F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby explores the Jazz Age of the 1920s. The novel follows Nick Carraway as he gets to know his neighbor, Jay Gatsby, a mysterious wealthy man who throws lavish parties. Gatsby is revealed to be a self-made man in love with his cousin Daisy, who is married to the arrogant Tom Buchanan. The story examines the dichotomy between those who acquired wealth through inheritance ("old money") versus self-made fortunes ("new money") in post-World War I America.

1. F. Scott Fitzgerald’sF. Scott Fitzgerald’s
The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby

2. About the AuthorAbout the Author
 Born-September 24, 1896Born-September 24, 1896
 Died-December 21, 1940Died-December 21, 1940
 Married Zelda SayreMarried Zelda Sayre
 Famous works includeFamous works include The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby
The Beautiful and the DamnedThe Beautiful and the Damned
Tender is the NightTender is the Night

3. The Jazz AgeThe Jazz Age
 Prohibition was in effectProhibition was in effect
 Dances such as the Charleston were popularDances such as the Charleston were popular
 Popular sayings included 23 Skidoo, Bee’s KneesPopular sayings included 23 Skidoo, Bee’s Knees
 Economy was in a “Boom”Economy was in a “Boom”

4. The FlappersThe Flappers
 Flappers were womenFlappers were women
who rebelled against thewho rebelled against the
fashion and social normsfashion and social norms
of the early 1900’s.of the early 1900’s.
 They married at a laterThey married at a later
age and drank andage and drank and
smoked in publicsmoked in public
 Flappers were known forFlappers were known for
their carefree lifestyles.their carefree lifestyles.

5. Characters ofCharacters of The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby
 Jay Gatsby- The self-made wealthy man whoJay Gatsby- The self-made wealthy man who
lives next door to Nick Carraway and loveslives next door to Nick Carraway and loves
Daisy BuchananDaisy Buchanan

6. Characters ofCharacters of The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby
 Nick Carraway- the narrator, Daisy’s cousin,Nick Carraway- the narrator, Daisy’s cousin,
Gatsby’s neighborGatsby’s neighbor

7. Characters inCharacters in The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby
 Daisy Buchanan- married to Tom, Gatsby’s loveDaisy Buchanan- married to Tom, Gatsby’s love
interest before the war, socialiteinterest before the war, socialite

8. Characters inCharacters in The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby
 Tom Buchanan- Daisy’s husband, has an affairTom Buchanan- Daisy’s husband, has an affair
with Myrtlewith Myrtle
 Myrtle Wilson- Tom’s woman in the city,Myrtle Wilson- Tom’s woman in the city,
married to Georgemarried to George
 George Wilson- owns the gas stationGeorge Wilson- owns the gas station
 Jordan Baker- Daisy’s friend, professional golferJordan Baker- Daisy’s friend, professional golfer

9. Settings inSettings in The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby
 West Egg- where NickWest Egg- where Nick
and Gatsby live,and Gatsby live,
represents new moneyrepresents new money
 East Egg- where DaisyEast Egg- where Daisy
lives, the morelives, the more
fashionable area,fashionable area,
represents old moneyrepresents old money

10. Settings inSettings in The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby
 The City- New York City, where the charactersThe City- New York City, where the characters
escape to for work and playescape to for work and play
 The Valley of Ashes- between the City and WestThe Valley of Ashes- between the City and West
Egg, where Wilson’sEgg, where Wilson’s
gas station isgas station is

11. Symbols inSymbols in The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby
 Green Light- at the end of Daisy’s dock andGreen Light- at the end of Daisy’s dock and
visible from Gatsby’s mansion. Representsvisible from Gatsby’s mansion. Represents
Gatsby's hopes and dreams about Daisy.Gatsby's hopes and dreams about Daisy.

12. Symbols inSymbols in The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby
 The Valley of Ashes- the area between West EggThe Valley of Ashes- the area between West Egg
and New York City. It is a desolate area filledand New York City. It is a desolate area filled
with industrial waste. It represents the socialwith industrial waste. It represents the social
and moral decay of society during the 1920’s. Itand moral decay of society during the 1920’s. It
also shows the negative effects of greed.also shows the negative effects of greed.

13. Symbols inSymbols in The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby
 The Eyes of Dr. T. J. Ekleburg- A decayingThe Eyes of Dr. T. J. Ekleburg- A decaying
billboard in the Valley of Ashes with eyesbillboard in the Valley of Ashes with eyes
advertising an optometrist. There are multipleadvertising an optometrist. There are multiple
proposed meanings, including the representationproposed meanings, including the representation
of God’s moral judgment on society.of God’s moral judgment on society.

14. Important QuotesImportant Quotes
 ““I hope she’ll be a fool- that’s the best thing aI hope she’ll be a fool- that’s the best thing a
girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.”girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.”
Daisy’s description of her daughterDaisy’s description of her daughter
 ““So we beat on, boats against the current, borneSo we beat on, boats against the current, borne
back ceaselessly into the past.” –the last line ofback ceaselessly into the past.” –the last line of
the novelthe novel

15. Important QuotesImportant Quotes
 "They were careless people, Tom and Daisy-"They were careless people, Tom and Daisy-
they smashed up things and creatures and thenthey smashed up things and creatures and then
retreated back into their money or their vastretreated back into their money or their vast
carelessness or whatever it was that kept themcarelessness or whatever it was that kept them
together, and let other people clean up the messtogether, and let other people clean up the mess
they had made." – Nick’s description of Tomthey had made." – Nick’s description of Tom
and Daisyand Daisy

16. The American DreamThe American Dream
 Gatsby is the ideal imageGatsby is the ideal image
of one who has achievedof one who has achieved
the American Dream.the American Dream.
 What is the AmericanWhat is the American
Dream and who hasDream and who has
achieved it in our time?achieved it in our time?

17. Old Money Vs. New MoneyOld Money Vs. New Money
 New Money:New Money:
 Someone who hasSomeone who has
achieved the Americanachieved the American
DreamDream
 Not as respected in theNot as respected in the
1920’s1920’s
 Old MoneyOld Money
 Money from familyMoney from family
wealthwealth
 Born richBorn rich
 Not earned throughNot earned through
work done by yourselfwork done by yourself
 Respected above all inRespected above all in
the 1920’sthe 1920’s