ENglish 10
Name_______________________________
Learning
​
Targets: ​While reading T
​ he Great Gatsby students will…
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understand how literature is impacted by author experience
understand how literature is impacted by historical context
read closely AND critically
analyze characterization
analyze use of literary devices such as setting, symbolism, juxtaposition, irony,
identify themes & support with evidence from the text
write a literary analysis
​
Paper Prompts:
Option One: Fitzgerald once wrote, “Show me a hero, and I will write you a tragedy.” How is Jay
Gatsby a hero? How is ​The Great Gatsby a tragedy? In a well written essay, explore the many
ways this comment plays out through the development of Gatsby and throughout the course of
the novel.
Option Two: How does Fitzgerald’s use of literary devices help to develop the theme of the
novel? In a well written essay, identify a theme and analyze how the author’s use of literary
devices such as (irony, symbolism, setting, juxtaposition, point of view, characterization, etc…)
are used to establish theme.
Option Three: Consider this quote from a letter of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s in 1938: "That was
always my experience— a poor boy in a rich town; a poor boy in a rich boy's school; a poor boy
in a
rich man's club at Princeton.... However, I have never been able to forgive the rich for being
rich, and it has colored my entire life and works." In a well-written essay, paraphrase this quote
and develop a response that clearly demonstrates how this attitude has “colored” T
​ he Great
Gatsby.
Option Four: Magicians are often referred to as The Great …. (i.e. The Great Houdini). In a
well-written essay, consider this aspect of the word great. Analyze how is the title ​The Great
Gatsby an appropriate title? How is Gatsby great? Focus on more than Gatsby’s new identity,
but you certainly should bring that in as a point.
Notes on F. Scott Fitzgerald:
Pre-Reading Activity:
Write about the American Dream. What does the American Dream of today entail? What
does it mean to you? What challenges stand in the way of achieving “the dream” for many
people? What are your dreams for the future? What do you have to be willing to do to
make your dreams come true? What challenges might you have to rise above? How might
you do that?
What does it mean when people say “old money” or “nouveau riche” (think of families
like the Hilfigers and the Hiltons)?
If money were not an issue...what effect would wealth have upon the dreams that you
discussed above? Would wealth help you achieve your dreams? What potential difficulties
might money present? Explain.
Chapter 1
The Facts
Point of View: Who is the narrator? What point of view is this novel told from? Why?
1. How does Nick describe himself at the beginning of the novel? (father’s advice)
2.​ H
​ ow do East and West Egg compare?
3.​ D
​ uring what period is the novel set?
4.​ H
​ ow does Nick describe Tom Buchanan?
5.​ W
​ ho is Jordan Baker?
6.​ W
​ hat is Gatsby doing when Nick first sees him?
Interpreting Meanings
1.​ ​Describe the ambiguity in Nick’s initial descriptions of Gatsby.
2.​ H
​ ow does the tone of Nick’s description of Tom reveal Nick’s feelings about Tom?
3. How do the living styles, physical descriptions, and houses of each character reflect their
personality?
4.​ ​How would you describe Daisy’s state of mind during dinner? What does she say and do to
reveal her inner conflicts? What does she mean when she says that she hopes her little girl will
be a fool because “that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool” (21)?
Explain.
5.​ ​Nick thinks that, given the state of their marriage, Daisy should leave Tom, but it is clear to
him that she has no intention of doing so. What indication is there that Tom and Daisy are
closely linked despite their marital difficulties?
6.​ ​What indications are there that the green light will have a powerful emotional significance to
Gatsby?
7.​ C
​ haracterize Fitzgerald’s diction in the first chapter of the novel.
*Two of the novel’s major themes are introduced in this chapter. As you read, pay attention to
which characters and situations illustrate these themes.
● Wealth breeds corruption, irresponsibility, and carelessness.
● It is futile to try to recapture the past.
Settings:
Characterization. As you encounter each character, found memorable quotes and
important traits that describe them. How does the quote contribute to their character?
Why? What are their most defining traits? Write this down on their pages.
Nick
Daisy
Tom
Gatsby
Jordan
Chapter 2
The Facts
1.​ ​How does Nick meet Tom’s mistress?
2.​ H
​ ow does Myrtle react to Tom’s arrival?
3.​ D
​ escribe George Wilson. How does he react to Tom’s arrival?
4.​ H
​ ow does Myrtle behave as the party in her apartment progresses?
5.​ W
​ ho is Catherine?
6.​ W
​ hat rumors have been spread about Jay Gatsby?
