The Great Gatsby Study Guide (Chapters 1-9)

The Great Gatsby Study Guide (Chapters 1-9) How does Nick describes himself at the beginning of the book? ️️He comes from a upper class family but he learned never to be to be judgmental. Why has Nick come to the East? ️️To start a new job. 1922; to get in the bond business. How does Nick describe Tom Buchanan? ️️Sturdy, straw haired man. Arrogant and aggressive. Who is Jordan Baker? What does Nick find appealing about her? ️️She is a golfer, her chin is raised suggesting that she is stuck up. How does Daisy react to the phone calls from Tom's woman in New York? ️️She is upset but she acts but then she follows him when he takes the call. What is Gatsby doing when Nick first sees him? ️️He is standing on his dock reaching out to the green light across the bay. Notice how many times Fitzgerald uses the words hope, or dream. Why does he do this? ️️He does this to represent views of society and foreshadowing for whats to come. 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." Does he reserve judgement in the novel? ️️He is very honest about his observations. Yes he is reserving it but he is candid to the reader. Pay attention to time. What is the day and year during the first scene at Daisy's house? ️️Summer of 1922. 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? ️️He was wealthy growing up. Solemn, not very flashy. Graduate of Yale (1915). He's not a big drinker. More reserved and honest. What image foes the author use to describe Jordan Baker? What does it mean? ️️Looked like she was balancing a ball on her chin. Meaning that she is stuck up, confident, and snobby. How does Nick react to Jordan? ️️Nervous, he thinks that she is intimidating. What does Tom's behavior reveal about his character? ️️He is emotionally abusive, self centered, arrogant, dominant and aggressive. How does Nick meet Tom's mistress? ️️Tom took Nick with him to meet her at her husbands auto body shop. How does Myrtle react Tom's arrival? ️️She is focused solely on Tom and then she sent her husband George away to go get some chairs. Describe George Wilson. How does he react to Tom's arrival? ️️He has blonde hair blue eyes and is slightly handsome. Also he is dull and spiritless. He has no idea about the affair he thinks Tom is there to talk about a car. How does Myrtle behave as the party progresses? ️️She acts like she has a lot of money and that this is who she really is. Why, according to Catherine, Tom not left Daisy to marry Myrtle? ️️Daisy is Catholic and doesn't believe in divorce. Why did Tom break Myrtle's nose? How is this consistent with the author's description of him in Chapter 1? Judging by his treatment of Myrtle and his wife Daisy, what seems to be Tom's attitude toward women? ️️Slaps her. Shows her that he is mean and ruthless. Doesn't treat women well and he is abusive. Describe the "valley of ashes." What does it look like and what does it represent? ️️It is dark and dreary. Where poor people live between East and West Egg. Symbolizes: Moral decay. Describe Mr. Wilson and Myrtle. Do they seem to fit into the setting. ️️There marriage is dead. George is so in love with her. What more have you learned about Nick in this chapter (Chapter 2)? Is he similar or different than the people ehe spends his time with? ️️No, he is more reserved and uncomfortable, would rather be anywhere else. Why does Gatsby throw huge, expensive parties for people he does not even know? ️️He is doing it to get Daisy's attention. Describe the two ways in which Nick differs from the other guests at the party? ️️He was actually invited to the party by Gatsby and he isn't a person that usually goes to one of these parties. What does the owl-eyed man find extraordinary about the books in Gatsby's library? ️️They were all real books. Why does the owl-eyed man describe Gatsby as a real Belasco? ️️Belasco- a theatrical producer. Because he is only putting on a show for the people he is showing his house to. What is the significance of the owl-eyed man? ️️He represents wisdom and the thoughts of the guests. What does the reaction of the drivers of the wrecked automobile suggest about the values of Gatsby's guests? ️️They didn't really care and they weren't sure what happened. What does Nick learn about Jordan after he's spent some time with her? ️️She is a liar. What is the significance of Jordan's lies? ️️She lies like Gatsby does. Pay attention to Nick's judgements? What do they reveal about his character that he does this (especially in relation to his opening comment)? ️️He tries not to judge people but when he does is mean and real about it. Describe Gatsby the first time he sees him. ️️He has a rare reassuring smile that makes you feel good, he is young 31 or 32 and he speaks with eloquence. What rumors have been told about Gatsby? Why does Fitzgerald reveal the rumors rather than the facts? ️️That he is a murderer, a german spy, and he went to oxford. He reveals these rumors rather than facts because he wants to show that no one truly knows who Gatsby is. What does Nick think of Gatsby after meeting him? ️️That he is elegant, friendly, nice, and kinda suspicious of him because he doesn't know much about him. How is Gatsby different from his guests? ️️He isn't drunk or even around. Why does Nick choose to share his thoughts and feelings with Jordan? ️️He shares with her because he likes her and because she is dishonest just like his new lifestyle. Nick thinks he is one of the few honest people he knows, why? Do you think he is honest? ️️He thinks he is one of the few honest people he knows because most of the people in this book are living lies and have secrets. I believe that he is honest and straightforward. What does Gatsby tell Nick about himself? ️️That he came from a wealthy mid-west family (San Francisco). He went to Oxford. He was in the war but not only in the war was also a war hero. His family is wealthy. His parents collected jewels in Europe but are now deceased. What accomplishments of Meyer Wolfsheim's does Gatsby describe to Nick? How does Nick react? ️️He is a gambler and that he fixed the 1919 World Series. Nick is baffled and shocked. According to Jordan, what did Daisy do on her wedding day? Why? What does this reveal about Daisy? ️️She got outrageously drunk and didn't want to go and get married to Tom. She did all of this because she received a letter from Gatsby. This showed that she was still in love with Gatsby. Why does Gatsby want to have tea with Daisy at Nick's house? Why doesn't Gatsby ask Nick for the favor himself? Why did Gatsby want Daisy to see his house? ️️He wants it to not be awkward. He didn't know Nick that well and he had Jordan ask Nick because ehe thought Nick would say yes to her because he was interested in Jordan. Gatsby bring Daisy over to his house because he wants her to see that he now has money and that his isn't poor. What does Tom do when he and Daisy return from there honeymoon? ️️He got into a car accident with one of his mistresses. What does Gatsby's friendship with Meyer Wolfsheim imply about his own background? ️️It implies that he is in some sort of shady business. List all of the rumors told about Gatsby. ️️-He is a German spy