The Great Gatsby
8
Nick participated in the "delayed Teutonic migration." What do we know
that as today?
9
He returns restless. What does he now compare the middle-west with?
Study Guide Questions
Chapter One
1
We know from the first page of the novel that Nick, the narrator, is telling
the story after the action has happened.
2
What is the advice Nick’s father has given him that he has been "turning
over in [his] mind"?
3
As a consequence of that advice, what habit has Nick developed?
4
Nick says that "reserving judgments is a matter of" what?
5
What does Gatsby represent to Nick?
6
What "extraordinary gift" does Nick find in Gatsby?
7
Nick says, "No—Gatsby turned out all right at the end." What is it that
bothers Nick?
10 What does Nick go east to learn?
11 What season and year does Nick go east during?
12 What does Nick mean when he says, "life is much more successfully
looked at from a single window, after all"?
13 What state does the novel take place in?
14 What part of the state does Nick live in? How does he compare it with
East Egg?
15 Who is Nick’s neighbor?
23 What is the purpose of Daisy’s murmur?
16 Give a brief description of his neighbor’s house.
24 What is the connection between Nick and Daisy?
25 What two adjectives does Nick use to describe Daisy’s face?
17 Who lives in East Egg whom Nick knows?
26 Chapter one contains the first reference to the automobile. Who makes
the reference? What does he say about the rear wheels of the cars?
18 What had Tom Buchannan done at New Haven?
27 How old is Tom and Daisy’s daughter?
19 Nick says at the beginning of the novel that he is "inclined to reserve all
judgment." Later he says, "I felt that Tom would drift on forever seeking a
little wistfully for the dramatic turbulence of some irrecoverable football
game." Is he reserving all judgment here? What do you think is Nick’s 28 What is our first indication that Tom abuses Daisy?
opinion of Tom?
29 Notice all references to eyes in the novel. What do a person’s eyes say
about him or her? How does Nick describe Daisy’s and Jordan Baker’s
eyes?
20 Based on Nick’s description of Tom, what do you think of Tom?
30 What is Tom upset about?
31 What, ultimately, is Tom afraid of losing?
21 What adjective does Nick use to describe Tom?
22 Daisy’s first words are "’I’m p-paralyzed with happiness.’" What is your first
impression of Daisy?
32 What causes Jordan Baker to "Sh!" Nick? What is she listening for? What
does she reveal to Nick about Tom?
33 Why does Nick want to look into everyone’s eyes when they all return to 40 Who does Nick notice "regarding the silver pepper of the stars" at the end
the table? Why doesn’t he want them to see into his eyes?
of the novel?
41 What is the only thing that Nick can determine Gatsby is stretching his
34 Daisy tells Nick, "I’m pretty cynical about everything." Based on what you
hands to in the dark?
know, what do you believe has caused Daisy to become cynical?
Chapter Two
35 Daisy hopes her daughter will be a fool. She says, "that’s the best thing a
girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool." At this point in the novel, 1 What is half way between East Egg and New York?
what do you think Daisy could be saying about the role of women in the
1920s?
2
36 Tom and Daisy’s home is crimson and white. Based on your knowledge of
color symbolism, what could these two colors symbolize or tell us about 3
their marriage?
37 How does Nick remember Jordan?
What might ashes symbolize?
What appears out of nowhere in the Valley of Ashes? (hint: remember the
importance of eyes to the novel)
4
Why does Nick meet Tom’s mistress even though he has no desire to
meet her?
5
What three shops are located on the Main Street of the Valley of Ashes?
6
What is George B. Wilson’s occupation?
38 What news had Tom and Daisy heard of Nick before his coming to New
York?
39 What does Nick believe is the obvious thing Daisy needs to do?
7
What are four descriptions Nick gives of George Wilson?
8
What springs into George Wilson’s eyes when he sees Tom and Nick?
16 Nick says he got drunk that afternoon for only the second time in his life.
If Nick is drunk at this time, can we, the reader, be certain that everything
Nick tells us about the day is accurate?
