AP Language & Composition
Mr. Coia
Name: ______________________________________ Period: 5
The Great Gatsby
Unit Guide
These questions will help you to understand the novel, Old Sport.
Please complete each section with thoughtful responses as the chapters are assigned.
This work will prepare you to contribute to class discussions.
There are nine sections each worth five points.
You may have one freebie per section (NOT for the quotations). Skip one question.
Scoring:
1:_____/5
4:_____/5
8:_____/5
2:_____/5
5:_____/5
9:_____/5
3:_____/5
6&7:_____/10
Post:_____/5
Total: _____/50
The Great Gatsby Unit Guide
1
AP Language & Comp
Mr. Coia
Thurs 3/9
• Vocab Quiz 1-80
• Huck Finn exam
• Checkout Gatsby to get ahead
Mon
•
•
•
•
Mon 3/13
• Explain unit guide
• Intro to Participial phrase
• Practice 1: Unscrambling
• 1920s Power Point lecture
• Read chapter 1 in class
3/27
Practice 3: Combining
Quiz on 6&7
Car switching scene
Writing Focus: Including quotations in our
writing, Essentials of Writing (427)
HW: chapters 8 & 9 (finish novel)
Wed 3/29
• Practice 4: Expanding
• Quiz on 8 & 9
• Discussion on the American Dream and
the novel
• Read “Jay Gatsby…a Man for Our Times”
HW: chapters 1&2
Tues-Thurs: Terra Nova Testing
HW: Showcase rough paper due
Fri 3/17
• Practice 2: Imitating
• Quiz on 1 & 2
• Valley of Ashes
• Myrtle’s change/ Spiderman
• Possible Symbols
• AP Free Response questions from 2005
exam: review prompt #1 and read
responses
Fri 3/31
• In-class AP Free Response writing #2
• Review other student responses and scoring
guide
• Showcase rough draft due
• Gatsby: Type a one-sentence summary for
the bulletin board
• Peer editing on paper
HW: chapters 3-5
HW: Showcase paper due
Tues 3/21
• Quiz on 3-5
• Discussion
• Writing strong paragraphs (topic
sentences & unity). Write one paragraph
that could be a part of a Gatsby paper,
Essentials of Writing (67-87)
Tues 4/4
• Showcase due today
• Begin The Great Gatsby video
HW: Study for exam
Thurs 4/6
• Gatsby Exam
• Turn in text (No book = No exam)
• Finish The Great Gatsby video
HW: chapters 6-7
Thurs 3/23
• In-class AP Free Response writing
#3
• Review other student responses and
scoring guide
• Writing strong paragraphs (topic
sentences & unity). Write another
paragraph that could be a part of a
Gatsby paper, Essentials of Writing (6787)
End of Quarter 3: Spring Break
Enjoy the vacation. No homework over break.
2
Gatsby Essay Topics
Mr. Coia
600-750 words
50 points
Rough draft due: 3/31
Final draft due: 4/4
Ideas for Gatsby Showcase paper:
• How is Jay Gatsby a “man for our times” today? (use the essay from class as a model)
• Analyze and evaluate The Great Gatsby in terms of the ideal of “The American Dream.” In
what ways is the novel a criticism of this ideal? Be sure to include the concept of the
“platonic image of himself.”
• Compare the major female characters in the novel: Jordan, Daisy, and Myrtle. How does
each act toward men? What seem to be their motivation and goals? How are they treated
by men?
• Trace the role of religion, God, or theology in the novel.
• The saying, “The clothes make the man” seems to relate to our study of Gatsby. Show
how Fitzgerald uses clothing (and the changing of costumes) to tell us more about his
characters.
• About Tom and Daisy, Nick says, “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy–they
smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast
carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the
mess they had made” (180-181). Explain this passage in light of the entire novel.
• Fully explain the symbol of the green light. The light is mentioned several times in
different contexts (when Nick first sees Gatsby, when Gatsby met Daisy again, on the last
page). If you choose this one (as many others have before you), you must impress me
with something new and interesting. You must say more than just it represents Daisy.
Remember:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Follow Showcase format
Boldface your topic sentences
Include a minimum of two direct quotations from the text
Two hyphenated adjectives
Three participles underlined. Vary these.
Attached your rough draft, the one with student comments, to the back of your final
3
The Great Gatsby Chapter 1
1. Notice how many times Fitzgerald uses the words hope, or dream. What could this mean to the story?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Nick starts the novel by relaying his father's advice "Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that
all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had." List Nick's advantages given in the first two
or three pages.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Pay attention to time. What is the day and year during the first scene at Daisy's house?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Describe Nick. What facts do you know about him, and what do you infer about him? What kind of a narrator do
you think he will be?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
5. How is Jordan Baker described? Who is she?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
6. How does Nick react to Jordan?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
7. What does Tom's behavior reveal about his character?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Quotes: Write down a quote, the page, and why it is important to this chapter.
(page _____): “_________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Why it’s important:
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
4
The Great Gatsby Chapter 2
1. Describe the "valley of ashes." What does it look like and what does it represent?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Describe Mr. Wilson and Myrtle. Do they seem to fit into the setting?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
3. What more have you learned about Nick in this chapter? Is he similar or different than the people he spends his
time with?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Describe the violent act Tom committed against Myrtle. What does this reveal about him?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Quotes: Write down a quote, the page, and why it is important to this chapter.
(page _____): “_________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Why it’s important:
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
5
The Great Gatsby Chapter 3
1. Pay attention to Nick's judgments. What do they reveal about his character that he does this (especially in relation
to his opening comments)?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Describe Gatsby the first time Nick sees him.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
3. What rumors have been told about Gatsby? Why does Fitzgerald reveal rumors rather than fact?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
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4. What does Nick think of Gatsby after meeting him?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
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5. How is Gatsby different from his guests?
