The Gatsby Abecedary

An ABECEDARY is a book of essential things presented in alphabetical order.

Such a book is often used to teach reading to small children:

A is for Apple
B is for Boy
C is for Categorical Imperative... and so on...

Having read The Great Gatsby, you will now construct an abecedary for it. So it is time to wonder about, explore, and discover the essential things of Fitzgerald's novel.

Unlike the old super-simple abecedaries of our youth, your Gatsby Abecedary will express a more sophisticated understanding of this complex novel.

What are the essential words OF the novel itself?
The most useful tools for this search would be An Index to The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Concordance to The Great Gatsby.

What are the essential words ABOUT the novel?
These are words that Fitzgerald himself doesn't use but words that could be used about the book's ideas, themes, literary structure and devices, etc. The most useful place to seek these terms is in your own well-ordered mind, your memory of class discussions, and your own understandings of the novel's main ideas. If you can describe a particular feature of the book but can't name it, ask Br. Tom, "What do you call it when Fitzgerald does such and such?"

Your Abecedary must contain

• an essential word for all twenty-six letters of the alphabet... used in or accompanied by a complete sentence
• a specific quotation from or reference to the novel for each of the twenty-six
• a concise explanation of the specific significance of the word for the novel (beyond the merely general or literal... NOT "C is for CAR because there are a lot of cars in this book" BUT "C is for Gatsby's CAR which represents...[some quality, theme or larger idea]."
• relevant graphic devices (illustrations, symbols, charts, etc.) which will look good in black and white

You may compose your Abecedary in either WORD or POWERPOINT.

Open a new Word or Powerpoint document.

In Word create a table of one column and twenty-six rows. Type one letter of the alphabet in each row.
In Powerpoint create a separate slide for each of the twenty-six letters.
SAVE your document as "GGabc" to your own school network folder... and begin. Remember to SAVE regularly as you go.

We will have at least three days to complete this project.

Day 1 Homework: Have all of your words picked by no later than the beginning of Day 2.
Day 2 Homework: Continue as much of your research and explanatory writing as you need to do.

On the last day you will print your work for me (that's why it has to look good in black & white).

Of course, it's important that you fulfill all of the above-mentioned requirements, but I am also looking for your clear, insightful ideas about The Great Gatsby. Try to have real ideas about the novel. Go beyond the ordinary and the most obvious "first thought" in the selection of each of your twenty-six words.

Your goal is to produce an alphabetical portrait of The Great Gatsby. Take care that you not only present plot elements but that you also consider the larger meaning and significance of your twenty-six words... WHY as well as WHO, WHAT and WHERE.

Correct spelling, grammar and language mechanics are very important.

Appropriate graphic devices and attractive font usage are very important.

Remember to make good use of these resources:

An Index to The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Concordance to The Great Gatsby