Gatsby and the American Dream
Grade 11th Grade · ELA · 60 min· Pearson Myperspectives
What's Included
Learning Objective
I can analyze how characters in The Great Gatsby embody or challenge the American Dream.
Warm-Up Video
Blythe · 11:56
In Defence of Daisy in The Great Gatsby
Guided Notes
3 key concepts
- 1
Critics have negatively viewed Daisy, focusing on her power over Gatsby, which diminishes the novel's complexity by polarizing Gatsby as good and Daisy as bad.
- 2
Fitzgerald uses floral and light motifs to highlight the differences between men and women, revealing the condemned conception of women in the 1920s through Daisy's name, femininity, flowers, and light.
- 3
Daisy's longing to be a 'beautiful little fool' shows her complicity in conforming to social standards of American femininity in the 1920s, yet she asserts her opinion by labeling Tom as hulking.
Practice Questions
12 questions · Short answer
Exit Ticket
Quick comprehension check
“Explain how Daisy Buchanan both embodies and challenges the ideals of American femininity in the 1920s, as presented in 'The Great Gatsby'. Provide specific examples from the text to support your analysis.”
Teacher Guide
Get the complete package:
- Answer keys for all questions
- Differentiation strategies
- Extension activities
- Printable student handouts
