CliffsNotes on Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby

by Kate Maurer

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer a look into key elements and ideas within classic works of literature. The latest generation of titles in this series also features glossaries and visual elements that complement the familiar format.CliffsNotes on The Great Gatsby explores F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel of triumph, tragedy, and a classic love triangle in the 1920s.

Following the story of a young Midwesterner who's fascinated by the mysterious past and opulent lifestyle of his landlord, this study guide provides summaries and critical commentaries for each chapter within the novel. Other features that help you figure out this important work include


Personal background on the author
Introduction to and synopsis of the book
In-depth character analyses
Critical essays on topics of interest
Review section that features interactive questions and suggested essay topics and practice projects
Resource Center with books, videos, and websites that can help round out your knowledge
Classic literature or modern-day treasure—you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.

Genres: Classics, Academics, Audiobook

90 pages, Paperback

First published June 5, 2000

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cliffsnotes have an unwarranted stigma of being a tool for the lazy. I find that they enhance my reading of a book. To have the themes and analysis boiled down for you is such an efficient way to process the deeper meaning of a work.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A excellent summary and analysis of the book that helped me gain a deeper understanding of it.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Serviceable but obviously geared to high schoolers, and therefore lacking in subtlety.

[David Fulmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This study guide has excellent summaries and analyses of each chapter, three essays on main characters and background information about the author and the context of the novel. It’s also got some extraneous content, like a Character Map which visualizes the relationships between the characters in a kind of flow chart and two literary essays in the back that don’t add much to what has come before it. Graphics in the margins denoting “Character Insight” and other topics also don’t seem that useful to me, and the copy editing is poorly done with misspelled words including characters’ names on many pages. This study guide does have some unique content. For example, it points to a possible homosexual theme in a scene involving the narrator, and also highlights the warped perception of his perspective after a night of drinking. This study guide has the most thorough chapter summaries and analyses of any guide I’ve read but it’s also stuffed with extraneous content which dilutes the purpose of this type of book.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Similar to Sparknotes, but it has more useful resources.
This booklet gives the summary and analysis of each chapter and also defines several vocabulary words that many high school students would not know. It also has a description of the characters plus a major analytical paragraph or two on the major characters. The booklet also has sources to test your knowledge and understanding of the book with questions asking you to identify quotes from the book and answer the questions by filling in the blank.

Extremely useful source for those who are reading The Great Gatsby in class. I definitely recommend it.

[Tiffany Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great supplement to the novel that not only serves to explain, but also as a springboard for critical thinking beyond even the discussion within. My only complaint was they often referenced future events, which gave away some of the story. I would prefer an additional chapter wherein they point-out all these tie-ins amongst chapters.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great guide to understanding the themes that pervade Fitzgerald's work. I don't agree with everything that the author presents (especially because many of her claims lack sufficient evidence from the novel)but in spite of this I do believe that this guide has value.

[Jennifer Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

These were really helpful. There were a couple of scenes I didn't understand in the novel and this helped me deepen my understanding of the characters and themes in the book. These are the only CliffsNotes I have ever read.

[Kailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for a better understanding of the novel, very interesting.

[Destiny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful!

[Vic Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Detailed and gives great context to the characters.

[Maya · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was very helpful but included a lot of spoilers in the earlier chapters, which ruined parts of the book for me

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather helpful as far as Cliff Notes go and opens up a few new ideas about the book.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful and insightful. I was shocked at how many typos there were though.

[Doreth Groot wesseldijk · Rating 5 out of 5]

informative and interesting

[John F. Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview of great Gatsby

The Cliff Notes provide a good overview and summation of the great Gatsby. The essays are well written and thoughtful, although there could be a few more of them. The skim the surface but do not provide an in-depth analysis.