Symbols in The Great Gatsby
As you read, track the following symbols and gather evidence
(quotes/page numbers) that reveal their meanings.
the green light
the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg
the Valley of Ashes
Gatsby’s library
Gatsby’s house
Gatsby’s shirts
colors: white, gold, green
places: East Egg, West Egg, the Midwest, New York
Wolfsheim’s cufflinks
The Great Gatsby Ch. 1 Discussion Questions
Questions 1-3 and then 4-6 build on each answer in
increasing difficulty
1.How does Nick describe himself at the beginning of the
novel?
2.Who is Jordan Baker
3.What is Gatsby doing when Nick first sees him?
4.Describe the ambiguity (look it up) in Nick’s initial
descriptions of Gatsby.
5.How does the tone of Nick’s description of Tom reveal
Nick’s feelings about Tom?
6.How would you describe Daisy’s state of mind during
dinner? What do hear words and actions reveal about her”
The Great Gatsby Ch. 2 Discussion Questions
Questions 1-3 and then 4-6 build on each answer in
increasing difficulty
1.How does Nick meet Tom’s mistress and how does she react
to Tom’s arrival?
2.Describe George Wilson. What do you think of him?
3.How does Myrtle behave as the party progresses?
4.Describe the valley of ashes where George and Myrtle live.
What is the valley’s symbolic meaning?
5.How does Mrytle’s physical appearance reflect her
character?
6.Compare and contrast the party in this chapter with the one
in Chapter One.
The Great Gatsby Ch. 3 Discussion Questions
Questions 1-3 and then 4-6 build on each answer in
increasing difficulty
1. Identify the people Gatsby selects (at his party) with
whom to have secret conversations.
2. Explain why Gatsby might have chosen to speak to/with
these people.
3. Judge Gatsby’s character based on these conversations.
4. Describe the party Gatsby has at his house.
5. Analyze the reasoning of hosting a party like this and then
not attending it.
6. If Gatsby has these parties and then doesn’t attend them
himself, then what does this say about the type of
man/character he is?
The Great Gatsby Ch. 4 Discussion Questions
1-3 and then 4-6 build on each answer in increasing difficulty
1. Recite the different jobs Gatsby says he has or the
experiences he details to Nick.
2. Infer the reason for Gatsby telling Nick his background.
3. Judge Gatsby’s motives for telling Nick his background,
meaning is it a good or bad thing – Why?
4. Identify where Gatsby takes Nick and whom do they meet?
5. Classify the type of person Meyer Wolfsheim is.
6. Speculate as to the type of business in which Gatsby is
involved.
The Great Gatsby Ch. 5 Discussion Questions
1-3 and then 4-6 build on each answer in increasing
difficulty
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Identify the place Gatsby and Daisy meet and where
Gatsby is when Daisy first walks into the room.
Explain why Gatsby was not in the room when Daisy
first enters.
Speculate on what kind of future Daisy and Gatsby have
based upon your answers to 1-2.
Describe the tour Gatsby gives of his house, be detailed.
Analyze the reasoning of showing Daisy his house in
this manner.
If Gatsby and Daisy were to get together, predict the
kind of relationship they would have.
The Great Gatsby Ch. 6 Discussion Questions
1-3 and then 4-6 build on each answer in increasing
difficulty
1. List the lower class jobs Gatsby has held in the past.
2. Analyze: what did these jobs do for the Jay Gatsby of the
present.
3. Predict what Gatsby’s current ideas will mean for his
future.
4. Describe the scene of Gatsby’s party. Be sure to include
Daisy’s feelings of the party.
5. Reason why it is so important to Gatsby that Daisy like
the party, especially at this point in the novel.
6. Speculate as to what this scene in the novel means as a
whole.
The Great Gatsby Ch. 7 Discussion Questions
1-3 build on each answer in increasing difficulty
1. Describe the scene at the beginning of the chapter,
when the group is sitting around, before the group
goes to town.
2. Infer the reasoning for kissing Gatsby with Tom just in
the other room and the longing look (p. 125) when
Tom is in the room.
3. Based on your answers to 1 and 2, predict what will
happen with Tom and Daisy’s relationship. Then
predict what will happen with Daisy and Gatsby’s
relationship.
The Great Gatsby Ch. 8 Discussion Questions
1-3 and then 4-6 build on each answer in increasing difficulty
1. Define the relationship between Jay Gatsby and Nick Carraway
at the beginning of Chapter 8.
2. Explain why Nick says that he disapproved of Gatsby from the
beginning to the end.
3. Apply your answer from #2 to Nick’s life as well as Nick’s
perception of everyone else. (Has Nick truly been an unbiased
observer/narrator? Prove it.)
4. Describe George Wilson’s state of mind upon seeing his wife’s
murder.
5. List and sequence Wilson’s actions from the discovery of the
affair by Wilson to his ultimate demise.
6. Idealize a perfect world for Wilson; what would that have
meant? What would an ideal world have looked liked for
Gatsby? Make connections between the two.
The Great Gatsby Ch. 9 Discussion Questions
1-3 and then 4-6 build on each answer in increasing difficulty
1. Identify the attendants at Gatsby’s funeral and describe the
event.
2. Explain the significance of your answer to number one.
3. Explain and evaluate the message F. Scott Fitzgerald is trying
to communicate through Gatsby’s shattered hopes and
dreams for his future.
4. List the conclusions Nick comes to in regards to his life and
the people in it.
5. Explain why Nick changes as a person and has made these
resolutions.
6. Interpret the meaning F. Scott Fitzgerald is trying to
communicate through Nick’s transformation and the lack of
transformation by other characters.
Symbolism Tie-up: what’s it all
mean?
First Group’s Meeting:
 Get into your groups.
 Revisit your definition of symbolism.
 Compare notes on where your symbols are found, both
page numbers and a brief description of context.
 Assign a meaning to each symbol (what does it
represent?).*Be sure to discuss and record how it impacts
and affects the characters associated with it
Combined Group:
 Share contexts of all symbols.
 Share and discuss meanings of all symbols.
Conclusion Discussion
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What was Gatsby’s American dream? How closely
does it resemble the American dream members of
your group have?
Was Gatsby’s dream realized? How?
What determined the fulfillment or lack thereof of
Gatsby’s American dream?
How did Gatsby cope with the failure of his dream?
How do you think he would’ve coped had he lived?
Make a chart of the realistic and unrealistic parts of
Gatsby’s American dream.