17 Is Myrtle really experiencing what it is like to be rich, or is she playing
house at Tom’s amusement?
9
What does Wilson want from Tom?
18 What does Myrtle believe men are mainly concerned with?
10 How does Wilson’s wife treat him?
11 What could the white ash dust on Wilson’s suit say about his relationship
with his wife?
19 Catherine tells Nick that she had attended one of Gatsby’s parties. What
does this seem to imply about Gatsby and his popularity?
12 What instructions does Tom give Myrtle Wilson?
20 Where does Myrtle believe Gatsby gets his money?
13 What does Wilson think about his wife’s visits to the city?
21 Catherine confides to Nick, "’Neither of them can stand the person they’re
married to." Do you, at this point in the novel, believe this is true or false?
14 What does Myrtle want for the apartment?
22 Why would Tom lie to Myrtle about Daisy’s being Catholic and that
preventing their divorce?
15 What kind of glance does Myrtle give the neighborhood of her apartment?
What does this tell you about how she feels toward the apartment and
Tom?
23 Why did Myrtle marry George Wilson?
3
24 What seemed to be a great disappointment for Myrtle concerning her
marriage to George? What does her reaction to the episode tell you about
where she places value?
4
What arrives at Gatsby’s every Friday?
What leaves Gatsby’s every Monday? What change has occurred?
5
How does Gatsby provide music for his parties?
6
What is present at Gatsby’s parties that the Volstead Act of 1919
prohibited?
7
What about Nick is different from the other guests at Gatsby’s parties?
25 How long have Myrtle and George been married?
26 What seems to attract Myrtle to Tom the first time they meet?
27 What causes Tom and Myrtle to fight around midnight?
28 What does Tom do to Myrtle?
29 At the end of the chapter, Nick’s drunkenness increases to the point of 8
utter confusion. Is Nick truly aware of everything that happens toward the
end of the evening?
Chapter Three
1
9
Nick says, "People were not invited." What does he say that they do
instead?
What rules of behavior seem to apply at Gatsby’s parties?
What simile does Fitzgerald use to describe the way people came and went
to Gatsby’s parties?
10 Who comes to invite Nick to Gatsby’s party? What color, specifically, is
his suit?
2
What does Gatsby’s Rolls-Royce seem to become on the weekends?
11 What adjective does Nick use to describe Gatsby’s handwriting?
20 Several women at the party recognize and seem to have met Jordan at
some of Gatsby’s other parties. What does Jordan’s inability to recognize
12 What color does Nick dress in to attend Gatsby’s party? What meaning
or remember these people say about the relationships established at these
might this color convey?
parties?
13 Nick calls the groups of people "swirls and eddies of people I didn’t know." 21 What happened to Lucille’s dress at the last party? Whose fault was it?
What could he mean by this metaphor?
Who replaced the dress?
14 What three types of things is Nick sure that the young Englishmen at 22 Another girl interprets Gatsby’s lavish replacement of Lucille’s dress.
Gatsby’s parties are selling?
What does she find strange about it?
23 What’s one of the first rumors we hear about Gatsby?
15 Specifically, who are the young Englishmen talking with?
24 What’s the second piece of gossip we learn?
16 Specifically, what are the young Englishmen aware is "theirs for a few words
in the right key"?
25 What contradicts the second piece of gossip?
17 Where can a single man linger without looking purposeless and alone?
26 What does the woman who thinks Gatsby a murderer base her opinion
on?
18 Who appears as a rescue for Nick from his plans "to get roaring drunk
from sheer embarrassment"?
27 Jordan wants to leave the supper table. What about it bothers her?
19 What sport do we learn that Jordan plays?
28 What reason does Jordan give her company for her leaving the table?
37 How old does Nick assume Gatsby to be?
29 What is the owl-eyed man in the library most surprised about? What does
his astonishment tell you about the society of the day?
38 Gatsby receives a message from his butler that "Chicago was calling him on
the wire." Based on any prior knowledge of Chicago and the 1920s, what
might you assume about Gatsby?
