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Complete OCR A Level scheme on The Great Gatsby; context, chapter-by-chapter analysis, AO-focused tasks, and critical perspectives.

A fully resourced scheme of work for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, tailored to the OCR A-Level English Literature specification, but adaptable to other A-Level exam boards. This unit blends detailed textual analysis with rich contextual study, critical perspectives, and exam-focused tasks.

What’s included:

• Introductory lessons on the Jazz Age, Roaring Twenties, Prohibition, organised crime, and Fitzgerald’s biography
• Chapter-by-chapter PowerPoints for the entire novel (Acts 1–9 equivalent) with guided discussion, close analysis, and AO1–AO5 coverage
• Thematic explorations of The American Dream, wealth, class, gender, morality, and symbolism
• Detailed contextual studies including women in the 1920s, the Midwest, old money vs new money, realism and modernism, and key historical references
• Symbol analysis: the green light, cars, the Valley of Ashes, and the eyes of T.J. Eckleburg
• Standalone resources such as Cars in Gatsby, Fitzgerald biography and thematic seminar notes, and a complete critical essay on the perils and possibilities of the American Dream.
• Critical interpretations from key scholars woven into lesson materials
• AO2-focused close reading activities and model responses
• OCR Section B exam guidance, including example questions and essay planning

Ideal for:

• OCR A Level English Literature (Component 2: American Literature 1880–1940)
• First teaching of The Great Gatsby
• Revision and exam preparation
• Stretch and challenge for high-attaining students

Why it works:
Designed with OCR assessment objectives in mind, this scheme provides the knowledge, skills, and confidence students need for top-band responses. It balances historical and literary context with opportunities for independent critical thinking, ensuring students can engage with both the novel’s artistry and its social critique.

TES Search Tags:
The Great Gatsby OCR A Level | A Level English Literature Scheme | American Literature | Fitzgerald Context | The American Dream | Critical Perspectives