An Introduction to the Literature of the Jazz Age (Roaring Twenties)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, people, and concepts from the Jazz Age and The Great Gatsby material.

Roaring Twenties (Jazz Age)

The 1920s in the United States, a period of postwar prosperity, urbanization, consumer culture, and cultural revolutions; the term Jazz Age was coined to describe this era.

Harlem Renaissance

A major Black artistic movement in the 1920s centered in Harlem, linking literature, music, and visual arts; included figures like Langston Hughes, Sterling A. Brown, and Zora Neale Hurston.

Great Migration

The large movement of African Americans from the South to northern cities (e.g., Chicago, New York) from 1910–40, shaping urban culture and the Harlem Renaissance.

Prohibition

The era (starting 1920) when the manufacture, sale, and transport of alcohol were illegal under the 18th Amendment, enforced by the Volstead Act; led to bootlegging and organized crime.

Eighteenth Amendment

Constitutional amendment that established Prohibition in the United States (ratified 1920).

Nineteenth Amendment

Amendment ratified in 1920 that guaranteed women’s suffrage nationwide; a cornerstone of First Wave feminism.

Flapper

A symbol of the modern, liberated woman in the 1920s—bobbed hair, short dresses, and bold behavior—often celebrated and marketed by contemporary culture.

First Wave Feminism

The early movement for women’s rights beginning in the 19th century, culminating in women’s suffrage with the 19th Amendment; led by activists like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

Modernism

A broad cultural movement (late 19th–early 20th century) that sought to 'make it new'—experimental forms, direct experience, and a break from traditional norms in art, literature, and culture.

East Egg

In The Great Gatsby, the symbol of old money, traditional aristocracy, and established social power.

West Egg

In The Great Gatsby, the symbol of new money, conspicuous wealth, and social climbing; contrasts with East Egg.

Valley of Ashes

A desolate industrial wasteland between West Egg and New York City; represents moral decay and social inequality in The Great Gatsby.

Eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg

A large billboard in the Valley of Ashes that gazes over the scene, symbolizing observation, judgment, and the commodification of life.

Green Light

A symbol at the end of Daisy’s dock in The Great Gatsby; represents Gatsby’s hopes, dreams, and the American Dream’s allure.

Conspicuous Consumption

Thorstein Veblen’s concept of visible wealth display to signal status; exemplified by Gatsby’s car, parties, and lifestyle.

Bootlegging

Illegal production and distribution of alcohol during Prohibition; a major plot element in The Great Gatsby and other 1920s works.

G-Men

Slang for federal agents, especially those enforcing Prohibition; depicted as heroes in some Hollywood depictions.

Hays Code

Self-imposed industry morality and content standards in Hollywood starting around 1930, influencing how crime and morality were portrayed.

Original Dixieland Jazz Band (ODJB)

White jazz band credited with some of the first commercial jazz recordings, aiding the genre’s spread in the 1910s.

Jazz

A fusion of blues, ragtime, brass bands, gospel, and other influences; known for improvisation and a loose, swinging rhythm; central to the Jazz Age.

Redlining

Discriminatory practice that restricted access to mortgages and loans for Black neighborhoods, shaping urban demographics and segregation.

Expats / Lost Generation

American writers who moved to Europe in the 1920s (e.g., Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Stein), often labeled the Lost Generation for their disillusionment.

Epigraph

A short quotation preceding a work or section to set the tone or theme.

Paratext

Elements outside the main text (title, epigraphs, prefaces) that orient readers to a work’s themes.

Focalization

Narrative technique that describes who perceives or experiences events, shaping the reader’s access to the story.

Unreliable Narrator

A narrator whose judgments or perceptions cannot be fully trusted, as in Nick Carraway’s viewpoint in The Great Gatsby.

Chaplinesque

Hart Crane’s poem inspired by Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid, celebrating innocence and social outcasts in a compassionate, humanist light.

Echoes of the Jazz Age

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s essay reflecting on the Jazz Age—its excesses, commodification, and lasting cultural impact.

Jay Gatsby

The enigmatic millionaire at the center of "The Great Gatsby," known for his lavish parties and pursuit of the past epitomized by Daisy Buchanan.

Daisy Buchanan

The wealthy, beautiful cousin of Nick Carraway and object of Jay Gatsby's enduring affection in "The Great Gatsby," representing the allure and corruption of old money.

Nick Carraway

The novel's narrator, a thoughtful Midwesterner who moves to West Egg and becomes entangled in the lives of Gatsby and the Buchanans, offering a moral perspective on the Jazz Age.

American Dream

The foundational belief in the ability to achieve success, prosperity, and happiness through hard work and determination; often depicted as corrupted or unattainable in 1920s literature like "The Great Gatsby."

Speakeasies

Secret illicit establishments that sold alcoholic beverages during the Prohibition era; a common feature of the clandestine social scene in the 1920s.

