Gatsby’s Green Light

This focused literary analysis worksheet helps students in Grades 9, 10, and 11 develop deeper understanding of symbolism, theme, and figurative meaning through close reading of The Great Gatsby. Students analyze the green light as a central symbol, exploring how it represents hope, distance, illusion, and ambition while practicing textual interpretation, evidence-based reasoning, and thematic analysis aligned with classic American literature study.

Learning Goals

• Literary Symbolism (Grades 9-11)
  Students interpret the green light as a symbol and explain its layered meanings.
• Theme Analysis
  Learners connect the symbol to broader themes such as ambition, longing, and the American Dream.
• Textual Evidence & Interpretation
  Students support ideas using specific quotations and details from the novel.
• Figurative Meaning & Author’s Craft
  The activity highlights how Fitzgerald uses imagery and symbolism to convey abstract ideas.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource
  Designed by educators to align with secondary ELA literature standards.
• Close Reading Focus
  Encourages careful attention to language, imagery, and thematic significance.
• Assessment-Ready
  Suitable for formative assessment, literary discussion prep, or analytical writing support.
• Flexible Classroom Use
  Ideal for American literature units, symbolism lessons, homework, or small-group analysis.

This printable worksheet gives students meaningful practice with symbolic interpretation and theme development using one of the most iconic images in American literature. By analyzing Gatsby’s green light, learners strengthen critical reading, evidence-based analysis, and appreciation for how symbols convey complex ideas. Suitable for classroom instruction or homeschool use, this no-prep resource supports deeper engagement with classic texts and confident literary analysis.

This worksheet is part of our Grade 11 Reading Comprehension collection.