1
2
Gatsby: Pre-Reading Questions
1. Some people think that having money leads to happiness. Do you agree? Why or why not?
What are the advantages or disadvantages of being wealthy?
2. Have you ever wanted to relive a moment from your past, to redo it? Describe the situation.
How and why would you change the past?
3. What is the “American Dream”? Where did it originate, and how has it changed over the
centuries?
3
4
5
6
7
Gatsby: Reading Guide for Chapter I
1. Notice how many times Fitzgerald uses the words hope, or dream. Why does he do this?
2. Nick starts the novel by relaying his father’s advice “Whenever you feel like criticizing
anyone, just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that
you’ve had.” What does this mean? List Nick’s advantages.
3. Our narrator, Nick Carraway, is a well-educated member of the “old money” class? Why
does Nick move east?
4. Pay attention to time. What is the season and year during the first scene at Daisy’s house?
5. What’s our first introduction to the character of Jay Gatsby?
8
6. What’s the difference between “new” money (the nouveaux riches) and “old” money?
Which side, might we assume by Nick’s brief introduction of him, does Gatsby represent?
Why might we believe this?
7. What’s the difference between West Egg and East Egg? Where does Nick live? What else
is significant about the titles east and west?
8. Look at Fitzgerald’s diction on page 7 as he describes Tom Buchanan. What’s particularly
effective about it? What does Tom’s behavior reveal about his character?
9. Who are Jordan Baker and Daisy Buchanan? What effect does Fitzgerald’s language in
describing them have on the reader? How does Nick react to Jordan?
10. How would you define Tom and Daisy’s marriage? What language features lead you to
your conclusions?
11. How does the discussion on pages 12 and 13 help further reveal the class superiority held by
people like the Buchanans? What’s ironic or superficial in their beliefs?
12. At the end of Chapter I, Fitzgerald’s imagery, diction and symbolism is particularly
effective in conveying ideas about hopes and dreams. How does he achieve this?
9
10
Gatsby: Reading Guide for Chapter II
1. What are the “valley of ashes” and the “eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg”? What might they
symbolize?
2. Describe George Wilson and Myrtle. Do they seem to fit into the setting?
3. How does Tom’s mistress contrast with Daisy?
4. Define each term & explain how each of the following are important motifs throughout the chapter
and list examples:
a. Materialism/Ennui:
11
b. Class Distinctions/Racism:
c. Moral Decadence:
5. What is the gossip about Gatsby? What is the effect of these rumors about him?
6. Why don’t Tom and Myrtle simply divorce their spouses and marry each other? Why does Tom
break Myrtle’s nose?
7. What more have you learned about Nick in this chapter? How is he similar or different than the
people he spends his time with?
12
Gatsby: Reading Guide for Chapter III
1. What are some of the first images we get in this chapter? How is Fitzgerald using the setting here to
further reveal the moral “setting” of the time?
2. Pay attention to Nick’s judgments. What do they reveal about his character that he does this
(especially in relation to his opening comments)?
3. Is Fitzgerald using an ironic tone in his description of the events of the party? Why or why not.
4. What are the new rumors about Gatsby? What is Fitzgerald’s purpose in delaying Gatsby’s
introduction to the reader? What effect does it have later, when we actually meet him on page 48?
What does Nick think of Gatsby after meeting him?
5. Look at the description of Gatsby’s library on page 45 and Nick’s encounter with “owl eyes.” What
do we learn about Gatsby from this?
6. How affected is Gatsby by his own party? How is Gatsby different from his guests? Why is
Fitzgerald’s characterization of Gatsby so subdued and why is this particularly effective?
7. The chapter ends with Nick’s thoughts about Jordan Baker. What do we learn about her, and what
do we learn about Nick through his own thoughts? Is there anything ironic about Nick?
13
14
The Great Gatsby: notes on Setting Contrasts
An example of what Gatsby’s mansion might look like—a recreation of the Hotel de Ville in
Normandy
Compare Gatsby’s home to:
Tom and Daisy Buchanan’s Georgian colonial mansion
What are some characteristics of these two homes that reinforce our beliefs about the differences
between the Nouveaux Riche and the “old money” crowd?
15
Gatsby: Reading Guide for Chapter IV
1. What’s the latest rumor about Gatsby? Why, considering that we’ve met Gatsby, why does
Fitzgerald still include rumors about him?
2. What is Fitzgerald’s purpose in creating Nick’s time table/list of guests?
3. What is Gatsby’s story about himself? List the details. Does Nick trust/believe him? Do
you? Explain.
4. Who is Meyer Wolfshiem? Why is his role/purpose in the story? How is he described?
5. According to Jordan, what took place in 1917 in the past? How does this give meaning and
purpose to Gatsby’s life? What does it reveal about Daisy?
6. Why did Gatsby want Daisy to see his house?
16
7. Nick says, “There are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy and the tired.” What does he
mean? How does each character in the novel fit into this schema? How does the language in
the last paragraph of chapter IV help us further understand Nick?
Group Work: look for quotes to support ideas/messages involving
A. Class distinctions: include superiority of wealthy/abuse of lower class
B. Materialism
C. Symbolism
D. Moral Decadence (deterioration or decline)
Finally, what is Nick’s role in all of this? What is Fitzgerald saying through his character?
17
Gatsby: Reading Guide for Chapter V
1. How does Fitzgerald reveal Gatsby’s awkward social skills at the beginning of the chapter?
How does Nick react?
2. Why does Gatsby deliver so many goods and services to Nick’s house?
3. Describe the effect of rain on the plot.
4. Why does Gatsby offer Nick work? How does Nick feel about this?
5. How does Fitzgerald reveal Daisy’s innocence at the beginning of the chapter?
6. Give an example of how Fitzgerald juxtaposes Gatsby’s social stature/reputation against his
lack of composure at the beginning of this chapter. What does it reveal?