30 What has the owl-eyed man been for about a week?
39 What has Gatsby told Jordan about himself?
31 What has increased by midnight?
40 What does Jordan like about large parties? How might this be ironic?
32 Nick is drinking again. He says that he "had taken two finger bowls of
champagne and the scene had changed before my eyes into something
significant, elemental and profound." Can we still completely rely on Nick
to be accurate?
41 What are Gatsby’s guests doing that he is not doing?
33 What phrase does Gatsby use where your generation might use "Man"?
42 What does Nick observe about Gatsby’s relationship to women after the
conclusion of Tostoff’s music?
34 Who offers to take Nick out in his new hydroplane?
43 What happens between women and men towards the end of the party?
35 How is it that Nick is acquainted with this man, other than the previously
established neighbor relationship?
36 What quality does Gatsby’s smile possess?
44 What is Nick ashamed of as he prepares to leave the party? How does this
make him different from some of the other guests who are arguing with
their husbands?
45 Where does Gatsby’s second phone call come from?
53 How does Nick describe what he begins to feel for Jordan?
46 What message does Fitzgerald send about uncontrollable drinking through
the scene of the automobile accident as Nick leaves Gatsby’s party?
54 What causes Nick to remember a story about Jordan’s past?
47 Owl Eyes is the man driving the car. What is his first disclaimer about his 55 What about Jordan’s past nearly reached a scandal?
knowledge concerning cars? What is his second disclaimer about his
knowledge concerning driving? Because you are an intelligent human
being, what does this tell you about the situation?
56 Nick finds Jordan to be ________________ ___________________.
57 What is Jordan not able to endure?
58 What does Nick "never blame deeply"?
48 What information from Owl Eyes shocks the crowd?
59 How does Nick describe Jordan’s driving? What does her driving ability
reflect about her character?
49 What does the second man in the car first believe has happened? What
does this tell you about his condition?
50 What two things does the driver of the car suggest he do to remedy the 60 What kind of people does Jordan hate? What does she like about Nick?
situation?
51 What does Nick do with most of his time?
61 What does Nick have to take care of back home? Hint: Tom and Daisy
first informed us of its possibility.
52 Who does Nick find again in midsummer?
62 What does Nick define as one of his cardinal virtues?
Chapter Four
1
7
What does Mr. Klipspringer become known as and why?
8
Gatsby arrives at Nick’s house early one July morning. What is his
purpose?
Where are the people when the Church bells are ringing on Sunday
morning? What might this tell you about their morality?
2
What is the next piece of gossip we hear about Gatsby’s possible career?
3
According to one of the young ladies at the party, who is Gatsby a second 9
cousin to?
4
List 5 names of people who attend Gatsby’s parties. What might some of 10 What disappoints Nick about Gatsby?
these names signify about these people?
Gatsby’s car is something to admire. What might his car be symbolic of?
11 What replaces Nick’s first impression of Gatsby?
5
Nick accounts that "Mrs. Ulyssees Swett’s automobile ran over his [Ripley 12 Does Gatsby know about all of the rumors about him?
Snell’s] right hand. What was Mr. Snell’s condition? Why do you believe
Nick blames the automobile and not Mr. Snell or Mrs. Swett? What does
giving responsibility to a car for hurting a human being say about these
13 What, exactly, does Gatsby reveal to Nick about himself?
characters’ values?
6
Based on the list of people who attend Gatsby’s parties, how would you 14 What three habits of Gatsby’s speaking make Nick believe he may be lying
about his past?
describe these people?
15 Do you believe Gatsby? Why or why not?
23 What do Nick and Gatsby pass through on their way to the city?
16 Where does Gatsby say his money comes from?
24 What does Gatsby’s waving off of the policeman with a supposed card
from the commissioner suggest about his character?
17 What simile does Nick use to describe his fascination?
25 Whom do we meet at lunch with Gatsby?
26 Meyer Wolfshiem is a foreshadowing of Gatsby’s past. What do you infer
18 What proof does Gatsby offer Nick that he was in the army and involved
Mr. Wolfshiem to be involved in based on his fragmented conversations
in Montenegro?
with Gatsby?
