Name ____________________________________________ Per _____ Date __________________
“Winter Dreams” by F. Scott Fitzgerald (ACA A)
Directions: Use these questions to guide you through the reading. I would like you to spend quality
time on this reading for a few reasons:
1) to practice close reading
2) to time how long it will take you to successfully read and answer questions on Fitzgerald’s writing
3) to introduce themes we will see in Gatsby and finally,
4) to review literary terms that you have learned over the past few years.
Part A: You will closely annotate ONE page of the short story. This means your page should include
many different hand-written notes- not just highlighting. Your page is ____________.
Answer all questions on separate paper, except when asked to underline, highlight, or annotate.
Section I: p. 1-2
1. What is Dexter’s financial status? Underline a sentence that informs your answer.
--- Do not write on this paper- this is not enough space to write a full sentence- got it?!
2. What causes Dexter to quit his job? (Respond AND record the quotation that tells you this.)
3. At the top of second column (on pg 1) you meet a young lady. (Her name is not yet revealed.)
Record 3 quotation that illustrate her character and comment on them. Use direct
characterization and indirect characterization.
4. Record the last line of section I. It’s important, so just write it down so you don’t forget it.
Section II: p. 2-4
5. How do Dexter’s “winter dreams” impact him? Respond and quote the line that tells you this.
6. This section captures a lot about Dexter’s life- what happens?
7. The author does not always tell this story in chronological order—sometimes the author presents
the “end” result and then ____________________________.
8. 8. What information about Judy Jones does Fitzgerald provide in this discussion among the
golfers? (3)
9. What literary device is used in this life? “Then the moon held a finger to her lips and the lake
became a clear pool, pale and quiet” (3).
10. What motivates Judy Jones to get in her boat and approach Dexter? (4). What do you think of
her due to this interaction?
11. Look at this line, what does this seem to suggest about the relationship between Judy Jones and
Dexter? “Obediently he jammed the level forward and the white spray mounted at the bow.”
What does this description reveal about Dexter’s and Judy’s relationship? (bottom of 4)
Name ____________________________________________ Per _____ Date __________________
Section III: p. 4-5
12. This section offers some alone time that Judy Jones and Dexter share. Record one quotation
about her in this section and one quotation about him. What do you think of both characters at
this point?
Section IV: p. 5-8
13. The word “malice” is used multiple times in this short story- look it up and record the definition
or synonym.
14. How does Dexter justify Judy’s lying to him? (5)
15. What do Judy Jones’s varying responses to Dexter’s marriage proposals reveal about her feelings
for him? (5)
16. What part of Judy Jones does the narrator draw us to? (What impacts Dexter the most?) Look
through page 6 (left column) for these answers. How has longing for Judy impacted Dexter?
17. Who is Irene?
18. Examine the scene when Judy walks towards Dexter- what seems significant about her
appearance? Record a quotation in your response. (top of pg 7)
19. What question does Judy ask Dexter? (7)
20. What emotional response does Dexter have to Judy’s remark “I suppose you think I’m not worth
having, but I’ll be so beautiful for you, Dexter.”
Section V: p. 8
21. What reason does Judy give for “terminat[ing] their engagement”?
Section VI: p. 8-9
22. What has happened to Judy? Include a quotation in your response.
In general:
23. Do you feel sorry for Judy? For Dexter? Explain
24. In what ways does Judy embody Dexter’s ambitions?