In my younger and more vulnerable years my mentor teacher gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since.
“Whenever you feel like criticizing any one’s lesson plans,” he told me, “just remember that all the teachers in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.”
These Great Gatsby Lesson Plans were one of those advantages.
Let’s get started with this pdf Great Gatsby Lesson Plan pdf download: Great Gatsby Chapter Summaries Lesson Plan
Follow the green light to these Great Gatsby lesson plans.
The Great Gatsby lesson plan download contains a lesson plan with objectives and procedures. It also includes a student-friendly chart.
If you’re looking for chapter summaries of The Great Gatsby to go with the lesson plan handout, here you go:
Chapter Summaries for The Great Gatsby Lesson Plan
In case you didn’t download it already, here’s the lesson and handout.
Chapter 1
Although the book is named after Nick Carraway’s neighbor, it’s kind of about Nick Carraway, who we meet in chapter 1. He lives in West Egg next to a ridiculously large and gaudy mansion where we discover lives Jay Gatsby, who we’ve already discovered in the title of the novel, is great.
We, however, don’t meet Jay Gatsby until the end of the chapter. And we really don’t meet him. We just see him stretching his arm forth to a green light on a dock across the sound. We do meet the narrator, as I‘ve already mentioned, and he’s a bond man that works on Wall Street. He’s just moved to West Egg from Minnesota. He mentions that he’s non-judgmental, although he spends a great deal of the novel kind of judging people.
We also meet Tom and Daisy Buchannan, who live in East Egg, the more fashionable of the two eggs. Tom’s not a very good husband. He receives a call from his mistress while Nick is there and there’s also a mysterious bruise on Daisy that Tom “accidentally” caused. If not for Biblical teachings to the contrary, Tom and Daisy deserve to be judged by Nick, me, and you.
The three individuals who aren’t Tom converse with hints that maybe Nick and Jordan, Daisy’s friend, will later hook up. Daisy also perks up at the mention of Nick’s neighbor—that’s right, Jay “The Great” Gatsby.
Chapter 2
The setting gains more import as chapter 2 begins with a description of the Valley of Ashes and The Eyes of Dr. TJ Eckleburg which overlook it. Tom’s mistress lives in the Valley of Ashes. Tom pays her a visit while Nick is with him.
Myrtle Wilson is also married. Her husband owns a garage. Tom discusses a car with Mr. Wilson and furtively tells Myrtle to follow them to the train station, so they can rendezvous at their secret apartment in the city. There’s a small gathering at the party. Nick finds most of the guests unpleasant company. Tom gives Myrtle a puppy for a gift. One of the conversation topics centers on the mysterious Gatsby.
The entire company drinks heavily. Myrtle becomes more obnoxious the more she drinks, leading her to repeat Daisy’s name over and over. In anger, Tom breaks her nose. Party over.
Chapter 3
Gatsby invites Nick to one of his elaborate parties, for which Gatsby is famous. Nick attends. He feels awkward. Rumors about Gatsby abound. Some say he’s a German spy; others say he killed a man; one man says he’s the nephew of the Kaiser; he is a graduate of Oxford.
The party and Gatsby’s house are ridiculously extravagant. Nick runs into Jordan Baker. The two seek out their host. Instead, they find a man in the library, referred to from this point forward as Owl Eyes. Around midnight Nick and Jordan are greeted by a man whom Nick discovers is Jay Gatsby himself.
Gatsby requests a private audience with Jordan who tells Nick she has heard something very interesting. At around 2 am. Nick walks home as drunken guests exit the premises, including Owl Eyes, whose car has ended up in a ditch.
Chapter 4
Nick lists the individuals present at Gatsby’s party. He then tells of a trip to New York with Gatsby to have lunch. Gatsby tells Nick a difficult-to-believe story of his past and upbringing. He lists equally hard to believe accomplishments, ranging from an Oxford education to winning a medal of honor from Montenegro, which he produces from his glove compartment.
A policeman pulls Gatsby over for speeding. Gatsby presents a white card to the officer that elicits an apology. The two arrive at their lunch destination where Nick meets Meyer Wolfshiem, who claims to have fixed the 1919 World Series. This meeting convinces Nick that Gatsby has some shady dealings.
Gatsby explains his interest in Nick by telling about an affair Gatsby once had with Daisy. He implores Nick to invite Daisy over for tea, at which time Gatsby will drop by unexpectedly.
Chapter 5
Nick returns home one night after a date with Jordan Baker and finds his neighbor’s house lit up. Gatsby comes out and pesters Nick about his tea invitation request. Nick relents. Gatsby offers to cut Nick’s grass and offers him a side business opportunity, which Nick rejects.
On the day of the tea party, Gatsby appears nervous. He fears that he cannot recapture the magic of their fling back in the day. Their romance rekindles almost immediately. Nick leaves them alone.
Chapter 6
In chapter 6, Nick intercedes and relates the true story of Gatsby’s life. His real name is Jay Gatz. He dedicates his life to getting wealthy after meeting a man named Dan Cody and is inspired by his desire for Daisy.
After not seeing Daisy or Gatsby for a few weeks, Nick visits Gatsby to find Tom Buchannan there. Tom is rude and criticizes Gatsby’s lack of taste. He is disgusted to discover he and Daisy know each other. Awkward? Yes.
The following Saturday, Tom and Daisy attend one of Gatsby’s parties. Really Awkward? Yes. Nobody has much of a good time, even Nick. Tom keeps an eye on Gatsby and claims he got rich by bootlegging. Daisy defends Gatsby claiming his wealth came from a chain of drugstores.
Gatsby finds Nick after the party and laments that Daisy did not have fun. He wants things to be exactly as they were before. Nick realizes that Gatsby can’t have it that way and remarks that Gatsby dream died the moment he and Daisy kissed.
Chapter 7
Gatsby no longer holds parties, having thrown them for the mere sake of luring Daisy. He also fires all his servants and replaces them with shady characters connected to Wolfshiem to prevent gossip.
Nick visits the Buchannan’s for lunch and finds Gatsby and Jordan Baker there. Now it’s really getting awkward. Daisy and Gatsby cannot help but show their affection for one another. Tom realizes what’s up and is somewhat displeased with the development.
Daisy suggests they all go to New York together. They stop at Wilson’s garage and Wilson divulges knowledge that his wife is having an affair. He’s locked her up in her room and plans on taking her away with him.
They get a room at a hotel and Tom initiates a confrontation—accusing Gatsby of being a liar and running a bootlegging operation. Gatsby wants Daisy to confess she’s never loved Tom. She refuses. Tom wins. Daisy drives back home in Gatsby’s car. As they approach Wilson’s garage, Myrtle runs out. The car strikes her and she dies.
Tom assumes Gatsby was driving and helps Wilson identify the car. Nick finds Gatsby lurking about the Buchannan’s place. Gatsby has declared his willingness to accept the blame for Myrtle’s death, if necessary. Nick spots Tom and Daisy and realizes they have reconciled their differences. Nick goes home. Gatsby waits pathetically.
Chapter 8
The following day, Gatsby returns home. He is shot and killed by Wilson.
Chapter 9
Nick and Gatsby’s father are the only two that appear at Gatsby’s funeral. Nick is disgusted with life in New York and moves back West.
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