The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby text guide

Published in 1925, The Great Gatsby is a staple of American literature. It follows the lives of a set of characters in the fictional town of West Egg, exploring themes such as moral collapse, idealism and the American dream.

This text guide will help you explore the context in which it is written, the themes and images that are addressed, the intricacies of the characters and the way the plot develops.

 

 

 

 

F. Scott Fitzgerald   When F. Scott Fitzgerald died in 1940, he had no idea his relatively unsuccessful The Great Gatsby would become a key part of English literature curricula around the world in a matter of decades. Read more . . .

Context of The Great Gatsby 1920s America was a time of considerable social change, a period that saw the rise of mass culture and consumerism - an era that F. Scott Fitzgerald called The Jazz Age. Read more . . .

Dive in to the The Great Gatsby text guide

Synopses and commentary - Chapter by chapter synopsis, commentary and analysis of the entire novel.

Characters in the novel - Detailed analysis of the important characters in The Great Gatsby and the role they play.

The Great Gatsby Timeline - Helpfully puts history, literary events and F. Scott Fitzgerald's life side by side so you can make sense of events.

Themes in The Great Gatsby - Research themes and significant ideas that feature in The Great Gatsby.

The Great Gatsby e-book - Read the book and research the text, all for free and online.

How to do well in your essays Decide what the key words of the question are, and underline them. If you are asked to analyse an extract, read it through two or three times. Do not adopt the first possible approach - be willing to dispute the terms of the question if you are given the opportunity. Want more essay and exam tips?

Are you a teacher? We hope you will find this resource useful in the classroom. We've also got some downloadable Great Gatsby worksheets for you!

 

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