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6. Why does Nick choose to share his thoughts and feelings with Jordan?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
7. Nick thinks he's one of the few honest people he knows. Why? Do you think he is honest?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Quotes: Write down a quote, the page, and why it is important to this chapter.
(page _____): “_________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Why it’s important:
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
6
The Great Gatsby Chapter 4
1. List all of the rumors told about Gatsby.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Why does Fitzgerald list all of Gatsby's party guests? What purpose does it serve?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
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3. Why does Gatsby tell Nick about his life? Do you believe Gatsby? Does Nick?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
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4. What role does Meyer Wolfsheim play in the novel? What ethnic background is he? Why is there so much focus on
his nose?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
5. What does Jordan's story of Daisy's marriage reveal about Daisy’s past?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
6. Why did Gatsby want Daisy to see his house?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Quotes: Write down a quote, the page, and why it is important to this chapter.
(page _____): “_________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Why it’s important:
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
7
The Great Gatsby Chapter 5
1. Why does Gatsby deliver so many goods and services to Nick's house?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Describe the effect of rain on the scene when Gatsby and Daisy meet.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Why does Gatsby offer Nick work? How does Nick feel about this?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Explain the significance of the green light as discussed in this section.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Why does Gatsby get so many phone calls? What does this say about him? What is the one in this chapter about?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Quotes: Write down a quote, the page, and why it is important to this chapter.
(page _____): “_________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Why it’s important:
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
8
The Great Gatsby Chapter 6 & 7
1. How truthful was Gatsby when he relayed the story of his life to Nick? Why does Fitzgerald tell the story of Jay Gatz
now?
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______________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Describe the meeting of Tom and Gatsby. What does this meeting reveal about them?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
3. When Nick told Gatsby that "you can't repeat the past", Gatsby replied, "Why of course you can!" Do you agree
with Nick or Gatsby?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Describe Daisy and Gatsby's new relationship.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Compare George Wilson and Tom. What did each man learn about his wife and how did they each react?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
6. Describe the fight between Gatsby and Tom. What do these men think of each other? How are they similar and how
are they different?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
7. Why is the music playing in the hotel ironic to the scene at hand?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Chapters 6 & 7 continued on next page
9
Chapters 6 & 7 continued
8. Do you think that Tom knew Daisy was driving the "death car"? Why or why not?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
9. At this point, how would you end the novel?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Quotes: Write down a quote, the page, and why it is important to this chapter.
(page _____): “_________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Why it’s important:
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
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The Great Gatsby Chapter 8
1. How does Fitzgerald achieve a melancholic mood in the beginning of this chapter?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
2. What is Gatsby desperately waiting for in this chapter? Will it happen?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Who is Dan Cody and what is his significance in Gatsby's life?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
4. How does Nick's statement "You're worth the whole bunch put together" show a change in Nick from the beginning
of the novel?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
5. How does T. J. Eckleberg affect Mr. Wilson?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Quotes: Write down a quote, the page, and why it is important to this chapter.
(page _____): “_________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Why it’s important:
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
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The Great Gatsby Chapter 9
1. Why did Nick take care of Gatsby's funeral?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
2. How was Jay Gatz's childhood schedule consistent with the adult Gatsby's behavior?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Who attended Gatsby's funeral? How and why is this significant?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
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4. What is the purpose of Nick's last meeting with Jordan?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
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5. Why does Nick call Tom and Daisy "careless people"?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
6. Briefly explain the final sentence of the novel in context of the entire story.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Quotes: Write down a quote, the page, and why it is important to this chapter.
(page _____): “_________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Why it’s important:
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
12
The Great Gatsby: Post Reading
1. Does this novel have villains and heroes? Why, why not? If yes, who fits into these categories and why?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
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2. Why are we still reading a book written in the 1920's? What gives a book its longevity? What themes still have
meaning today?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
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13
The Great Gatsby
Character Chart
Name:___________________________________
Name of character
Quotation that
describes this
character (page #)
Inferring
characteristics
Jay
Nick
Daisy
Tom
14
Draw a picture or
symbol that
describes
The Great Gatsby
Character Chart
Name of character
Quotation that
describes this
character (page #)
Inferring
characteristics
Jordan
Myrtle
George
15
Draw a picture or
symbol that
describes
Sentence Composing work: Participial Phrases
Refer to handout on Participial Phrases in this unit guide for directions.
Practice 1: Unscrambling
1. _______________________________________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________________________________
4. _______________________________________________________________________________
5. _______________________________________________________________________________
6. _______________________________________________________________________________
7. _______________________________________________________________________________
8. _______________________________________________________________________________
Practice 2: Imitating
1. _______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Other Models (Write sentences on any topic)
1. _______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
4. _______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
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Practice 3: Combining (Write sentences relating to our study of Great Gatsby)
1. _______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Your model:
__________________________________________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Your model:
__________________________________________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Your model:
__________________________________________________________________________________
4. _______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Your model:
__________________________________________________________________________________
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Practice 4: Expanding
Part 1
1. With the core of the reel showing, his heart feeling stopped with excitement,
leaning___________________________________________________________, Nick thumbed the
reel hard with his left hand.
2. Mrs. Carpenter was putting sun-tan oil on Sybil’s shoulders,
spreading___________________________________________________________.
3. Soon the men began to gather, surveying________________________________________________,
speaking_________________________________________________________.
Part 2
1. The children crawled over the shelves and into the potato and onion bins,
___________________________________________________________.
2. He, ___________________________________________________________, at once looked over his
shoulder at her and, ___________________________________________________________,
signaled that he would meet her.
3. He stood there, ___________________________________________________________, and
___________________________________________________________,
___________________________________________________________.
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