THE GREAT GATSBY
F. Scott Fitzgerald
CHAPTER 1

Advice Nick’s father gives him about judging others?

Why did people confide in Nick? What problems did
these confidences cause Nick?

Nick’s opinion of how Gatsby turned out in the end?

What sorts of things do we find out about Gatsby
throughout the chapter?

How is West Egg different from East Egg?
CHAPTER 1

What are the connections betw. Tom & Daisy & Nick?

What characteristics does Nick give to Daisy’s voice?

What seems to be Tom’s political philosophy? Compare to
fear of Black Reconstruction…

What is Daisy’s apparent attitude to Tom’s mistress?

At the end of the chapter what sort of gesture does
Gatsby make in the darkness?
CHAPTER 1 ALLUSIONS

Then wear the gold hat, if that will move her. . . Thomas Parke D’Invilliers
(1): Lines of poetry-Novel’s epigraph actually written by Fitzgerald.
D’Invilliers-character in Fitzgerald’s This Side of Paradise (1920). Based on
writer John Peale Bishop, a Princeton classmate

Dukes of Buccleuch (7): members of a Scottish dukedom w/origins 17th C

Great War (7): World War I, so called until the Second World War (1939).

West Egg (9): West Egg & East Egg considered to be Fitzgerald’s versions o
Little Neck & Great Neck on Long Island’s North Shore. Fitzgerald owned a
house in Great Neck, more affluent of the 2. (Little neck & great neck-types
of clams.)

Midas and Morgan and Maecenas (8):
 Midas was a mythical king whose touch turned items to gold.
 Morgan refers to a prominent American banking family.
 Maecenas was a wealthy Roman patron of literature.
CHAPTER 1 ALLUSIONS

like the egg in the Columbus story: Columbus answered a critic by
challenging him to balance an egg on its tip. When the man failed,
Columbus crushed the tip slightly, flattening it so that the egg could
stand-proving that a discovery seems obvious only after it has been
made by someone w/the vision to imagine it.

Hotel de Ville in Normandy (9): town hall in Normandy, France

nightingale . . . on the Cunard or White Star Line (15): nightingale,
famous for singing, identified w/ English poetry: title of the next
novel Fitzgerald wrote is Tender Is the Night, taken from Keats’s
“Ode to a Nightingale.” Cunard & White Star-2 prominent passenger
lines betw. Europe & North America.

rotogravure: section of newspaper containing only photographs.
JOHN GREEN’S CH. 1 INTERPRETATION

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehjTS6AhMJ8
CHAPTER 2

Describe area lying midway betw. West Egg & NYC.

In reality, what are the “eyes of Doctor T.J. Ekleburg”?

Why does Tom insist Nick get off the train w/him?

What does George Wilson want from Tom?

What does Tom buy for Myrtle in New York City?

Who is Catherine? Who are the McKees?

Apparently, why does Tom hit Myrtle?

What is the last thing Nick remembers about evening?
CHAPTER 2 ALLUSIONS

borough of Queens: largest of 5 boroughs of NYC; close to Little
Neck & Great Neck.

torpedoes: small fireworks that explode under great pressure.

Versailles: location of spectacular 17th C palace built outside of
Paris by King Louis XIV.

ectoplasm: ghostly spirit emanating from a medium during trance.

Kaiser Wilhelm: German emperor (1859-1941) and king of Prussia
from 1888 to the end of World War I.
CHAPTER 3

What goes on at Gatsby’s during the summer nights?

How is Nick’s situation diff. from most other guests?

Who does Nick meet at the party that he knows?

According to one of the girls, why did Gatsby send a new
gown to replace the one that got ripped?

What is Lucille’s opinion of Gatsby’s background?
CHAPTER 3

What does the drunk in library think is remarkable about
Gatsby’s book collection?

How did Nick finally meet Gatsby? What did they have in
common?

What is Gatsby’s smile like?

What is Jordan’s attitude toward driving a car?

What does Nick say he thinks is one of the cardinal
virtues?
CHAPTER 3 ALLUSIONS

Castile: region of north central Spain known for beautiful shawls.

Belasco: David Belasco (1853-1931), American theatrical
producer, famous for realistic sets.

didn’t cut the pages: The books in Gatsby’s library are rare first
editions, in which sheets are folded into pages, yet not cut apart

Tostoff’s Jazz History of the World: Fitzgerald may have been
punning on the expression “tossed off.”
CHAPTER 4
1.
Why do you think Nick bothered to write down all the
people that came to Gatsby’s home?

