Great Gatsby Context (Every Asepct Examined).

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The Great Gatsby in context: Worksheet Introduction DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE TERM ‘CONTEXT’? WHY IS KNOWLEDGE OF A BOOK’S CONTEXT IMPORTANT? WHAT DO THEY KNOW ABOUT THE SOCIAL AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF THE GREAT GATSBY? WHAT DID YOU SEE IN THE CLIP? DID YOU SEE ANYTHING THAT MADE THEM THINK OF THE GREAT GATSBY? 1920s = period of great social change, particularly in America affects many areas: music/dance; art/architecture; fashion; role of women; social mores (also political/racial intolerance) Reactions to this: ‘The Lost Generation’ Prohibition WHAT WAS PROHIBITION? The Volstead Act of 1920 prohibited the manufacture, sale and transportation of ‘intoxicating liquors’ WHAT WERE THE EFFECTS OF PROHIBITION? Definitely did not stop people consuming alcohol: WHERE IS PROHIBITION REFERRED TO IN THE GREAT GATSBY? The Speakeasy FILM CLIP Bugsy Malone (Fat Sam’s Grand Slam) Prohibition repealed 1933 during the depression, but too late, organised crime/corruption remained. Organised crime and gangster violence * American Mafia - Italian families therefore often link between Italian/American mafias * Following introduction of prohibition mafia, moved into the profitable and violent bootlegging market * Many mobsters became well known: Al Capone and Bugs Moran, (Chicago), Charles ‘Lucky Luke’ Luciano (New York) WHO’S HEARD OF AL CAPONE? WHAT DO THEY KNOW ABOUT HIM? * Alphonse Capone (‘Al Scarface Capone’) * Controlled Chicago through his crime syndicate much of America’s alcohol supply during prohibition * ‘St. Valentine’s Day Massacre’ (February 14th 1929) * In 1931, Capone arrested for tax evasion * Dies in Alcatraz in 1947 WHERE IS GANG VIOLENCE REFERRED TO IN THE GREAT GATSBY? The Great Gatsby in relation to the ‘Roaring 20s’ WHICH PARTS OF LIFE IN ‘THE ROARING 20S’ DOES FITZGERALD COMMENT ON? Find Quotes and
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