The Great Gatsby Study Guide – Packet #1



The Great Gatsby Study Guide

Chapter 1 --

1. Why did Nick Carraway’s father tell him not to criticize people?

2. What is Nick’s line of business?

3. In what season and year does Nick arrive?

4. How did East Egg and West Egg get their names?

.

5. What was the social class of Tom and Daisy Buchanan?

6-7. What is the significance of Tom’s reference to the book he is reading?

8. What two colors dominate the setting of the Buchanan home? What may these colors represent?

9. Which words best describe Daisy?

A. Serious thinker and problem solver-profound.

B. Silly, flighty person with inane remarks-superficial.

10. What kind of husband is Tom Buchanan?

11. Why does Daisy hope her daughter will be a beautiful fool?

12. What does Gatsby reach out to that is across the water?

Chapter 2--

1. What color was predominate on the road between West Egg and New York

near the railroad? What kind of mood does it set?

2. Describe the billboard of T.J. Eckleburg. What might it symbolize?

3. Describe George Wilson. What makes him a “dead” character?

4. How is Myrtle Wilson described? What is attractive about her?

A.

B.

5. What is the relationship between Myrtle Wilson and Tom Buchanan?

6. What two facets of Tom’s personality are revealed when he breaks Myrtle’s nose?

Chapter 3--

1. For what was Gatsby famous? Describe your response.

2. Why is Nick at the party? While he is there, Nick overhears a girl saying that she tore her dress at the last party. What does Gatsby do when a girl tears her dress?

A.

B.

3. What rumors circulate at the party concerning Gatsby?

4. What did Gatsby and Nick Carraway have in common?

5. Did Gatsby get drunk at his party? What does he do?

Yes No (circle)

6. What is the woman at the piano doing besides singing?

7. In what way does the party deteriorate as time goes on?

8. Jordan Baker is a ___ champion. What does Nick vaguely remember about Jordan?

9. Describe Jordan Baker’s character.

10. What was the depth of relationships established at Gatsby’s parties?

11. What did Nick Carraway consider his greatest virtue?

Read the following conversation:

Nick: (protesting)“You are a rotten driver… Either you ought to be more careful or you oughtn’t to drive at all.”

Jordan: “I am careful.”

Nick: “No, you’re not.”

Jordan: (lightly) “Well, other people are”

Nick: “What’s that got to do with it?”

Jordan: (insisting) “They’ll keep out of my way… It takes two to make an accident.”

Nick: “Suppose you met somebody just as careless as yourself?”

Jordan: “I hope I never will… I hate careless people. That’s why I like you.”

12. What is the theme message hidden in the above conversation?

Chapter 4 --

1-2. Nick Carraway isn’t sure that Jay Gatsby is telling him the truth about Oxford and the war. What two objects does Gatsby show him that make Nick believe he is telling the truth?

A.

B.

3. The rich do not have to obey laws in the same way common people do. How is this illustrated on the trip Nick and Gatsby take to New York?

4. Nick and Gatsby pass a hearse with a dead man in it. Judging from his entourage would you say he was loved or unloved in his life? Why do you think so?

5. What are Wolfsheim’s cufflinks made of? Who is Meyer Wolfsheim?

7. What terrible crime did Meyer Wolfsheim commit in 1919?

8. Jordan told Nick about Daisy’s infatuation with a young lieutenant in 1917. What was the name of the lieutenant?

9. On the day before the wedding, how does Daisy feel about marrying Tom Buchanan?

10. Why does Gatsby buy his house in West Egg?

11. What favor does Gatsby want from Nick?

12. What great sorrow happens in Gatsby’s life that he tries to cover by going to Europe?

13. What information further develops the character of Tom Buchanan?

13. Any reoccurring colors?

Chapter 5 --

1. How would you describe Nick Carraway’s position in the Novel?

a. On even footing with the Buchanan’s?

b. Of lesser standing, used by the rich to obtain what they want?