Ethnic/cultural associations?

Names on Guest List are grating & cacophonous: Ulysses
Swett, Mr. Albrucksburger and Miss Haag

Tacky imagery of names themselves

Note unseemly associations & pairings-so & so w/someone
else's wife.

Overdone & tasteless right down to drop-in guests
NAMES ON GUEST LIST

This name on the guest list was the antithesis of
polite society:
J. Bruce Ismay worked for White Star Lines,
owners of Titanic-sank after striking iceberg-1914.


Supposedly disguised himself as a woman &
escaped in one of the too few life boats!

When reports of his survival hit the news, he was
ostracized, hated & vilified for the rest of his life.
“J Bruce Ismay: doomed the moment he jumped ship: The man who
built the Titanic lived for ever in disgrace after fleeing the stricken
Vessel” (UK Telegraph)
CHAPTER 4
2.
Describe Gatsby’s car.
3.
What surprising question does Gatsby ask Nick
while they are in Gatsby’s car?
4.
What does Gatsby tell Nick re: himself? Does
Nick believe him?

College
“Middle West”
Souvenirs?
WWI



CHAPTER 4—GATSBY’S WAR EXPERIENCE

Story mirrors famous war hero Alvin York.

Given U.S. Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroic exploits
during battle for Argonne forest

Acting alone, York “was credited w/the killing of 25 Germans &
capturing 132 & w/putting 35 machine guns out of action while
armed only w/a rifle & pistol.”

For incredible heroism-given virtually every conceivable
decoration for valor, incl. a medal from Montenegro.
F. Scott Fitzgerald in Context, By Bryant Mangum
Brought to my attention by Antanas Riskus—WWI expert
CHAPTER 4
5. As they cross the Queensboro Bridge, what
does Nick think?
•
“…sugar lumps and built with a wish out of non-olfactory money”
•
reference to "short upper lips" & "the yolks of their eyeballs"
signifies a historically specific fear
• Fear provoked Congress in 1921 & then again in 1924 to pass
acts establishing quotas for immigrants. Hit would-be
immigrants from southern & eastern Europe particularly hard.
•
“Anything can happen, anything at all. Even Gatsby can happen”
CHAPTER 4
6.





What does Mr. Wolfsheim look like?
Arnold Rothstein--inspiration for Jay Gatsby’s crooked associate
Meyer Wolfsheim. Fitzgerald also used parts of Rothstein's life to
mold Gatsby into the suave gangster he “might” be.
Old Metropole Hotel
Cufflinks?
“Profession”?
World Series
CHAPTER 4
7.
Why is Gatsby nervous when they run into Tom?
8.
What flashback does Jordan tell Nick?





9.
Daisy’s social life in Louisville…
Where does Gatsby come into the picture?
Rumors?
Evening of the evening of the bridal dinner?
In Ventura, what happened to Tom & a companion?
Back to the present, how had Gatsby come back to the
situation about 6 weeks earlier?
10.According to Jordan, why did Gatsby buy his house?
11.What is the great favor Gatsby asks Nick?
CHAPTER 4 ALLUSIONS

bootlegger: seller of illegal merchandise--in this case, liquor
outlawed by Prohibition. The term bootleg refers to concealing
objects in the leg of a high boot.

Von Hindenburg: Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg (1847-1934),
commander of German forces during World War I.

knickerbockers: short, loose-fitting pants gathered at knee;
fashionable menswear during 1920s.

Bois de Boulogne: large park just west of
Paris.

Montenegro: small, fiercely independent
kingdom, now part of Yugoslavia.
CHAPTER 4 ALLUSION

non-olfactory money: untainted capital; not assoc. w/crime.

Queensboro Bridge: bridge over East River connecting boroughs of
Manhattan & Queens in NYC.

Katspaugh: pun on “cat’s paw”; colloquially, a person used by
another as a tool (not a major insult)

Rosy Rosenthal: Herman “Rosy” Rosenthal-shot outside NYC’s
Metropole Hotel on July 16, 1912-murderers later executed.

fixed the World Series: “Black Sox” scandal 1919 World Series,
Cincinnati Reds defeated Chicago White Sox. 8 Chicago players
admitted accepting bribes to lose series; paid $100,000 by a New
York gambling syndicate.

Plaza Hotel: celebrated luxury hotel overlooking NYC’s Central Park.
CHAPTER 4 ALLUSIONS

roadster: small open car w/1 seat for 2-3 people; earlier version of
sports car.

debut: formal introduction of a young woman into society.

