Name: ______________________________________ Period: ________ Date: ________________________________
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Chapter Four
Episode One
The opening of chapter four contains a list of Gatsby’s party guests. In many cases, Nick provides a detail or two about
individuals.
a. List three details Nick notes:
b. Looking at the descriptive details collectively, what do they have in common? What do they reveal about the
nature of Gatsby’s party guests?
c. What does Fitzgerald reveal about the spirit of the times with these details? How does the text relate to life
during the 1920s in America.
Episode Two
“Look here, old sport…What’s your opinion of me, anyhow?”
-- Jay Gatsby
Below, you will find statements that Nick makes in reference to his opinions of Gatsby’s truthfulness and sincerity
regarding Gatsby’s past. Look any words in the examples that you do not know. For each:
1. “And with this doubt, his whole statement fell to pieces, and I wondered if there wasn’t something a little sinister
about him after all.” This example comes from page __________.
a. Key details that prompt this observation (words or actions):
b. Do you agree with Nick’s observation? Why or why not?
2. “For a moment I suspected he was pulling my leg, but a glance at him convinced me otherwise.” page __________
a. Key details that prompt this observation (words or actions):
b. Do you agree with Nick’s observation? Why or why not?
3. “With an effort I managed to restrain my incredulous laughter. The very phrases were worn so threadbare that they
evoked no image except that of a ‘turbaned’ character” leaking sawdust at every pore as he pursued a tiger through the
Bois de Boulogne.” page _________
a. Key details that prompt this observation (words or actions):
b. Do you agree with Nick’s observation? Why or why not?
4. “My incredulity was submerged in fascination now; it was like skimming hastily through a dozen magazines.”
page __________
a. Key details that prompt this observation (words or actions):
b. Do you agree with Nick’s observation? Why or why not?
5. Look closely at Gatsby’s interaction with the police officer. How does Gatsby’s behavior conflict with the image he
presents to Nick?
Episode Three
In the first half of chapter four, Gatsby goes to great lengths to prove his legitimacy as a man of status and wealth. By
the second half, another picture of Gatsby emerges. Frequently, an individual’s associations with other people provide
clues to his true nature. In this episode, Gatsby and Nick have a meeting with Mr. Wolfsheim.
1. Pay attention to the characterization of Mr. Wolfsheim.
a. List five clarifying details that provide a picture of Mr. Wolfsheim.
b. Briefly explain the conclusions you draw about Mr. Wolfsheim’s character.
2. Pay attention to Gatsby.
a. Identify significant behaviors that Gatsby exhibits.
b. Briefly explain the contradictions in Gatsby’s image from the beginning of the chapter to the meeting with
Wolfsheim.
Episode Four
In the final pages of chapter four, we find out about Daisy and Gatsby’s past relationship as well as Gatsby’s motives for
coming to West Egg.
1. Summarize the nature of Gatsby and Daisy’s relationship years ago:
2. Scenes from a marriage
In Jordan’s telling of the events surrounding the Buchanan marriage:
a. What details provide proof that there were cracks in the marriage long before the action of the novel takes
place?
b. What appears to have been a major motivator for Daisy to marry Tom?
c. How do the details noted in a. and b. set the tone for a marriage?
2. What is Gatsby’s purpose for moving to West Egg? How do you know?
3. What might this mean for the characters as the plot develops?