Summer Reading List: Grade 12
All 12th-grade students will read Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe AND The Great
Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The school library has copies for students to use and keep. Study
questions are shown below, and students must turn in answers to these questions the first day of
school. Complete sentences are not necessary.
In addition, all 12th-grade students are encouraged to read one or more of the following books:
Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper
The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne (copies are available
at school)
Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Students will receive extra credit for reading any of these books if a short summary of the book
is turned in at the beginning of the school year. These books are also available at the same
outlets mentioned above. Any student who reads all of the books will be eligible to receive a gift
certificate to Givens Bookstore (maximum 10 awarded). Please call Mrs. Mitchell at school
(847-8313) or at home (528-8504) if you have any questions about the assignment.
PUT ALL ANSWERS ON NOTEBOOK PAPER.
Questions for Uncle Tom’s Cabin:
Ch. 1 How does Mr. Haley contradict himself when he says, “These critters ain’t like
white folks, you know; they gets over things . . . .”?
How does the title of the chapter, “. . . a Man of Humanity,” have two meaning,
one of which is satirical?
Ch. 2
Why did George Harris’ owner remove him from the factory, where he could use
his skills, and take him back to the plantation?
Ch. 3
Why does George tell Eliza he wished he had never seen her? Why is their hope
“as a spider web”?
Ch. 5
Why does Uncle Tom refuse to run away with Eliza and Harry?
CONTINUED NEXT PAGE
Ch. 9
What is ironic about Senator Bird helping Eliza to escape?
Ch. 10 How does the author reveal her own opinion and stereotyping of the slaves?
Ch. 12 Why does the chapter begin with the quote from the Bible, “. . . Rachel weeping for her
children . . .”?
Ch. 15
Compare Marie’s and Mammy’s reactions to Eva’s affection toward them.
Ch. 16
Why does Marie think Mammy is selfish? What does St. Clare say is the attitude of
Northerners toward black people?
Ch. 17
When George asks why God lets slavery happen, how does Simeon reply?
Ch. 18-19 Briefly summarize the reasons Augustine St. Clare owns slaves when he knows it is
morally wrong.
Ch. 20
Why is Topsy “so wicked”?
Ch. 21-26 What are at least two ways Eva tries to help the slaves? What does she give each of
them?
Ch. 30
How does the story of Susan and Emmeline add pathos (look it up!) to the chapter?
Ch. 33
Why did Legree secretly dislike Tom?
Ch. 34-41 How is Tom like Job? How is he like Christ?
Ch. 44
In what way is Uncle Tom’s Cabin to be a memorial?
Ch. 45
Why does the author say the North is just as guilty as the South concerning slavery?
Questions for The Great Gatsby:
Ch. 1
1. Compare the homes of Nick, Gatsby, and the Buchanans. How does each home reflect
the personality of its owner?
2. When discussing East Egg and West Egg, Nick states, “To the wingless a more arresting
phenomenon is their dissimilarity in every particular except shape and size.” Indicate
what the “dissimilarities” might be.
3. Though we do not meet Gatsby until Chapter 3, we hear references to him in the
conversations of others. Note each reference. What impressions do you get?
Ch. 2
1. Describe the "valley of ashes." What does it represent?
2. What violent act does Tom commit against Myrtle?
Ch. 3
1. What rumors have been told about Gatsby? Why does Fitzgerald reveal rumors rather
than fact?
Ch. 4
1. Describe Gatsby’s car.
2. Explain the epigraph (the quote) on the title page of the novel. What does it reveal about
Gatsby and his love for Daisy?
3. Why does Gatsby have so many parties? Why did he buy the house?
Ch. 5
1. What does Gatsby do in preparation for Daisy’s arrival?
2. What is the effect of rain on the plot?
3. What is the significance of the green light?
Ch. 6
1.
2.
3.
4.
What was Gatsby’s real name? Why and when had he changed it?
Why did Daisy and Tom find Gatsby's party loathsome?
What suspicions does Tom have about Gatsby? What does he vow to do?
How did Gatsby measure the success of his party?
Ch. 7
1. Who is Trimachio? Explain how this describes Gatsby.
2. What was significant about Nick’s 30th birthday?
3. What does Gatsby mean when he says that Daisy’s voice is “full of money”?
Ch. 8
1. Describe the importance of the seasons in the construction of the novel.
2. Who is Dan Cody? What is his significance in Gatsby’s life?
3. How does Wilson view the “eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg”? Does Wilson’s statement
have a symbolic meaning in the novel as a whole?
Ch. 9
1.
2.
3.
4.
What makes Nick take responsibility for the funeral arrangements?
What version of the tragedy appeared in the newspapers?
How had Gatsby’s father learned of the tragedy?
What was the significance of Gatsby’s boyhood program for self-improvement?