The Great Gatsby – – Chapter 1 Questions 1. How does does Nick describe describe himsel himselff at the beginning beginning of the book? book? Why do you you think Fitzgerald chose him to be the narrator? a. Nick sees himself as reserved, reserved, nonudgmental nonudgmental !which !which makes makes him slightly ho"eful#, but he can only be tolerant of others for so long. b. $o use Nick as the narrator narrator "laces "sychic "sychic distance to the story story. Nick is "art "art of the action, yet he is not one of the "rinci"als. "rinci"als. He shares shares some of the emotions and is in a "osition to inter"ret inter"ret those of the others. However, the ha""enings are not centered on him. %. How does Nick describe describe $om &uchanan? 'aisy? What What kind of relationshi" relationshi" do they have !and not that they(re cousins ) old college buddies*#? a. Nick describes $om as enormously enormously wealthy, violent, violent, forceful, forceful, aggressive, aggressive, sturdy, su"ercilious, su"ercilious, arrogant, arrogant, aggressive, and cruel. cruel. He is always living living in search of that great feeling he once had in his youth as the big man on cam"us, the star athlete. b. Nick describe describes s 'aisy as his cousin, cousin, a lady who is charming, charming, inviting inviting yet sad, sad, lovely with bright features !eyes, li"s#, and who has a thrilling voice ) murmur that draws "eo"le in ) ca"tivates them. c. Nick(s re relatio lationshi" nshi" with with the the &uchanans &uchanans is is com"letel com"letely y su"er+ci su"er+cial. al. Nick s"eaks s"eaks of the &uchanans as dear friends he barely knows. . Who is is -ordan -ordan &aker? &aker? What does Nick Nick +nd +nd a""ealing a""ealing about her? her? a. -ordan -ordan is described described as the balancing balancing girl/ girl/ 0 the girl Nick originall originally y thought was snobbish but later came to like like for her con+dent air. air. -ordan grew u" in ouisville with 'aisy. 'aisy. 2he(s also a "rofessional golfer, and Nick(s heard her name mentioned somewhere, although he can(t e3actly recall recall where it was ) what it was about. b. -ordan(s self4assurance self4assurance is intriguing intriguing 0 she(s she(s so con+dent con+dent and full of herself that she almost comes o5 as self4su6cient./ self4su6cient./ 7. What is is 8atsby 8atsby doing doing when Nick +rst +rst sees sees him? him? a. 8atsby(s reaching reaching out towards something, staring staring at a green light across across the water which Nick says could come from a light at the end of a dock. He seems to be doing this secretly, making Nick not want to disturb him. 9. How How doe does s the the tone of Nick(s descri"tion of $om reveal Nick(s feelings about $om? What is the signi+cance of $om(s reference to the book he is reading? a. Nick isn(t very fond of $om. $om. He sees him as dangerous, dangerous, violent, threatening, threatening, and "om"ous in a way. way. He even mentions a nervous feeling of wanting to call the co"s when he feels the tension between $om $om and 'aisy rising and how the best bet for 'aisy would be to leave $om immediately, which even at this "oint he knows she won(t do. b. $he content of the book $om(s $om(s reading im"lies im"lies a certain certain lack of intellect intellect on $om(s $ om(s "art. :t reveals $om(s belief that the dominant race must must stay in
control, that lesser races must be beaten o5, which of course re;ects $om(s own need to be in control and dominant of his surroundings and those around him. <. How would would you descri describe be 'aisy(s 'aisy(s state of mind during during dinner dinner? ? What does does she say and do that hel"s reveal her inner con;icts? a. 'aisy seems seems ;ighty ;ighty and struggli struggling ng for attention attention at the beginni beginning ng of the dinner, however there(s a "ainful awkwardness that sets in after the "hone call when she and $om disa""ear into the house. = few e3am"les> 2he stares out the window with sadness s adness over missing the longest day of the year every year she "oints out her bruised and swollen +nger which she says $om inured she throws her na"kin on the table and chases after $om $om when he goes to answer the "hone she sounds tense and forced when she returns returns from the discussion with $om $ om she stares $om down and shakes her head to kee" kee" him from answering the "hone the second time after dinner she rubs her face and stares longingly and thoughtfully out into the sunset. When she s"eaks afterward she does so suddenly and discusses how cynical she is and how she(s in a bad situation. 2he tells the story of her giving birth alone, without $om being there, and her crying over it being a girl. b. Finally, 'aisy says she thinks thinks everything everything is terrible terrible and that anyone who(s advanced or so"histicated agrees with her as she smirks. @. Why does does 'aisy descr describe ibe her her childhood childhood as a whit white e girlhood/? girlhood/? Why does does 'aisy ho"e that her daughter grows u" to be a beautiful little fool? a. An a literal literal level, level, 'aisy always always dresses dresses in white white and even drives a white car.. Bore im"ortantly, she remembers car remembers her youth as a time of innocence and charming sim"licity in contrast to the tawdry e3istence she has in the "resent. b. $o 'aisy, su"er+cial su"er+cial a""earance is all that matters so beauty is a necessity.. :ntelligence, however, necessity however, might be a hazard, for 'aisy lives in a world that does not hold u" under ins"ection and if she really thought about her life, she might +nd it unbearable. 2he ho"es her daughter will never have to give much thought to life ) love and will sim"ly be ha""y. C. Nick thinks that, given given the state of their their marriage, marriage, 'aisy should leave leave $om, $om, but it is clear to him that she has no intention intention of doing so. What indication is there that that $om $om and 'aisy are closely linked des"ite des"ite their marital di6culties? di6culties? a. $om and 'aisy seem to be "retty "retty set in their their ways. $hey(re $hey(re both used to money and attention. &oth are a "art of the advanced, so"histicated, elite crowd which views the world in a scorned, cynical way. D. Why does does 'aisy s"eak s"eak in such such e3agge e3aggerated rated "hrase "hrases? s? Why does does Nick feel feel she is trying to be a cynic !believes the worst about "eo"le ) life#?
a. &y overdoing overdoing her remark remarks, s, 'aisy manages to minimize everything she says. :f she describes something as utterly wonderful instead of merely nice, she makes it seem Euite ordinary. ordinary. $his may be considered a form of unconscious hy"erbole 0 by making everything everything sound sound im"ortant, 'aisy reve reveals als that nothing is nothing is im"ortant to her. b. $his is a curr current ent u""er4class u""er4class "ose and by ado"ting it, 'aisy not only identi+es herself as "art of a fashionable grou", but dis"oses of the need to live a meaningful life, since life has no meaning anyway. 1.Why does 8atsby reach out to the water? What indications are there that the green light has a "owerful emotional signi+cance to 8atsby? a. 8atsby 8atsby is so near near and yet yet so far away away from from a green green light. light. He is stretch stretching ing out his arms toward an elusive goal that he cannot Euite reach. b. 8atsb 8atsby y reaches reaches out to it as if if he desires desires to touch the the light. light. =lso, he(s he(s described as almost trembling, like he(s shaking with emotions.
