The Great Gatsby unit in English III Honors began with Mr. Robertson discussing the concept of the American Dream and its evolution over time. Ms. Butterfield also shared her journey and the challenges she faced in pursuing her own American Dream. In my classes, students will analyze the American Dream through the lens of Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. The novel presents the American Dream as the belief that anyone, regardless of class, can achieve success. However, Fitzgerald offers a different view, showing that the dream corrupted by greed and materialism. This perspective invites students to consider how the American Dream might have changed in the 1920s and present.
Student Activities:
Personal Interviews: Students will interview individuals to gain perspectives on today's American Dream. The interviews will help them connect the novel’s themes to real-world experiences and perceptions.
Historical Context: By studying the 1920s historical backdrop, students will understand the social, economic, and cultural conditions that influenced the portrayal of the American Dream in the novel.
Character Analysis: Students will closely analyze the characters in The Great Gatsby to see how they embody or challenge the idea of the American Dream.
Research and Reflection: Through research on the 1920s, reading the novel, and conducting personal
interviews, students will form their own perceptions of the American Dream and reflect on how Fitzgerald’s depiction still resonates in today’s world. Goal: By the end of the unit, students will have a deeper understanding of the complexity of the American Dream and be able to analyze how Fitzgerald’s portrayal of it remains relevant, even in the modern context. Students will gain a well-rounded view of the dream and its evolution through this combination of historical, literary, and personal perspectives.