Why read this: This short article gives A2 readers a clear way into a very famous book. Many students hear the name 'Gatsby' from films, parties, or hotels, but do not know the story. The article gives them the basic plot and the big idea in plain English.
What to notice: Notice how the article repeats one main point: people think they know the book, but they have not read it. Notice the two glossed terms, American Dream and first-person narrator, which are useful for any future reading about American books. Notice how each paragraph asks one small question and answers it.
Skills practised: Students practise reading short, simple sentences that build into a full idea. They practise picking out facts, like dates, names, and places, to answer literal questions. They also practise listing reasons in their own words, which is a useful step toward longer writing tasks.
Why The Great Gatsby is so often misunderstood
A famous American book turns 100, but most people only know the parties.
Tap any green word in the article to see its meaning.
The Great Gatsby is one of the most famous American books. A writer called F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote it in 1925. That was exactly 100 years ago.
Today, many people think they know the story. They have seen big parties, fast cars, and pretty dresses in films and on TV. They have heard the name ‘Gatsby’ on hotels, sofas, and even sandwiches. But most of them have never opened the book. The book is much deeper than the parties and the music.
The story is about a rich man called Jay Gatsby. He lives in a huge house on Long Island in New York. Every weekend, he throws huge parties. Hundreds of people come to drink and dance. A young man called Nick lives next door and watches him. Nick is the , which means he tells the story using the word ‘I’.
Gatsby was poor when he was young. He worked very hard and became very rich. But he is not really happy. He wants something he cannot have. The book asks a big question. Can anyone in America become rich and happy if they try hard enough? This idea is called the . Fitzgerald shows that the dream is not easy for everyone.
The book is now 100 years old. People still write new books about it. They still make new films and stage new musicals. One musical is on Broadway in New York right now. The story still feels important today. Pick it up when you are 15. Pick it up again when you are 30. You will find a different book each time.
The Great Gatsby is one of the most famous American books. A writer called F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote it in 1925. That was exactly 100 years ago.
Today, many people think they know the story. They have seen big parties, fast cars, and pretty dresses in films and on TV. They have heard the name ‘Gatsby’ on hotels, sofas, and even sandwiches. But most of them have never opened the book. The book is much deeper than the parties and the music.
The story is about a rich man called Jay Gatsby. He lives in a huge house on Long Island in New York. Every weekend, he throws huge parties. Hundreds of people come to drink and dance. A young man called Nick lives next door and watches him. Nick is the , which means he tells the story using the word ‘I’.
Gatsby was poor when he was young. He worked very hard and became very rich. But he is not really happy. He wants something he cannot have. The book asks a big question. Can anyone in America become rich and happy if they try hard enough? This idea is called the . Fitzgerald shows that the dream is not easy for everyone.
The book is now 100 years old. People still write new books about it. They still make new films and stage new musicals. One musical is on Broadway in New York right now. The story still feels important today. Pick it up when you are 15. Pick it up again when you are 30. You will find a different book each time.
Questions
Check your understanding
- 01
When was The Great Gatsby first written?
- 02
Who tells the story in the book?
- 03
What big question does the book ask?
- 04
Describe Jay Gatsby. Use three things from the article.
Suggested length: ~50 words
- 05
List three reasons why The Great Gatsby is still important today.
Suggested length: ~50 words
Questions
Check your understanding
- 01
When was The Great Gatsby first written?
- 02
Who tells the story in the book?
- 03
What big question does the book ask?
- 04
Describe Jay Gatsby. Use three things from the article.
Suggested length: ~50 words
- 05
List three reasons why The Great Gatsby is still important today.
Suggested length: ~50 words