The Great Gatsby – – Chapter 2 Questions 1. 'esc 'escri ribe be the the setting of the valley valley of ashes where where 8eorge and Byrtle live. live. What as"ects of the setting im"ly that it is intended to have a symbolic meaning as well as a literal one? a. 2et 2ettin ting g des descr cri"t i"tion ion>> i. 'esol 'esolate ate full full of ashes, ashes, strang strange e gardens, gardens, and and smoke smoke dim and crumbling full of "eo"le more like ghosts than men gray, cloudy, obscure, and bleak. ii. :t feels feels like like a ho"eless ho"eless land of of chaos and des"ai des"airr where where the "eo"le "eo"le aren(t real. =ll of the visual connections seem blurred out so you can(t really tell what(s real and what(s fake. iii. $her $here(s e(s also a large large billboard billboard left left over over from from an o"tometrist o"tometrist(s (s business business !'r. $.-. Gckleburg# which is fading and dis"lays a large "air of blue eyes behind yellow s"ectacles which stare out over the land of waste. b. 2y 2ymb mbol olic ic>> i. Fitzg itzgeral erald d takes a lot lot of time to describ describe e this setting setting in a detailed detailed and "oetic way. way. He focuses on the s"eci+cs of this area which is ust a setting but must "lay a larger role in the story than ust that if he(s devoting this much time to its detailed descri"tion. 1. Hint Hint>> in the future, future, when you you see an author author doing this !es"eci !es"ecially ally at the beginning of a cha"ter or new scene# it(s often because that setting means more symbolically to the story than the other settings. %. How does does Nick meet meet $om(s $om(s mistr mistress? ess? a. $om takes Nick Nick into the city and on the way there sto"s sto"s o5 at her house)her house)her husband(s garage to meet her. her. $hey then go into the city and have a "arty at the a"artment $om rents for Byrtle and their indiscretions. . How does Byrtle react to $om(s arrival? arrival?
a. Byrtle seems e3uberant e3uberant and vivacious. 2he walks sensually down the stairs she(s full of life and very se3ual and she makes "assionate eye contact with $om. $ om. 2he was clearly awaiting awaiting his arrival. 7. 'escribe 8eorge Wilson. How does does he react to $om(s arrival? arrival? a. 8eorge 8eorge has blond hair and light light blue eyes eyes he is s"iritless, s"iritless, anemic anemic !lacking !lacking "ower, vigor, vitality, or colorfulness listless weak#, and only faintly fa intly handsome. b. 8eor 8eorge ge seems seems beaten down down by life and and afraid to s"eak s"eak u". He(s very very unconvincing when he says he can(t com"lain/ com"lain/ about how he(s been he cowers under $om(s o""osition to him over the car and he does e3actly as Byrtle demands of him without Euestioning her. her. He clearly doesn(t seem like a man in control of his life. c. He seems ho"eful ho"eful for something that $om may bring !we(re !we(re led led to believe it has something to do with a car that $om was going to sell him#. d. However, : would "osit that 8eorge 8eorge is the only one who is originally originally satis+ed with his life he has achieved his =merican 'ream in that he has his own business and he(s married to a woman he loves. He may not be the wealthiest, but that doesn(t seem to truly bother him or he(d be doing more about it, right? 9. Why did $om and Byrtle want Nick to go with with them to the the a"artment? a. &ecause $om and Byrtle Byrtle wanted it to seem seem as if what they were were doing was natural. $om also wanted Nick to res"ect res"ect him for his manliness( and to test Nick(s loyalty to him versus versus Nick(s loyalty to 'aisy. 'aisy. Byrtle wanted to "lease "lease $om $ om and that meant making his friend, Nick, feel welcome welcome she also wanted more "eo"le to see her as $om(s woman which hel"ed im"rove her status(, or at least it did so in her eyes. <. How does does Byrtle Byrtle behave as the the "arty "rogr "rogresses? esses? a. Byrtle is no longer as full of life !vitality# !vitality# as she was when when he +rst met met her. her. Now she(s dis"laying a hauteur which is growing more and more over the night, dis"laying a fake su"eriority which she has no right to claim. &y the end of the "arty she feels "owerful, entitled, and eEual to $om and 'aisy and a nd the rest of the u""er class. b. Byrtle starts starts trying to make make comments comments to show she(s "art of that elite u""er class of so"histicated cynics/ that 'aisy was telling Nick about before. 2he cocks her eyebrow with disdain at com"liments over her dress !most likely new# which she calls old and reveals frustration over the lack of good service from the lower class which she kee"s referring referring to as these "eo"le/ even though she(s really a "art of that class. @. How does does Fitzgerald Fitzgerald describe Byrtle Wilson? 'oes her "hysical a""earance re;ect her character in any way? a. Byrtle Byrtle is described described as a thick, stout, stout, sensuous sensuous woman in her mid thirtie thirties s she(s no real beauty but she has a smoldering vitality.
b. Byrtle is is vulgar and "hysically connected connected 0 "erfect "erfect for a low class mistress. mistress. $he "assion and liveliness of her body over over any other characteristics characteristics shows she(s controlled by her bodily im"ulses. i. Byrt Byrtle le is very very di5erent di5erent from from 'aisy and -ordan, -ordan, the the u""er class class ladies ladies of the novel. $hey(re reserved reserved and have a veil of innocence she(s forward and dri"s with se3uality. $his delineates for the reader the di5erence between the women of the two social classes of the novel. C. Iom"are the setting of the "arty "arty in this cha"ter with the setting of of the dinner "arty in Iha"ter Ane. a. $he a"artment a"artment "arty "arty is raucous, raucous, smoky, smoky, and loud. :t(s full of drunke drunkenness nness to an e3treme e3treme !even with Nick blacking out at the end of the cha"ter# and violent outbursts. From From Nick(s descri"tion of the guests and the night you can see that he feels this is morally beneath him. b. $he earlier earlier dinner "arty was was Euiet, reserve reserved, d, and all tension amongst amongst the characters was under the surface. While Nick was at this "arty he commented to 'aisy about feeling inferior to her and her "arty because of its class./ D. Why does $om attack Byrtle Byrtle at the end of the "arty? How does this e3em"lify e3em"lify Fitzgerald(s descri"tion of $om in Iha"ter Ane? a. 2he say says s 'ais 'aisy(s y(s nam name. e. b. $o assert his "ower and contem"t over Byrtle he does it sim"ly because he can. c. :t shows him him as a violen violentt man !which !which Nick(s Nick(s tone describ described#. ed#. 1.. 1 Why Why is the the end end of of Iha" Iha"te terr % so dis disoi oint nted ed? ? What What had had Nick Nick been been doin doing g all all evening that might have caused this strange narrative? a. Nick had had been drin drinking king all night night.. He said said that he he had only only been been drunk drunk twice twice in his life and that this "articular "arty( with Byrtle, $om, $om, and the others was the setting of his his second drunken drunken e"isode. =t the end of the cha"ter, he is basically going through a drunken reverie so everything he is thinking, or dreaming, is illogical illogical and meant to be so. How many "eo"le truly truly make sense when they are heavily under the in;uence of drugs or alcohol?
The Great Gatsby – – Chapter 3 Questions 1.
What arri arrives ves at 8atsby 8atsby(s (s house house every every Friday riday and leave leaves s on on Bonday Bonday? ? What What does does this tell you about the "arties 8atsby(s hosts? a. Five crates of lemons and oranges arrive arrive at 8atsby(s every Friday Friday and leave as "ul" on Bonday morning. morning. $his tells us that many "eo"le attend attend 8atsby(s "arties and that many s"end the entire weekend at his house.
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'esc 'escri ribe be the the eve event nts s and and the the atmo atmos"h s"her ere e of thi this s "art "artic icul ular ar "ar "arty ty.. a. $here is e3tr e3treme eme decadence and lu3ury lu3ury>> there are huge bands, bands, lots of food !two dinners#, ;owing cocktails, etc.
b. Gveryone Gveryone is dancing dancing and enoying enoying themselve themselves. s. =s the night goes on, women women become ;irtier and begin "laying with the men more and enoying themselves. c. $her $here(s e(s a lot of gossi" gossi" at the tables tables concerning concerning 8atsby 8atsby.. d. = drunken drunken lady who is a famous singer singer begins begins singing singing and makes herself herself sad. =s she(s singing and crying, she has no self self4concern 4concern and ignores the fact that her makeu" is "ouring down her face in black rivers, making her a""ear foolish. 2he then sits down in a chair and falls aslee"Jor "asses out. e. Ance the night night a""roache a""roaches s the wee hours, hours, all of the men men and women women begin Euarrelling Euarr elling and the husbands hus bands have to drag their wives out of the "arty over their shoulders like barbarians. f. Awl Gyes Gyes and another another drunk drunken en man get into a car wre wreck, ck, driving driving their their car car into a ditch. $he drunken man is too inebriated to even understand what ha""ened with the car. .
