ENG4U Novel Study Unit • Name: ___________________________
Novel Study
Unit:
The Great
Gatsby
The Great Gatsby Character Map
From CliffsNotes The Great Gatsby Summary and Study Guide
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The Great Gatsby Literature Circles
For our study of The Great Gatsby, we will be using literature circles as a tool for learning. Literature
circles are designed to provide small group discussion time about the novel as you are reading the
novel. It is an opportunity for you to discuss issues, ideas, and questions that you may have about the
section of the novel you have read. As well, the notes and ideas exchanged serve as a complete set
of study notes for the novel (along with some input from me), and will prepare you for your quizzes,
unit test, multimedia presentations, and exam.
You must be accountable for the time that you spend with your group at your Literature Circle
Meeting and the material that you are required to cover. For each meeting, you are expected to:
•
•
•
•
Read the assigned sections
Contribute to all discussions
Complete the assigned role for each meeting
Participate respectfully
You will be assessed according to:
•
•
•
•
The quality of your contributions to the literature circle meeting
The extent to which you keep up with your responsibilities to your group
The quality of your ideas
The quality of your group’s discussions
You will meet five times to discuss the novel The Great Gatsby. You will be expected to complete
each of the following roles throughout our study of the novel. Meeting dates will be supplemented by
input lessons and activities. I will also use the content of your meetings to guide me in my lesson
preparation, as well as help provide contextual information to aid your study.
I am looking forward to this opportunity and hope that your understanding of the novel and literature
as a whole will develop. Be brave and step outside the box into a new arena of learning.
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The Great Gatsby Literature Circle Roles
Role
Description
Sample Questions to Consider
When Completing
Literary
Luminary
You are also expected to highlight examples of literary
devices and record both their uses and effectiveness.
Finally, you will be asked to look up any allusions or
references in the graphic novel you read and explain
your understanding of them.
• What makes the writing in this section so • At least three (3) examples
effective? (literary devices)
of literary devices,
including their use (i.e., the
• How is the symbolism necessary to the
story as a whole?
sentence it appears in)
• What references are made to situations • At least two (2) allusions or
outside of the original story?
references, with
explanations
Connecting to prior knowledge and experience to
reading deepens comprehension and understanding.
You will be looking for and recording connections that
you can make to the graphic novel you have chosen.
• What connections can you make to
current events in your community?
• What other people or places could you
compare this story to?
• What other books or stories might you
compare this one to?
• What other characters or authors might
you compare this to?
• How does the theme(s) represented
connect to other stories? Previous
sections? Media texts?
Big
Connector
Basically, there are four types of connections that you
can make:
A. Text to text - find a connection between the
text that you are reading and something that
you have read or watched elsewhere
B. Text to the world - find connections between
the text that you are reading and bigger
issues or events in the world
C. Text to self - find a connection between the
text that you are reading and your personal
experience
D. Text within text - find a connection between
the section of the text that you are reading
and another section of the same text.
What to Complete
• All four (4) connections
must be made, written in
separate sentences, with
headings for each type of
connection
• A theme statement
You are also expected to discuss theme(s) as you
make connections.
Peacemaker
Charley
Grand
Questioner
You are being asked to identify and examine the
different types of conflict at play in the graphic novel.
Remember to consider all seven of the varieties of
conflict (person vs. person, person vs. society, person
vs. self, person vs. nature, etc.). Examine the reason
behind each conflict, and provide a resolution to each
conflict.
• What examples of conflict are at play in
• At least three (3) types of
the graphic novel?
conflict
• How does one conflict affect another?
• Reason behind each
conflict found
• What solutions can be offered to the
characters?
• Resolution to each conflict
found
• Are any forms of conflict more prevalent?
What does this tell us about the graphic
novel as a whole?
You are expected to track the characters and their
development throughout the story. You will keep a list of
the character traits demonstrated within the story, with
examples and any new characters that are introduced.
It is important that you include physical, mental, moral,
and emotional characteristics.
• What do we know about the characters? • At least three (3) character
traits for each character
• What new characters have we met in this
section?
• Identify what type of
character (protagonist,
• How do we learn about the characters?
antagonist, flat, round,
• Are any character traits from earlier
sections developed further in this
dynamic, static)
section? If so, how?
• State how/why character
develops.
