The Great Gatsby Computer Based Scavenger Hunt Adventure
Hello, today you are going on a scavenger hunt. You have to accumulate 50 points (and
answer the mandatory question at the end). Each task is worth a varied point value. You have
the class period, and the week, to accomplish this task. Everything is due, on one neatly
organized typed document on Wednesday, April 13. This assignment is worth 65 points in
total.
You will receive half credit extra credit for every point above 65; this caps at ten extra
points.
Answer everything in complete sentences and/or cohesive paragraphs unless otherwise
stated.
1. F. Scott Fitzgerald - 10pts
○ Skim the biography of F. Scott Fitzgerald. List at least three major influences
on his life and writing. Write a paragraph analyzing how these three things may
have influenced him.
2. World War I - 10pts
○ After the war ended, the economy skyrocketed, making it possible for people
to spend more time and money on leisure activities. After researching, list
three major innovations that came out of the WWI experience.
○ Analyze the importance of these innovations? How did they change life after
World War One? How did American Culture as a whole change post WWI?
3. Lost Generation - 15 pts:
○ Resource: http://www.britannica.com/topic/Lost-Generation
○ What was the Lost Generation? What effect did it have on art, literature, and
general life?
○ E. E. Cummings was a poet of the lost generation. Read a biographical article
here, write a short summary of that article. Analyze this poem specifically how
it illustrates that he was a member of the lost generation.
4. 18th Amendment - 5pts
What exactly does the amendment abolish? What was the result?
5. 19th Amendment - 10pts
○ What right did women gain from the passage of the 19th Amendment?
○ How did this affect women of the time period?
○ How do the effects of this amendment still resonate today?
6. The Roaring Twenties - 5pts
○ List three major events that occurred in 1922 (the year in which the novel is
set).
7. Prohibition - 5pts
○ What is a Speakeasy? Why do you think Speakeasies popped up across the U.S.
in the 1920s?
8. Flappers - 15pts
○ Read This Article. According to the author, what are the essential elements of
being a true flapper?
○ After reading the article, look at the selected photos of Louise Brooks. Does
she fit the "Flapper" profile as proposed? Why or why not?
○ Read Dorothy Parker's poem "The Flapper." Do you think Ms. Parker approves or
disapproves of Flappers? Explain.
9. Automobiles - 5pts
○ Why were cars considered "the most important catalyst for social change in the
1920's"?
10. Music - 5pts (Because of the firewall you need to do this one at home)
○ Listen to the music on the Spotify music player:
http://open.spotify.com/user/danahuff/playlist/7gxU5LicKarxLFRJq9ZUk3
(click on the track with your mouse)
○ As you listen, record your thoughts and reactions to the songs.
11. Video - 5 pts (Because of the firewall you need to do this one at home)
○ View these video trailers for Great Gatsby movies:
Gatsby 1926
Gatsby 2012
What do you expect based on the scenes in the trailers?
MANDATORY - Drawing Conclusions - MANDATORY. Quotes from sources used throughout
this assignment to support your analysis.
Based on the information you have collected from these sources, what do you think the plot
and setting of The Great Gatsby will include? What kinds of characters do you expect to
encounter in the novel? Hypothesize how the novel would be different if set during a more
contemporary time period (2015-2016). (If you already know The Great Gatsby, this response
should include what you know and focus on your hypothesis of the novel set in a more
contemporary time period.)