'escri 'escribe be two two ways ways in whic which h Nick Nick di5e di5ers rs fro from m the the othe otherr guest guests s at 8atsby 8atsby(s (s "art "arty y. a. Nick is actuall actually y invited invited to the "arty "arty everyon everyone e else ust ust shows u". b. Nick is dressed dressed more more casually in white ;annels and everyone everyone else else is in elegant suits and gowns. c. $he other other guests guests are all dancing dancing and carr carrying ying on however however they they want. want. Nick ust sits back and observes them, occasionally occasionally conversing with -ordan -ordan or other guests.
7.
What What does does Nick Nick thin think k of 8ats 8atsby by when when he +rst +rst meet meets s hi him? m? a. Nick is im"ressed with 8atsby(s smile. :t seems so genuine and reassuring. b. Nick thinks thinks 8atsby(s 8atsby(s formality formality of s"eech s"eech and actions actions are almost almost to a level of absurdity. c. Nick has the strong strong im"ressio im"ression n that 8atsby is "icking "icking his words words with care,/ care,/ like he(s being su"er careful not to say the wrong thing. d. Nick is sur"rised sur"rised that 8atsby 8atsby wasn(t wasn(t as decadent and self self4indul 4indulgent gent as he imagined a man that rich with that many "arties would be.
9.
'escri 'escribe be the ambigu ambiguity ity !vague !vaguenes ness)c s)cont ontrad radict iction ions# s# in 8atsby 8atsby(s (s charac character ter that that strikes Nick. a. No one seems seems to know anyt anything hing about about 8atsby 8atsby>> i. $her $here e are rumor rumors s that he(s he(s a bootlegger bootlegger,, a 8erman 8erman s"y, and and that he killed a man, but no one really knows. ii. Gven "eo"le "eo"le who who have attende attended d several several "arties "arties don(t don(t know what he looks like and have never met him b. 8atsb 8atsby y a""ears a""ears to be a young young roughnec roughneck/ k/ and has fought fought in the war however, he "uts on this air of absurd formality. c. 8atsb 8atsby y throws throws lavish "arties "arties of a decadent decadent lifestyle lifestyle however however,, he doesn(t touch a dro" of alcohol during the "arty and doesn(t really even take "art in it. Gveryone else is having a good time, which he encourages them to do, but he(s being aloof in the shadows and taking secret business "hone calls and meeting with "eo"le !-ordan# secretly secretly rather than mingling with his guests.
<.
What What disc discov over ery yd doe oes s the the owl4 owl4ey eyed ed man man mak make e in in 8ats 8atsby by(s (s libr librar ary? y? What What symbolic meaning could this reference reference have about society in the 1D%s? a. $he owl4eye owl4eyed d man discove discovers rs that the books books have not been been cut(. cut(. $he books books are there to show us, ho"efully to make us believe, that 8atsby is well4read, educated, and wealthy. b. $hey are symbolic of 8atsby(s "retentiousness "retentiousness and of society(s su"er+ciality.
@.
How How doe does s Nic Nick k char charac acte teri rize ze the the gue guest sts s at at 8at 8atsb sby( y(s s "ar "arty ty? ? What What do his his characterizations tell us about how Nick feels about most of these "eo"le? What sense of life in the -azz =ge do we get from the descri"tion of this "arty? a. $he guests all very careless careless and do whatever they they want to to feel good, no nott caring what they do/ as one girl "uts it. b. $hey(re also ridiculous looking at times times in their their drunken drunken revelry revelry !the !the crying singer and the drunk driver#. c. Nick clearly clearly feels feels morally morally su"erior su"erior to these "eo"le "eo"le in a way. way. d. $he life of the -azz =ge =ge starts out good good and enoyable, enoyable, like like 8atsby(s 8atsby(s "arty did, but ends in chaos. ike the "eo"le at this "arty, the "eo"le of the -azz =ge were looking for a good time in whatever way they could +nd it, never caring about res"onsibility or being "ro"er. "ro"er. $hese "eo"le don(t realize the fools they(re making of themselves and how careless they(re being. Fitzgerald Fitzgerald saw that in his own life with the wild "arties he attended during the -azz =ge.
C.
An what what does does the the owl owl4e 4eye yed d man man blam blame e the the acci accide dent nt afte afterr 8at 8atsb sby( y(s s "art "arty? y? What What is ironic about this claim? a. $he owl4eyed owl4eyed man man blamed blamed the accident on the mechanics of the car car.. $his is ironic because he has been drunk for days and evidently the driver is Euite inebriated as well, yet they blame the car instead of themselves for the accident.
D.
How How doe does s Nic Nick k des descr crib ibe e -or -orda dan n at the the end end of Iha"t Iha"ter er ? What What do we lear learn n about her that would su""ort this statement? a. Nick descri describes bes -ordan -ordan as incura incurably bly dishone dishonest(. st(. 2u""os 2u""osedly edly,, she moved moved her her ball during one of her golf games.
1.. 1
Why does does -ord -ordan an say, say, : : hate hate car carele eless ss " "eo" eo"le. le. $hat(s $hat(s why : lik like e you/? you/? a. -ordan -ordan sees sees that Nick Nick is di5er di5erent ent than than most "eo"l "eo"le. e. 2he also also knows knows that she she is somewhat careless and with the saying o""osites attract, she(s looking for someone to balance her out and thinks she may have found that in Nick.
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&ased &ased on the the two inci inciden dents ts involv involving ing autom automobi obile les s in this this cha"ter cha"ter,, what role role do automobiles seem to "lay in the novel so far? a. $he drunk drunken en man man who runs o5 the roa road d b. -or -ordan dan almost almost hitting hitting a man with with her car
c. =utomobile =utomobiles s clearly clearly dis"lay the the carelessne carelessness ss of the age and of the "eo"le who have enough money to buy these nice cars. $hey don(t seem to care who they hurt or what ha""ens. $hey(re also very '=N8GKAL2 in the hands of these careless "eo"le for other "eo"le out there. 1%.. 1%
What uniEue uniEue Eualit Euality yd do o we we lear learn n tthat hat Nick Nick "oss "ossess esses? es? a. He is honest, honest, which during during this time "eriod "eriod was a rarity, rarity, es"eciall es"ecially y in the circles circle s in which Nick ran. !Ane could argue that it(s it(s a rarity today as well but J. #
The Great Gatsby – – Chapter 4 Questions 1. What does 8atsby 8atsby tell Nick about himself? himself? =side from the im"robability im"robability of his story, what other evidence is there that 8atsby is lying about something when he tells Nick about his background? a. 8a 8ats tsby by tel tells ls Nic Nick> k> i. He(s from from the Bidwest Bidwest and comes from from a wealthy family family.. He attended A3ford because it was a family tradition 0 GMGKANG GMGKANG in his family attended A3ford. ii. His entire entire family family died died and he came into into their their riches. riches. He took his riches riches and toured Guro"e with trunks of rubies and other ewels, living the "arty life of a young raah and going on great adventures like big game safari hunts. iii. He became became very sorr sorrowful owful over over something something sad sad that ha""ened ha""ened to him long ago/ and oined the army when the war began. He even tried to die but instead became a hero. $hey "romoted "romoted him to maor and he received receiv ed decorations from every =llied government 0 GMGN :$$G BAN$GNG8KA*** b. Gv Gvid iden ence ce of of lyin lying> g> i. $he way he he says A3for A3ford/> d/> Nick says says he choke chokes s on it and says says it as Euickly as "ossible, looking at him sideways afterwards. ii. He says he(s he(s from from the Biddle Biddlewest west but but when "ressur "ressured ed by Nick Nick says s"eci+cally 2an Francisco./ iii. Gver Gverythi ything ng he says seems seems so threadbar threadbare/ e/ 0 like like he(s said these these stories stories so many times and rehearse rehearsed d them that they(re wearing thin. %. What is the signi+cance of Nick(s statements> statements> =nything =nything can ha""en now that we(ve slid over this bridge?/ and Gven 8atsby could ha""en, without any "articular wonder./ a. Orior Orior to this "hrase, "hrase, Nick Nick saw a limousine limousine "ass him him with a white white chau5eur chau5eur and black "assengers. $he white "erson here is the servant and the black "eo"le have the same haughty air a ir of su"eriority that he recognizes in the social elite of the time. $his is still a signi+cant sur"rise at this time in history due to the racial tensions and restric restrictions. tions. Keally, only New ork ork had this kind of thing ha""ening 0 the rest of the country is MGK MGK behind this city during the twenties.