Explain:

2. What does Gatsby want to have done to Nick’s place before Daisy comes to tea?

3. When Nick drives up all the lights are on at Gatsby’s. What is Gatsby doing with all the lights on?

4-5. What did the brewer who had formerly owned Gatsby’s house want all of his neighbors to do? Why?

A.

B.

6. How long did it take Gatsby to earn the money to buy his house?

7. What progression of feelings did Gatsby undergo during his afternoon with Daisy?

8. What reaction did Daisy have to Gatsby’s shirts?

9. What had always shone on the dock at Daisy’s house as a beacon of hope to Gatsby?

10. What is the significance of the pink clouds about which Daisy exclaims?

Chapter 6 --

1. When James Gatz changed his name to Jay Gatsby, what did he want to change in his life?

2. Why were the Lutheran College of St. Olaf and the janitor’s job unacceptable to Gatz?

3-4. Who first gave Gatsby hope that his dreams could come true? What kind of person was this hope-giver?

3.

4.

5. How did Mr. and Mrs. Sloane treat Gatsby after he had offered them his hospitality?

6. What does Gatsby believe can be done with the past?

Chapter 7 --

1. Why did the parties abruptly stop at Gatsby’s? And why does Gatsby fire all his servants?

A.

B.

2. A. What is the significance of Daisy’s question to her daughter, “How do you like mother’s friends?…Don’t you think they’re pretty?” B. Additionally, what does this scene suggest about Daisy as a mother? C. What effect does it have on Gatsby?

A.

B.

C.

3. What is the weather like?

.

4. What does Tom Buchanan suddenly realize when Daisy and Gatsby’s eyes met? And why does he know?

A..

B

5. What do Tom, Daisy, Gatsby, Nick & Jordan all go? Who goes in what car?

A.

B. Gatsby’s car:

Tom’s car:

6. While speaking of Daisy, who says, “Her voice is full of money”?

.

7. What plan does Gearoge reveal to Tom when they stop for gas? And as Myrtle looks out the window, what incorrect assumption does she make?

A..

B..

8. Why is Wilson sick?

9. The action of the story comes to a climax in the hotel room. What is the subject of discussion?

.

10. What makes Gatsby fear that all his dreams may have vanished?

11. How does Tom Buchanan view his acts of adultery in relation to Daisy?

.

12. What tragic event occurs on the way home from New York?

Chapter 8 --

1. How did Gatsby’s house change after his dream of life with Daisy was destroyed?

2-3. When Gatsby met Daisy he thought she was a “nice girl.” A. How did her presence in his life make things better? B. Worse? C. How long did they know one another in Louisville?

A.

B.

.

C.

4. What was the main reason Gatsby and Daisy never married?

.

5-6. May times F. Scott Fitzgerald refers to flowers in his settings. In good times the flowers are beautiful. In hard times they are crumpled or wilted. How does this symbol illustrate the life depicted in The Great Gatsby?

7. Whom did the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg represent?

8. What does George see as proof of Myrtle’s affair?

9. A. Why did Wilson shoot Gatsby?

B. Who is Michaelis?

.

10-11. Who was the only friend Gatsby really had in the end? Why is this ironic?

.

Chapter 9 --

1. Who showed up unexpectedly to attend Gatsby’s funeral?

.

2. A. What excuse did Gatsby’s former live-in guest Klipspringer, give for not attending Gatsby’s funeral? B. Why had Klipspringer called?

.

3. Why wouldn’t Wolfsheim attend the funeral?

4. What part had Tom played in Gatsby’s death?

5. How had Jay Gatsby acquired his money?

.

6. How does Gatsby’s funeral reinforce the actual position that Gatsby attains in society?

7. True/False (_____) The man with owl-eyed glasses who had looked through Gatsby’s books, could not attend the funeral

8. True/False (_____) Nick now considered himself an Easterner and was ready to establish permanent residency in New England.

9. True/False (_____) Nick became disillusioned with Jordan and broke off his relationship with her.

10. What kind of people did Nick say Daisy and Tom were? Why does he call them that?

.

11. For Gatsby, what does the “green light” symbolize?

.

8. Does Daisy live above the laws that govern the poor?

.

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