Schedule for The Great Gatsby
Assignments may be added or deleted based on teacher’s discretion.
Be prepared to have quizzes at all times based on reading and vocabulary
Day One
Pre-reading
Creating an Identity for Yourself
Directions: Complete this on a separate piece of paper!
You have the opportunity to create an entirely new identity and future for yourself. Think carefully as you are setting the stage for your future! Consider what your future might be like if all obstacles were removed and you could be anything you’d like to make yourself.
1. What is your new name?
2. When were you born?
3. Where were you born?
4. Who are your parents and what are their jobs?
5. What is your education?
6. What is your job? What do you do exactly?
7. What is your annual income?
8. Are you married? If yes, to whom? Do you have children? If yes, what are their names and ages?
9. Where do you live? What kind of home do you live in?
10. What kinds of car(s) do you drive?
Pre-Reading and Post-Reading
You will do this chart twice. First, fill it out before reading the novel. Then, after reading the novel, take out these pre-reading questions again. Often after you study and learn, your beliefs change. They become stronger, weaker, or entirely different.
Complete the chart below in preparation for a discussion with your classmates.
1.From the title alone, what are your thoughts about the novel’s themes and plot?
2. What is the American Dream? Does the American Dream change from era to era?
3. Does a first person narrator influence the novel’s structure, integrity, and credibility?
4. Do you find it difficult to empathize with characters who are empty, shallow, and/or complete selfish? Why or why not?
Character List:
Nick Carraway:
Jay Gatsby:
Daisy Buchanan:
Tom Buchanan:
Jordan Baker:
Myrtle Wilson:
George Wilson:
Doctor T.J. Eckleburg:
Chapter One Vocabulary:
1. Complacent (adjective)
2. Conscientious (adjective)
3. Feign (verb)
4. Fractious (adjective)
5. Imperceptible (adjective)
6. Intimation (noun)
7. Reproach (verb)
8. Supercilious (adjective)
Day One Homework:
Due Date:
Day Two
Chapter One Questions
1. How does Nick describe himself at the beginning of the book?
2. Why has Nick come to the East?
3. How does Nick describe Tom Buchanan?
4. Who is Jordan Baker? What does Nick find appealing about her?
5. How does Daisy react to the phone calls from Tom’s woman in New York?
6. Why does Daisy say she wishes her daughter to be a beautiful “fool”?
7. Describe Nick’s first sighting of Gatsby.
8. What could the green light symbolize?
9. After reading this chapter describe in your own words the following characters:
a. Daisy
b. Jordan
c. Tom
d. Nick
Chapter Two Vocabulary
1. Ambiguously (adjective)
2. Contiguous (adjective)
3. Countenance (noun)
4. Deft (adjective)
5. Hauteur (noun)
6. Incessant (adjective)
7. Languid (adjective)
8. Pastoral (adjective)
9. Strident (adjective)
10. Sumptuous (adjective)
Day Two Homework:
Due Date:
Day Three
Learning About the Characters
Characterization is a method used by a writer to develop how the character looks, acts, and thinks. It is possible to predict what a character might do, say, or feel based on how he or she behaves. This activity helps you understand the characters and the events around them.
Directions: Write a diary entry from Nick’s point of view after he attends the dinner party at the Buchanan’s, then write one from Daisy’s point of view. Then answer the question below.
Was it easier to write from Nick’s point of view or from Daisy’s? Why?
Chapter Two Questions
1. Describe the valley of ashes.
2. Describe the eyes of Dr. TJ Eckleburg. What may they represent?
3. What three stops occupy the ashen strip mall?
4. Describe Myrtle Wilson.
5. Describe George Wilson.
6. When Nick, Tom, and Myrtle leave the shop, where do they go?
7. Where does George believe Myrtle is going?
8. What does Tom buy for Myrtle?
9. Why according to Catherine, has Tom not left Daisy to marry Myrtle?
10. Where does Catherine claim Gatsby gets all of this money from?
11. Why does Tom break Myrtle’s nose?
12. Judging by his treatment of Daisy and Myrtle, what seems to be Tom’s attitude towards women?
Chapter Three Vocabulary
1. Convivial (adjective)
2. Dissension (noun)
3. Divergence (noun)
4. Erroneous (adjective)
5. Impetuous (adjective)
6. Innuendo (noun)
7. Provincial (adjective)
8. Vacuous (adjective)
9. Vehement (adjective)
Day Three Homework:
Due Date:
Day Four
Literary Allusions
A literary allusion is when an author refers to another piece of literature, a myth, or an incident in history. The passage about taking the bridge to New York City is an allusion to the River Styx, the mythological river in hell. This activity helps you get more out of the text.
Directions: Read the information below on the River Styx. Then answer the following questions.
Styx (River)
by Michael Dawson
The river of which many know its name, without knowing its origin or what it really stood for. A river that separates the world of the living from the world of the dead. Styx it is said winds around Hades (hell or the underworld are other names) nine times. Its name came from the Greek word stugein which means hate, Styx, the river of hate. This river was so respected by the gods of Greek mythology that they would take life binding oaths just by mentioning its name, as referenced in the story of Bacchus-Ariadne, where Jove “confirms it with the irrevocable oath, attesting the river Styx.”