i. $he twentie twenties s was the time time of the the Harlem Harlem Kenaiss Kenaissance, ance, a cultur cultural al e3"losion of =frican =merican writing, music, and art. =frican =mericans ;ocked to New ork to take "art in this new freedom. b. Orior to this scene Nick Nick com"letely com"letely disbelieves disbelieves 8atsby(s 8atsby(s ridiculous ridiculous story about riches, living like a raah, and the war however, in the kind of city where he can see a white "erson acting as the chau5eur for rich black "eo"le, Nick realizes that =N$H:N8 can ha""en 0 New ork ork must be a "lace for incredible stories and reinvention. Baybe this mysterious man 8atsby/ IAL' really e3ist hereJ.. i. NA$G> $his $his is the second second view of of New ork ork in the novel. novel. :t(s very very much much in conunction with the idea of this city being the "lace to realize your great =merican 'ream, for 8atsby and Byrtle* . Who is Beyer Wolfsheim? What seems to be his connection with 8atsby? What does this tell us about 8atsby? a. Beyer Wolfsheim Wolfsheim is most most likely likely in some ty"e ty"e of organized organized crime we reach this conclusion because of the story of Kosy Kosenthal(s Kosenthal(s hit and 8atsby(s claim that Wolfshe Wolfsheim im +3ed the (1D World World 2eries. He and 8atsby are some ty"e of business associates they met met some time after after the war. war. $his tells us that 8atsby(s business dealings are a re most likely likely not legal. 7. -ordan &aker &aker tells tells Nick about 'aisy, 'aisy, 8atsby, and $om. 2ummarize the the story. story. =lso, after -ordan tells Nick the story of 8atsby and 'aisy, Nick says sa ys that 8atsby came alive to me, deliver delivered ed suddenly from the womb of his "ur"oseless s"lendor./ s"lendor./ How does this meta"hor of birth hel" e3"lain what 8atsby(s behavior had meant to Nick u" to then? a. $his is basic summ summariz arization ation 0 you you know this one* one* b. Nick +n +nally ally underst understands ands 8atsby 8atsby for the the +rst +rst time. time. Or Orior ior to this, this, Nick Nick had been confounded by 8atsby(s actions now he understands why 8atsby has been staring across the bay at the green light and why 8atsby gives a "arty every weekend for "eo"le "eo"le he doesn(t know. know. Orior to this, 8atsby has been sort of aloof and una""roachable to Nick now he sees him as a real "erson with ho"es and dreams like everybody everybody else instead of a stuck u" rich neighbor neighbor.. 9. How does does 'aisy behave behave after after 8atsby 8atsby goes goes overseas overseas? ? What does does her behavio behaviorr show about her feelings feelings for 8atsby? =ccording =ccording to -ordan, what did 'aisy do on her wedding day? Why? a. 'aisy begins begins dating dating non4military non4military men, men, men who have been been turned turned down by the armed armed services for whatever reason. reason. $hen, she suddenly gets gets engaged the ne3t February, February, but by the ne3t -une she(s not only engaged to someone else, she(s married married to to someone else 0 $om. $his erratic behavior indicates that she really is in love with 8atsby and in order to try to get over him, she gets married because she thinks that(s what she(s su""osed to do and should do to sEuash her feelings for 8atsby 8atsby.. b. 'aisy became into3ic into3icated ated she received received a letter from from someone and by all indications through -ordan(s allusions, we assume the letter was a love letter from 8atsby that gave her "ause in her "lans to marry $om.
<. Why do you think think 8atsby 8atsby has so so many "arties? "arties? Why did did he buy the house? house? a. 8atsby 8atsby bought the house house across across from from 'aisy in in ho"es that they they would would run into each other and 'aisy would realize that she was still as much in love with 8atsby as he was with her. her. He had the "arties in ho"es that 'aisy may may wander through his door one weekend and they would have that magical reunion that he has worked toward and dreamed about for so long. @. Why does does 8atsby 8atsby want want to have have tea with with 'aisy 'aisy at Nick( Nick(s s house? house? Why doesn(t doesn(t 8atsby ask Nick for this favor himself? a. 8atsby 8atsby wants to have have tea with 'aisy 'aisy at Nick(s Nick(s house because because Nick(s Nick(s house is is right beside 8atsby(s house and 8atsby actually wants 'aisy to see his !8atsby(s# house to see see how successful he has become. &asically, 8atsby(s success !materially# and 'aisy are inse"arable he didn(t believe he could have one without the other. b. 8atsb 8atsby y doesn(t want want to overste" overste" any boundaries boundaries he barely barely knows knows Nick. 8atsby feels because of the feelings that he believes Nick is beginning to have for -ordan that -ordan will make a good interce intercessory ssory and that Nick N ick will acEuiesce to her whereas he might turn 8atsby down. C. What does $om do when when he and 'aisy return return from from their honeymoon? G3"lain. a. $om was out driving driving one day in Mentura Mentura and had a wreck. wreck. He was not alone the chambermaid from the hotel was in the car. b. $his tells tells us that he has been been unfaithful unfaithful to 'aisy 'aisy since "ret "retty ty much the the beginning of their marriage. D. With -ordan in his arms, arms, Nick thinks of a "hrase> $here are only the "ursued, the "ursuing, the busy, and the tired./ tired./ How do you think this "hrase re;ects re;ects on the events of the novel so far? 'o you think that 8atsby would agree agree with the "hrase? a. Ou Oursu rsued ed ) Ours Oursuin uing> g> i. 8atsby is "ursuing "ursuing 'aisy 'aisy Byrtle Byrtle is "ursuing "ursuing $om $om Nick and -ordan -ordan are "ursuing each other. b. &usy> i. 8atsby is is busy, tryin trying g to kee" kee" u" with with society society the way way he feels feels 'aisy is accustomed to. Nick is busy trying to learn a new business and esca"e his "ast !home, war, e34girlfriend#. $om $om is busy being anything but a good husband ) father. father. c. $ired> i. 'aisy is tired tired of her her cheating cheating husband husband Byrtle Byrtle is tired tired of being "oor "oor..
The Great Gatsby – – Chapter 5 Questions 1. What does 8atsby o5er Nick in return for Nick(s coo"eration in inviting 'aisy to his house? What is Nick(s res"onse? a. 8atsb 8atsby y o5ers to hel" hel" Nick earn earn money by coming coming into into business business with with him.
