The Great Gatsby Study Guide UPDATED
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
Who is Nick Carraway, and what is his role in the story? - CORRECT ANSWER - Nick is
a young man from Minnesota who, after being educated at Yale and fighting in World War I,
goes to New York City to learn the bond business. He is the narrator of the novel.
Who are George and Myrtle Wilson, and how are they connected to Tom Buchanan? -
CORRECT ANSWER - George Wilson is a gas station and garage owner living in the
'Valley of Ashes' between Eggs and New York City. Wilson's wife, Myrtle, is engaged in an affair
with Tom Buchanan.
What are Gatsby's parties like? - CORRECT ANSWER - Gatsby's party is almost
unbelievably luxurious: guests marvel over his Rolls-Royce, his swimming pool, his beach,
crates of fresh oranges and lemons, buffet tents in the gardens overflowing with a feast, and a
live orchestra playing under the stars.
How does Gatsby try to prove to Nick that he is telling the truth about himself? - CORRECT
ANSWER - He has a medal and a photograph to prove it!
Why did Gatsby buy a mansion in West Egg? - CORRECT ANSWER - In the hopes that
he would win Daisy back.
What scheme does Gatsby ask Nick to help him with? - CORRECT ANSWER - To invite
Daisy over for tea without mentioning Gatsby.
What does Gatsby want Daisy to do? - CORRECT ANSWER - To leave Tom so that he
can be with her.
What happens to Myrtle? - CORRECT ANSWER - Myrtle is struck by a passing car that
fails to stop, continuing its route out of the city.
, What happens to Gatsby? - CORRECT ANSWER - George Wilson shoots Jay Gatsby to
death because he believes that Gatsby was the hit-and-run driver who killed his wife Myrtle.
Reread the sentence from page 3
"Instead of being the warm center of the world, the Middle West now seemed like the ragged
edge of the universe -- so I decided to go East and learn the bond business."
What does this sentence reveal about Nick's view of the East? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Nick believes the East is a sophisticated place.
Reread the sentence from page 11.
"Before I could reply that he was my neighbor dinner was announced; wedging his tense are
imperatively under mine, Tom Buchanan compelled me from the room as though he were
moving a checker to another square."
Why does Nick use the word "compelled"? - CORRECT ANSWER - To show Tom's
forcefulness
What theme about appearance and reality does Fitzgerald develop by revealing Tom's extra-
marital affair? - CORRECT ANSWER - Appearance cannot be trusted
Reread the passage from page 14.
"I was about to speak when she sat up alertly and said, "Sh! In a warning voice. A subdued
impassioned murmur was audible in the room beyond, and Miss Baker leaned forward
unashamed, trying to hear. The murmur trembled on the verge of coherence, sank down,
mounted excitedly, and then ceased altogether."
What do Jordan's actions reveal about her? - CORRECT ANSWER - She is amused by
gossip.
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
Who is Nick Carraway, and what is his role in the story? - CORRECT ANSWER - Nick is
a young man from Minnesota who, after being educated at Yale and fighting in World War I,
goes to New York City to learn the bond business. He is the narrator of the novel.
Who are George and Myrtle Wilson, and how are they connected to Tom Buchanan? -
CORRECT ANSWER - George Wilson is a gas station and garage owner living in the
'Valley of Ashes' between Eggs and New York City. Wilson's wife, Myrtle, is engaged in an affair
with Tom Buchanan.
What are Gatsby's parties like? - CORRECT ANSWER - Gatsby's party is almost
unbelievably luxurious: guests marvel over his Rolls-Royce, his swimming pool, his beach,
crates of fresh oranges and lemons, buffet tents in the gardens overflowing with a feast, and a
live orchestra playing under the stars.
How does Gatsby try to prove to Nick that he is telling the truth about himself? - CORRECT
ANSWER - He has a medal and a photograph to prove it!
Why did Gatsby buy a mansion in West Egg? - CORRECT ANSWER - In the hopes that
he would win Daisy back.
What scheme does Gatsby ask Nick to help him with? - CORRECT ANSWER - To invite
Daisy over for tea without mentioning Gatsby.
What does Gatsby want Daisy to do? - CORRECT ANSWER - To leave Tom so that he
can be with her.
What happens to Myrtle? - CORRECT ANSWER - Myrtle is struck by a passing car that
fails to stop, continuing its route out of the city.
, What happens to Gatsby? - CORRECT ANSWER - George Wilson shoots Jay Gatsby to
death because he believes that Gatsby was the hit-and-run driver who killed his wife Myrtle.
Reread the sentence from page 3
"Instead of being the warm center of the world, the Middle West now seemed like the ragged
edge of the universe -- so I decided to go East and learn the bond business."
What does this sentence reveal about Nick's view of the East? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Nick believes the East is a sophisticated place.
Reread the sentence from page 11.
"Before I could reply that he was my neighbor dinner was announced; wedging his tense are
imperatively under mine, Tom Buchanan compelled me from the room as though he were
moving a checker to another square."
Why does Nick use the word "compelled"? - CORRECT ANSWER - To show Tom's
forcefulness
What theme about appearance and reality does Fitzgerald develop by revealing Tom's extra-
marital affair? - CORRECT ANSWER - Appearance cannot be trusted
Reread the passage from page 14.
"I was about to speak when she sat up alertly and said, "Sh! In a warning voice. A subdued
impassioned murmur was audible in the room beyond, and Miss Baker leaned forward
unashamed, trying to hear. The murmur trembled on the verge of coherence, sank down,
mounted excitedly, and then ceased altogether."
What do Jordan's actions reveal about her? - CORRECT ANSWER - She is amused by
gossip.