Interpreting Meanings
1.​ ​Describe the setting of the “valley of ashes” (the wasteland) where George and Myrtle live.
What aspects of the setting imply that it is intended to have a symbolic meaning as well as a
literal one? What are the “eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleberg” (27)?
2.​ ​How does Fitzgerald describe Myrtle Wilson? Does her physical appearance reflect her
character in any way? What does her speech reveal about her?
3.​ C
​ ompare the setting of the party in this chapter with the setting of the party in Chapter One.
4.​ ​Look again at the paragraph first describing Catherine, starting with, “The sister, Catherine,
was a slender…”(34). How does the language of this paragraph contrast the idea of the natural
versus the artificial? As you continue to read the novel, consider the significance of this
distinction.
5.​ ​Why does Tom hit Myrtle at the end of the party? How does this relate to Fitzgerald’s
description of Tom in Chapter One?
6. What does the scene in the New York apartment reveal about Tom? Myrtle? Nick?
Chapter 3
The Facts
1.​ ​Describe the two ways in which Nick differs from the other guests at Gatsby’s party.
2.​ W
​ hat does Nick think of Gatsby when he first meets him?
3.​ D
​ escribe the events and atmosphere of the party.
4.​ W
​ hat new rumors does the reader learn about Gatsby in this chapter?
5.​ W
​ hat does the owl-eyed man in the library find extraordinary about Gatsby’s library?
6.​ W
​ hat does Nick learn about Jordan Baker after he has spent some time with her?
I​ nterpreting Meanings
1.​ ​Why does Fitzgerald describe the party (in the passage beginning “By seven o’clock the
orchestra has arrived”) in the present tense?
2. Describe Gatsby’s “little” party. Enumerate the details of the party itself.​ ​How does Nick
characterize the guests at Gatsby’s party? What do his characterizations tell us about how Nick
feels about most of these people? What sense of life in the Jazz Age do we get from the
description of this party?
3.​ ​Describe the ambiguity in Gatsby’s character that strikes Nick. How are Nick and Gatsby
similar? Different?
4. Remember the importance of point of view and perspective. Why does Nick break his story at
this point? Reread the section beginning, “Reading over what I have written so far…” (60).
5. At the end of this chapter, Nick meets Jordan again. The author includes several episodes
that emphasize her carelessness and dishonesty. What do they reveal about Jordan? About
Nick?
6. Describe two incidents involving automobiles in this chapter. What role do automobiles seem
to play in the novel so far?
* Themes: How are the themes mentioned earlier continuing to develop?
Chapter 4
The Facts
1.​ ​What does Gatsby tell Nick about himself?
2.​ ​What accomplishments of Meyer Wolfsheim’s does Gatsby describe to Nick? How does
Nick react?
3.​ A
​ ccording to Jordan, what did Daisy do on her wedding way? Why?
4.​ ​Why does Gatsby want to have tea with Daisy in Nick’s house? Why doesn’t Gatsby ask
Nick for this favor himself?
5.​ W
​ hat does Tom do when he and Daisy return from their honeymoon?
Interpreting Meanings
1.​ ​Aside from the improbability of his story, what other evidence is there that Gatsby is lying
when he tells Nick about his background?
2.​ W
​ hat does Gatsby’s friendship with Meyer Wolfsheim imply about his own background?
3.​ ​How does Daisy behave after Gatsby goes overseas? What does her behavior show about
her feelings for Gatsby?
4. What does Nick mean when he says, “...it had not been merely the stars to which [Gatsby]
had aspired on the June night” (83)? How does Jordan’s story connect back to the novel’s
epigraph? What does all of this reveal about Gatsby and his love of Daisy?
5. With Jordan in his arms, Nick thinks of a phrase: “There are only the pursued, the pursuing,
the busy, and the tired” (85). How do you think this phrase reflects on the events of the novel so
far? Do you think that Gatsby would agree with the phrase? Why or why not?
What are some important symbols that play a role in the story? In the table below,
identify the symbol and give two instances where it appeared. Then give an explanation.
Symbol
Page Reference/Quote
Page Reference/Quote
Explanation
Chapter 5
The Facts
1.​ ​What does Gatsby offer Nick in return for Nick’s cooperation in inviting Daisy to his house?
2.​ W
​ hat is the meeting between Gatsby and Daisy like initially?
3.​ H
​ ow are Daisy and Gatsby different when Nick returns to the house after a half an hour?
4.​ W
​ hat are Gatsby’s feelings by the end of the chapter?