b. Nick realizes realizes this is an o5er of obligation, "lus "lus he(s already already hesitant 8atsby(s 8atsby(s business if it involves someone as shady as Wolfsheim, so he turns him down. i. Olus, don(t don(t forget forget that Nick Nick is our slightly slightly more more moral moral character character in in this novel. He has values and ethics and would wish to make it on his own as o""osed to doing something underhanded to get ahead in life. 2. What is the meeting between 8atsby and 'aisy like initially? a. $he initial initial meeting meeting between between 8atsby and 'aisy is incredibl incredibly y awkward. awkward. 'aisy a""ears shocked to see 8atsby, and 8atsby doesn(t know how to act around her.. His hands are shoved in his "ockets, he nervously knocks Nick(s clock o5 her the wall, and he s"eaks rigidly. b. 8atsb 8atsby(s y(s eyes are are described described as distraught distraught and he moves moves tensely tensely and with a conscientious manner about him. 'aisy is described as frightened. Gven Nick is so uncomfortable at this time that he says he starts blushing from embarrassment embarrassme nt for them. c. 8atsb 8atsby y almost tries tries to run away, telling telling Nick Nick that the meeting meeting was a terrible terrible mistake/ and loses his manners while he(s talking with Nick. $he only comfort he takes is when Nick tells him 'aisy 'a isy is embarrassed too and that 8atsby(s being rude to her by leaving her alone. 3. How are 'aisy and 8atsby di5erent when Nick returns to the house after half an hour? How do these attitudes correlate correlate with the weather? a. 'i 'i5e 5errent nt>> i. =ll embar embarrassm rassment ent is gone. gone. 'aisy 'aisy is so ha""y, ha""y, yet yet has a""aren a""arently tly been been crying as her face is smeare smeared d with tears. 8atsby was so absolutely ha""y that Nick describes him as glowing and dis"laying a feeling of new ne w well4being/ which +lled the room./ ii. $hey( $hey(re re both giddy and e3ude e3ude oy oy.. b. Wea eath ther er>> i. 1st> the rainy day re;ects the stormy emotions 8atsby is feeling as he fears what 'aisy(s reaction to him will be. ii. %nd> after they(ve had their "rivate chat, the rain clears away and the sun breaks out in the west surrounded by "u5y "ink and gold clouds. $his re"resents re"resents the stormy stormy emotions leaving him as the two characters have started to come back to one another. another. $here(s now ha""iness and reuvenation as the rain dies back a bit and the sun literally and +guratively shines on their situation. 4. What is ironic about the cottage owner(s refusal to "ut thatched roofs on their homes? Kemember, the book says =mericans, =mericans , while occasionally occasio nally willing to be serfs, have always been obstinate about being "easantry./ "easantry./ a. = brewer brewer had o5ered o5ered the cottage cottage owners owners money to "ut the thatched thatched roofs roofs on their homes he wanted to be able to look out at his feudal estate( with "ride, knowing that he owned a little "iece "iece of each. &ut, the "eo"le refused refused because although they may be beholden to some for what they have, they are not owned(, they are are not "easants in service to a feudal feudal lord. $he "eo"le control their destinies destinies and they want it to remain that way. way. $hat is
the =merican dream 0 that "eo"le can transform themselves into who they want to be. =f =fter ter all, look at what 8atsby has been able to accom"lish accom"lish in less than +ve years* 5. What does 8atsby re"ly re"ly when Nick asks him how he makes makes his money? Why does Nick +nd that signi+cant? a. First, 8atsby becomes defensive defensive and only only re"lies re"lies $hat(s my a5air a5air./ ./ $hen, realizing realizi ng that this doesn(t ive with the cautious, carefully "lanned background story he(s already told Nick 0 "lus it would look too sus"icious if he left it as his a5air 0 he tells Nick he(s been in the drug business/ and oil business./ i. Kemem emember> ber> he he had to answer answer this this Euestion Euestion because because he he already already 2:OOG' LO by thinking out loud about how it took him years to make the money to buy this house. b. 8atsb 8atsby y told Nick he was e3ce"t e3ce"tionall ionally y wealthy wealthy and had gotten the money money from his "arents and family when they !all# died. 2u""osedly he(d even lived in Guro"e e3travagantly. e3travagantly. Nick realize realizes s this is a sli" s li" u" in his background story and notices the shady way he tries to cover it u". i. NA$G> this this doesn(t doesn(t hel" hel" 8atsby 8atsby too much. much. Kemem Kemember ber that he he wants wants to be good enough for 'aisy, an Gast Ggger Ggger.. Gast Gggers were all rich from birth with old money family names. 8atsby loses his money from birth/ status a bit when he reveals this to Nick. 6. What is 8atsby(s dialogue dialogue like in this cha"ter? What does it tell tell us about 8atsby? a. Garly on on 8atsby(s 8atsby(s dialogue dialogue is very very tense and and abru"t. ater ater on, after after his "rivate chat with 'aisy, his dialogue becomes scatter scatter4brained. 4brained. He leaves his sentences un+nished and s"eaks without thinking about what he(s saying 0 so NA$ 8atsby, the man Nick says "lans every word carefully before before saying it. b. He(s very wra""ed u" in 'aisy and can(t focus around around her. her. He(s starting starting to sli" into carelessness over her because of his desire and attention. 7. Why do you think 'aisy sobs when 8atsby shows her his shirts? a. 2he loved 8atsby and yet still married married $om for his money and su""ort !wellJ the "rotection and su""ort that a man would give a woman, not emotional su""ort#. Here 8atsby is in front of her and as wealthy as $om. Had she AN W=:$G' W= :$G' she could have had the money, su""ort, status, =N' a ha""y marriage with an adoring husband. Her crying could be self4"ity in a way, anger at herself and ealous of what she could have had, namely this life with 8atsby. b. AK AK>> 2he(s so ha""y that 8atsby, 8atsby, the man she origina originally lly wanted wanted and loved, has money and "ower. $he only thing really kee"ing her in her marriage is the money $om $om has and the social status. Baybe with 8atsby being as rich as she sees he is, she can leave $om and marry 8atsby and everything will be ok. $herefore, she may be crying for ha""iness out of her "otential to esca"e her marriage. 8. What are 8atsby(s feelings by the end of the cha"ter?
a. 8atsby(s 8atsby(s com"lete com"letely ly baPed by 'aisy 'aisy and this e3"erie e3"erience. nce. Now that he(s he(s gotten his dream, what does he do? He(d been dreaming of her for so long and now he has her. her. $his moment rings almost similar to the anticlima3 that Nick mentioned about $om(s life. He describes that 8atsby must have even that early realized that he couldn(t be com"letely ha""y. ha""y. How could 'aisy every live u" to the dream of her he had antici"ated and built u"? 2he can(t. i. He had had "assed "assed visibly visibly thro through ugh two state states s and was was entering entering u"on u"on a third. =fter =fter his embarrassme embarrassment nt and his unreasoning oy he was consumed with wonder at her "resence. He had been full of the idea so long, dreamed it right through to the end, waited with his teeth set, so to s"eak, at an inconceivable "itch of intensity. intensity. Now, in the reaction, he was running down like an overwound clock./ ii. O Oossibl ossibly y it had occurred occurred to him him that the colossal colossal signi+c signi+cance ance of that light had now vanished forever. forever. Iom"ared to the great distance that had se"arated him from 'aisy it had seemed very near to her, almost touching her. her. :t had seemed as close as a star to the moon. Now it was again a green light on a dock. His count of enchanted obects had diminished by one./ iii. =s : went went over over to say good4 good4by by : saw that the the e3"r e3"ressio ession n of bewilderment bewilderm ent had come back into 8atsby(s face, as thought a faint doubt had occurred to him as to the Euality of his "resent ha""iness. =lmost +ve years* $here must have been moments even that afternoon when 'aisy tumbled short of his dreams 0 not through her own fault, but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion. :t had gone beyond her, beyond everything. He had thrown himself into it with a creative "assion, adding to it all the time, decking it out with every bright feather that drifted his way. No amount of +re or freshness can challenge what a man will store s tore u "in his ghostly heart./ 9. :n this cha"ter, 8atsby(s dream dream seems to be ful+lled. ful+lled. What indications are there, though, that reality cannot satisfy his dream? a. Nick discusses discusses how the the only thing 8atsby 8atsby couldn(t couldn(t "ossibly "ossibly have over over4 imagined, and conseEuently built u" for a fall, is 'aisy(s voice. Gverything else could never "ossibly be as good as his dream of her. her. b. &y the end of the cha"ter cha"ter,, 8atsby 8atsby seems seems somewhat somewhat "uzz "uzzled led and dazed. He(s been working towards the dream of 'aisy for so long that he doesn(t know how to act or what to think now that she(s really really there with with him. =t this "oint, it may be hard for 'aisy to live u" to all of 8atsby(s e3"ectations because he(s "ined for her so long, reached towards that elusive green light for so long, that now that she(s there, she "robably "robably falls short of his e3"ectations through through no fault of her own but through the colossal vitality of his illusion.(
The Great Gatsby – – Chapter 6 Questions 1. What(s What(s 8atsby(s 8atsby(s KG= KG= story story behind behind his his "ast?
a. He was a "oor young young man from from North North 'akota. 'akota. He met a rich rich sailor sailor and adventurer named 'an Iody who hel"ed out on his yacht he began calling himself -ay 8atsby, a name he(d created in his mind to hel" him make his big esca"e from the doldrums of his life. He was doing manual labor u" until he became Iody(s hel". Iody was a "artier whose weaknesses were women and booze 0 "ossibly "art of the reason 8atsby declines alcohol. Iody was very wealthy and tried to leave his money to 8atsby, but a woman !Glla Qaye, also the woman who may be res"onsible for Iody(s death#, somehow took all of the money and left 8atsby with nothing of his miraculous inheritance.
