| How does the narrator describe Gatsby? | Gatsby has a gift for hope, and romantic readiness.The narrator has never found this quality in anyone else. |
| From where did the narrator come from and why? | The Middle West. He moved east to learn the bond business. |
| Describe the narrator’s house. | A weather-beaten cardboard bungalow. A small, average house, nothing extraordinary. |
| Describe the Buchanan’s house. | Front was broken by a line of French windows. Contrast of red, white, and gold. Representation of wealth |
| How does Nick know Daisy and Tom? | Daisy is Nick’s second cousin once removed, and Nick is his friend from college. |
| Describe Tom. What is our impression of him in Chapter 1? | A formal football player, sturdy, has the appearance of always leaning aggressively forward. A husky, paternal speaking voice. |
| What kind of person is Daisy? | Her voice is like a song. Sad face, bright eyes, bright passionate eyes |
| What did Miss Baker tell Nick about Tom? | She told Nick that Tom was cheating on Daisy. |
| When asked bout her daughter, what does Daisy say? | Daisy hopes that her daughter will grow up to be a beautiful fool |
| How is Gatsby introduced into the novel? | He is standing out on the dock reaching out to the green light on the Buchanan’s dock. |
| What is the “Valley of ashes?” | A field of ashes close to the city where buildings smoke and isn’t a welcoming place. |
| What are the “eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg?” | They eyes are on the way to see the lady Tom is cheating on Daisy with. It is advertising an oculist, but looks like they eyes are watching over everything. |
| Who did Tom take Nick to meet? | Myrtle |
| Identify Myrtle and George Wilson. | George owns a car repair shop. He is oblivious to his wife’s cheating with Tom Buchanan. |
| What did Mrs. Wilson buy while she was out with Tom and Nick? | A puppy |
| Where did they go? What was at 158th Street? | They looked at a long strip of apartment houses. They went to see the McKees and Catherine. |
| Identify Catherine and the McKees. | Catherine is a slim girl who wears a lot of makeup and has red hair. Mr. McKee is pale and is in the “artistic game.” Mrs. McKee is a shrill, horrible woman who likes being photographed. |
| What does Mr. McKee tell Nick about Gatsby? | He says that he has a nephew that he got all his money from. |
| What reason did Myrtle give for marrying George Wilson? | Because she was a Catholic and they don’t believe in divorce. |
| What did Tom do to Myrtle when she mentioned Daisy’s name? | He slaps her. |
| Describe at least two representations of Gatsby’s wealth? | His wealth is plain because of his huge house and invites lots of people over for parties. It shows he can indulge on elaborate parties |
| What kinds of people come to Gatsby’s parties? | Mostly rich, but people come whether they are invited or not |
| Why did Nick Carraway go to the party? | He was one of the few that was invited |
| How does Nick meet Gatsby? | Jordan introduces them. At first, he acts foolish because he doesn’t actually know its Gatsby. |
| What are some stories about Gatsby? | He killed a man, he’s a bootlegger, and he was in the war. |
| Describe Nick’s relationship Jordan. | They are friends first but it develops into something more. |
| Who is Klipspringer? | He is always at Gatsby’s house so he is dubbed a boarder |
| What does Gatsby tell Nick about himself? | That he is the son of wealthy people and went to school at Oxford, a family tradition |
| What “matter did Gatsby have Jordan discuss with Nick? | The issue with Daisy |
| Who is Mr. Wolfshiem? | A scam who fixed the World Series and is Gatsby’s partner |
| What does Mr. Wolfshiem tell Nick about Gatsby? | He tells Nick that he’s known Gatsby and that he is loyal that he won’t even look at a friend’s wife. Ironically, he is in love with Daisy |
| What does Jordan tell Nick about Daisy, Gatsby, and Tom? | Gatsby and Daisy were in love until he went off to war and Daisy never saw him again, then she married Tom. |
| Describe the meeting between Gatsby and Daisy. | He had missed Daisy for so many years and still loves her. She now has a child and is married when he sends her a letter to ask if she will wait for him |
| How long did it take Gatsby to make the money to buy the mansion? | 3 years |
| What did Gatsby do to impress Daisy? | He wanted her to see his house and his clothes |
| What had the green light on the dock meant to Gatsby? | Daisy is always just within reach |
| What does this line from the book mean? “The vitality of his illusion had gone beyond Daisy beyond everything.” | He always imagined how long it would take for them to meet again. He held on to this fantasy |
| What is Gatsby’s real name and where is he from? | James Gatz; North Dakota |
| What did Dan Cody do for Gatsby? | He educated Gatsby about money |
| What is Daisy’s opinion of Gatsby’s party and how does it affect him? | She doesn’t like his parties. He is sad because she is the reason he has them |
| What does Gatsby want from Daisy? | For her to leave Tom and marry Gatsby |
| What was Gatsby’s reaction to Daisy’s child? | He is surprised. It seems like he forgot that she had a child |
| What did Wilson do to Myrtle? Why? | He chooses to move west with her. He keeps her locked up in a room because he doesn’t want her to go anywhere. |
| Why do the four drive into the city on such a hot afternoon? | Daisy is getting nervous because of all the rising tension and wants to go to the city and have a good time. |
| What does Gatsby think about Daisy’s relationship with Tom? | He disapproves because he believes that Tom isn’t good for her and that she would be better off without him. He thinks that she truly never loved Tom. |
| What is Daisy’s reaction to both men? | She’s scared because Gatsby is trying to get her to leave Tom, and she loves both of them. Also, because she can’t say she never loved Tom. |
| What happens on the way home from New York? | Daisy accidentally hits Myrtle with her car and kills her. Myrtle thought it was Tom so she ran out in the street. After Daisy hits Myrtle, she doesn’t even slow down. |
| Which of these statements about other characters’ reactions to Myrtle’s death is true? | Wilson is guilty even though he is responsible for her having the affair. Tom wants to protect himself by telling Wilson that the yellow car does not belong to him. Nick feels sick and wants to be alone. Gatsby is concerned for Daisy |
| How are Daisy and Tom alike? | They are both self-centered, spoils, and narrow-minded |
| What does Gatsby tell Nick about his past? | He says that he and Daisy met and fell in love. He told her he would be able to take care of her, but he wasn’t able to. He went to war and then went to Oxford for school. Daisy wanted him home but he couldn’t come back. Daisy then married Tom because she was under pressure to marry well. |
| What does Michaelis believe caused Myrtle to run? | He thinks she was running away from Wilson. |
| Why did she run? | She thought Tom was in the car because she saw him in it earlier. |
| Why does Wilson believe that Gatsby killed Myrtle? | Tom told him that the car was Gatsby’s |
| What does Wilson do? | Wilson kills Gatsby |
| Why couldn’t Nick get anyone to come to Gatsby’s funeral? | Gatsby didn’t have close friends. Tom and Daisy were out of town. Wolfshiem couldn’t be seen at the funeral of someone who had been murdered. |
| Who is Henry C. Gatz? | Gatsby’s father |
| Why is the book that Gatsby’s father shows Nick important to the novel? | It is a copy of Hopalong Cassidy with Gatsby’s personal schedule in it. It shows Gatsby’s planning, his desire to work ahead, and his spirit for romantic adventure. These characteristics lift Gatsby from being just another character to representing the good ol’ American spirit. |
| What happens between Nick and Jordan Baker? | Nick breaks off their relationship because he can’t stand the ease with which she lets things slip by. |
| What does Nick say about people like Tom and Daisy? | They are careless. They messed things up and retreated back to whatever kept them together. They leave others to clean up the mess they made. |
The Great Gatsby Study Questions
April 11, 2020