7. What happens to Nick’s clock on page 87? What’s the rhetorical significance?
8. How does Gatsby’s mansion take on a new meaning in this chapter?
Explain the significance of the green light now.
18
Setting Assignment:
Throughout the chapter, Fitzgerald uses the setting to parallel and help reveal the emotional
progression of the chapter. In a one paragraph response, explain how Fitzgerald achieves this
effect. Please use specific examples (with page numbers) from the chapter. Please write your
response on a separate sheet of paper.
19
Gatsby: Chapter VI Romanticism vs. Realism
Dramatic Irony
Rising Action
1. Using specific details, summarize The Truth about Jay Gatsby. Contrast it with what
Gatsby told Nick. Why does Fitzgerald tell the story of James Gatz now?
2. Describe the meeting of Tom and Gatsby. What does this meeting reveal about them?
3. Why did Daisy and Tom find Gatsby’s party loathsome? Class distinctions are a key motif
throughout the text, and Chapter VI is particularly effective at revealing the disdain the Old
Money crowd held for the nouveau riche. Explain using more specific details from the text.
4. Another important motif, decay, resounds throughout the chapter. Discuss and explain using
specific details from the text.
20
5. Think about sight and vision. Is Gatsby “blind”? Can we make connections to earlier
imagery in the novel? And finally, what is a “Platonic conception” (page 98)?
a. How did Gatsby measure the success of his party? Why is this ironic?
b. When Nick told Gatsby that “you can’t repeat the past”, Gatsby replied, “Why of course
you can!” Do you agree with Nick or Gatsby?
The Great Gatsby: Chapters VII
Confrontations & Facing the Truth?
Climax
1. Describe Daisy and Gatsby’s new relationship.
2. Compare George Wilson and Tom. What did each man learn about his wife and how did
they each react?
3. If Daisy says she’s never loved Tom, is there someone who she thinks she loves? Do you
believe her?
4. Describe the fight between Gatsby and Tom. What do these men think of each other? How
are they similar and how are they different?
21
5. What was significant about Nick’s 30th birthday?
6. What do you think Tom and Daisy were saying to each other in the kitchen? Do you think
that Tom knew Daisy was driving the “death car”? Why, why not?
7. At this point, how would you end the novel?
22
23
The Great Gatsby: Chapters VIII
Many Life Changes
Falling Action
1. How does Fitzgerald achieve a melancholic mood in the beginning of this chapter?
2. How are seasons used in constructing this novel?
3. Who is Dan Cody and what is his significance in Gatsby’s life?
4. How does Nick’s statement “You’re worth the whole bunch put together” show a change in
Nick from the beginning of the novel?
5. How does T. J. Eckleberg affect Mr. Wilson?
24
The Great Gatsby: Chapters IX
Dynamic vs. Static Characters
Resolution
1. Why did Nick take care of Gatsby’s funeral?
2. How was Jay Gatz’s childhood schedule consistent with the adult Gatsby’s behavior?
3. Who attended Gatsby’s funeral? How and why is this significant?
4. Why can this story of Gatsby be considered a tragedy?
5. What is the purpose of Nick’s last meeting with Jordan?
6. Why does Nick call Tom and Daisy “careless people”?
25
26
The Great Gatsby: Post Reading Review
1. The motif of destruction is featured prominently at the end of the novel. Choose three
important examples of destruction and explain the significance of each. Please give specific
language examples with page numbers.
2. The end of the novel ties together several of Fitzgerald’s earlier language strategies. Discuss
the elements/techniques as each has evolved over the course of the text. How is each used
effectively at the end of the novel? Give examples with page numbers.
Setting (geography and weather; Ie. How did Fitzgerald use weather to reflect the mood of the
story?):
Symbolism:
27
Theme and various motifs (Why are we still reading a book written in the 1920’s? What gives a
book its longevity? And which of its themes are eternal in the American psyche.):
3. Discuss the significance of the final statement of the novel from two perspectives: a)
Fitzgerald’s use of language techniques, and b) the importance of the statement as it relates
to theme.
“Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It
eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch our arms
farther….And one fine morning---So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”
4. Personal response: in the end, do you believe Gatsby was indeed Great? Or was he simply a
tragic example of a young man who failed to recognize the obvious limitations in the pursuit
of his American Dream?
28
Complete one of the following projects for extra credit.
Gatsby Art
Draw a poster of one of these major symbols and images from The Great Gatsby. Use
descriptions from the novel to inform the representations. Add as many details and
specific quote & page references. Present your work to class.
1. Draw the T.J. Eckleberg billboard. What do you think it represents?
2. Draw the front page of a Town Tattler and on it list all of the gossip about
Gatsby. Leave room at the bottom so you may add more gossip as you continue
reading the novel.
3. Draw a timeline including major events that precede 1922 and major events that
follow the publishing of The Great Gatsby.
4. Draw a work order for caterers, gardeners, etc. for one of Gatsby's parties. What
do you think it represents?
5. Draw up a list of comments made by Nick or others about women.
6. What kind of narrator is Nick? What does he have to convince us of? What do
you know about him? Draw up a list with support.
7. Draw a picture of the owl-eyed man and others who frequent Gatsby's parties.
Set them in his home. What do you think he represents?
8. Draw a picture of the ash heap. Include Mr. Wilson's gas station. What do you
think it represents?
9. Make a "Who's Gatsby?" Fact vs. Fiction chart which lists gossip about him on
one side and facts about him on the other. Leave room so you may add
information as you continue reading.
10. Create a map of Long Island and New York City, tracking the forays of Nick and
others in colored lines. (If you are industrious include New Haven and the
Midwest on your map.)