%. When and and why does -ames -ames 8atz 8atz change change his his name? name? c. He changes changes his name name when he meets meets 'an Iody, Iody, the millio millionair naire, e, and begins begins his association with Iody. Iody. He is not ha""y with his lot in life life or with the way that his "arents have lived and feels that this is his chance to change things and to become the "erson he wants to be. . How is the com"ar com"arison ison of 8atsby 8atsby with with Ihrist !he !he was a son of 8odJand 8odJand he must be about his Father(s Father(s business/# ironic? ironic? :f the com"arison with Ihrist Ihrist were to continue throughout the book, what would ha""en to 8atsby? a. 8atsby 8atsby is so far the com"lete com"lete o""osit o""osite e of what Ihrist Ihrist was. 8atsby 8atsby talks talks of vast, vulgar, and su"er+cial beauty, of material "ossessions, and of wealth ) status. Ihrist re"resented re"resented "urity "urity and innocence and was unconcerned unconcerned with earthly "ossessions ) money. b. :f the com"aris com"arison on were were to continue, continue, then we would would have to to assume that that 8atsby, like Ihrist, will be betrayed and killed. 7. $om, Br. Br. 2loane, and a young lady visit 8atsby and the lady invites invites 8atsby to come to dinner with them. What does 8atsby(s res"onse res"onse tell us about about his social sensitivity? What does $om(s res"onse res"onse tell us about his? What connection, if any, do you think this scene might have with 8atsby(s love of 'aisy? a. 8atsby is not very socially ade"t. He thinks the invitation invitation is sincere sincere because he e3"ects everyone everyone to be s"ortsmanlike s"ortsmanlike in their actions. He doesn(t realize realize that the woman may not actually mean mean what she is saying. $om, on the other hand, automatically feels su"erior to 8atsby and can(t believe that 8atsby would honestly believe that someone from $om(s social grou" would actually want 8atsby 8atsby to attend one of her her "arties. 8atsby is similarly similarly blind when it comes to 'aisy he thinks that she will sim"ly remember remember their love and want to be together, no matter what has trans"ired in their lives during their +ve year se"aration. 9. What is 'aisy( 'aisy(s s real real reactio reaction n to 8atsby(s 8atsby(s "arty? "arty? a. 'aisy thought thought the "arty "arty was beneath her her she was o5ended o5ended by the ordinar ordinary( y( "eo"le who were there, "eo"le who were below her socially. socially. :t makes her reevaluate 8atsby and who he is or has become.
<. What does does 8atsby 8atsby tell tell Nick Nick he wants wants 'aisy 'aisy to do? do? a. $o tell $om $om that she never loved him. him. 8atsby wants 'aisy to erase the "ast "ast 9 years of se"aration between them. He(s obsessed with the "ast. @. What is 8atsby(s view view of of the "ast? When Nick Nick says that 8atsby wanted wanted to recover something, some idea of himself "erha"s, that had gone into loving 'aisy,/ what do you think he means? a. $hat $hat he can re"e e"eat at it. it. b. 8atsby liked liked who he was with 'aisy earlier earlier in his life when they were were together.. He needs at this "oint in his life to recover that earlier time of together ha""iness, drive, and sim"licity, es"ecially since his life has been so chaotic ever since he lost her. her. He believes that getting 'aisy, the goal he set out to attain so many years ago, would "ut his life back on track and make him com"lete. C. =t the end of the cha"ter, Nick describes 8atsby 8atsby kissing 'aisy in ouisville ouisville +ve years before. before. What is 8atsby giving giving u" when when he kisses her? Why? a. L" to this "oint, "oint, 8atsby has has been his his own man, the man man that he created created that that +rst day he ste""ed ste""ed on 'an Iody(s yacht. Now, with this kiss, kiss, he becomes attached to someone else and he knows that by kissing her, things will never be the same for him.
The Great Gatsby – – Chapter 7 Questions 1. Why does 8atsby sto" giving "arties? Why did 8atsby +re all of his servants? Who re"laced them? them? What was uniEue about these re"lacements? re"lacements? a. 2to""e 2to""ed d givin giving g "art "arties ies>> i. 8atsby sto""e sto""ed d giving giving "arties "arties because because 'aisy 'aisy disa""ro disa""roved ved of them. them. b. Fir ired ed all of of his serv servant ants> s> i. 'aisy was was visiting visiting 8atsby 8atsby in the afte aftern rnoons oons and 8atsby 8atsby was was afraid afraid that his house servants would gossi" about it in town and he wanted to "rotect 'aisy(s 'aisy(s re"utation. Af course, he was was right 0 they would have gossi"ed Nick found out from his Finn Finn who found out during one of her e3cursions e3c ursions to town. c. Ke"l e"lace aced d serv servant ants s with> with> i. 8atsby re"lac re"laced ed his servants servants with with some brot brothers hers and sisters( sisters( of Beyer Beyer Wolfshiem(s whether they were actually related to Wolfshiem or not we don(t know but they were most likely likely not servants. d. Lni LniEue Eue about about re"l re"lace acemen ments> ts> i. $he new wait wait sta5 "robabl "robably y "erformed "erformed illegal illegal duties duties for 8atsby 8atsby instead instead of household duties. %. What does 8atsby 8atsby see at 'aisy(s 'aisy(s house that disturb disturbs s him? Why does this this bother him so much?
a. 8atsby 8atsby sees 'aisy(s 'aisy(s daughte daughter, r, Oammy Oammy,, at 'aisy(s. 'aisy(s. b. Oam Oammy my com"licates things. 2he acts as an eternal eternal connection connection between $om and 'aisy. 'aisy. :t won(t be as easy to ust erase the "ast 9 years/ with a child in the "icture. c. 8atsb 8atsby y will +nd it harder harder for him conscienti conscientiously ously to take take 'aisy from from her family/. . What What does does 'aisy 'aisy do while $om $om is in the other room? What does she tell -ordan to do? Why does -ordan -ordan call 'aisy a low, vulgar vulgar girl(? a. 'aisy kisse kisses s 8atsby 8atsby and tells tells him him that she she loves loves him. him. When -orda -ordan n calls calls her on it, 'aisy tells tells -ordan to kiss Nick. -ordan calls 'aisy a low, vulgar girl because ladies do not show a5ection in that way while in the "resence of others. =5ection is "rivate and should be shown shown ) ke"t that way. 7. When does $om +rst realize that 'aisy loves loves 8atsby? a. When they(r they(re e standing in the hot room room and 'aisy tells tells 8atsby he always always looks so cool./ b. $his "hrase is said with with such intense "assion "assion in her voice voice and look that $om is all of a sudden aware that something has been going on.
