considered the most important catalyst for social change in the 1920’s?
5. Explain why women enjoyed automobiles.
6. Explain why juveniles enjoyed automobiles.
7. Explain why businessmen enjoyed automobiles.
8. Who was largely responsible for this automobile movement? Why?
9. What cars were considered status symbols?
PART 9:
The Jazz Age
1. What is the Jazz Age?
2. Who were the most famous Jazz men?
3. Discuss the term the “crazies”.
4. This was also the era for great sport champions such as whom?
5. How many people a week went to the movies in the 1920’s?
6. Who is Al Capone?
PART 10:
1920’s Music
Read the lyrics provided to you. As you read, record your thoughts and reactions to the songs.
PART 11:
1920’s Slang
1. List five words or phrases and write them down. Explain why you chose these terms and what they
mean.
PART 12:
Movie Trailers (THIS PART WE WILL DO TOGETHER)
1. What do you expect based on the scenes in the trailers?
2. Based on the information you have collected what do you think the plot and setting of The Great
Gatsby will include?
3. What kinds of characters do you expect to encounter in The Great Gatsby? Why?