New Negro

A term popular during the Harlem Renaissance, celebrating a new identity for African Americans marked by cultural pride, artistic expression, and demands for civil rights.

F. Scott Fitzgerald

A prominent American novelist and short story writer, celebrated for his works capturing the excesses and disillusionment of the Jazz Age, most famously "The Great Gatsby."

Roaring Twenties (Jazz Age)

The 1920s in the United States, a period of postwar prosperity, urbanization, consumer culture, and cultural revolutions; the term Jazz Age was coined to describe this era.

Harlem Renaissance

A major Black artistic movement in the 1920s centered in Harlem, linking literature, music, and visual arts; included figures like Langston Hughes, Sterling A. Brown, and Zora Neale Hurston.

Great Migration

The large movement of African Americans from the South to northern cities (e.g., Chicago, New York) from 1910–40, shaping urban culture and the Harlem Renaissance.

Prohibition

The era (starting 1920) when the manufacture, sale, and transport of alcohol were illegal under the 18th Amendment, enforced by the Volstead Act; led to bootlegging and organized crime.

Eighteenth Amendment

Constitutional amendment that established Prohibition in the United States (ratified 1920).

Nineteenth Amendment

Amendment ratified in 1920 that guaranteed women’s suffrage nationwide; a cornerstone of First Wave feminism.

Flapper

A symbol of the modern, liberated woman in the 1920s—bobbed hair, short dresses, and bold behavior—often celebrated and marketed by contemporary culture.

First Wave Feminism

The early movement for women’s rights beginning in the 19th century, culminating in women’s suffrage with the 19th Amendment; led by activists like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

Modernism

A broad cultural movement (late 19th–early 20th century) that sought to 'make it new'—experimental forms, direct experience, and a break from traditional norms in art, literature, and culture.

East Egg

In The Great Gatsby, the symbol of old money, traditional aristocracy, and established social power.

West Egg

In The Great Gatsby, the symbol of new money, conspicuous wealth, and social climbing; contrasts with East Egg.

Valley of Ashes

A desolate industrial wasteland between West Egg and New York City; represents moral decay and social inequality in The Great Gatsby.

Eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg

A large billboard in the Valley of Ashes that gazes over the scene, symbolizing observation, judgment, and the commodification of life.

Green Light

A symbol at the end of Daisy’s dock in The Great Gatsby; represents Gatsby’s hopes, dreams, and the American Dream’s allure.

Conspicuous Consumption

Thorstein Veblen’s concept of visible wealth display to signal status; exemplified by Gatsby’s car, parties, and lifestyle.

Bootlegging

Illegal production and distribution of alcohol during Prohibition; a major plot element in The Great Gatsby and other 1920s works.

G-Men

Slang for federal agents, especially those enforcing Prohibition; depicted as heroes in some Hollywood depictions.

Hays Code

Self-imposed industry morality and content standards in Hollywood starting around 1930, influencing how crime and morality were portrayed.

Original Dixieland Jazz Band (ODJB)

White jazz band credited with some of the first commercial jazz recordings, aiding the genre’s spread in the 1910s.

Jazz

A fusion of blues, ragtime, brass bands, gospel, and other influences; known for improvisation and a loose, swinging rhythm; central to the Jazz Age.

Redlining

Discriminatory practice that restricted access to mortgages and loans for Black neighborhoods, shaping urban demographics and segregation.

Expats / Lost Generation

American writers who moved to Europe in the 1920s (e.g., Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Stein), often labeled the Lost Generation for their disillusionment.

Epigraph

A short quotation preceding a work or section to set the tone or theme.

Paratext

Elements outside the main text (title, epigraphs, prefaces) that orient readers to a work’s themes.

Focalization

Narrative technique that describes who perceives or experiences events, shaping the reader’s access to the story.

Unreliable Narrator

A narrator whose judgments or perceptions cannot be fully trusted, as in Nick Carraway’s viewpoint in The Great Gatsby.

Chaplinesque

Hart Crane’s poem inspired by Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid, celebrating innocence and social outcasts in a compassionate, humanist light.

Echoes of the Jazz Age

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s essay reflecting on the Jazz Age—its excesses, commodification, and lasting cultural impact.

Jay Gatsby

The enigmatic millionaire at the center of "The Great Gatsby," known for his lavish parties and pursuit of the past epitomized by Daisy Buchanan.

Daisy Buchanan

The wealthy, beautiful cousin of Nick Carraway and object of Jay Gatsby's enduring affection in "The Great Gatsby," representing the allure and corruption of old money.

Nick Carraway

The novel's narrator, a thoughtful Midwesterner who moves to West Egg and becomes entangled in the lives of Gatsby and the Buchanans, offering a moral perspective on the Jazz Age.

American Dream

The foundational belief in the ability to achieve success, prosperity, and happiness through hard work and determination; often depicted as corrupted or unattainable in 1920s literature like "The Great Gatsby."