19 What does Gatsby carry as proof of his education at Oxford?
20 What do the two pieces of evidence do as far as Nick’s belief in Gatsby’s 27 Juxtaposition is when two episodes, characters, or remarks are placed
story?
together in order to draw attention to them. Wolfshiem juxtaposes his
story of the deaths of five men involved in illegal action with his statement
"I understand you’re looking for a business gonnegtion." What could this
suggest about Gatsby’s tie to Wolfshiem?
21 Why does Gatsby say that he surrounds himself with strangers?
28 What literary device is "ferocious delicacy" an example of?
22 How does Gatsby’s character change as he nears the city?
29 What are Wolfshiem’s cuff buttons made of? What does this further tell
you about this man?
38 What two items are in Daisy’s hands as she lies drunk on her bed a half
and hour before her bridal dinner?
30 Wolfshiem turns the conversation away from his cuff buttons to Gatsby’s
relations with women. What does he assure Nick of?
39 Based on what you have learned about the events of 1917, whom might
this letter be from?
31 What occupation does Gatsby attribute to Wolfshiem? What scandal does
Gatsby link to Wolfsheim?
32 What happens to Gatsby’s face when he meets Tom?
40 What newspaper worthy event happens that foreshadows the disaster of
Tom and Daisy’s marriage?
33 When Nick turns to acknowledge Gatsby, what is he doing?
41 What is Gatsby’s reason for purchasing his house in West Egg?
34 The word Fay is synonymous to fairy. Daisy’s maiden name symbolizes 42 What then, in addition to the green light, was Gatsby reaching out to and
her free spirit. What color do we seem to most often associate with Daisy?
trembling for at the end of chapter one?
35 Who does Jordan meet for the first time in 1917? Who is this person 43 What does Gatsby want Nick to arrange for him?
with?
36 What rumor circulates about Daisy in 1917?
44 Why is it important that Daisy and Gatsby reunite at Nick’s home and not
at Jordan’s or elsewhere?
37 How does Jordan know details of Daisy’s wedding day?
45 Why has Gatsby taken and read a Chicago paper for years?
46 What is developing between Nick and Jordan?
6
47 What phrase rings in Nick’s ears? Translate that phrase to mean 7
something to you.
What is Gatsby’s emotional state prior to Daisy’s arrival at Nick’s?
What surprises Nick on his reentry into his living room?
8
What description does Nick give of Gatsby standing at his door?
9
What is the atmosphere in the room when Daisy and Gatsby first reunite?
48 Something to think about: Is Daisy worth it?
Chapter Five
10 What change occurs in Daisy’s character?
1
What is Gatsby doing at two in the morning? What is his real intention?
2
Gatsby doesn’t want to put Nick to any trouble. What does this tell you 11 What does Gatsby first believe about the arranged meeting?
about him?
What does Gatsby suggest in order to try to help Nick with his financial 12 Rain is an important symbol in literature. What could it signify in chapter
five?
state?
3
4
What does Gatsby do to Nick’s home to prepare for his tea with Daisy?
5
What colors make up Gatsby’s attire? What do these colors symbolize?
13 What, according to Nick, are Americans occasionally willing to be? What
does he mean by this statement?
14 What change has occurred in Gatsby upon Nicks reentering the house?
15 Why is it important that Daisy see Gatsby’s house?
23 Nick says, "There must have been moments even that afternoon when
Daisy tumbled short of his dreams—not through her own fault but because
of the colossal vitality of his illusion." Has Gatsby made Daisy out to be
more than she really is?
16 How does Gatsby contradict his past in telling Nick the time it took him to
earn his money for his house? How does he correct himself? What do you
believe is the true story about Gatsby’s money?
24 What is the one thing about Daisy that Gatsby cannot alter in his dream?
17 What two businesses does Gatsby tell Nick he has been in?
25 We don’t know what happened in the exchange between Gatsby and Daisy
while Nick stands in the rain outside of his home. What things do you
believe might have been said? Remember, Nick returns to find Daisy’s
face streaked with tears.
