The Great Gatsby Chapter-by-Chapter Reading Notes and Questions
Please answer all questions on a separate page.
The Great Gatsby
Reading Notes: Chapter 1
Introduction While reading The Great Gatsby, we will pause to make some observations. These
observations are intended to improve your ability to see and interpret key ideas and events in the story.
Write your responses to these questions on a separate sheet of paper as you read. It’s fine to type your
responses if you prefer. Responses to each question should be thorough, not just a few words or single
sentence.
1. Generate a list of five words that describe Nick. After making the list, choose the one word you
think best describes him, then explain why, using examples from the text to support and
illustrate your idea.
2. Generate a list of five words that describe Daisy. After making the list, choose the one word you
think best describes her, then explain why, using examples from the text to support and
illustrate your idea.
3. Generate a list of five words that describe Tom. After making the list, choose the one word you
think best describes him, then explain why, using examples from the text to support and
illustrate your idea.
4. Complete the following sentence: The relationship between Tom and Daisy is like….. After you
complete the sentence, explain why their relationship is like x, then provide examples to
support and illustrate your idea. Explain how these examples relate to the main idea.
5. Speculate about what happened in the past to make Daisy so “cynical;” predict what you think
will happen in this story based on what happened before. What details do you base your
prediction on?
6. Develop two test questions based on the first chapter:
a. Right there (Literal) Question: This is a factual question that you can answer by
pointing “right there” on the page to find the answer. An example from Romeo and
Juliet would be, “Why does Benvolio encourage Romeo to go to the Capulet ball?”
(Answer: He wants him to get over Rosaline by looking around at other pretty girls.)
b. Between the lines (Inferential) Question: This question is more complex. The answer
cannot be pointed to on the page but must be inferred from other details in the story.
An example from Romeo and Juliet would be, “How would you characterize the
relationship between Juliet and the nurse?”
The Great Gatsby Chapter-by-Chapter Reading Notes and Questions
Please answer all questions on a separate page.
The Great Gatsby
Reading Notes: Chapter 2
Introduction While reading The Great Gatsby, we will pause to make some observations. These
observations are intended to improve your ability to see and interpret key ideas and events in the story.
Write your responses to these questions on a separate sheet of paper as you read. It’s fine to type your
responses if you prefer. Responses to each question should be thorough, not just a few words or single
sentence.
1. List three qualities of a good relationship. Write down the three adjectives. A good relationship is
_______________________, ______________________, and _______________________.
2. Provide examples of each of these qualities (or the lack of them) from pages 30-41 Include the page
number.
3. Based on the descriptions on pages 29-30, what color would you say best represents George? Myrtle?
List words and quotations from the text to support and illustrate your point.
4. Define the term foreshadow. Identify two themes that seem to be foreshadowed on pages 37-41.
What specific phrases support your prediction?
5. Based on the details Fitzgerald uses to describe the party, how would you characterize the lives of the
people who are present? Use specific words and explain why those are the right words to describe
them.
6. Develop two test questions based on the second chapter:
a) Right there (Literal) Question: This is a factual question that you can answer by pointing “right
there” on the page to find the answer. An example from Romeo and Juliet would be, “Why does
Benvolio encourage Romeo to go to the Capulet ball?” (Answer: He wants him to get over
Rosaline by looking around at other pretty girls.)
b) Between the lines (Inferential) Question: This question is more complex. The answer cannot be
pointed to on the page but must be inferred from other details in the story. An example from
Romeo and Juliet would be, “How would you characterize the relationship between Juliet and
the nurse?”
The Great Gatsby Chapter-by-Chapter Reading Notes and Questions
Please answer all questions on a separate page.
The Great Gatsby
Reading Notes: Chapter 3
Introduction While reading The Great Gatsby, we will pause to make some observations. These
observations are intended to improve your ability to see and interpret key ideas and events in the story.
Write your responses to these questions on a separate sheet of paper as you read. It’s fine to type your
responses if you prefer. Responses to each question should be thorough, not just a few words or single
sentence.
1. Characterize: Gather a list of comments made about Gatsby by his guests. Gather a second list of
Gatsby’s own words and actions. In a paragraph, explain your impression of him..
2. Evaluate: Gather a list of colors (named or implied) from the imagery on the first pages of chapter 3.
What is the effect of these images?
3. Connect: What connections can you make between this story, your own life, the world in general,
movies or other texts you have read? Explain in detail.
4. Infer: The mood of the story changes from the beginning of the chapter to the end of the party.
Generate several words to describe the mood at the beginning of the party and again at the end
(before Nick’s discussion of his activities and of Jordan). To what do you attribute the change?
5. Characterize: Review the last 2 pages of the chapter. What details does Nick give about Jordan?
What words would you use to describe her?
6. Develop two test questions based on the second chapter:
a. Right There (Literal) Question: This is a factual question that you can answer by pointing
“right there” on the page to find the answer. An example from The Odyssey would be,
“What test did Odysseus pass that the suitors could not?” (Answer: Stringing his bow and
shooting the arrow through a row of ax handles.)
b. Between the Lines (Inferential) Question: This question is more complex. The answer cannot
be pointed to on the page but must be inferred from other details in the story. An example
from The Odyssey would be, “How would you characterize the relationship between
Odysseus and his men?”