The Jazz age overview
What decade is known as the Jazz age?
The 1920s
What was the impact of jazz music on the 1920s?
It influenced dance styles, fashion, and became a symbol of freedom and rebellion.
What major technological advancement helped drive consumerism in the 1920s?
The mass production of cars and household appliances.
How is jazz music used to represent the era in The Great Gatsby?
It reflects the lively, chaotic, and lavish aspects of the 1920s.
Name one major cultural change of the Jazz Age.
The rise of jazz music or the Harlem Renaissance.
Describe one way flappers challenged traditional gender roles.
They wore shorter dresses, cut their hair into bobs, and engaged in public smoking and drinking.
What was the immediate effect of the 18th Amendment?
It led to the rise of illegal speakeasies and bootlegging.
What imagery is used to describe Gatsby’s parties in the novel?
Descriptions like “the large room was full of people” and “the scene was like a carnival.
How did the economic boom of the 1920s affect American society?
It led to increased consumerism and a higher standard of living.
How did increased wealth affect American entertainment during the Jazz Age?
People spent more on movies, radio, cars, dancing, and sports.
How did the stock market contribute to the economic climate of the 1920s?
It created a sense of endless wealth and optimism, leading to a culture of speculation.
How does Fitzgerald use jazz music to immerse readers in the 1920s setting?
Through vivid descriptions of Gatsby's parties and the atmosphere created by jazz.
What significant movement in women's fashion and behavior occurred during the Jazz Age?
It led to increased consumerism and a higher standard of living.
What role did jazz play in reflecting the energy of the Jazz Age?
It symbolized the era’s freedom and rebellion and was central to the culture.
What was a major consequence of Prohibition on social behavior?
It fueled rebellion and excessive partying.
What dual purpose does jazz music serve in The Great Gatsby?
It captures the excitement of the era and highlights the superficiality and moral uncertainty behind the wealth.
Which famous novel was written during the Jazz Age?
The Great Gatsby.
What new leisure activities became popular during the Jazz Age?
Movies, radio, and cars.
What event marked the end of the economic boom of the 1920s?
The stock market crash of 1929.
How does Fitzgerald contrast the allure of jazz music with the underlying reality of the Jazz Age?
He shows that behind the excitement and luxury, there is a sense of moral emptiness and uncertainty.