18 How does Nick say that Gatsby revalues his house?
Chapter Six
19 Your bedroom is supposed to be a true revelation of who you are. What
does Gatsby’s bedroom say about him?
1 Who arrives to investigate Gatsby?
20 Daisy justifies her crying by saying, "It makes me sad because I’ve never 2
seen such—such beautiful shirts before." Why is she really crying?
What was Gatsby's legal name?
3
At what age did he change his name?
4
What event initiated the changing of his name?
21 What does Gatsby reveal to Daisy about the placement of her house?
22 Who is in the picture that Nick notices?
5
Who created Jay Gatsby?
14 When do Gatsby and Tom meet? Under what circumstance?
6
What had James Gatz been doing before he met Dan Cody?
15 Why do you suppose that Gatsby wants to see more of Tom?
7
What was James Gatz's financial state?
16 Do Tom, Mr. Sloane, and the woman really want Gatsby to come along on
horseback?
8
Fitzgerald alludes to a famous American writer. To whom does he allude
in the following statement: "He stayed there two weeks, dismayed at its 17 Tom is upset that Gatsby knows Daisy. What literary device is this an
ferocious indifference to the drums of his destiny . . ."
example of? (HINT: What is ok for Tom is not ok for Daisy.)
9
What does Fitzgerald say about Gatsby in making this allusion?
18 What does Tom's presence add to Gatsby's party?
10 What does Dan Cody's yacht represent to Gatz?
11 What does Gatsby do for Dan Cody?
19 Explain the meaning of the following quotation: "It is invariably saddening
to look through new eyes at things which you have extended your own
powers of adjustment."
12 Why does Gatsby drink so little?
20 What adjective does Fitzgerald use to describe Tom's eyes? What does
this adjective reveal about the man?
13 What does Cody leave to Gatsby? Why does he not get it?
21 What does Gatsby identify Tom as?
2
What adverb does Fitzgerald use to describe the way the automobiles
drove away? What literary device is employed when he refers to the
automobiles as if they were in control of their own actions?
3
What has happened to Gatsby's original servants?
4
What reason does Gatsby give for firing all of his servants?
5
Who comes to see Gatsby in the afternoons?
6
Nick says, "So the whole caravansary had fallen in like a card house at the
disapproval in her eyes." Why has Gatsby made all of these changes in his
home?
7
Chapter 7 takes place near the end of the summer. What might this
setting symbolize?
8
What simile does Fitzgerald use to describe how Daisy and Jordan are
lying on the couch? What colors are mentioned? What is important about
these colors?
22 How does Tom want to look at famous people? What does his remark say
about him?
23 Why is Daisy not having a good time?
24 Explain the statement, "She saw something awful in the very simplicity she
failed to understand.
25 What does Tom guess about the source of Gatsby's wealth?
26 What does Gatsby want of Daisy?
27 What advice does Nick give Gatsby about the past?
28 What does Gatsby plan to do to gain Daisy's favor?
Chapter Seven
1
What change occurs at Gatsby's on Saturday night?
9
10
Gatsby stands on the crimson carpet as he learns that Tom is in the 17
house. What might the color of the carpet and the placement at his feet
symbolize?
What had Gatsby not believed in the existence before this day?
12
What metaphor does Daisy use to describe her child?
14
15
16
18
Why do Tom, Jordan, and Nick stop at Wilson's garage?
19
What car is Tom driving when he stops at Wilson's?
20
What is wrong with Wilson?
21
What color is Gatsby's car (the one Tom's driving)?
22
What does Wilson reveal to Tom about Myrtle's wants?
23
What has Wilson discovered about his wife?
24
List two ways in which Wilson and Tom are alike.
25
Who is watching Tom, Nick, Jordan, and Wilson?
Daisy tells Gatsby, "You know I love you." Is she telling the truth? Why or
why not?
11
13
Whose eyes continue to watch in the Valley of Ashes?
