The Great Gatsby
Guided Reading Questions
Chapter 1
1. From what point of view is the story told?
2. Nick’s father says to him, “’Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone…just remember that all the
people in the world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.’” How does his father mean “a
great deal more” than it seems in terms of class? What does this say about our narrator, Nick
Carraway?
3. Nick brags that he is “inclined to reserve all judgments” about people. What does he identify as
the downside of this predisposition? Cite text and explain.
4. Nick reveals that he left the East (New York) in the autumn of 1922 because he was morally tired
of “riotous excursions with privileged glimpses into the human heart.” The novel is largely a
flashback of the events of the summer of 1922. Based on what he’s said so far, predict what
these “riotous excursions” and “privileged glimpses” into the human heart might be? Why might
Nick be so morally exasperated by them?
5. How is Gatsby characterized by Nick? For what about Gatsby does Nick have “an unaffected
scorn?” What does he seem to admire? Cite text and explain.
6. What does Nick mean when he says that he is from “well-to-do people”? What other evidence
does he provide as to his social class? Cite and explain another example from the chapter.
7. According to Nick, what is the difference between West Egg and East Egg? Cite text.
8. Read carefully the descriptions of the Buchanans’ house. What do Nick’s descriptions reveal
about this setting and what does it reveal about the Buchanans? Cite text and explain.
9. Cite and discuss an example of Tom Buchanan’s initial characterization. What first impressions
is the reader given of him? Cite and discuss two more examples from later in the chapter.
10. Cite and discuss an example of Daisy Buchanan’s initial characterization. What first impressions
is the reader given of her? Cite and discuss two more examples from later in the chapter.
11. Cite and discuss an example of Jordan Baker’s initial characterization. What first impressions is
the reader given of her? Cite and discuss two more examples from later in the chapter.
12. At the end of the chapter, Gatsby appears for the first time. How do you interpret his strange
behavior based on what you read of him in this chapter? What might the “green light” be?
Chapter 2
1. Look carefully at the description of the “valley of ashes.” What does it represent? What does
Nick’s description of this area and the workers there say about his class?
2. What literally are the “eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg”? What do they look over or see? What might
they symbolize?
3. Cite and discuss an example of George Wilson’s characterization in this chapter. How does the
description of his shop fit Nick’s descriptions of his appearance.
4. Cite and discuss an example of Myrtle Wilson’s initial characterization. Cite and discuss two
more examples from later in the chapter.
5. How does Nick describe the outside and inside of the apartment that Tom keeps in New York?
6. Cite and explain two details about Tom’s characterization that reveal his real attitude towards
Myrtle and Daisy?
Chapter 3
1. What do Nick’s descriptions of Gatsby’s parties reveal about the characterization of Nick and
Gatsby? What does it reveal about the guests that attend his parties?
2. When Jordan and Nick encounter the “stout, middle-aged man with enormous owl-eyed
spectacles” in the library he comments about Gatsby’s books. What is his observation and what is
its symbolic significance? What might the symbolism of his name, “owl-eyes,” be? How might
his spectacles emphasize his seeing?
3. Examine Nick’s description of Gatsby right after he meets him starting with “He smiled
understandingly…picking his words with care.” Explain what this contributes to the
characterization of Gatsby.
4. Describe the class differences between the East Eggers and the other partygoers. Cite and
explain an example from the text.
5. What does the car accident outside Gatsby’s house reveal about the revelers?
6. At Gatsby’s party, Nick encounters Jordan again. What impressions does she leave on the reader
this time? Cite and explain two examples from the text, one from early in the chapter, and one
from the end of the chapter.
7. At the end of the chapter, Nick talks a little about his own love life In New York and back home.
What are the complications in his relationships with women? What does this say about him?
Chapter 4
1. How does the imagery and diction of the first sentence of the chapter contrast and imply
immorality?
2. Examine the description of Gatsby’s “gorgeous car.” What might its “rich cream color: symbolize?
What does it imply about Gatsby?
