Exploring the American Dream
Learning Objective
I can analyze how the concept of the American Dream is portrayed in different texts.
Key Concepts
In *The Great Gatsby*, Nick Carraway describes Jay Gatsby as having an "extraordinary gift for hope", which is essential to Gatsby's character and his pursuit of the American Dream.
The color yellow is used in the novel to symbolize the connection between wealth, corruption, amorality, and death, contrasting the cultural view of gold representing wealth and beauty.
Fitzgerald uses the character Daisy Buchanan to represent the flaws in the American Dream, as she embodies entitlement, limited empathy, and an inability to make difficult choices.
Practice Questions
This lesson includes 3 practice questions to reinforce learning.
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1. According to the video, what is one way that 'The Great Gatsby' challenges the traditional idea of the American Dream?
2. The video mentions that the color yellow is used symbolically in 'The Great Gatsby.' What does the color yellow represent in the novel, and how does this relate to the video's interpretation of the American Dream?
3. In the video, John Green discusses Gatsby's 'extraordinary gift for hope.' How does this relate to the concept of the American Dream, and what potential pitfalls are associated with this kind of hope?
Educational Video
Like Pale Gold - The Great Gatsby Part 1: Crash Course English Literature #4
CrashCourse