Chapter Four: Gatsby Study Questions and Vocabulary Packet

GATSBY STUDY QUESTIONS and VOCABULARY PACKET The following questions are a combination of comprehension/knowledge level questions and interpretive level questions. Answering them will help prepare you for class discussion, quizzes, and the final test for the unit. CHAPTER FOUR 1. What does Gatsby tell Nick about himself? Gatsby tells Nick about his background, claiming to be the son of wealthy parents from the Midwest, educated at Oxford, and having inherited his family fortune 2. What accomplishments of Meyer Wolfshiem’s does Gatsby describe to Nick? How does Nick react? Gatsby describes Meyer Wolfshiem as a notorious gambler and a business associate who fixed the 1919 World Series. Nick reacts with skepticism and incredulity 3. According to Jordan, what did Daisy do on her wedding way? Why? According to Jordan, Daisy was deeply upset and cried on her wedding day because she received a letter from Gatsby and realized she couldn't marry him because of his absence 4. Why does Gatsby want to have tea with Daisy in Nick’s house? Why doesn’t Gatsby ask Nick for this favor himself? Gatsby wants to have tea with Daisy in Nick's house because he wants to reunite with her in a familiar and neutral setting. He doesn't ask Nick for the favor himself because he prefers to maintain a sense of distance and secrecy about his intentions 5. What does tom do when he and Daisy return from their honeymoon? When Tom and Daisy return from their honeymoon, Tom is unfaithful to Daisy, engaging in extramarital affairs 6. Aside from the improbability of his story, what other evidence is there that Gatsby is lying when he tells Nick about his background? Aside from the improbability of his story, other evidence that Gatsby is lying about his background includes his reluctance to provide specific details and the inconsistencies in his behavior and mannerisms 7. What does Gatsby’s friendship with Meyer Wolfshiem imply about his own background? Gatsby's friendship with Meyer Wolfshiem implies that his own background may be shady or involved in illegal activities, as Wolfshiem is known for his criminal connections 8. How does Daisy behave after Gatsby goes overseas? What does her behavior show about her feelings for Gatsby? After Gatsby goes overseas, Daisy becomes involved with Tom Buchanan and eventually marries him. Her behavior suggests that while she may have had feelings for Gatsby in the past, she ultimately prioritizes social status and financial security 9. After Jordan tells Nick the story of Gatsby and Daisy, Nick says that Gatsby “came alive to me, delivered suddenly from the womb of his purposeless splendor.” How does the metaphor of birth help explain what Gatsby’s behavior had meant to Nick up to then? The metaphor of birth helps explain that Gatsby's behavior had seemed purposeless and superficial to Nick until he learned about Gatsby's love for Daisy. Gatsby's pursuit of Daisy gives his actions meaning and significance, as if he has been reborn into a purposeful existence driven by love 10. With Jordan in his arms, Nick thinks of a phrase: “There are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy and the tired.” How do you think this phrase reflects on the events of the novel so far? Do you think that Gatsby would agree with the phrase? The phrase "There are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy and the tired" reflects on the various motivations and attitudes of the characters in the novel. Gatsby, as the pursuer of his dreams and of Daisy, would likely agree with the sentiment, as his entire existence revolves around his pursuit of a singular goal