3. As Nick and Gatsby drive into New York, how is Nick’s incredulity about Gatsby autobiography
reinforced? Cite and explain two examples from the text.
4. Nick describes New York as “rising up across the river in white heaps and sugar lumps all built
with a wish out of non-olfactory money. The city seen from the Queensboro Bridge is always the
city seen for the first time, in its wild promise of all the mystery and beauty in the world.” How does
this setting reflect some of the central ideas of the novel?
5. How is Nick characterized as a classist, racist and anti-Semite? Cite and explain examples of
each from the text. What might this say about Fitzgerald?
6. What does Jordan’s story about Daisy reveal about her? Cite two examples and explain how they
add to her characterization.
7. What is implied in the story about Tom’s car accident in Santa Barbara?
8. Nick says, "There are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy and the tired." What does Nick
mean? How does each character in the novel fit into this schema?
Chapter 5
1. Why is “Gatsby’s house lit from tower to cellar” at 2 am?
2. On the day of Gatsby and Daisy’s meeting how is the weather symbolic of Gatsby’s mood? Cite
text and explain.
3. Describe what Gatsby wears on the day of the tea. What impression is he trying to make?
4. What aspect of Daisy’s character does Fitzgerald emphasize as Daisy drives up to Nick’s house?
What is his intent?
5. How is Gatsby’s tipping and catching of the clock symbolic?
6. How does Daisy react to Gatsby’s house? How does she react to his silk shirts? What does this
say about her?
7. What does the “green light” turn out to be? How does it reveal more characterization for Gatsby?
8. Why does Nick worry that “there must have been moments when Daisy tumbled short of Gatsby’s
dreams”?
Chapter 6
1. How truthful was Gatsby when he relayed the story of his life to Nick? Why does Fitzgerald tell
the story of James Gatz now?
2. Nick believes that Gatsby’s idea of himself is that, “He was a son of God – a phrase which, if it
mean anything, meant just that - and he must be about His Father’s Business, the service of a
vast, vulgar and meretricious beauty. So he invented just the sort of Jay Gatsby that a
seventeen year old boy would be likely to invent, and to this conception he was faithful to the
end” (104). How does Fitzgerald use diction (“meretricious”) to reveal Gatsby’s self concept
and capacity for dreaming? How is Fitzgerald’s tone critical?
3. How does the young James Gatz’s time with Dan Cody affect his ideas about how the rich
live?
4. Describe the meeting of Tom and Gatsby. What does this meeting reveal about them? How is
it clear that Gatsby is missing social cues and Tom and Sloane are disingenuous?
5. How do Daisy and Tom respond to Gatsby's party? Cite examples and explore what it reveals
about the characterization of each?
6. When Nick tells Gatsby that "you can't repeat the past", Gatsby replies, "Why of course you
can!" (116). What does this reveal about Gatsby’s motivation and beliefs? Cite text in your
response. Are his motivations and beliefs realistic?
7. How does Fitzgerald use imagery and diction near the end of the chapter to describe how
Gatsby’s abstract dream becomes tied to Daisy. Analyze specific examples.
Chapter 7
1. Who is Trimalchio? Explain how this describes Gatsby.
2. Describe Daisy and Gatsby's new relationship.
3. Compare George Wilson and Tom. What did each man learn about his wife and how did they
each react?
4. If Daisy says she's never loved Tom, is there someone whom she thinks she loves?
5. Describe the fight between Gatsby and Tom. What do these men think of each other? How are
they similar and how are they different?
6. What was significant about Nick's 30th birthday?
7. 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?
8. At this point, how would you end the novel?
Chapter 8
1.
2.
3.
4.
How does Fitzgerald achieve a melancholic mood in the beginning of this chapter?
How are seasons used in constructing this novel?
Who is Dan Cody and what is his significance in Gatsby's life?
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?
Chapter 9
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. What is the purpose of Nick's last meeting with Jordan?
5. Why does Nick call Tom and Daisy "careless people"?