Speakeasies

Secret illicit establishments that sold alcoholic beverages during the Prohibition era; a common feature of the clandestine social scene in the 1920s.

New Negro

A term popular during the Harlem Renaissance, celebrating a new identity for African Americans marked by cultural pride, artistic expression, and demands for civil rights.

F. Scott Fitzgerald

A prominent American novelist and short story writer, celebrated for his works capturing the excesses and disillusionment of the Jazz Age, most famously "The Great Gatsby."

Volstead Act

Federal act providing for the enforcement of the 18th Amendment, establishing Prohibition in the US (1920).

Women's Suffrage

The right of women to vote, achieved nationally with the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920.

Langston Hughes

A central figure of the Harlem Renaissance, known for his innovative poetry, plays, essays, and fiction celebrating Black culture.

Zora Neale Hurston

A celebrated author and anthropologist of the Harlem Renaissance, known for works like "Their Eyes Were Watching God."

Susan B. Anthony

A leader in the American women's suffrage movement during the 19th century, advocating for women's right to vote.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton

A prominent advocate for women's rights and a key organizer of the Seneca Falls Convention; a leader in the suffrage movement.

Thorstein Veblen

An American economist and sociologist who coined the term "conspicuous consumption," critiquing consumer culture and social status.

Ernest Hemingway

A Nobel Prize-winning American novelist and short-story writer, considered part of the "Lost Generation" of expatriates in the 1920s.

Gertrude Stein

An American writer and art collector who hosted a Parisian salon for avant-garde artists and writers, famously labeling them the "Lost Generation."

Hart Crane

An American poet associated with Modernism, known for his ambitious work and the poem "Chaplinesque."

The Kid (film)

A 1921 silent comedy-drama film by Charlie Chaplin, which inspired Hart Crane's poem "Chaplinesque."

What were the key characteristics of Modernism in the early 20th century?

A break from traditional forms, embracing experimentation, individualism, and a focus on direct experience and psychological realism.

What significant social impact resulted from the ratification of the 19th Amendment?

It granted women nationwide the right to vote, significantly expanding political participation and marking a critical achievement for First Wave Feminism.

Beyond individual artists, what were the broad cultural contributions of the Harlem Renaissance?

It fostered a vibrant explosion of Black literature, music (jazz and blues), visual arts, and intellectual thought, challenging racial stereotypes and affirming Black identity.

What were some key factors contributing to the economic boom characterized by the Roaring Twenties?

Rapid industrial growth, mass production techniques (like the assembly line), widespread availability of consumer goods (automobiles, radios), and an expanding credit market fueled prosperity.

How was the concept of the American Dream often critiqued or depicted as flawed in 1920s literature, particularly in works like The Great Gatsby?

It was criticized for its emphasis on materialism, the pursuit of superficial wealth, and the belief that success was attainable primarily through individual effort, often neglecting social inequality and moral decay.

Roaring Twenties (Jazz Age)

The 1920s in the United States, a period of postwar prosperity, urbanization, consumer culture, and cultural revolutions; the term Jazz Age was coined to describe this era.

Harlem Renaissance

A major Black artistic movement in the 1920s centered in Harlem, linking literature, music, and visual arts; included figures like Langston Hughes, Sterling A. Brown, and Zora Neale Hurston.

Great Migration

The large movement of African Americans from the South to northern cities (e.g., Chicago, New York) from 1910–40, shaping urban culture and the Harlem Renaissance.

Prohibition

The era (starting 1920) when the manufacture, sale, and transport of alcohol were illegal under the 18th Amendment, enforced by the Volstead Act; led to bootlegging and organized crime.

Eighteenth Amendment

Constitutional amendment that established Prohibition in the United States (ratified 1920).

Nineteenth Amendment

Amendment ratified in 1920 that guaranteed women’s suffrage nationwide; a cornerstone of First Wave feminism.

Flapper

A symbol of the modern, liberated woman in the 1920s—bobbed hair, short dresses, and bold behavior—often celebrated and marketed by contemporary culture.

First Wave Feminism

The early movement for women’s rights beginning in the 19th century, culminating in women’s suffrage with the 19th Amendment; led by activists like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

Modernism

A broad cultural movement (late 19th–early 20th century) that sought to 'make it new'—experimental forms, direct experience, and a break from traditional norms in art, literature, and culture.

East Egg

In The Great Gatsby, the symbol of old money, traditional aristocracy, and established social power.

West Egg

In The Great Gatsby, the symbol of new money, conspicuous wealth, and social climbing; contrasts with East Egg.

Valley of Ashes

A desolate industrial wasteland between West Egg and New York City; represents moral decay and social inequality in The Great Gatsby.

Eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg

A large billboard in the Valley of Ashes that gazes over the scene, symbolizing observation, judgment, and the commodification of life.

Green Light

A symbol at the end of Daisy’s dock in The Great Gatsby; represents Gatsby’s hopes, dreams, and the American Dream’s allure.