Your job is to record any questions that you have about
reading this particular short story. You want to record
the questions that were circling in your brain as you
read the story, and any questions that you may have
about what is yet to come.
• Why did the author make a particular
choice?
• What did the text make you think about?
• What do you think this story was about?
• What was the most important change in
this story – and why?
• How might other people (of different
backgrounds) think about this story?
• At least six (6) higher-order
questions (questions that
do no elicit a one-word or
short response; that
require an explanation)
• An answer to each of the
questions devised
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The Great Gatsby Literature Circle Role Schedule
Group Members & Contact Info:
1. ___________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________________
4. ___________________________________________________________________
5. ___________________________________________________________________
Literature Circle Schedule
Role
Meeting 1
Meeting 2
Meeting 3
Meeting 4
Meeting 5
Literary
Luminary
Big Connector
Peacemaker
Charley
Grand
Questioner
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The Great Gatsby Research Multimedia Presentation
You will work in a group of three, on one of the following projects listed below. Choose your partners
wisely. This assignment will be presented orally to the class. This is an opportunity for you to amaze
us with your media skills and creativity as well as your analyses. Presentations are to be 15-20
minutes. You must include a Works Cited page with your rubric prior to presenting.
Decline of the American Dream (in 1920s) – This period in American history is a time of
unprecedented wealth, with people flaunting their material excess with conspicuous consumption.
Despite the economic prosperity, one can see the decline, corruption, and perversion of the American
Dream, in regards to social and moral values. How does this manifest itself in the novel?
Spirit of the 1920s – prepare a show in which various aspects of the 1920s are presented to the
class. Brainstorm within your group for ideas and categories (e.g., one category could be “fashion”
leading to an investigation and presentation of the Flappers). Use music, visuals, and/or costumes in
your presentation. Use the talents of your group, including your painters and musicians for a live
performance.
Role of Symbols – Assign each member of your group one or more of the following symbols in the
novel to investigate: the green light on Daisy’s dock, the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg, the valley of
ashes, Gatsby’s parties, East Egg, West Egg. Research the meaning of each of these symbols. What
significance do they bear in relation to the text, and to American society in the 1920s? How is the
symbol’s meaning relevant to today’s society?
Weather – In literature, weather can often match or represent the atmosphere of the story. This can
be seen in Shakespeare’s works as well. What does the weather throughout the novel suggest about
certain occurrences, encounters, relationships, people, or places?
Excess, Social Values, & Social Class – Think about the American dream, where anyone,
regardless of social class, has the potential to make a fortune. Consider the quest for wealth,
extravagant parties, material excess. There is no question that people are often judged by their
appearance and social status, among other superficial criteria. How are these judgements fair and
unfair, true and untrue? How does conspicuous consumption, living extravagantly, materialism, and
prestige of social status affect social values individually and collectively? How do these facets of
excess affect the social strata, and who (i.e., which social stratum) is most impacted, and in what
ways?
Hollowness of the Upper Class – American families, who come from “old money”, exhibit an
aristocratic disdain for the newly rich. Why is this? Is it justified? Does this take place today, and in
what forms? What does this say about the perception of people, their realness, and the fabric of
society? Does the hollowness of the upper class damage the the identity of people, their realness,
and/or the fabric of society?
Geography – Think about the various settings of the novel. Many of them exemplify aspects of the
American 1920s depicted by Fitzgerald. What do these settings represent? Are there dichotomies
present in this depiction that can be compared to anything today? Each group member will represent
a “setting” from the novel. Each setting argues to prove that it is the most important representation.
