Name: _______________________________
The Great Gatsby —Study Guide
Chapter One
1. Nick Carraway is the narrator of the novel. Why do people tell Nick things?
How does Nick describe Gatsby? (Page 2)
Why does Nick end up going East? What is his job? Make an inference about his income level.
2.
Look at attached map. You may refer to this map throughout the reading of the novel. The
“Eggs” are fictional but are based on Long Island, New York. Now, go back to Chapter One.
What diction is used to describe each area? Who resides in each area?
West Egg
East Egg
Diction:
Diction:
Characters:
Characters:
3. Now, you will focus on Tom Buchanan. List details from the reading to support the
following:
A) How readers can tell he has plenty of money-
B) The reason(s) that he and Daisy (his wife) moved East-
C) The word that begins with “R” (p. 10) that is used to describe him multiple
times_______________.
Name: _______________________________
4. Now, focus on Daisy. List details from the reading to support the following:
A) The way her voice is described-
B) Something strange that she says about her daughter on top of Page 17, and your best guess for
the reason she says this line.
Line:
Explanation:
C) Evidence to support that she doesn’t mind getting into an argument with her husband-
5. Jordan Baker, Daisy’s best friend, says to Nick on the top of page 15, “I thought everybody
knew.” To what is she referring?
6. Find evidence on Page 16 to support that Daisy is probably aware of the above situation.
7. What does Daisy want to do with Nick and Jordan(18)?
8. How is Gatsby introduced to readers at the end of Chapter One? Sketch or write a description
of what he appears to be doing.
Name: _______________________________
Chapter Two
1. Describe the setting of “The Valley of Ashes,” including the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg.
Who lives here?
2. Why does this group go to New York City?
3. List evidence from the text to show how Myrtle Wilson’s behavior changes once the party gets
started. Why do you think she changes?
4. Why did Myrtle marry George? What changed her feelings about him? Why can’t they
divorce? (According to Myrtle’s sister, Catherine…)
5. What happened to Mrs. Wilson at the end of Chapter Two? Why did this occur?
Name: _______________________________
The Great Gatsby- Chapter Three
1. Describe Gatsby’s elaborate party including set up, people who attend, etc.
2. How did the people behave at his parties?
3. What did Gatsby do for a guest who ripped her dress at a previous party?
4. What are some of the speculations surrounding Gatsby?
5. How does Nick meet Gatsby? Jot down a line from the text that illustrates Nick’s impression
of Gatsby. (p. 47-48)
6. With what is the drunken man (Owl Eyes) in the library so impressed?
7. What does Nick remember about Jordan? What does that reveal about her character?
Name: _______________________________
The Great Gatsby—Chapter Four Study Guide
1. How does Nick Carraway describe the people who came to Gatsby’s house that summer?
What two groups of people does he describe?
2. Describe Gatsby’s car.
3. How does Gatsby’s speech contradict his elegant lifestyle?
4. Where does Gatsby say he is from? Educated? How does he say he received his income?
5. What evidence does Gatsby have to support his story?
6. Who is Meyer Wolfshiem? What is his profession and what did he “fix?” What area in the
novel would he fit in? (East Egg, West Egg) (Hint: Look at the way he speaks and dresses).
7. How did Daisy know Gatsby in her past? How?
8. Describe Daisy the night before her marriage to Tom. Do they seem to have a “happy”
marriage? Explain.
9. Why did Gatsby buy the mansion he lives in?
10. What does Gatsby want Nick to do the next day?
Name: _______________________________
The Great Gatsby- Chapter Five
1. What “little thing” does Gatsby discuss with Nick on pages 82? Can you infer anything else
about Gatsby at this point?
2.
How does Gatsby prepare Nick’s house for the arrival of Daisy? How is Gatsby dressed?
3. How would you describe Gatsby’s behavior upon Daisy’s arrival?
4. How does Gatsby behave toward his possessions once he reaches his mansion with Daisy?
How is his bedroom described? What is Fitzgerald’s purpose for the bedroom description?
5. How does Gatsby contradict his story of wealth on page 90?
6. What could the shirts signify at the bottom of page 92? How is wealth different for him than
for a character like Tom Buchanan?
Name: _______________________________
The Great Gatsby—Chapter Six
1. Jot down FIVE facts that Nick learns about Gatsby’s early life.
2. Why do you think Gatsby became materialistic?
3. What is Daisy’s opinion of Gatsby’s party? (107) How does this affect him?
4. What was Gatsby’s intention for throwing this party? What does he truly want from Daisy?
(109)
5. What does Gatsby mean by his fierce reaction to the Nick’s statement about not repeating the
past?
Name: _______________________________
The Great Gatsby-Chapter Seven Study Guide
1. Why did Gatsby hire new servants? Who are the servants?
2. Who does Jordan think Tom is talking to on the phone? Are there any other possibilities?
Explain.
3. Explain Gatsby’s reaction to Daisy’s child.
4. How is Daisy’s voice described? What is Fitzgerald’s purpose for using this metaphor?
5. Draw an illustration of Gatsby’s car and the people who ride to town in it. Draw an
illustration of Tom’s car and to people who ride to town in it.
TO TOWN
Tom’s Car
Gatsby’s Car
6. Why does Tom think that Gatsby is not an Oxford man?
7. How does Tom treat Wilson? What does Wilson say that surprises Tom?
8. Who does Myrtle mistake as Tom’s wife?
Name: _______________________________
9. What does Gatsby say about Oxford that is different than his previous story?
10. How does Daisy betray Gatsby?
11. According to Tom, how did Gatsby become wealthy?
12. “I just remembered that today’s my birthday. I was thirty. Before me stretched the
portentous, menacing road of a new decade “ (135). Why is it significant that Nick mentions
his birthday?
13. Who was killed by an automobile? Whose car struck the victim and who was driving the car?
14. Why is Gatsby outside the Buchanans’ home?
15. How are Daisy and Tom described over dinner at the end of Chapter Seven?
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Name: _______________________________
The Great Gatsby-Eight and Nine
1. What are some of the reasons that Gatsby was so taken with Daisy on pages 148-149?
2. Why did Daisy marry Tom? Why does Gatsby think she doesn’t really love Tom?
3. What does Nick shout to Gatsby on page 154? Why?
4. What happens between Nick and Jordan Baker in this chapter?
5. What two clues does Wilson have that make him aware of Myrtle having an affair?
6. Who does George Wilson confuse with God?
7.
How does Wilson track Gatsby down? What happens at the end of this chapter?
8. How do people react to Gatsby’s death?
9. Who attends Gatsby’s funeral? Why do you think so few people show up?
10. Why do you think Tom tells Wilson that Gatsby was driving and that Gatsby was responsible
for Myrtle’s death?
Name: _______________________________
11. In general, what are some of the items written on the Hopalong Cassidy novel? How does
this relate to the American Dream?
12. Who attends Gatsby’s funeral?
13. What does Jordan state about Nick’s honesty on page 177?
14. Why did Tom tell Wilson that Gatsby was driving and killed Myrtle?
15. What do you think the green light symbolizes?