MYP Year 10: Language and Literature
When Too Much is Not Enough:
Novel Study - The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald 20C
SoI: The rise of wealth and the pursuit of consumerism can hold
personal, human and global consequences
Key Concept: Perspective
Related Concepts: Character, Theme, Setting, Style, Point of View
Global Context: Fairness and Development
Contextual Research
The purpose of this activity is to gain information about the context and the culture in which
the work was produced. Through this research task, you should be able to understand the
text more, because you will have a greater insight into the context and culture in which it
was produced.
Topics for Presentations
1. Key historical, political and social events of the early 20th Century (1895 – 1930s).
What key historical, social and political events took place during this time period?
How did World War I affect the lives and outlook of people in America? What were
the Roaring Twenties or the Jazz Age? How did this period of time differ to previous
decades? What changes were taking place in the 1920s? What was characteristic of
life in the 1920s? What is the American Dream and how did this specifically link to
the lives of individuals in the 1920s? How did this come to an abrupt end in 1929?
What links can you make between your research and the novel?
2. Life in America in the 1920s. How was life changing for ordinary citizens in the
1920s? What was happening to life in the cities? Which cities were seen as major
places of change ad why was this so? What was happening to the infrastructure of
America? What is consumerism and how was this affecting the lives of ordinary
American citizens of this age? How did people seek to better their lives in this age?
Were everyone’s lives made better in the 1920s? What was positive about the
Roaring Twenties? What criticisms were there of the Roaring Twenties and the Jazz
Age? What links can you make between your research and the novel?
3. Sex and Gender. What is the difference between gender and sex? How were men
and women socialized in nineteenth America? How were they expected to behave,
dress and act in public? How did all of this change in the 1920s? What was the new
woman? What were flappers? What were the significant fashion trends for women
n the 1920s? Did men and women have more equality in the 1920s, compared to
previous decades? What rights did men have in 1920s America? What rights did
women have in 1920s America? What level of independence did women have in
1920s America? What was married life like for men and women in the 1920s? What
links can you make between your research and the novel?
4. Culture, morality and ethics What were the cultural traditions and moral and ethical
codes of American people in the decades before the 1920s (i.e. 1895 up to 1920)?
How did these differ to the sense of culture and moral and ethical codes of the
1920s? What was modernity? How did this clash with the values of previous
decades? Was there a culture clash between youths and the older generation in the
1920s? Why was this so? What was seen as so radically different about the 1920s?
What social taboos were flaunted in the 1920s? What criminal activity was
prevalent in the 1920s and did this have any effect on the society of the time? What
links can you make between your research and the novel?
5. Fitzgerald’s Biography. What is Fitzgerald’s background? How are his life, his views
and attitudes reflected in his works? What was the lost generation? What were the
most significant texts he wrote and how were they received? Who were the other
key novelists of his day? How did they compare to Fitzgerald? How did the events
that were taking place in the society of Fitzgerald’s day influence his works? What
influenced Fitzgerald’s literary style? What did Fitzgerald want to achieve through
The Great Gatsby? What links can you make between your research and the novel?
Preparation Time
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
Presentations
Thursday and Friday (in PPT).
As audience members, you will be expected to make notes on what is discussed during the
presentations as this will help aid your understanding of the text and will be of use for you
Summative Assessment.