The Great Gatsby Study Guide

The Great Gatsby Study Guide Chapter 1 Directions: Be sure to answer all questions in complete sentences. You must answer all parts of the question for credit. Words to remember: “You see I think everything’s terrible anyhow” You should know the following Literary Terms: Motif Internal Conflict Simile Metaphor Hyperbole 1. From the first two pages, pick 5 words that establish the motif of The Great Gatsby. 2. What business does Nick Carraway go into and why? 3. What year does the story take place? 4. Who does Nick go to the country with? 5. What are the differences between West Egg and East Egg? 6. Describe Tom Buchanan, Why does Nick say Tom has a “cruel body”? 7. Who are the two girls on the divan? 8. How does Daisy talk? Why? 9. Why does Tom’s comment towards Nick involving bond man “annoy him”? 10. How do Tom and Daisy feel about race? Why does Fitzgerald include this information? What does this say about the context of society? 11. What does Tom call Nick? Why? How does Nick feel about what Tom says? 12. Why does Daisy want her daughter to be a fool? What does this reveal about Daisy? 13. How does Tom feel towards Jordan Baker? 14. Explain Nick’s “Engagement.” 15. Who does Nick see at the end of the 1st chapter? What is their interaction? 16. What object does Nick see at the end of the chapter? What literary term is this? Chapter 2 Words to remember: “You can’t live forever; you can’t live forever.” The Least You Should Know: Literary Terms: Setting 1. From the text, choose 5 words that reflect the valley of ashes. You cannot pick the words valley or ashes. 2. What are the “eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg”? 3. Who does Nick meet that he really doesn’t want to? 4. Who is the mistress’ husband? 5. What object does Myrtle want? 6. What happens to Nick for the second time in his life? Why is this important? 7. Describe Myrtle's sister. 8. What does Myrtle say about Daisy? 9. What derogatory term does Mrs. McKee use to describe the man she almost married? 10. Although not explicitly stated in the text, why might Myrtle prefer Tom over her husband? 11. What does Tom do to Myrtle after she mentions Daisy’s name? Is he justified? 12. Again, although it is never stated, how might Nick feel about Tom’s actions? Chapter 3 Words to remember:“And I like large parties. They’re so intimate. At small parties there isn’t any privacy” The Least You Should Know: Literary Terms: Paradox 1. How do people get invited to Gatsby’s parties? 2. Read the following quote, “But the two or three people of whom I asked his whereabouts stared at me in such an amazed way...” What does this show about Gatsby? 3. Who does Nick bump into at Gatsby’s party? 4. What does this sentence mean? “A tray of cocktails floated at us through the twilight, and we sat down at a table with the two girls in yellow and three men, each one introduced to us as Mr.Mumble.” 5. What are some of the rumors that surround Gatsby? What does this show about the people at the party, and what does this show about Gatsby? 6. How does Gatsby’s party further differentiate East Egg and West Egg? 7. Why is there surprise over Gatsby’s library? 8. How do Gatsby and Nick know each other? 9. How does Gatsby smile at Nick? Why is this important? 10. What literary term is the following, “And I like large parties. They’re so intimate. At small parties there isn’t any privacy.” Explain how this could be. 11. Despite their being copious amounts of this at the party, what doesn’t Gatsby partake in? What could this show? 12. Remembering the end of the party, explain the incident with the car. 13. How does Nick feel about New York? Explain. 14. How does Nick feel towards Jordan Baker? 15. Explain what Nick means when he says, “Dishonesty in a woman is a thing you never blame deeply.” 16. At the end of the chapter Nick says, “I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known.” What does this show about Nick? Chapter 4 Words to remember: “He’s an Oggsford man” The Least You Should Know: Literary Terms: Hyperbole Foreshadowing Flashback 1. What is the purpose of listing all the names at the beginning of chapter 4? 2. What does Nick find disappointing about Gatsby? 3. Name two events that Gatsby tells Nick about that Nick finds suspect. What proof does Gatsby offer? 4. Explain the incident between Gatsby and the police officer. 5. Nick says, “Even Gatsby could happen, without any particular wonder.” What does this mean? 6. What happened to Rosy Rosenthal? Why would this information be revealed to the reader? 