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Rubric Multimedia Presentation /16
Duration: ____________
Name(s): _________________________________________________________________________________
Topic: ____________________________________________________________________________________
**Submit this sheet with a Works Cited page to your teacher prior to presenting.**
Category
Knowledge/
Understanding
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
(50-59%)
(60-69%)
(70-79%)
(80-100%)
Presents limited relevant
information and ideas
Presents some relevant
information and ideas
Presents considerable
relevant information and
ideas
• Takes few risks to
incorporate unusual or
unexpected features
• Shows limited skill in
appealing to several
senses
• Takes some risks to
incorporate unusual or
unexpected features
• Shows some skill in
appealing to several
senses
• Takes considerable risks • Shows a high degree of
to incorporate unusual
risk taking to incorporate
or unexpected features
unusual or unexpected
Shows
considerable
skill
features
•
in appealing to several
• Shows a high degree of
senses
skill in appealing to
several senses
• Has limited focus
• Has some focus and
• Has considerable focus
unity
and unity
Choice
of
material
and
•
• Choice of material and
media show some sense
media show
of audience and purpose
considerable sense of
audience and purpose
• Interplay of media is
somewhat effective
• Interplay of media is
effective
Information, ideas
Thinking/Inquiry
• Creative thinking/risk
taking
• Sensory appeal
Communication
• Choice of material and
• Focus and unity
Sense
of
audience
and
media show limited
•
purpose
sense of audience and
• Interplay of media
purpose
• Interplay of media has
limited effectiveness
Application
• Use of media and
technology
• Presentation
• Shows limited command • Shows some command
of the media and
of the media and
technology used
technology used
• Few parts of the
• Some parts of the
presentation are smooth
presentation are smooth
and fluent
and fluent
Presents thorough and
insightful relevant
information and ideas
• Has a strong, clear,
unified focus
• Choice of material and
media show strong sense
of audience and purpose
• Interplay of media is
highly effective
• Shows considerable
• Shows strong command
command of the media
of the media and
and technology used
technology used
• Most of the presentation • All or almost all of the
is smooth and fluent
presentation is smooth
and fluent
Comments:
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The Great Gatsby Chapter 1 Questions
1. What advice did the narrator’s father give him? Do you agree with Nick’s father? What are
examples of “fundamental decencies”?
2. Describe Gatsby’s house. What do the details about his house suggest about his character?
3. Describe Nick’s house. What do the details about his house suggest about his character?
4. Who are the Buchanans and where do they live? Tom’s physical description is important later in
the novel. How does the narrator describe him? What might this description suggest about him?
5. Describe Daisy. From the description, what actress, singer, or other well-known figure do you think
might be like Daisy?
6. Describe Jordan Baker. Why is she at the Buchanans?
7. Why do we get the impression that Tom is a racist? What is his explanation for “civilization going
to pieces”?
8. What attitude do Daisy and Jordan have? How is Jordon shown as “immoral” and Daisy as
innocent?
9. Reread Daisy’s comment right after her daughter was born. What is your reaction to her
comment?
10. How does Gatsby react to the green light at the end of Chapter 1?
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The Great Gatsby Chapter 2 & 3 Questions
1. Describe the valley of the ashes. What does it symbolize?
2. Nick goes with Tom to visit Myrtle. Describe her and her husband. What happens during the
course of the evening? What shows Myrtle’s lack of sophistication? Explain the significance of the
puppy episode in terms of what it reveals about Tom and Myrtle.
3. Why did Tom get so angry with Myrtle for mentioning Daisy’s name? From his reaction, how do
you think he feels about Daisy? About Myrtle?
4. Overindulgence in alcohol is a problem for many of the characters in the novel. Consider why
Fitzgerald might have chosen to include this detail in the novel.
5. Gatsby’s parties are juxtaposed to Tom’s by Fitzgerald. How do they compare? What does Nick
mean when he says he is one of the few who were invited? What are some rumours about Gatsby
heard at this party? What is Nick’s comment about the gossip? What did he mean?
6. Who is “owl eyes” and what surprises him? Explain what he meant by Gatsby not cutting the
pages.
7. What does Nick find most intriguing about Gatsby? What about Gatsby is suspicious to Nick?
8. Jordan Baker is dishonest, while Nick prides himself on his honesty. How does Jordan feel around
Nick?
9. Describe a party of today that would approach the magnificence of Gatsby’s.
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The Great Gatsby Chapter 4 Questions
1. Nick keeps a list of the party guests on a train schedule dated July 5, 1922. Why did Fitzgerald
include this section? Consider the names of the guests (characterization) and the significance of
the date.
2. What travellers are seen just after Nick and Gatsby cross the Queensboro Bridge? Why are they
important in terms of theme?
3. What is extremely unusual about Mr. Wolfsheim? Note Wolfsheim’s comment about Gatsby, “He
would never so much as look at a friend’s wife” (73). Why is this ironic? What crime does Gatsby
say Wolfsheim committed? What is Nick’s reaction? Discuss how Fitzgerald’s portrayal of
Wolfsheim is reflective of anti-Semitic attitudes.
