The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald / Chapter III - READER'S GUIDE
Motif - A dominant idea that appears frequently in a work of literature
Look for the following motifs: isolation / dream vs. reality / noses & smell / eyes & sight / car accidents or mishaps / old money vs. new money / East
vs. West / light & shadows / class & rich consuming the poor / exploration & settlement / weather & seasons / death & ghosts / nature (birds,
vegetation, etc.) / sunlight & moonlight / the sea / dust & ash
Symbolism - Frequent use of words, places, characters, or objects that mean something beyond what they are on a literal level.
Look for symbolism: characters’ names / colors (green, white, silver, yellow, and gold) / the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg / books / heart / windows /
clocks & timetables & schedules / cars / dust & ash
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asunder – apart
cataracts – waterfalls
caterwauling – noisily crying
contemptuous – showing hatred
convivial – festive
cordial – cocktail
corpulent – stout; fat
credulity – to believe on slight evidence
crescendo – rise in volume
discordant – clashing; out of harmony
duster – full length coat
echolalia – meaningless repetition
erroneous – in error
14. finger bowl – bowl of water used to clean
fingers between courses
15. florid – reddish complexion
16. fortnight – two weeks
17. fraternal – friendly; brotherly
18. harlequin – multicolored
19. homogeneity – sameness; similarity
20. innuendo – indirect implication
21. insolent – overbearing
22. loitered – lingered
23. malevolence – ill will
24. obligingly – in an accommodating way
25. poignant – moving; affecting
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prodigality – lavishness
provincial – unsophisticated
rent – torn
row – noisy disturbance, quarrel
spectroscopic - observable
speculation – wondering
subterfuges – deceptions
tortuously – winding, twisting
tumultuous – confused and disorderly
vacuous – empty of content
vehemently – powerfully; passionately
vinous – wine-induced
didn’t cut the pages: The books in Gatsby’s library are rare first editions, in which the sheets are folded into pages but not yet cut apart.
The Follies: immensely popular musical revue started by Florenz Ziegfeld in 1907
Frisco: vaudeville performer, jazz dancer
white flannels: white trousers made of light flannel
Stoddard lectures: travel books taking in the entire world
Belasco - A very successful American actor, producer, playwright, and theater manager - Owl Eyes thinks of Gatsby as a "regular Belasco" because
of his magnificent library and real books.
Tostoff: Vladimir Tostoff's Jazz History of the World is an imaginary composition by an imaginary composer. It is Fitzgerald's cynical comment on
how jazz music tried to present itself as a serious rival to classical music during the 20’s.
1.
How is the motif dream vs. reality demonstrated in the first paragraph?
2.
Nick describes the party in colorful detail. What kind of mood does this establish?
3.
Why do you suppose it is important to Nick that he received a formal invitation to the
party?
4.
Though he was invited, Nick seems to be the only one who is uncomfortable. Why is
that?
5.
Explain Nick’s comment, “It was testimony to the romantic speculation he [Gatsby]
inspired that there were whispers about him from those who had found little that it was
necessary to whisper about in this world.”
6.
Historically, what do owls represent or symbolize?
7.
What does “Owl Eyes” expect to find when he pulls a book from the shelf?
8.
Describe Nick’s initial impression of Gatsby and how it is contradictory.
9.
Even though she has no proof, why do you suppose Jordan does not believe Gatsby when he says that he attended Oxford College in
England?
10. What do you think Jordan means by this statement: “And I like large parties. They’re so intimate. At small parties there isn’t any privacy.”
11. Why do you think Fitzgerald waits until Chapter III to introduce Gatsby?
12. He doesn’t seem to have fun at them, so why do you think Gatsby throws such lavish parties, peopled by strangers?
13. In what ways is Gatsby’s behavior at his party quite unlike the behavior of most of his guests?
14. What do you think Fitzgerald wishes to convey about the parties and the 1920’s through the drunks, the car accident, and the husbands and
wives arguing?
15. According to Nick, what is the purpose of the last section of this chapter
that begins, “Reading over what I have written so far...”? Is this a
necessary interruption? Why or why not?
16. Nick describes his daily life in New York. Does it seem like he is enjoying
this new chapter in his life? Why or why not?
17. What story about Jordan does Nick finally remember, and what triggers the memory?
18. What do you suppose Nick means by this statement: “Dishonesty in a woman is a thing you never blame deeply . . .”?
19. The last sentence of the chapter is one of Nick’s assessments of himself: “Every one suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues, and
this is mine: I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known.” Do you see this as accurate? Why or why not?
20. In what ways are the parties in chapters two and three alike? In what ways are they different?