5.​ ​What does Gatsby reply when Nick asks him how he makes his money? Why does Nick find
that significant?
6.​ W
​ ho is Klipspringer?
Interpreting Meanings
1. Gatsby’s actions in preparing for Daisy’s arrival seem both flamboyant and absurd. What
does he do? Why?
2. What is Gatsby’s dialogue like in this chapter? What does it tell us about Gatsby?
3. ​ ​Why do you think Daisy sobs when Gatsby shows her his shirts?
4. ​ ​What is the weather like in this chapter? How does it reflect on the emotional climate of
Gatsby and Daisy?
4.​ ​We learn the symbolic significance of the green light at the end of the dock on page 98.
What does it represent to Gatsby?
5.​ ​In this chapter, Gatsby’s dream seems to be fulfilled. What indications are there, though,
that reality cannot satisfy his dream?
Chapter 6
The Facts
1.​ ​When does James Gatz change his name? Why?
2.​ W
​ hat is Dan Cody’s role in Gatsby’s transformation?
3.​ W
​ hat is Daisy’s real response to the party, according to Nick?
4.​ W
​ hat does Gatsby tell Nick he wants Daisy to do?
Interpreting Meanings
1.​ ​Plato held that reality was an imperfect reflection of an ideal, permanent realm. With this in
mind, what would you say Nick means when he says that “Jay Gatsby sprang from his Platonic
conception of himself” (104)?
2.​ ​How is the comparison of Gatsby with Christ (“he was a son of God… and he must be about
his Father’s business”) ironic? If the comparison with Christ were to continue through the book,
what would happen to Gatsby?
3.​ T
​ here is a time shift on page 107. How/why does Nick manipulate time in his narrative?
4.​ ​Tom, Mr. Sloane, and a young lady visit Gatsby and the lady invites Gatsby to come to
dinner with them. What does Gatsby’s response tell us about his social sensitivity? What
connection, if any, do you think this scene might have with Gatsby’s love of Daisy?
5.​ ​What is Gatsby’s view of the past? When Nick says that Gatsby “wanted to recover
something, some idea of himself perhaps, that had gone into loving Daisy,” what do you think he
means?
6.​ ​At the end of the chapter, Nick describes Gatsby kissing Daisy in Louisville five years before.
What is Gatsby giving up when he kisses her? Why?
7.​ ​What effect does the time shift on page 116 have on the reader’s concept of Gatsby? What
is the tone of this passage?
*Revisit the theme about the past; think about how it is further developed within this chapter.
Chapter 7
The Facts
1.​ ​Why does Gatsby stop giving parties?
2.​ W
​ hen does Tom first realize that Daisy loves Gatsby?
3.​ W
​ hy is Myrtle Wilson upset when she sees Tom and Jordan?
4.​ W
​ hy does George Wilson lock Myrtle in the bedroom?
5.​ W
​ ho is Walter Chase? How does Tom use his name to discredit Gatsby in front of Daisy?
​Interpreting
Meanings
1.​ ​What effect does Pammy have on Gatsby? Why? Thinking back to the first chapter, and
what you see of Daisy in this chapter, does she seem to be a good mother?
2.​ H
​ ow does Gatsby characterize Daisy’s voice? What do you think he means by this?
3.​ ​Why does Gatsby lose Daisy during the confrontation at the Plaza? Could he have done
anything to win her, do you think? If he could have, why doesn’t he?
4.​ ​Why does Tom insist that Daisy go home with Gatsby? What do you think this tells us about
Tom’s character and his relationship with Daisy?
5.​ ​In what way is each of the major characters involved in the tragedy that occurs at the end of
this chapter? Explain.
6. Nick witnesses a moment between Tom and Daisy. ​ ​What indications are there are the end of
the chapter that they are going to stay together despite his philandering and her love for
Gatsby?
7.​ ​At the end of the chapter, Gatsby is standing alone, looking out at Daisy’s house. Where
else in the novel does he do this? How is this different?
*Revisit the symbol chart...how is the symbol of eyes further developed in this chapter?
Chapter 8
The Facts
1.​ ​What does Gatsby tell Nick the night of the accident? Why?
2.​ D
​ id Gatsby want to go to Oxford?
3.​ H
​ ow does George Wilson spend the night after the accident?
4.​ W
​ hat evidence had Wilson found that his wife was having an affair?
​Interpreting
Meanings
1.​ W
​ hat would you say is the principle reason for Daisy’s appeal to Gatsby?