9. 'escribe what(s going going on with 8eorge 8eorge Wilson. What does does he want to do? Why does does he suddenly need money from ) made o5 of $om? a. 8eorge says says he(s been been wised wised u" to some things recently recently,/ ,/ that he(s feeling sick, and that he and Byrtle are heading out West. b. 8eorge has has become aware that that Byrtle is cheating on on him and this kills him. He(s lost it all now and is des"erate to esca"e New ork ork with his wife and his life in tact even if it means losing his soul and dream. <. Why is Byrtle Wilson Wilson u"set when when she sees sees $om $om and -ordan? -ordan? a. Byrtle is ealous. ealous. 2he assumes that that -ordan is $om(s wife and it a""ears from the room above that he(s ignoring her, not even trying to see her, but instead enoying a New ork ork outing with his wife. @. Why does does Fitzgerald Fitzgerald em"hasize the heat? heat? Af what could the weather be symbolic? symbolic? a. $he heat heat is sti;in sti;ing g and su5ocati su5ocating. ng. :t is lik like e the tensio tension n in the mids midstt of this this grou" the tension is mounting and "retty soon, something will have to give or something will e3"lode. e3"lode. $his cha"ter is the clima3 the the heat re"resents re"resents the "assions that are brought to this clima3, "assions of ealousy, of love, of "ride, and of hate. C. What is ironic ironic about $om saying that that he has second second sight? a. $om doesn(t have second sight( if if he did, he would have have known that something was wrong wrong in his own house long before now. now. He can(t have second sight because that would suggest that he look outside of himself
whenever all he really really cares cares about is himself. himself. $he only reason reason he is u"set is because this u"sets his ideal of social structure and the role that the "eo"le in his life are su""osed to "lay. D. What is the signi+cance signi+cance of &locks/ &locks/ &ilo3i? &ilo3i? Why do you think Fitzgerald Fitzgerald inserted inserted this little tid4bit? a. When we look look at 8atsby(s 8atsby(s "arty, "arty, many "eo"le "eo"le went went to these "arties "arties uninvited and there was a broad range of social classes at his "arties. ooking at the &uchanan(s &uchanan(s wedding, is it so di5erent? $hey had a nobody im"ose on their wedding day uninvited. 1.. 1 Why Why is Nick Nick so "lea "lease sed d wit with h 8at 8atsb sby( y(s sh hon ones esty ty abou aboutt A3f A3for ord? d? 2how 2how how how thi this s "leasure turns turns to disgust then back to "leasure as the cha"ter "rogresses. "rogresses. a. Nick is tired tired of all the secrecy secrecy and lies that that is going on around him and he is refreshed refr eshed to discover that 8atsby was, after all, being honest about a bout who he was. He now has someone someone with whom he can identify, identify, someone with integrity, and he likes the way that 8atsby gracefully cuts $om short. b. $hen, when when 8atsby is talking talking about the accident accident,, he once again seems seems like like a brutal lower class thug to Nick because of his callous and insensitive attitude towards Byrtle(s death. c. Ance he tells tells Nick Nick that 'aisy 'aisy was was driving driving the car, car, Nick Nick once again again a""reciates 8atsby because he(s not callous at all he(s sim"ly trying to "rotect the woman he loves at all costs.
11.. 11 Why Why doe does s $om $om refer efer to the the lia liais ison on betw betwee een n 'ai 'aisy sy and and 8at 8atsb sby y iin n ter terms ms of intermarriage? a. $om is very very class class conscience. conscience. He believes believes that there is no di5erence di5erence in "eo"le of di5erent classes cavorting around than there are between "eo"le of di5erent races. races. He believes that the lower classes, like like the lower races(, must be ke"t in their "laces, beaten down so as to remain there, there, and he does this with 8atsby and in doing so destroy destroys s 8atsby(s dream. b. =gain =gain,, the double4standa double4standard rd a""lies a""lies it(s okay okay for him to associate associate with someone from a di5erent di5erent class but it(s not okay okay for 'aisy to. Ihances are, it would have been okay to him had 'aisy been having an a5air as long as she was doing so with someone from their own social class. 1%.. 1% $om says says that that he will will be bett better er to 'ais 'aisy y ffrrom now now on, on, that that he will will tak take bet bette terr care of her. her. 'o you think he will? 2u""ort your answer with with information information from the book. a. 2hortly after he says this, $om knows that 'aisy isn(t going to leave him, yet he makes her take a humiliating ride home with 8atsby instead of letting her ride home with him. him. 2o no, chances are he hasn(t learned learned his lesson nor will he change, ever.
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Why do does Ni Nick ch change hi his fe feelings to toward -or -ord dan? a. -ordan talks like like the &uchanans and she stays stays with with them occasionally occasionally.. =f =fter ter the day they all had, Nick no longer likes the &uchanans nor anyone associated with them, including including -ordan. He doesn(t like what what they re"resent re"resent or who they are.
17.. 17 How How does does 8at 8atsb sby y char charac acte teri rize ze 'ais 'aisy( y(s s voic voice? e? What What do you you thi think nk he mean means s by this? a. :t(s full of money. 'aisy(s voice re"r re"resents esents the u""er class class from which which she comes. 2he s"eaks with the attitude of the u""er class. $his is "art of the dream that holds 8atsby all of these years 0 it(s not ust her that he(s obsessed with, it(s her lifestyle. He wants to be a "art of her world.
The Great Gatsby – – Chapter 8 Questions 1. What does 8atsby tell tell Nick Nick the night of the accident? accident? Why? a. $he truth about his "astReverythi "astReverything ng from -ames 8atz 8atz to his relationshi" relationshi" with with 'aisy. %. 'id 8atsby want to go to A3ford? a. No. :t was was an accident that he was was sent there there and he tried the whole time to make it back. . What would you say is the "rinci"al "rinci"al reason for 'aisy(s 'aisy(s a""eal to 8atsby? a. 8atsby 8atsby does love 'aisyJm 'aisyJmaybeJ aybeJ.but .but she(s she(s from the world world he desires. desires. 2he has money, social status, and she(s the kind of nice girl/ that would be the "erfect wife for the u""er class lifestyle he has always imagined for himself. b. $he reader reader sees here that that maybe 8atsby didn(t com"letely com"letely love love 'aisy for her there was a bit of sel+sh social climbing in this "articular girl. 7. How does does Nick leave 8atsby? a. Nick is reluctant to leave leave 8atsby 8atsby.. He misses misses trains trains staying staying with 8atsby, almost as if he knows this will be the last time time that he sees sees him. =lthough he is tied to the &uchanans !by blood, school, background, etc.#, he feels a real connection to 8atsby and hates to leave him. 9. How does Nick com"liment com"liment 8atsby 8atsby and what what is 8atsby(s reaction? reaction? Why is it im"ortant that Nick thank 8atsby? a. Nick tells tells 8atsby that although he originally originally disliked disliked him, he(s learned learned that 8atsby(s better that the rest of them 0 meaning $om, $om, 'aisy, -ordan, -o rdan, etc. b. 8atsby at +rst +rst isn(t sure sure how to take this com"liment com"liment then, when when he realizes realizes what Nick is saying and what it truly means, he is e3tremely e3tremely ha""y and Nick
knows it. 8atsby realizes realizes that Nick is com"limenting com"limenting him by telling him that that he is true while the others around him lead false lives. c. Bany "eo"le "eo"le have have used 8atsby 8atsby throughou throughoutt the story story and Nick feels feels that he needs to thank 8atsby, not only for all that he(s done but for who he is. <. How does 8eorge 8eorge Wilson s"end the the night after the accident? a. He(s rockin rocking g back and forth, staring staring o5, crying crying and shouting, shouting, Ah my 8od*/ 8od*/ b. Bicha Bichaelis elis is the the only "erson "erson who stays stays with him him to kee" kee" an eye on him. @. What evidence had Wilson found that his wife was having having an a5air? a. Wilson Wilson found a new, new, e3"ensi e3"ensive ve dog collar collar ) leash. leash. b. Not only do they they NA$ own a dog, Byrtl Byrtle e shouldn(t shouldn(t be able to a5ord a5ord that collar ) leash. i.He was already concerned because she(d come home from the city with a black eye and a busted nose one day. C.What do the eyes of 'r. $.-. Gckleburg symbolize to 8eorge Wilson? What is signi+cant about this symbol? a. 8od(s eyes eyes always always watching watching and seeing seeing everyt everything. hing. b. :t shows that Byrtle(s indiscreti indiscretions ons were being watched the entire entire time, but overall it re"resents re"resents how all of the sinful actions of the characters have been seen and won(t go unrecognize unrecognized d by 8od. D.How do you think think Wilson got 8atsby(s 8atsby(s name? 'oes any evidence evidence in this cha"ter cha"ter "oint to a "articular "erson? a. 8eorge 8eorge got the information information about 8atsby 8atsby from from $om. $om. b. Wil Wilson son told Bichael Bichaelis is that he had had a way of +nding +nding out whom the yello yellow w car belonged to./ 1.How does Nick characterize 8atsby(s state of mind before the incident/ which occurs at the end of the cha"ter? What is this incident/ incident/ that ha""ens? a. 8atsby 8atsby seems confused confused and frightful frightful.. He(s looking looking at the world with the eyes eyes of a "erson who realizes it(s time to +nd a new dream. $his makes even the sim"lest "arts of the world seem new and scary to him because it(s a world that(s unknown. b. Wil Wilson son shows u" and shoots shoots 8atsby 8atsby while while 8atsby(s 8atsby(s ;oating ;oating in the "ool, "ool, then shoots himself.