7. What did Meyer Wolfsheim do? What does this show? 8. Who else do the men see at the restaurant? Not much else is mentioned about this event, so why is this information revealed? 9. Explain Daisy and Jordan’s relationship. 10. What does Daisy do the night before her wedding, and what does she say? 11. In the text, it states, “A week after I left Santa Barbara Tom ran into a wagon on the Ventura road one night and ripped a front wheel off his car. The girl who was with him got into the papers, too, because her arm was broken – She was one of the chambermaids in the Santa Barbara Hotel.” What does this passage imply? 12. Why did Gatsby buy his house? 13. According to Jordan, what does Gatsby want Nick to do? 14. During their conversation, what happens between Nick and Jordan? Chapter 5 Words to remember: “This was a terrible mistake.” The Least You Should Know: Literary Terms: Symbolism 1. Whose grass does Gatsby want cut? 2. What prospect does Gatsby offer Nick? What is his response? 3. How would you describe the beginning of the tea party? 4. Why does Nick scold Gatsby? 5. Once Gatsby pulls himself together, what does he ask Daisy and Nick? 6. What is Daisy’s reaction to Gatsby’s home? 7. What is Daisy’s reaction to Gatsby’s shirt? Is this a logical feeling? What does this say about Daisy? 8. How might Nick feel about Gatsby and Daisy during the time at Gatsby’s house? 9. What does Nick do at the end of the chapter? 10. How do you feel about the current affair? Is Daisy justified in falling in love with Gatsby? Explain. 11. Does Gatsby take advantage of the situation? Chapter 6 Words to remember: “You can’t repeat the past.” 1. What is revealed about Jay Gatsby aka “James Gatz”? 2. What was Dan Cody’s flaw? How might this relate to Gatsby? 3. What did Dan leave Gatsby? What happened? 4. When Nick next sees Gatsby, surprisingly who is with him? 5. Gatsby invites Tom to stay for dinner. What is the reaction and response? 6. How does Nick feel at Gatsby’s party? What does Nick notice? 7. What does Tom accuse Gatsby of? 8. What does Gatsby realize about Daisy’s feelings towards the party? 9. The text states, “You can’t repeat the past.” Is this true? 10. Why does F. Scott Fitzgerald include this chapter about a sad and mostly underwhelming Party? Chapter 7 Words to remember: “She’s going to stay there till the day after tomorrow, and then we’re going to move away.” The Least You Should Know: Literary Terms: Allusion 1. Who is Trimalchio? Why might he be referenced in the text? 2. Describe the weather at the beginning of chapter 7. What literary term might this be? 3. What does Jordan call Daisy? How would you describe their relationship? 4. What character is introduced that surprises Gatsby? 5. What does Tom insist on doing at this very moment? What is Daisy’s reaction? 6. Describe the relationship between Tom, Daisy and Gatsby? 7. Why is Wilson ill? 8. What does Myrtle think about Jordan? 9. What does the group do at the Plaza Hotel? 10. What does Tom antagonize Gatsby about? 11. What does Gatsby tell Tom? Is this a good idea? 12. What does Daisy say about Tom? 13. What does Daisy reveal to Tom? 14. What does Wilson do to Myrtle? 15. What happens to Myrtle? 16. Presumably, who hits Myrtle? How does the audience know? 17. How does Nick feel towards the group? Surprisingly, who does he include? 18. What does Gatsby reveal about the accident? 19. How does Nick view Daisy and Tom’s relationship? 20. Who is Gatsby watching? Why does Nick refer to it as “nothing”? Chapter 8 Words to remember: “You may fool me, but you can’t fool God.” The Least You Should Know: Literary Terms: Rhetorical question 1. How does Nick feel about Gatsby and Daisy’s relationship? 2. How does Nick treat Jordan? Why? 3. Who does Wilson think Myrtle’s lover is? 4. What happens at the end of the chapter? Chapter 9 Words to remember: “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” 1. How does Catherine feel about Gatsby and Myrtle’s “affair”? 2. Who does Nick try to contact in the wake of Gatsby’s death? Why? 3. What character is introduced at the end of the novel? Why is this surprising? 4. How does Nick’s plan for a big funeral go? 5. What does Mr. Gatz show Nick? 6. What is “Eastern life”? How does Nick feel about it? Is he right? 7. What do Jordan and Nick say to each other? 8. When Nick sees Tom, what does Nick initially refuse to do? 9. What is Nick’s final message to the reader?