The Great Gatsby in Lessons
By Matthew Cox


Teachers across the U.S. use The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald in English lessons. The story concerns Jay Gatsby, a wealthy businessman, who tried to win the love of Daisy Fay. Ironically, she left him years ago for a wealthy alcoholic Tom Buchanan. Also, Gatsby is having an affair with Myrtle Wilson, the wife of a gas station owner. While on an outing with friends, Jay and Tom get into an argument over Daisy. She drives back to new York in Gatsby’s car and kills Myrtle. George goes to talk with Jay about his wife’s death. However, he finds the protagonist dead. Readers later find out the Gatsby makes his money from bootlegging. Prohibition in the 1920’s makes it illegal to make or sell alcohol. There are various ways to teach The Great Gatsby. They include asking critical thinking questions. Also, students may role-play different scenarios or answer critical thinking questions. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is an excellent lesson resource for teachers.

The writer F. Scott Fitzgerald sets the story The Great Gatsby in New York around the 1920’s (Pearson Education). James Gatz, or Jay Gatsby, is the main character. He appears to be an upwardly mobile and social young man with a good social life. Half-way through the novel, Gatsby reveals that he is the son of a poor farmer. Daisy Fay, dates Jay in 1922, but leaves him for Tom Buchanan, a wealthy alcoholic. He also had several affairs since getting married. Gatsby’s current lover is Myrtle Wilson, the wife of George Wilson, an owner of a gas station. The main character gets rich off of dishonest business deals. His plan is to win Daisy back. Jay thinks that having Fay is the only thing that will make him happy. Oscar Wild once said that “There is only one thing worse than not getting what you want is getting what you want (Pearson Education).” The narrator, Nick Caraway, drives to New York one day with Tom, Daisy, Gatsby, and Jordan Baker, a childhood friend of Daisy. Gatsby and Tom get into a dispute. The main character insists that Daisy return to Long Island with him. Daisy promises to drive Jay’s car, but accidentally runs over Myrtle in front of the gas station. Tom, unaware that his wife is driving Gatsby’s car, tells George that the protagonist’s car is involved in the accident. Wilson goes to Jay’s house, but sees him dead inside. This book criticizes the American dream of getting rich and successful.

Several of the situations in The Great Gatsby reflect things in Fitzgerald’s life. For example, he is born in the Midwest, but moves east. Fitzgerald serves in the army during World War I. Also, Scott once solved a girl from a wealthy family. Fitzgerald becomes rich from his writings. Not like Gatsby, the writer does not worry about money. However, both men are heavy drinkers. Scott’s alcoholism leads to heart attack that most likely kills him at the age of 44.
Many critics say The Great Gatsby is the greatest book that reflects the
1920’s. any historians also believe that Fitzgerald coins the term “Jazz Age.” This form of music developed the 1920’s by combining ragtime and blues. After the financial boom following World War I, many people spend their money frivolously. Also, many young people criticize the older generation for the conditions leading up to the war. However, this extravagance fills in the void and nihilism of young people at that time period. That notion falsely reflect the American dream in which individuals can succeed through hard work. The protagonist’s father shows that Jay writes a chart of his own self importance. By this time readers know the Gatsby gets rich from bootlegging. The 18th Amendment to the Constitution bans manufacturing and selling of alcohol. After the government passes the Amendment in 1917, organized crime makes and sells liquor. Although people like Gatsby seem honest and decent on the surface, they are crooked underneath. This shows the hypocrisy of people who seem to be respectable.

Teachers can do many activities that students can do before and after reading chapters in the book. Questions that learners can think about before reading include: Why did F. Scott Fitzgerald call his book The Great Gatsby? How can people become great? Think of five different ways. Activities for after reading the story involve working in pairs or small groups. For example, learners can role-play a telephone conversation in chapters one and two between Tom and Myrtle as nick is eating dinner at their house. The learners can bring up the following points: the ash piles; Dr. Eckleburg’s eyes; and why Tom is attracted to Myrtle; she is not attractive. Activities for chapters five and six involve making a list of facts and rumors about Gatsby. This lesson can begin with learners working in pairs or small groups. After compiling their lists, each team can share their findings with the class. Another activity involves creating a dialogue and role-playing the first meeting between James Gatz and Dan Cody. Techniques for chapters nine and ten involve similar methods. For example, learners can role play what Wilson probably said to Gatsby before shooting him. Also, Nick is not able to contact Daisy until after Gatsby’s death. Allow the learners to create and role-play a conversation between the two characters.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is an excellent lesson resource for teachers. Many schools require high school English teachers to teach The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Jay Gatsby, the protagonist, is a wealthy businessman. He tried to win back the love of his former lover Daisy Fay. She does not love him but marries a rich heavy drinker named Tom Buchanan. Gatsby has been having an affair with Myrtle Wilson who is married to a gas station owner. One day Tom, Jay, Daisy, and a few friends have an outing. Buchanan and Gatsby argue over Daisy. She leaves in the main character’s car. Ironically, Daisy runs over and kills Myrtle. George, her husband, tries to confront Jay about it. However, he sees Gatsby dead at his house. The reader later discovers that the main character makes his money from bootlegging. Teachers use many techniques to teach The Great Gatsby. Such methods include critical thinking exercises and role-playing activities.


Works Cited

“The Great Gatsby” Pearson Education. 2001 27 March 2008