2.​ ​How is Nick’s attitude toward Gatsby ambivalent even at the moment when he says goodbye
to him?
3.​ ​What do the eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg symbolize to George Wilson? What is significant
about this symbol?
4.​ ​How do you think Wilson got Gatsby’s name? Does any evidence in this chapter point to a
particular person?
5.​ A
​ t what moment did you know what had happened to Gatsby? Why/how?
6. As Nick leaves Gatsby the morning after the accident, he remarks, “They’re a rotten crowd”
(162). Who is he including in the “they” here? Why are the “rotten”?
7. How does Nick characterize Gatsby’s state of mind before he is killed? What does he mean
when he balances Gatsby’s supposed “corruption” against his “incorruptible dream” (162)?
Explain.
8.​ ​How does Wilson view the “eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg” (167)? Does Wilson’s statement
have a symbolic meaning for the novel as a whole? Explain.
9. Why does Fitzgerald call the situation between Wilson and Gatsby a “holocaust”? What does
he mean when she says “it was complete” (170)?
Chapter 9
The Facts
1.​ ​What is the motive publicly given for Wilson’s murder of Gatsby?
2.​ W
​ hat does the telephone call from Chicago tell us about Gatsby’s business?
3.​ W
​ hat does Klipspringer want from Nick? How does Nick react to this?
4. How had Gatsby’s father learned of his son’s death? Why is Gatsby’s father so proud of him?
5. What is ironic about Gatsby’s funeral? Explain.
6. Describe the end of Nick’s relationship with Jordan.
7.​ ​What does Tom confess to Nick when they meet that fall? Does he regret what he has
done?
Interpreting Meanings
1.​ ​Chapter 9 begins in the present. How much time has passed since all of the events in the
narrative took place?
2.​ ​Nick says that “this has been a story of the West, after all.” What do you think he means by
that?
3.​ ​How does Nick characterize Tom and Daisy at the end of the book? What has each of them
“smashed” during the course of the novel?
4.​ ​At the end of the book, Nick imagines what the continent must have been like when it was
first seen by Dutch sailors. How does this contrast with the environment described in the novel?
5.​ ​What does the green light symbolize at the end of the novel? How does this connect back to
the beginning? What is the significance in terms of Gatsby’s dream? Of the American Dream?
The Novel as a Whole
1.​ ​Discuss Nick Carraway’s character. How reliable is he as a narrator? What aspects of his
character make him an effective narrator? Why is first-person narrative an effective and
appropriate way of telling this story?
2.​ D
​ iscuss the title of the book. In what way is Gatsby “great?”
4.​ ​An epigraph is a quotation at the beginning of a work that reflects on that work. How does
the epigraph to ​The Great Gatsby reflect on Gatsby’s story?
5. Why did Fitzgerald title this story ​The Great Gatsby - especially considering the book’s
conclusion?
6.​ ​How does Fitzgerald use Gatsby’s parties to present a satirical portrait of the Roaring
Twenties?
7.​ C
​ ompare and contrast the character of Daisy and Myrtle Wilson.
8.​ ​Discuss the relationship between Nick and Jordan Baker. How does it reflect, if at all, on the
story of Gatsby and Daisy?
9.​ ​Discuss Fitzgerald’s use of the automobile in this novel. What do you think might have made
the automobile an appealing symbol to Fitzgerald in the early 1920s?
10.​ C
​ ontrast the setting of the valley of ashes with that of East Egg and West Egg.
11.​ ​Describe the gradual revelation of Gatsby’s character. What do we learn about him and
when? Why is this an appropriate way of learning about him?
13. Would Gatsby and Daisy have ended up together had tragedy not struck? Why or why not?
Explain (keep in mind authorial intent).
14. Gatsby’s tragedy is that he chooses the wrong dream (Daisy). Has he been corrupted by
society? Or is his choice an indication that he is part of the corruption?
15. How do you see evidence of Fitzgerald’s personal experience with wealth and the wealthy
played out through this novel? What does it teach us about money and social class? Does this
still ring true today?
16. Examine the juxtaposition of characters. How are the different characters represented? How
does this connect to the Midwest and the East coast? What is Fitzgerald saying about the
morality of the different cultures?
17. The settings of ​The Great Gatsby are so important that they almost become characters in
their own right. Examine how Fitzgerald’s use of setting throughout the novel? Analyze its
connection to theme.
18. What is Fitzgerald saying about relationships?
19. What did you think of the novel?
20. Examine the many themes brought up throughout the novel, such as: