02/02/2026 Great Gatsby Introduction Wayground Lesson

Poll

You just got invited to a party at someone's mansion. You show up and immediately notice that EVERYTHING looks expensive—but something feels slightly off. What's the MOST likely explanation?

• The host bought all the furniture yesterday and hasn't had time to break anything in yet

• The wealth is real, but it was all built on shady deals nobody wants to talk about

• Someone just googled 'how to look rich' and went a little overboard with the decorating

• The host is genuinely wealthy but simply has unusual taste in furniture

Multiple Choice

According to the slide, why is Nick Carraway's background as a WWI veteran significant to the novel's setting?

• It shows that Nick served in a leadership role during the war and returned as a hero

• It connects him to the post-war generation seeking new opportunities in a rapidly changing America

• It explains why Nick is uncomfortable around wealthy people for the entire novel

• It proves that Nick returned home to the exact same town he grew up in with no changes

Multiple Choice

Based on the slide, what does Gatsby's mansion blazing with lights symbolize about 1920s America?

• It shows that electricity was still rare, making any lit building a remarkable sight

• It represents the glittering promise of wealth and success that cities like New York offered

• It suggests that Gatsby was trying to save energy by keeping every light on at once

• It indicates that Gatsby's mansion was the only building with electricity on Long Island

Multiple Choice

According to the slide, what does Jordan Baker's career as a professional golfer represent in the context of 1920s women?

• That women in the 1920s were only allowed to play sports recreationally, never professionally

• That Jordan is independent and modern, yet still navigates a world where wealthy men hold real power

• That professional sports for women were fully accepted and celebrated without any resistance

• That Jordan chose golf specifically because it was the only sport men would let women compete in

Multiple Choice

Why does the slide say jazz music was considered 'dangerous' by traditionalists?

• Because jazz concerts frequently caused structural damage to the buildings where they were held

• Because it represented freedom, rebellion, and a break from traditional values of the past

• Because jazz musicians were known to play instruments that were banned by local governments

• Because the music was so loud that it could be heard in three neighboring states

Multiple Choice

According to the slide, what do the men pictured (Ford, Edison, Harding, and Firestone) collectively represent?

• Politicians who passed the laws that created Prohibition

• Scientists who discovered the technology that made radio possible

• 'Self-made men' who represented the American Dream of hard work bringing fabulous wealth

• Inventors who all worked together at the same laboratory in New York City

Multiple Choice

Based on the slide, why were writers like Fitzgerald called part of the 'Lost Generation'?

• Because their books were never published and no one read their work during the 1920s

• Because they felt disconnected from traditional values after experiencing World War I

• Because they all moved to Europe and lost contact with American readers permanently

• Because they literally did not find their way home after traveling across the country

Multiple Choice

Which of the following behaviors did 'flappers' embrace, according to the slide?

• Longer hemlines, quieter social gatherings, and stricter adherence to Victorian rules

• Short hair, short skirts, dancing, and challenging Victorian morality

• Avoiding public appearances and focusing entirely on domestic responsibilities

• Wearing longer dresses specifically to blend in with their mothers' generation

Multiple Choice

How does Fitzgerald's personal relationship with wealth mirror the themes in The Great Gatsby?

• Fitzgerald was always wealthy and never experienced financial difficulty in his life

• He achieved fame and fortune young, then watched it slip away—mirroring Gatsby's rise and fall

• Fitzgerald wrote the novel specifically as a how-to guide for becoming wealthy in the 1920s

• His relationship with wealth had no influence on the novel because he wrote purely from imagination

Multiple Choice

According to the Essential Notes slide, which of the following is listed under Prohibition?

• The 20th Amendment banned the sale of alcohol

• Prohibition led to the decline of organized crime in American cities

• The 18th Amendment banned alcohol sales, creating bootleggers and rising organized crime

• Prohibition was a voluntary agreement between states, not a constitutional amendment

Multiple Choice

Based on the Essential Notes, why does the slide suggest that glamour and corruption were connected during the 1920s?

• The connection between glamour and corruption was minimal, with most people living modestly.
• Glamour and corruption were unrelated as the 1920s focused solely on economic prosperity.
• Glamour was celebrated while corruption was openly condemned during the 1920s.
• Corruption was often hidden behind the glamour of the 1920s.