The Great Gatsby by F

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Old Money vs. New Money

Old Money:New Money

East EggWest Egg

InheritedMade in lifetime

ConfidentInsecure

ClassicTrendy, flashy, faddish

Class consciousNon or Hyper-class conscious

Threatened by changeChange represents salvation

Moral CorruptionOstentatious vulgarity

Tom, Daisy, and JordanGatsby

Colonial mansionEnormous imitation of a European palace

Nick represents the middle class. He lives in a middle class bungalow flanked by the palaces of the rich that represent his life.

George and Myrtle: the garage represents the fate of the common man in the “waste land.” Current representations of the “waste land” are slums, run down trailer parks, low cost housing, tract neighborhoods, etc.

Characters:

Nick Carraway: 29 years old; the narrator; moves from Midwest to East to enter the bond business; rents small house next door to Gatsby; prides himself on reserving moral judgment; cousin of Daisy; knew Tom at Yale

Jay Gatsby: 30 years old; lives in huge mansion in West Egg; mysterious wealth; loved Daisy for five years-lost her to Tom; determined to recapture Daisy

Myrtle Wilson: 30 years old; married to George Wilson a garage owner; lives in “valley of ashes” the industrial wasteland; having an affair with Tom Buchanan; wants to become part of upper class

Daisy Buchanan: 23 years old; from wealthy family in Louisville, Kentucky; second cousin of Nick Carraway; married to Tom; mother of Pam; friend of Jordan; has a thrilling voice that fascinates men; lives in East Egg; knows her husband is unfaithful; loved Gatsby five years ago

Tom Buchanan: 30 years old; husband of Daisy; father of Pam; cares little for wife and daughter; enormously wealthy; knew Nick at YaleUniversity; arrogant and cynical; having affair with Myrtle; believes in white supremacy

Jordan Baker: 20 years old; childhood friend of Daisy; golf champion who cheats; attracted to Nick; morally and ethically indifferent

Subject Matter of Themes:

Conflicts: man vs. self; man vs. nature; man vs. man; etc.

1. The Corruption of the American Dream

What is the American Dream?

Can anyone be successful?

Gatsby stands in “romantic readiness.”

Gatsby believes the American Dream can be bought.

1. Eternal Hope

Nick’s practice of reserving judgment is described as a “matter of infinite hope.”

Gatsby is credited with an “extraordinary gift for hope.”

Gatsby never loses hope that Daisy will be his; even though he has not seen her in five years and she is married to Tom.

1. Paradox- two opposing ideas occurring at the same time

Nick continues to like Gatsby even though he “represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn.”

Nick says he is an honest person; yet he is in the company of people who lie and cheat on spouses.

1. Self Discovery

Nick discovers that he likes some people whose qualities he hates.

Nick learns to look at life through a variety of windows.

1. Reality vs. Illusion

Gatsby creates a fraudulent past and acquires vast wealth through vague sources.

Gatsby maintains the illusion that he can recapture Daisy.

Myrtle believes that she can become Mrs. Tom Buchanan.

Jordan believes that she can lie her way out of any situation.

Material wealth alone cannot bring about the American Dream.

1. Possessiveness and Jealousy

Tom reacts aggressively when he might lose Daisy; even though he does not love her.

Gatsby wants Daisy and looks upon her as his.

Tom does not love Myrtle but reacts possessively.

Gatsby and Tom show off their wealth to inspire jealousy.

Answer the following in complete sentences. Be sure to give vivid details from the text to support your answers. These answers should be short paragraphs; not a simple sentence.

Chapter one:

1. Assess what the reader learns about the narrator.
2. Describe Tom and Daisy. What is your impression of them as a couple in the first chapter?
3. Describe Jordan. Assess how she behaves around others.

Chapter two:

1. Describe the billboard sign for the eye doctor. Assess why you think Fitzgerald may have mentioned this particular billboard.
2. Why are Tom and Nick going into New York City? What is your opinion of how Nick handles the situation?
3. Describe George Wilson. What is your impression of this character so far?
4. Give a summary of the events that occur in the New York apartment.
5. In your opinion, why might Tom behave the way he does with Myrtle?

Chapters three and four:

1. Evaluate the rumors that circulate about the mysterious Gatsby. Be sure to comment about which ones sound plausible and which ones are obviously fabricated.
2. What is the story of Gatsby according to him?
3. Recall what Gatsby tells Nick about the medal he has. Analyze why the medal so important to Gatsby.
4. Assess how Jordan Baker’s character developed in these chapters.
5. Describe Wolfsheim. Evaluate how you think his character will become important.
6. What does the reader learn about Daisy in these chapters?
7. Describe Gatsby’s request from Nick. Is this wise? Evaluate.

Chapter five:

1. Assess how Gatsby’s character is developing. What is your impression of him as a potential friend?
2. According to Nick, would it have been possible for Daisy to have been everything that Gatsby remembered? Evaluate.
3. Critique Daisy’s excitement over Gatsby. What do you think is really going on inside her head?

Chapter six:

1. Assess what does the reader learns about Gatsby’s real identity.
2. Assess Gatsby’s relationship with Dan Cody.
3. Analyze how various people treat Gatsby. Give reasons why they might behave as they do.
4. Critique how Daisy is behaving. How is her relationship with both Tom and Gatsby at this point in the novel?
5. Analyze what you think Daisy and Gatsby are each yearning to find.
6. Assess how Daisy and Gatsby view the past vs. the present.

Chapter seven:

1. Assess what is changing at Gatsby’s house.
2. Describe the deal between Tom and George. What do you think may result from this deal?
3. Evaluate Tom’s emotional state when he is around Daisy and Gatsby.
4. Assess what happens at the gas station. How might this be an important event?
5. What is the true story of Gatsby at Oxford?
6. Find Tom’s comments beginning with, “Self-control!” What is ironic about this entire paragraph?

Chapter eight:

1. Discuss the advice that Nick gives Gatsby. Is it good or bad advice? Evaluate.
2. Assess why Daisy valuable to Gatsby as a young man.
3. What events separated Daisy and Gatsby years before?
4. Evaluate how Nick is reacting to the series of events that are unfolding at this point.
5. Assess how George is a primary vs. secondary character at this point in the story.
6. Assess the confusion and irony of the events surrounding the accident.

Chapter nine:

1. Evaluate Gatsby’s funeral. How did you think his funeral would be?
2. What is your opinion of Daisy when Nick tries to contact her?
3. How might the story have ended differently if Catherine had not lied at the coroner’s inquest?
4. Analyze why you think Nick ended his relationship with Jordan Baker.
5. Assess how Nick’s feelings about the Midwest relate to one of the themes of this novel. Pick a theme and justify.
6. Recallthe light on Daisy’s dock. Evaluate the symbolism.