The Great Gatsbyby F. Scott Fitzgerald:

An Introduction

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Created by:Alyssa ChrismanEDU 290HCentral Michigan U.

Historical Context

• American literature• Published in 1925• Takes place in 1922• Roaring 20s

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Historical Context Cont.

• Impact of WWI• Prohibition• Old Money vs. New Money

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The American Dream

Hard Work + Good Character

=Success

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Corruption of the American Dream

• Materialism Easy Money Lenient Values

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Major Characters

Nick Carraway (narrator)

Jay Gatsby

Daisy Buchanan

Tom Buchanan

Jordan Baker

George B. Wilson

Myrtle Wilson

Plot

• Nick moves from Midwest to East coast

• Neighbor to Gatsby• Gatsby wants to

redefine himself

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Criticism

“The Great Gatsby is a mystical, timeless story of integrity and cruelty, vision and despair.”-www.barnesandnoble.com

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Great-Gatsby/F-Scott-Fitzgerald/e/9780743273565/?itm=5&USRI=the+great+gatsby

Symbols

• Definition: Physical things that exist both as themselves and as an abstract meaning or meanings.

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Symbols Continued

• The Green Light• The eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg

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Quote“Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no

matter —tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . . . And then one fine morning—So we beat on, boats

against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”

- F. Scott Fitzgerald The Great Gatsby

Final Comments

• American dream• Any questions?• Happy reading!

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