CHAPTER 3
Have you ever been to a party? Or in
a really large crowd? How did it feel?
Stressful, exciting, friendly, lonely?
Group Work!
• Look at the passage (OPEN your books)
• DISCUSS the questions together
• Be ready to share with the class
New Money
• Look at the description of Gatsby’s house parties (pg 39 – 40)
How can you tell Gatsby is New Money? Identify at least 3 details about
his possessions and/or style.
• What colors seem to be associated with New Money?
• What descriptive words does Nick use for Gatsby’s style? How might Nick
feel about these displays? (Remember he’s Old Money)
• With what we know about New Money, why does Gatsby have these
possessions and host these parties? What might he be trying to do?
• Do you know anybody who would do the same thing if they had the
chance? Would you?
•
Disconnect
• Look at the description of Gatsby’s guests (pg 40 – 41)
What words describe them? What actions does Fitzgerald detail?
• What seems to be their mood? How do they feel about being at this
party?
• How do they feel about their host, Gatsby?
• Fitzgerald uses terms like “minute by minute” and “swiftly”, what do
these suggest about the pace of the party?
• With that in mind, what might be happening to actual human connection
in this environment? Why has connection been important to our previous
literary characters?
•
Nick
• Notice how Nick fits into the party (pg 41 – 42)
Why is Nick at the party?
• What does he wear?
• What does Nick assume about the young Englishmen who are hanging
around? As an Old Money person, how would he feel about their work?
• Why does Nick attach himself to Jordan Baker? Give more than one
reason. Think about where she’s standing when he sees her.
• What is Nick doing that’s similar to how he acted in Chapter 2?
•
Gatsby
• Notice all the rumors about Gatsby (pg 43 – 44)
Note at least three rumors about Gatsby’s background.
• Why do the guests share these rumors? Do you think they believe them?
• Have you ever gotten caught up in sharing rumors? Why are they so
interesting?
•
• Look at Nick’s reaction after he meets Gatsby (pg 49)
What rumor does Jordan add?
• Why is Nick doubtful about the truth of these rumors? As an Old Money
person, why would he be skeptical of Gatsby’s wealth?
•
The Library
• Notice when Nick and Jordan step into the Library (pg 45 – 46)
What style is the Library? Why do you think Gatsby chose this style?
• What book does the man with Owl Eyes pull off the shelf? Where have we
seen this author’s name before (look it up)?
• Why is Owl Eyes impressed by the fact that the books are real? What
about the party or Gatsby’s style might have made him doubtful?
• Given the environment of the party, do you think anybody else is going to
step in and notice the books?
• What does it suggest for society if they (we) have lost appreciation for
their own history and knowledge?
•
Tomorrow!
• Read the rest of Chapter 3
Notice the glimpses we get of Gatsby
• Notice how Nick describes his life and relationships
•
• Bring Chapter 3 notes (for a grade)
CHAPTER 3
(Continued)
Explain the feeling of loneliness. How
does it feel (physically, mentally)?
Why do we feel it? Does it depend on
who we’re around?
Gatsby’s Potential
• Look at Nick’s first impression of Gatsby (pg 48)
If his smile “understood you just so far as you wanted to be understood,”
what is Gatsby able to do that the others at this party have failed at?
• If Gatsby has “a quality of eternal reassurance” what potential might he
have?
•
Lack of Connection
•
OK, but nobody at this party is actually connecting with each other.
•
Look through pg 49 – 55
•
Find a quote showing people’s lack of emotional connection. Focus
especially on Gatsby. What feels false or empty or isolated?
Nick’s Loneliness
•
Nick experiences it too.
•
Look at his explanation of his life in the city: pg 56 – 57
•
Find quotes showing how and why he feels lonely.
Jordan & Nick’s Lies
•
The other issue going on here is dishonesty.
•
Look through pg 57 – 59
•
Find quotes showing how Nick and Jordan are dishonest (either
intentionally or perhaps unknowingly hiding from the truth)
Over the Weekend
• Read to the end of the meeting with Meyer Wolfshiem (pg 74)
This is slightly more than half, but it’ll help our conversation on Monday
• Take notes!
• The rest of Chapter 4 will be completed for Tuesday
•