The Great Gatsby: Shmoop Literature Guide
on Goodreads (13)
What’s inside...
Take your understanding of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald to a whole new level, anywhere you go: on a plane, on a mountain, in a canoe, under a tree. Or grab a flashlight and read Shmoop under the covers. Shmoop's award-winning learning guides are now available on your favorite eBook reader. Shmoop eBooks are like a trusted, fun, chatty, expert literature-tour-guide always by your side, no matter where you are (or how late it is at night). You'll find thought-provoking character analyses, quotes, summaries, themes, symbols, trivia, and lots of insightful commentary in Shmoop's literature guides. Teachers and experts from top universities, including Stanford, UC Berkeley, and Harvard have lovingly created these guides to get your brain bubbling. Shmoop is here to make you a better lover of literature and to help you discover connections to other works of literature, history, current events, and pop culture. These interactive study guides will help you discover and...
Why read this book
- Enhances critical analysis and comprehension skills.
- Offers in-depth understanding of classic American literature.
- Encourages exploration of themes, symbols, and motifs.
- Ideal for advanced young readers and scholars.
Age
14-18
Length
120 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Jay Gatsby
Myrtle Wilson
Jordan Baker
Daisy Buchanan
Nick Carraway
George Wilson
Tom Buchanan
Discussion points
What do you think motivates Gatsby to change his life and create a new identity for himself?
How does the setting, like the contrast between East Egg and West Egg, impact the story’s events and characters’ actions?
Why do you think the characters in the book make certain choices? What might you have done differently in their situations?
How does the author use symbols, such as the green light or the valley of ashes, to deepen the story's themes?
Discuss the relationships between characters. How do these relationships impact their decisions and the story's outcome?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to think about the symbolic elements in the story by asking them to draw or describe visual representations of key symbols like the green light or Doctor T.J. Eckleburg’s eyes.
Promote empathy by discussing the characters' feelings and motivations. Ask your child how they would feel in similar situations, emphasizing the emotional and moral complexities of the characters’ decisions.
Connect the book’s themes to real-life scenarios to make the discussion relevant. For example, talk about the consequences of one's choices or the impact of socio-economic status on people's lives.
Use quotes from the book to spark conversation. Ask your child what they think about specific quotes and how those quotes contribute to their understanding of the characters and themes.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The impact of materialism
Explanation: The story illustrates the pitfalls of a lifestyle focused solely on wealth and possessions, portraying how it often leads to personal dissatisfaction and ethical compromises.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to value personal relationships and ethical behavior over material possessions, promoting a focus on personal growth and genuine connections.
Example Lesson: The consequences of idealization
Explanation: Gatsby's idealization of Daisy ultimately leads to his downfall, demonstrating how unrealistic expectations can cloud judgment and decision-making.
Real-World Application: This serves as a cautionary tale for children about the dangers of placing people or ideals on a pedestal and encourages them to accept others as they are.
Example Lesson: Social class and mobility
Explanation: The novel explores themes of social stratification and the elusive nature of the American Dream, showing the complex interplay between wealth, class, and opportunity.
Real-World Application: This encourages discussions with children about equality, fairness, and the value of hard work and perseverance in achieving personal goals.
Example Lesson: The importance of honesty
Explanation: Through the deceit and secrets of several characters, the story reveals the destructive nature of lies and the value of truth.
Real-World Application: Children can learn the benefits of being truthful and the importance of building trust in relationships through honesty.
Example Lesson: Consequences of actions
Explanation: The novel shows how the characters' choices lead to significant consequences, not just for themselves but also for others around them.
Real-World Application: This can teach children to consider the potential outcomes of their actions and to think critically about the long-term effects of their decisions on others.