Armistice: Nov. 11, 1918-WWI betw.Germany & Allied forces ended.

Cannes . . . Deauville: resort cities-French Riviera & English Channel

victoria: horse-drawn open carriage for 2, named for Queen Victoria.
CHAPTER 5

What is unusual about Gatsby’s home as Nick comes
home that night? What was Gatsby doing?

Offer Gatsby makes to Nick re: bond selling business?

How does Gatsby act while waiting for Daisy?

When Gatsby says “Five years next November,” what
does this show about his feeling for Daisy?
CHAPTER 5

Describe Gatsby & Daisy’s reactions to each other.

Why do you think Daisy is so affected by Gatsby’s shirts?

While inside the house during the rain, how does Gatsby’s
comment about the green light on the end of
the Buchanan dock tie up w/something in Ch. 1?

As Nick leaves, what does he notice about Gatsby?
CHAPTER 5 ALLUSIONS

like Kant at his church steeple: Immanuel Kant (1724-1804),
German philosopher, said he developed theories regarding reality &
morality while gazing at a church steeple outside his window.

Marie Antoinette music-rooms & Restoration salons: elegantly
furnished rooms in period style, respectively, just before French
Revolution (1789) & brief restoration of monarchy (1815).

Adam study: The Adams were an 18 C. family of British architects.
The Adam style is extremely delicate in form & color.

Chartreuse: green or yellow liqueur.
CHAPTER 5 ALLUSIONS

pompadour: style of hairdressing
in which the hair is combed back
to create the illusion of a puffy
bump in the front.

The ‘Pompadour curl’ takes its
name from Madame de
Pompadour, member of the
French court, and the official chief mistress of Louis XV
from 1745 to her death in 1764.
CHAPTER 6

Why is the reporter interested in Gatsby?

Gatsby’s real name?

Parents? Early life? Relationship w/ women in youth?

What did Dan Cody have to do w/Gatsby’s life?

Job? Effect on Gatsby? Ella Kay?

DAN CODY=NEW MONEY
Dan Cody=new money
 Classic
 Hard
believer in the American Dream…
work-mining for copper in Montana or gold in Yukon
 Faith
in himself--Emerson's "Self-Reliance" at work (but w/ no
mention of faith in God)
 Luck-final
 =Cody
 Gatsby
element in formula for success in Amer.
reaches success, but is undone by drink & women
learns of this danger during 5 yrs w/Cody on yacht.
WHY WOLFSHIEM HIRES GATSBY








Gatsby does not drink
says little
chooses words carefully
"never so much as look at a friend's wife”
"a perfect gentleman"
went to "Oggsford” College in England.
knows how wealthy behave after 5 years w/Cody
greatest importance to crime boss=has no past.
…Of course, once Gatsby is openly involved w/Daisy, he is
of little value to Wolfshiem
CHAPTER 6

What are the social implications regarding Mr. Sloane?

At the party, what does Daisy tell Tom?


What is Gatsby’s main concern about the party?
What does Nick realize Gatsby actually wants?

What is Gatsby’s response to Nick’s statement :
“You can’t repeat the past”?

What flashback does this chapter end on?
CHAPTER 6 ALLUSIONS

Platonic conception of himself: reference to Greek
philosopher Plato’s notion that physical items are inferior
copies of transcendent ideas.


Gatsby’s “Platonic conception of himself” is his fantasy image of
his life, as opposed to his actual background.
Madame de Maintenon: French marquise (1635-1719)
gained commanding influence at court of Louis XIV & later
married him.
REFERENCES:

F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby: A Literary Reference ed. by the one man
Fitzgerald industry, Matthew J. Bruccoli.

The Art and Style of Sara and Gerald Murphy is phenomenal. The Murphys, Sara
especially, were Scott and Zelda's close friends.

http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/03/teaching-the-great-gatsby-withthe-new-york-times/

Reader's Guide to Reading and Discussion to The Great Gatsby: Resources for
Reading and Discussion.

Studio 360 a NPR arts show on Gatsby-Kurt Anderson

Claude McKay, “If We Must Die,” in Harlem Shadows: The Poems of Claude McKay (New York:
Harcourt, Brace and Co., 1922).
BRUCCOLI
Resetting the Great Gatsby by Bruccoli
http://www.sc.edu/fitzgerald/essays/wrong.pdf
Fitzgerald’s Eras
Social and Political Backgrounds of the 1920s and 1930s
by Matthew J. Bruccoli
http://www.sc.edu/fitzgerald/essays/eras.html
American novel—the great gatsby
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