The Great Gatsby
Project: Last Six Weeks 2013
For 100 points, you will need to prepare a project that reflects your knowledge of F. Scott
Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. This project will be due May 31; presentation of your project to the class
will also be on this day. Most projects are to be completed by individuals, unless otherwise noted.
Your project is limited only by your imagination. The one requirement is that the project must deal
with the novel The Great Gatsby, either as a reflection of actual events in the story or as a related topic
that finds its roots in this novel. If the project you wish to do is not listed below, be certain to get my
permission. Possible projects include the following:
1. Create a 3-D mask that represents The Great Gatsby. The mask should be symbolic and represent
ideas and themes from the story. Explain your mask—how you created it and what it means—
in a brief essay (150 words minimum). You may want to create more than one mask to express
your ideas.
2. Perform a dramatic interpretation of a scene from The Great Gatsby; Nick’s numerous
monologues provide excellent opportunities for dramatic interpretations. Memorize the
passage for a 5-10 minute presentation and perform in front of the class.
3. Create a newspaper (four pages minimum) covering events from The Great Gatsby. Your paper
should look “professional”: use a computer program that will help you with the layout of the
paper. Be certain to include not only news articles, but also feature articles, sports articles,
classifieds, other ads, comic strips, etc. The articles should reflect knowledge of the novel as
well as the 1920s. Two may work on this project. Note: examine classroom copies of
informative articles concerning the Jazz Age.
4. Create a picture of one of the scenes or an interpretation of a theme in The Great Gatsby. You
may also illustrate a significant passage, including the passage in your picture. (It will be
important that you have artistic ability and that you letter well.) This picture will be judged for its
content, its interpretation of the literature, its artistic quality, and its neatness. Briefly explain
how and why you created your artwork and the meaning or significance of your creation (150
words minimum).
5. Create an additional scene for The Great Gatsby. The scene should contain dialogue and should
maintain the same characterization as the author has created. A possible scene is Daisy’s
version of her romance (“spoiler” information deleted here) as she tells it to Nick. (Perhaps this
scene would reveal the contents of the letter that Daisy receives, the letter that nearly causes
her to cancel her wedding plans with Tom.)
6. Create a packet of bulletin board materials for The Great Gatsby. These materials should include
the title in large letters and words and pictures that represent events, characters, settings, and
especially main ideas and themes of the story. Pictures representing the Roaring 20s should be
created: the style of clothing, the style of hair, the cars, etc. Some famous quotations should also
be included in this packet. You should use construction paper and poster board and color—
make the presentation colorful.
7. Create a board game or card game with The Great Gatsby as its focus. Make certain that the
game is accurate in its representation of events in the novel (no factual errors), that the
directions are clear, and that the game is sturdy.
8. Produce a video of a scene from The Great Gatsby. You will be judged on the quality of the
performance and the quality of the videotaping. The video may be a verbatim excerpt or a
parody of a scene from the story. The scene should be a minimum of 10 minutes in length. Be
certain you know how to run a camcorder if you wish to tackle this one. Up to four classmates
may work on this project.
9. Compile a group of modern songs that in some way express each songwriter’s view of the
American Dream. You will need to collect a minimum of eight songs, group them into
categories (e.g., “an optimistic look at the American Dream,” “the dark side of the American
Dream,” etc.), and comment on these songs—write at least 400 words about what these songs
reveal about America and the American Dream today. You may break up the writing into eight
separate paragraphs (a paragraph after each song, 50 words or so) or write a single analysis in
which you discuss all eight songs in one essay. Tie in ideas from The Great Gatsby in your
discussion. Provide the lyrics of each song. Be certain you do not violate copyright policies.
10. Write your own song about the American Dream, making references to events and characters
in The Great Gatsby. You may choose rock, folk, country and western, jazz, rap, or any other
type of music as your medium. Have the lyrics typed and the song on CD, but also expect to
perform the song live in class.
11. Create a soundtrack for The Great Gatsby: Choose a “theme” song for each chapter of The Great
Gatsby. You must also explain why each song is an appropriate fit for the events, thematic
ideas, tone, and mood of each chapter. For example, in chapter two when Tom is cheating on
Daisy by taking his mistress to New York City for a fling, you might choose a country and
western song that deals with cheating. See me for further details about this project. Be certain
you do not violate copyright policies.
12. Read T. S. Eliot’s poem “The Wasteland” and research information on the poem’s meaning.
Then choose to present a portion of the poem to the class and explain its meaning. You may
also choose to illustrate a part of the poem. Whatever choice you make concerning a
presentation of this poem, you must be certain to explain in writing (at least 200 words) how
this poem ties in with the events in The Great Gatsby. You will need to meet with me to discuss
the poem before beginning your project for this poem. NOTE: This project requires special
permission.
13. Take on the role of a movie director and explain in a letter to a producer how you would film
The Great Gatsby. Are there scenes you would cut or change? How would you handle Nick as
the narrator? Include a list of current actors you would cast for the major roles and reasons for
these choices. This letter should be more than one page in length and contain specific details.
14. Create a travel brochure or a travelogue of the places mentioned in The Great Gatsby. Items you
would need in this brochure or travelogue would include, but are not limited to, the following:
maps and pictures of Long Island and Manhattan, as well as visuals of Louisville, Kentucky,
Oxford (in England), and Yale—from the 1920s, if possible; pictures of some of the places
mentioned in New York City; the interior of a speakeasy; a picture of Gatsby’s mansion (since it
was a copy of a famous place in France); etc. Brief descriptions of these pictures, with direct
reference to events in the novel, must accompany your visuals. See me about this project before
you begin.
15. Create 2 pictures of metaphors (or similes or other forms of figurative language) from The Great
Gatsby, e.g., “but a stirring warmth flowed from her as if her heart was trying to come out to
you concealed in one of those breathless, thrilling words” (p 14). Each metaphor must be
included in each picture, and the picture will be judged on its artistic quality, its interpretation
of the metaphor, and its neatness.
16. Read Sir Philip Sidney’s poem, “The Nightingale,” and the story of Tereus, Procne, and
Philomela from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Summarize these works and then explain their
connection to The Great Gatsby, especially in terms of Tom’s and Daisy’s relationship. (On page
15, Daisy comments on a nightingale she’s seen: “I looked outdoors for a minute and it’s very
romantic outdoors. There’s a bird on the lawn that I think must be a nightingale come over on
the Cunard or White Star Line. He’s singing away—“her voice sang—"It’s romantic, isn’t it,
Tom?”)
17. Create a project of your own design, for example, creating “found poems” from the novel.