American Lit.
The Great Gatsby
Web Quest
To familiarize yourself with the 1920s (the novel was published in 1922), you will be looking at websites and answering questions about different important aspects of the decade.
World War I
- Read the information listed at http://home.earthlink.net/~gfeldmeth/lec.1920s.html. Next, list the dominant postwar American attitudes and the major movements of the 1920s. Pay close attention to the attitudes of the “Lost Generation” and the “Prosperity and Consumerism” movement.
attitudes: major movements:
The 18th Amendment
- Go to http://www.classbrain.com/artteenst/publish/18th_amendment.shtml. What exactly does the amendment abolish?
- Using the same website listed in question 2, how did Americans react to the passage of the 18th Amendment?
Prohibition
- Go to http://local.aaca.org/bntc/slang/slang.htm. Scroll down to the words that begin with “S.” What is a speakeasy? Based on what you’ve already read for previous questions, why do you think speakeasies popped up across the country?
Organized Crime and Arnold Rothstein
After reading the information on http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/blacksox/rothsteinbio.html, answer the following questions.
- List one thing about Rothstein or his life that interests you, and explain why you’re interested in it.
- What big scandal is Rothstein famous for being involved in?
- What did Rothstein get involved with after he got rid of all direct ownership of his gambling houses?
The 19th Amendment
- Go to http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=63. What right did women gain from the passage of the 19th Amendment?
Flappers
- Read this article about flappers at http://www.1920s-fashion-and-music.com/flapper-culture.html. List four facts about a flapper’s appearance, clothing, behavior, etc.
a. c.
b. d.
- After reading the article, look at the photos of Louise Brooks at http://www.huffenglish.com/gatsby/brooks.html. Does she fit the flapper profile as described by the article you just read? Why or why not?
Automobiles
- According to the information at http://www.huffenglish.com/gatsby/automobiles.html, why were cars considered “the most important catalyst for social change in the 1920s”?
Music
- According to the first few paragraphs at http://www.1920-30.com/music/, what type of music was popular in the 1920s?
Drawing Conclusions
Based on the information you have collected from these websites, answer the following questions.
- What do you think the plot of The Great Gatsby will include?
- What kinds of characters do you think will be in the novel?
