The Great Gatsby Journal Assignment

Before You Read:

  1. Define the vocabulary words in your journal. Use three columns: the word, definition, and original sentence.

feign, supercilious, wan, contiguous, facet, innuendo, vacuous, corpulent, din, retribution, denizen, rout, debauch, dilatory, portentous, rancor, garrulous, deranged, elocution, borne

Chapter One:

  1. This chapter introduces the novel’s main characters: Nick, Tom and Daisy Buchannan, Jordan Baker, and Gatsby. Make a chart as follows:

What (s)he SAYS / What (s)he DOES / How Nick DESCRIBES him/her
Nick
Tom
Daisy
Jordan
Gatsby

Chapter Two:

  1. Continue your character charts, adding George Wilson, Myrtle Wilson and Catherine.

Chapter Three:

  1. What various comments do the partygoers make about Gatsby’s past and present?

Chapter Four:

  1. Summarize what Gatsby tells Nick about his background in this chapter.
  2. Create a web for Mr. Wolfsheim. On the spokes/rays write quotes which illuminate or suggest who Mr. Wolfsheim is and/or what his relationship with Gatsby might be. Cite the pages. Below the web, summarize what you discover about Wolfsheim in this chapter.

Chapter Five:

  1. Comment on this quote: “He hadn’t once ceased looking at Daisy and I think he revalued everything in his house according to the measure of response it drew from her well-loved eyes” (96-97).

Chapter Six:

  1. How does Tom react to the events at Gatsby’s party (beginning on page 110)? Why does he react as he does? Be specific both about what Tom sees and how he responds.

Chapter Seven:

  1. Summarize the confrontation between Tom and Gatsby in New York. Bullet what it means to Tom, to Gatsby and to Daisy.
  2. Who is Michaelis and what is his role in this novel?

Chapter Eight:

  1. Summarize the story Gatsby tells about Daisy in this chapter (155-159).

Chapter Nine:

  1. Explore the full meaning of this quote: “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy… mess they had made…” (187-188).

After Break:

You will be required to watch a film version of the novel and compare the novel and film.