The Dream that Recedes Before Us: The Past and The American Dream in The Great Gatsby

Students will examine how Fitzgerald uses diction, point-of-view, and symbolism to develop themes about class, the past, and the American dream. 

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ELA

Unit 2

11th Grade

Unit Summary


The core text The Great Gatsby fits within the year-long focus on American Dreams and Realities, as Fitzgerald calls America's promises of social mobility into question through the love story of Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby, who embodies the rags-to-riches story, believes that his newfound wealth will be enough to win over the heart of his past love and be accepted by the richest and most elite class. Yet, through Gatsby's story, Fitzgerald conveys his disillusionment with the idea that anyone with enough grit and determination can rise to a higher class. Gatsby's story, therefore, invites students to debate different perspectives about the American dream, as well as make connections to more contemporary writers, like Ta-Nehisi Coates, who reflect on the reality of the American dream for Black Americans.   

Prior to reading the novel, students will build background knowledge about the wealth gap in America and the Lost Generation. They will also work in groups to conduct research on a certain aspect of the Roaring Twenties, building their knowledge about the setting of the novel. While reading the text, students will trace how Fitzgerald uses diction to create mood, as well as symbolism to develop important themes about the past, class, and the American dream. Additionally, they will analyze the effects of first-person narration and a non-linear structure on the reader. Students will also have the opportunity to use these same writing choices in different creative tasks; in a writing exercise, they use diction to create an overall mood, and for the unit's graphic map performance task, they will create a visual that uses symbolism to illustrate a theme from the novel.  

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Texts and Materials


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Core Materials

Assessment


These assessments accompany Unit 2 and should be given on the days suggested in the Lesson Map. Additionally, there are formative and creative assessments integrated into the unit to prepare students for the Performance Task.

Socratic Seminar

The Socratic Seminar assesses students on their ability to push themselves and their peers to think critically and participate meaningfully in conversation by collecting and evaluating evidence, actively listening, and responding thoughtfully. Socratic Seminar assessments may occur mid-unit as a way to synthesize the ideas of the text/unit to that point or summative, taking place at the end of a unit.

Performance Task

The Performance Task is the culminating assessment of the unit in which students have the opportunity to show the skills and content they have learned.

Key Knowledge


Intellectual Prep

Essential Questions

  • Is the American Dream achievable for all Americans?
  • To what extent can nostalgia be constructive? Destructive? 
  • How do authors use symbolism to develop themes?

Vocabulary

Text-based

colossalcontemptdeifydisparityfeigninsidiousincredulousobscureportentousspecioustantalizingthwarttranscendenttumultuous

Literary Terms

characterizationconnotationdictionepistolarymoodsettingsubtextsymbolsyntaxthemetone

To see all the vocabulary for Unit 2 , view our 11th Grade Vocabulary Glossary.

Notes for Teachers

The Great Gatsby contains instances in which characters use dehumanizing language toward people of color and Jewish people. Prior to students reading the novel, teachers should provide them with an overall warning about this sensitive content. To foster a safe learning environment, teachers should create or re-establish their classroom contract and have a dialogue with students about what would make them feel safe when reading and discussing chapters that contain dehumanizing language. A note to teachers is provided for homework readings and lessons that contain sensitive language, so that teachers can mentally and emotionally prepare students for the upsetting content they will come across in that reading.  

Below are some resources to prepare yourself and your students for this text:

Lesson Map


Common Core Standards


Core Standards

L.11-12.3
L.11-12.3.a
L.11-12.5
L.11-12.5.b
RI.11-12.2
RI.11-12.4
RI.11-12.6
RL.11-12.2
RL.11-12.3
RL.11-12.4
RL.11-12.5
RL.11-12.6
SL.11-12.1
SL.11-12.1.a
SL.11-12.1.b
SL.11-12.1.c
SL.11-12.1.d
SL.11-12.4
SL.11-12.5
W.11-12.2
W.11-12.2.a
W.11-12.2.b
W.11-12.2.c
W.11-12.3.d
W.11-12.4
W.11-12.5
W.11-12.6
W.11-12.7
W.11-12.8
W.11-12.9
W.11-12.10

Supporting Standards

L.11-12.1
L.11-12.2
L.11-12.3
L.11-12.3.a
L.11-12.4.c
L.11-12.5
L.11-12.5.b
L.11-12.6
RI.11-12.1
RI.11-12.2
RI.11-12.4
RI.11-12.5
RI.11-12.10
RL.11-12.1
RL.11-12.2
RL.11-12.3
RL.11-12.4
RL.11-12.5
RL.11-12.6
RL.11-12.7
SL.11-12.1
SL.11-12.1.a
SL.11-12.1.b
SL.11-12.1.d
SL.11-12.2
SL.11-12.5
SL.11-12.6
W.11-12.1.a
W.11-12.2.a
W.11-12.2.e
W.11-12.4
W.11-12.5
W.11-12.6
W.11-12.7
W.11-12.8
W.11-12.9
W.11-12.10

Next

Build background knowledge on the role of money and class in the Roaring Twenties and today. 

Lesson 1
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