Jordan says, "life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall." How is
Jordan's statement ironic? (Hint: Think about what happens in nature in
the fall of the year.)
Why does Tom suddenly decide that going into town is a good idea?
What does Gatsby recognize Daisy's voice as being full of?
What remark does Tom make about the drug store?
26
Who is Myrtle really watching? Whom does she believe this person to
be?
my heart I love her all the time." Think deeply. Do Tom and Daisy really
love each other?
27
Fill in the blank: "There is ____ ______________ like the ___________ 35
of a _______________ ___________________.
What, specifically, does Gatsby want Daisy to tell Tom?
28
What two people are slipping from Tom's control?
36
29
30
What is happening beneath the parlor suite at the Plaza Hotel as Tom
and Daisy's marriage is dissolving? What literary device is being employed
here?
37
What can Daisy not say about her love for Tom?
38
What does Daisy plan to do?
39
What does Gatsby really sell at his drug stores?
40
Once again we have the possible allusion to the Garden of Eden. Nick
notices in Gatsby's face "the babbled slander of his garden." What has
happened to Gatsby's dream?
41
What adjective does Fitzgerald use to describe Gatsby's dream? Why is
this adjective so appropriate to the story?
What causes Nick to have a renewal of his faith in Gatsby?
31
Tom gives an intense lecture about the family institution. How is this
lecture ironic?
32
What does Gatsby tell Tom about Daisy's love?
33
Why does Daisy not marry Gatsby?
34
What confuses Gatsby about Daisy's love for him?
Tom proclaims, "And what's more, I love Daisy too. Once in a while I go
off on a spree and make a fool of myself, but I always come back, and in
42
Why does Tom allow Gatsby to ride home with Daisy?
43
Who is having a birthday? How old is he?
44
Nick observes that ________________ ________________ has its limits.
45
What events or ideas does Nick associate with turning thirty?
46
What do Tom, Nick, and Jordan drive on toward in the "cooling twilight"?
Hint: This is an example of foreshadowing.
52
Tom believes Gatsby has killed Myrtle. What action does he suggest to be
why he identifies Gatsby as a coward?
53
Who is waiting in the bushes outside of the Buchannan house? Why is he
there?
54
Who was driving the "death car"?
55
How does Gatsby describe Myrtle's approach to the car?
56
Fitzgerald writes, "They weren't happy, and neither of them had touched
the chicken or the ale--and yet they weren't unhappy either. There was an
unmistakable air of natural intimacy about the picture and anybody would
have said that they were conspiring together." Now, think about these
words carefully. Do Tom and Daisy love each other? Explain your answer
in detail.
57
What does Nick say Gatsby is watching over?
47
What has Wilson done to Myrtle?
48
What does Michaelis witness happen in front of his restaurant?
49
Tom excitedly approaches the wreck. What changes his emotion?
50
A "well dressed Negro" identifies the car which killed Myrtle. What color
does he say the car is? Using your inference skills, who are the two Chapter Eight
possible murderers?
1
What happened in the previous chapter that causes Nick to lose sleep?
51
How does Tom express his emotions on the way home?
2
Why does Nick suggest Gatsby go away?
11
Michaelis tells George, "you ought to have a church, George, for times like
this." How is this a commentary on the morals of the society?
12
What is in the drawer Michaelis opens?
3
What is Gatsby clutching to?
4
What increases Daisy's value in Gatsby's eyes?
5
Gatsby takes Daisy under false pretenses. What are these false pretenses? 13
Who does Wilson identify as being God?
6
When does Gatsby find out that Daisy has moved on? How does she 14
notify him?
Where does Wilson reappear after he disappears from his garage?
7
Why does the servant plan to drain the pool? What season is
approaching?
8
Nick says, "I've always been glad I said that. It was the only compliment I 16
ever gave him, because I disapproved of him from beginning to end."
Why would Nick give someone he disapproves of such a compliment as
"You're worth the whole damn bunch put together"?
17
What does Wilson do to Gatsby?
9
What has changed about Nick's feelings for Jordan?