There are five rivers that separate Hades from the world of the living, they are:
1. Acheron- the river of the woe;
2. Cocytus- the river of lamentation;
3. Phlegethon- the river of fire;
4. Lethe- the river of forgetfulness;
5. Styx- the river of hate
It is thought that Charon, the old ferry man who ferries the dead onto the underworld, crosses the river Styx where the dragon tail dog Cerberus guards, allowing all souls to enter but none to leave. This is a misconception, Charon crosses the river Acheron where also Cerberus stands his eternal guard. Also while on this subject, Charon only takes the souls across that are buried properly with a coin (called obol) that was placed in their mouths upon burial.
If a god gave his oath upon the river Styx and failed to keep his word, Zeus forced that god to drink from the river itself. The water is said to be so foul that the god would lose his or her voice for nine years. The river is not the subject of any story itself but is mentioned in several. These little pieces give a wonderful view of not only the river but the ancient Greeks view of the underworld. From its Adamantine gates to its separate levels of Tartarus and Erebus onto the Elysian Fields.
1) What is it? What does it look like? Why is it an important place?
2) How does Fitzgerald draw on the imagery of the River Styx in order to make a point about the valley of ashes? What is the point?
3) Do you think the comparison between the River Styx and the valley of ashes is an appropriate one? Why or why not?
Chapter Three Questions
1. What arrives at Gatsby’s house every Friday and leaves on Monday? What does this tell you about the parties at Gatsby’s house?
2. Describe the events and the atmosphere of this particular party.
3. Describe two ways in which Nick differs from the other guests at Gatsby’s party.
4. What does Nick think of Gatsby when he first meets him?
5. Describe the ambiguity (vagueness/contradictions) in Gatsby’s character that strikes Nick.
6. What discovery does the owl-eyed man make in Gatsby’s library?
7. 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?
8. On what does the owl-eyed man blame the accident after Gatsby’s party? What is ironic about this claim?
9. How does Nick describe Jordan at the end of Chapter 3? What do we learn about her that would support this statement?
Chapter Four and Five Vocabulary
1. Benediction (noun)
2. Defunct (adjective)
3. Façade (noun)
4. Fluctuate (verb)
5. Juxtaposition (noun)
6. Nebulous (adjective)
7. Punctilious (adjective)
8. Somnambulate (verb)
9. Vestige (noun)
Day Four Homework:
Due Date:
Day Five
Chapter Four Questions
1. What does Gatsby tell Nick about himself? Aside from the improbability of his story, what other evidence is there that Gatsby is lying about something when he tells Nick about his background?
2. Who is Meyer Wolfsheim? What seems to be his connection to Gatsby? What does this tell us about Gatsby?
3. Jordan Baker tells Nick about Daisy, Gatsby, and Tom. Summarize the story.
4. After Jordan tells Nick the story of Gatsby and Daisy, Nick says that Gatsby “came alive to me, delivered suddenly from the womb of his purposeless splendor.” How does this metaphor of birth help explain what Gatsby’s behavior had meant to Nick up until then?
5. How does Daisy behave after Gatsby goes oversees? What does her behavior show about her feelings for Gatsby?
6. According to Jordan, what did Daisy do on her wedding day? Why?
7. Why do you think Gatsby has so many parties? Why did he buy the house?
8. Why does Gatsby want to have tea with Daisy at Nick’s house?
9. What do we learn about Tom from the incident that occurred during his and Daisy’s honeymoon?
Day Five Homework:
Due Date:
Day Six
Letter to Daisy Assignment
In Chapter Four of The Great Gatsby we find out that on the night before Daisy’s marriage to Tom she received a letter from her former lover Gatsby. We are not sure exactly what the letter said, but we know what type of emotions the letter caused in Daisy. Using your creativity, write the letter from Gatsby to Daisy that she received on the night before her wedding.
Chapter 5 Questions
1. What does Gatsby offer Nick in return for Nick’s cooperation in inviting Daisy to his house? What is Nick’s response?
2. What is the meeting between Gatsby and Daisy initially like?
3. How are Daisy and Gatsby different when Nick returns to the house after half an hour? How do these attitudes correlate with the weather?
4. What does Gatsby reply when Nick asks him how he makes his money? Why does Nick find that significant?
5. What is Gatsby’s dialogue like in this chapter? What does it tell us about Gatsby?
6. Why do you think Daisy sobs when Gatsby shows her his shirts?
7. What are Gatsby’s feelings by the end of this chapter?
8. In this chapter, Gatsby’s dream seems to be fulfilled. What indication are there, though, that reality cannot satisfy his dream?