4. Gatsby’s unexpected departure from the restaurant upon meeting Tom is a transition for what
Jordan is about to tell Nick in the next section of the chapter. What startling news does Nick
discover about Gatsby and Daisy?
5. What did Daisy do the day before her wedding to Tom? What was Tom doing shortly after the
wedding? How are these details significant?
6. What favour is asked of Nick on Gatsby’s behalf? Put yourself in Nick’s place. A friend wants you
to arrange to meet with someone another friend is dating. What would you do? Why do you think
Nick agreed?
7. Discuss how fixing the 1919 World Series is a slap in the face of American ideals.
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The Great Gatsby Chapter 5 Questions
1. What does Gatsby propose that offends Nick? Why does Nick refuse? Discuss what this reaction
suggests about his character.
2. Describe Daisy and Gatsby’s meeting. What did you notice? Discuss the three emotional states
Gatsby move through upon meeting Daisy again. How does Fitzgerald’s description of the
encounter compare to what you thought might happen?
3. Why do you think Daisy cries when she sees all of Gatsby’s beautiful shirts? What does this
suggest about her character and the nature of her relationship with Gatsby?
4. Why is the song “Ain’t We Got Fun?”–Gatsby’s request to Klipspringer–both appropriate and
ironic?
5. This chapter is often seen as the beginning of Gatsby’s downfall. Offer suggestions as to how this
might be true.
6. Discuss the expression “money can’t buy happiness” as it relates to the characters in the novel.
7. Prove or disprove the following by citing examples from your own experience, movies, sports, or
literature: the dream of what “could be” is usually superior to the dream achieved in reality.
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The Great Gatsby Chapter 7 Questions
Explanation of the reference to Trimalchio:
Trimalchio was a comic character in Petronius’ Satyricon. This character, also a nouveau riche, was
known for his hilarious parties and farcical antics. Gatsby had given the parties in hopes that Daisy
would eventually attend one. Now there is no need to continue them.
1. Describe the weather in this chapter and its relevance to the plot.
2. Explain how Pammy’s appearance affects Gatsby.
3. The Buchanans’ unlimited wealth has left their lives empty and boring. Knowing this, what does
Gatsby represent for Daisy?
4. What is Tom’s hypocritical reaction to Daisy’s affair? What double standard is at work here?
5. What has George Wilson learned? Why has George been trying to buy a car from Tom throughout
the novel?
6. Compare Tom and George in their knowledge that their wives are having affairs.
7. Discuss the confrontation between Tom and Gatsby in the hotel.
8. Explain Nick’s comment: “So we drove on toward death through the cooling twilight.”
9. How does Nick change as a result of Myrtle’s death?
10. Who did Myrtle think was driving the car? Who was really driving? What is your reaction to this
plot complication?
11. Gatsby remained outdoors, looking up at the light in Daisy’s room, waiting to make sure she was
alright. Meanwhile, Nick looked through the kitchen window and saw Tom and Daisy meeting to
conspire. How is this scene a microcosm of the larger situation?
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The Great Gatsby Chapter 8 Questions
1. What foreshadows Gatsby’s death?
2. Nick urges Gatsby to go away, but he refuses. Explain.
3. Why does Fitzgerald include Gatsby’s flashback about Daisy?
4. To what “grail” does Gatsby refer? Why do you think Fitzgerald include this allusion?
5. What is the symbolic significance of autumn at the novel’s end? Why is there a “sharp difference”
in the weather?
6. What does Nick mean when he says to Gatsby, “You’re worth the whole damn bunch put
together”? Is Nick being hypocritical?
7. What does Nick realize about Jordan?
8. George Wilson typifies the ordinary man. What else does Fitzgerald’s portrayal of him suggest?
9. Reread the paragraph beginning “No telephone message arrived…” How did Nick believe Gatsby
was feeling during the minutes preceding his death? Do you agree with Nick’s estimation?
10. Discuss the conversations that might have transpired between the following characters:
Gatsby and Daisy on the way to New York
Gatsby and Daisy on the way back to East Egg
Tom and Daisy back home after the accident
* Be prepared to share you conversations with the class
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