In literature, water can symbolize many things. It most often symbolizes
baptism, a cleansing, a rebirth. Gatsby has "paid a high price for living too
long with a single dream." What could his death in a pool of water signify
about the man and his life?
10
Why does George Wilson not go into his garage?
15
18
Where does Gatsby go that he hasn't gone all summer?
What completes the "holocaust"?
Chapter Nine
1
What does Nick remember about the day of Gatsby's death?
2
What four adjectives does Nick use to describe the newspaper reports of
Gatsby's and Wilson's deaths?
3
What does Nick learn about Tom and Daisy?
5
What does Nick try to do for Gatsby?
7
8
What is his rule after that?
10
What does Mr. Gatz show to Nick in the "Hopalong Cassidy" book?
11
What does Mr. Gatz believe this says about his son?
What literary device explains this situation? Gatsby, a man who was always
12
surrounded by people, dies with only Nick on his side.
4
6
9
What does Nick identify the middle-west as being to him?
13
When Nick says, "I see know that this has been a story of the West, after
all--Tom and Gatsby, Daisy and Jordan and I, were all Westerners, and
perhaps we possessed some deficiency in common which made us subtly
unadaptable to Eastern life." What does Nick mean by this observation?
14
When does Nick go home?
15
What does Nick do before he goes home?
16
What does Nick learn about Jordan before he leaves?
17
Who is the other "bad driver" Jordan has met?
Who is Henry C. Gatz?
What does Kilpspringer call about?
What rule does Wolfshiem live by concerning friends?
18
19
20
21
22
4
An epigraph is a quotation at the beginning of a work that reflects on that
work. How does the epigraph to the novel reflect on Gatsby's story?
5
Discuss the relationship between Tom and Daisy. What do they have in
common? Why do they stay together? Does their relationship change at
all during the course of the novel?
6
How does Fitzgerald use Gatsby's parties to present a satirical portrait of
the Roaring Twenties?
7
Compare and contrast the characters of Daisy and Myrtle Wilson.
What comment does Nick make about being thirty?
Who do we learn was Wilson's informant?
Why does Nick classify Tom and Daisy as careless?
What does Nick believe Gatsby believed in? What meaning did the green
light hold for Gatsby?
8
Explain what Nick means by his closing statement: "So we beat on, boats 9
against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."
Discuss the relationship between Nick and Jordan Baker. How does it
reflect, if at all, on the story of Gatsby and Daisy?
Discuss Fitzgerald's use of the automobile in this novel. What do you
think might have made the automobile an appealing symbol to Fitzgerald
in the early 1920s?
Post-Reading Discussion Questions
1
10
Contrast the setting of the Valley of Ashes with that of East Egg and West
Egg.
11
Describe the gradual revelation of Gatsby's character. What do we learn
about him and when? Why is this an appropriate way of learning about
him?
12
Tom and Daisy, we are told, drifted around before settling in East Egg,
and Nick expects them to continue to drift. Other characters in the novel,
while not drifters, appear to be rootless. How much does rootlessness
have to do with the characters' problems, do you think?
Discuss Nick Carraway's character. How reliable is he as a narrator? What
aspects of his character make him an effective narrator?
2
Why is the first-person narrative an effective and appropriate way of
telling this story?
3
Discuss the title of the book. In what way is Gatsby "great"?
13
How would you describe the theme of this novel?
14
Gatsby's tragedy is that he chooses the wrong dream (Daisy). Has he been
corrupted by society? Or is his choice an indication that he is part of the
corruption?
15
Nick says that Gatsby "represented everyting for which I have an
unaffected scorn," and yet he also says that Gatsby "turned out all right at
the end," and he tells Gatsby that he is "worth the whole damn bunch put
together." With these quotations in mind, write a brief essay analyzing
attitudes toward Gatsby.
16
Compare and contrast the characters of Tom and Gatsby. In what ways
are they similar? In what ways are they different?
17
Once critic has written that "the theme of Gatsby is the withering of the
American Dream." Write an essay which outlines the evidence you can
find in the novel which supports this contention.