The Great Gatsby – – Chapter 9 Questions 1. Why do $om and 'aisy leave? What does $om confess to Nick when they meet that fall? 'oes he regret regret what he has has done? a. $om and 'aisy, as usual, run away so that they won(t have to acce"t acce"t any res"onsibility res"onsibil ity in the tragedy that has unfolded. $hey evidentl evidently y left
Ihicago in much the same way, according to 'aisy(s reference reference of their hasty de"arture from Ihicago when they were all in the hotel room at the Olaza. $hey are sim"ly sim"ly careless careless "eo"le who don(t take res"onsibility res"onsibility or seem to care care who gets hurt or what they(ve done. done. We can see that neither of them has changed. b. $om confesses that he told Wilson 8atsby 8atsby owned the car car and where where Wilson could +nd 8atsby. c. $om says 8atsby 8atsby had it coming coming to him for what what he did to Byrtle Byrtle.. i. $he reader reader isn(t isn(t given given enough enough informatio information n to know whether whether or not he(s he(s saying this to cover for 'aisy or if he really believes that 8atsby was the driver. ii. Githe Githerr way, ther there(s e(s no doubt doubt that the the outcome outcome would(v would(ve e been the the same either way> way> he would(ve said 8atsby did it no matter what to save himself and 'aisy. %. What does the tele"ho tele"hone ne call from from Ihicago Ihicago tell us about 8atsby(s 8atsby(s business? business? a. $he business is is crumbling. Oeo"l Oeo"le e are getting arrested arrested and there are "roblems. b. $his means means it(s "ossible "ossible that that even if if he would(ve would(ve livedRGM livedRGMGN GN if he would(ve ke"t 'aisyRthat everything would(ve fallen a"art anyway. . What does does Qli"s"ri Qli"s"ringer nger want want from from Nick? Nick? How does does Nick Nick react react to this? this? a. Qli"s"ring Qli"s"ringer er wants wants his tenni tennis s shoes. shoes. b. Nick gets angry and hangs hangs u" u" on him. i. $his shows the reader reader that NANG of 8atsby(s "artygoers really really cared cared about him at all they were all ust using him for what they could get out of himR"arties, alcohol, a "lace to stay, a good timeRand none would be there for him if he needed them. 7. What is the signi+cance signi+cance of Br. Br. 8atz( arrival? What is the irony irony of Br. Br. 8atz( admiration of 8atsby(s house? a. ou would think that some of 8atsby(s friends( would be around when they learn that he has "assed away, yet the only one to come to the house is his father, the man that 8atsby disowned because he wasn(t good enough for 8atsby. 8atsby. Br Br.. 8atz( admiration of the house shows that he is "robably not that di5erent from 8atsby after all he is truly im"ressed with the show of wealth, ust like 8atsby was.
9. Why does Br. Br. 8atz show Nick 8atsby(s schedule schedule from from his youth? What does this show you about the kind of "erson 8atsby was was meant to be? What is the "athos of 8atsby(s youthful resolutions? resolutions? a. 8atsby(s 8atsby(s schedule schedule shows shows that since since his youth, youth, he has been been a determine determined d individual, determined determined to make something of himself and to be a good "erson while he was at it.
b. He left left home in search search of the =merican =merican 'ream( 'ream( and while while he does earn the material success, he doesn(t let him ruin him like so many others do he did become a better "erson, better than those who belong to the u""er class to which he struggled to belong. <. What is the signi+cance of the the owl4eyed owl4eyed man(s attendance attendance at the funeral? With what can we associate him? a. $he owl4eyed owl4eyed man man guessed guessed at the de"th de"th of the man who was was 8atsby 8atsby he res"ected him and in so doing, he showed u" to "ay those res"ects and to feel com"assion and "ity that few others realized ust how good of a man 8atsby truly was. We can associate associa te him with the eyes of 'r. 'r. $. $. -. Gckleburg in his omniscient "owers he knew about the service although Nick had never called him and he was able to see( into 8atsby(s very soul. @. What is the signi+ signi+cance cance of of -ordan(s -ordan(s comme comment nt about about the bad bad driver/? driver/? How does does Nick characterize $om and 'aisy at the end of the book? What have they smashed/ throughout the book? a. -ordan> i. $his is another another refer reference ence to the careles careless( s( lives that "eo"le "eo"le like like -ordan -ordan and the &uchanans live. -ordan, $om, $om, and 'aisy are used to life watching out for them instead of the other way around unfortunately, Nick didn(t share in that "hiloso"hy and this bothered her. her. b. $om and and 'aisy 'aisy>> i. He says they(re they(re careles careless s "eo"le, like like childr children, en, who smashed smashed everyone everyone and everything else u" and left the mess for someone else to clean u" while they esca"ed through their money. C. Why does the era of Orohibition Orohibition lend lend an added signi+cance signi+cance to the the hy"ocrisy em"hasized in The Great Gatsby? a. :n almost every scene of the book, alcohol "lays a signi+cant role. Mery rarely is is $om $om mentioned that he isn(t drinking. drinking. !'aisy was drunk on her wedding day the dinners at the &uchanans and the "arties at 8atsby(s all have drinks $om and Byrtle get into a drunken brawl lunch in NI is serviced with alcohol $om grabs whiskey before they go to the Olaza Hotel etc.# et, $om $om has the audacity to look down at the man who is su""lying this alcohol 8atsby, who isn(t royalty( like $om, is treated as a common criminal, although he "rovides a role that evidently $om and others like him can(t do without. D. What is a true gentleman(? Who was the true gentleman 0 $om or 8atsby? G3"lain. a. = true gentlem gentleman an is someone someone who is true true to himself, himself, who behaves behaves in a conscientious manner at all times, and who treats others with absolute res"ect and dignity dignity.. 8atsby most certainly matches this de+nition. He forges through life in his "ursuit of true love, he doesn(t rise to the bait
that $om throws at him, and he is com"letely res"ectful of all who are around him at any given time. 1.. 1
What What does does Nic Nick k mean mean when when he says says the the holoc holocaust aust was com"le com"lete/ te/? ? a. $hose who who wer were e most innocent innocent !8atsby !8atsby an and d Wilson# Wilson# are are now dead. b. $hose who were were res"onsible !'aisy and $om# will never "ay "ay..
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What What doe does the the gree green n lig light ht symbolize at the end of the novel? a. $he overall overall =meric =merican an dream dream > the ho"e that that it can be achieved achieved and and the desire)need desire)ne ed to kee" reaching for that great dream even when all the odds are against you and it seems ho"eless
