The Great Gatsby Internet Treasure Hunt

The Great Gatsby Internet Treasure Hunt

1. F. Scott Fitzgerald

Briefly skim the biography on F. Scott Fitzgerald. List several items that greatly influenced his life and his writing.

F. Scott F i tzgerald Centenary: Biography.

2. World War I

After the war ended, the economy skyrocketed, making it possible for people to spend more time and money on leisure activities. After reviewing the websites below, list three major innovations that came out of the WWI experience.

After the War: List the dominant postwar American attitudes and the major movements of the 1920’s. Pay close attention to the attitudes of the “Lost Generation” and the “Prosperity & Consumerism” movement.

3. 19 th Amendment

What right did women gain from the passage of the 19th Amendment?

4. The Roaring Twenties

List three changes that occurred in 1922 (the year in which the novel is set).

Your answer to the question above may come from the first few paragraphs of the article. You do not need to read the entire page!

5. 18 th Amendment

What exactly does the law prohibit? (paraphrase)

18 th Amen d ment.

Amendment Summary 18th Amendment

The 18th Amendment (1919) to the American Constitution disallowed the "manufacture, sale and transportation" of liquor within the United States, ushering in the age of prohibition and speakeasies. The amendment was finally nulled in 1933 with the 21st Amendment

6. Prohibition

To answer the questions for this topic, click h e re and scroll down to the appropriately titled sections of the website.

“Prohibition in a Nutshell.” What are the three major elements of Prohibition in the 1920’s?

“Results of Prohibition.” What were the final results of Prohibition? (Hint – read the final line of this paragraph!)

7. Speakeasies

What is a Speakeasy? Based on information you have already collected from previous questions, why do you think Speakeasies popped up across the country?

Photos

8. Organized Crime & Arnold Rothstein

What's i n a Na m e?: List three elements of Rothstein’s character that interest you. Explain.

The O r g a n izer. Read the quotes at the beginning of this site. What is his primary occupation? What are his ‘sidejobs?’

Did your impression of Rothstein change from one web page to the next? Explain.

9. Flappers

Read the first five paragraphs of the article about “Fla p per Jane.” According to the author, what are the essential elements of being a true flapper?

After reading the article, look at the selected photos of Louise Brooks. Does she fit the ‘Flapper’ profile as proposed by the author of “Flapper Jane?” Why or why not?

10. Automobiles

Why were cars considered “the most important catalyst for social change in the 1920's?”

Sam p le cars driven in the 1920’s (includes car ads)

Neo-Cla s sic (meaning “new classics”) autos that’s are built today in the styles of the 20’s and 30’s. The white and gold car is similar to what Jay Gatsby would have driven.

11. Music

Listen to a few sample recordings of music from the early 1920’s. What is your initial reaction to the music?

Orchestral co m positions – Listen to “The Charleston”

Josephine Bak e r – Listen to “I Love My Baby”

George Ge r shwin – Listen to “Rhapsody in Blue” (you may recognize it!)

12. 1920’s Slang

On the menu bar at the top of t h is page, click on “1920’s Slang,” then answer the questions below.

List 5 slang words or phrases and definitions from this site and write them down in your notes.

Why did you choose these terms?

13. Dorothy Parker Poem

Dorothy Parker is a poet most often linked to the 1920’s New York literati scene. She wrote for New Yorker magazine when it was first started by her friends, and was a fixture at the Algonquin Round Table (hangout of Parker and her famous friends). She is best known for her caustic wit and cutting poems.

Read Parker’s poem “The Fl a pper.”

Do you think Ms. Parker approves or disapproves of Flappers? Explain.

14. Drawing Conclusions

Based on the information you have collected from this website, what do you think the plot and setting of The Great Gatsby will include? What kinds of characters do you expect to encounter in the novel?

Arbizu, Valerie. “The Great Gatsby Internet Treasure Hunt”. Lit Lover@ arbizu.org.

izu.org/~valerie/Teachers/Gatsby/GatsbyTreasureHunt.htm. 6 March 2005.

The Great Gatsby Internet Treasure Hunt

1. F. Scott Fitzgerald