Chapter Six and Seven Vocabulary
1. Contingency (noun)
2. Debauchee (noun)
3. Dilatory (adjective)
4. Ineffable (adjective)
5. Insidious (adjective)
6. Intermittent (adjective)
7. Rancor (noun)
8. Tumult (noun)
9. Turgid (adjective)
Day Six Homework:
Due Date:
Day Seven
Think-Pair-Share Activity
Characterization is the method used by a writer to develop how a character looks, acts, and thinks. In Chapter Five, we see Daisy as fairly human: she cries, she responds in a way that appears “real,” and she seems genuinely affected by Gatsby’s presence. This Daisy is a far cry from the Daisy we see earlier in the text, and, as good readers, we question her transformation and wonder what the author is doing.
Directions: With a partner, answer the following questions.
1. What happens to Daisy in this chapter?
2. How is she humanized?
3. How does she behave differently towards Gatsby?
4. Do you believe her transformation? Why or why not?
Chapter Six Questions
1. What’s Gatsby’s REAL story behind his past?
2. When and why does James Gatz change his name?
3. 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 does Tom’s response tell us about his?
4. What is Daisy’s real reaction to Gatsby’s party?
5. What does Gatsby tell Nick he wants Daisy to do?
6. What is Gatsby’s view of the past?
7. 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?
8. 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?
Day Seven Homework:
Due Date:
Day Eight
Tying Together Character and Theme
Sometimes characters make choices based on values different from the reader’s. Do we judge the character? The author? Or is this just another way for literature to teach us something about ourselves and our world? This activity helps you to examine your values and apply these ideas to better understand the novel.
Directions: Answer the following questions.
1. Daisy refused to sacrifice her status as a member of the aristocracy so that she can follow true love. How do you feel about this choice?
2. Do you think she would be happier with Gatsby than with Tom? Why or why not?
3. Is Fitzgerald judging her shallowness?
4. Do you judge her? How? Why?
5. What would you do if you were Daisy?
Chapter Seven Questions
1. Why does Gatsby stop giving parties?
2. Why did Gatsby fire all of his servants?
3. Who replaced Gatsby’s servants and what was unique about this new staff?
4. What does Gatsby see at Daisy’s house that disturbs him? Why does this bother him so much?
5. What does Daisy do while Tom is in the other room?
6. What does Daisy tell Jordan to do?
7. Why does Jordan call Daisy a “low, vulgar girl”?
8. When does Tom first realize that Daisy loves Gatsby?
9. Describe what’s going on with George Wilson. What does he want to do? Why does he suddenly need money from/made off of Tom?
10. Why is Myrtle Wilson upset when she sees Tom and Jordan?
11. In this section, Fitzgerald emphasizes the heat. What could this weather symbolize?
12. Tom says that he will be better for Daisy from now on, that he will take better care of her. Do you think he will? Support your answer.
13. Why does Nick change his feelings towards Jordan?
14. How does Gatsby characterize Daisy’s voice? What do you think he means by this?
Chapter Eight and Nine Vocabulary
1. Divot (noun)
2. Fortuitous (adjective)
3. Garrulous (adjective)
4. Humidor (noun)
5. Redolent (adjective)
6. Superfluous (adjective)
7. Surmise (verb)
8. Vestibule (noun)
Day Eight Homework:
Due Date:
Day Nine
Chapter Eight Questions
1. What does Gatsby tell Nick the night of the accident?
2. How does Nick feel leaving Gatsby?
3. How does Nick compliment Gatsby and what is Gatsby’s reaction?
4. How does George Wilson spend the night after the accident?
5. What evidence had Wilson found that his wife was having an affair?
6. What do the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg symbolize to George Wilson? What is significant about this symbol?
7. How do you think Wilson got Gatsby’s name?
8. How does Nick characterize Gatsby’s state of mind before “the incident” which occurs at the end of the chapter? What is this “incident” that happens?
Ethics Journal Entry
Ethics are the values or beliefs by which we live and make decisions every day. For example, we might question whether or not it is ethical to take someone who is suffering and dying off life support. Ethics complicate our lives because they force us to make decisions based on humanity and our rights as human beings. This activity invites you to explore some of the ethical undertones in the novel.
Directions: On a separate piece of paper, discuss whether or not you think that Wilson’s murder of Gatsby is justified, Use examples from the story to support your answer.
Day Nine Homework:
Due Date:
Day Ten
Chapter Nine Questions
1. Why do Tom and Daisy leave?
2. What does Tom confess to Nick when they meet that fall?
3. What does the telephone call from Chicago tell us about Gatsby’s business?
4. What does Klipspringer want from Nick? How does Nick react to this?
5. What is the significance of Mr. Gatz’ arrival? What is the irony of Mr. Gatz’ admiration of Gatsby’s house?
6. What does the schedule that Mr. Gatz shows Nick tell us about Gatsby’s personality?
7. What is the significance of Jordan’s comment about the “bad driver”?
8. How does Nick characterize Tom and Daisy at the end of the book?
9. What have they “smashed” throughout the book?
10. What does Nick mean when he says “the holocaust was complete”?
11. What does the green light symbolize at the end of the novel?
Day Ten Homework:
Due Date: