The Great Gatsby

Focus Point Questions

As you read the story, focus on the following questions, noting significant passages and
their meaning.

Theme and Symbol/Motif

1. What is the American Dream as defined by the story? What motifs1 and symbols are
used in the story to shed light on the American Dream?

Characterization
2. How do the different characters try to achieve the American Dream and what are the
implications of their successes and failures?

3. How do the characters’ backgrounds affect their ability to achieve the American
Dream? What are the implications, especially considering similarities and differences
amongst their backgrounds?

4. What are the main characters’ significant traits and how do those traits help and/or
hinder their achievement of the American Dream? What implications can be drawn as
to what character traits are needed for success and what traits will lead to failure?

5. What method of characterization does Fitzgerald use and why?

Setting
6. How are East Egg, West Egg, New York city, the Midwest and the Valley of ashes
symbolic of American society and what implications can be drawn about the
American Dream?

7. How does society help and/or hinder characters as they try to live the American
Dream and what implications can be drawn about society?

Point of View / Narration

8. What point of view does Fitzgerald use to tell the story and why?

Plot
9. What are the significant plot events and descriptions in the story and why does
Fitzgerald arrange them as he does?

Period
10. What literary period is the telling of the story characteristic of?

1
Motifs are recurring symbols, character actions, etc that can help to develop and inform the text’s major themes.
 The Great Gatsby
Method

1. Hook students into the story comparing it to modern day via the following questions /
discussion points (perhaps an anticipation guide?):

Journal Question: Tell me a love story.

 What is the American Dream?

 What do people need to achieve the American Dream?
 What keeps people form achieving the American Dream?
 How does our society support people’s efforts to achieve the American Dream?
 How have the books you have read thus far defined the American Dream (The
Crucible, Huck Finn, Of Mice and Men, etc)?
 How are the roaring twenties similar to life in America now?
 What is your plan for achieving the American Dream?
2. Read the story straight through two chapters a day, one in class, one for homework. If
students do not read during class they must do alternative assignment and do all
reading as homework.

3. Study each chapter:

• Reread chapter night before

• Review underlining and margin notes
• Significant event and character trait quiz
• Journal response hinting at significance of given passages
• Small group or individual challenge discussion of given passages (Called on
Group explains literal meaning and significance, challenge groups challenges:
correctness of answer/insight, restate in a clearer way, expand upon idea;
Called on group is allowed to respond).
• Write responses explaining the significance of X of the given quotes and one
noted but not on list.
• Evaluate responses.
• Exam based on character identification via quotes, and passage responses.