Characters
What are the five main characters so far?
Who are Gatsby, Nick, Tom, Daisy, and Jordan
What are the four main settings we've seen so far?
What are West Egg, East Egg, the Valley of Ashes, and New York?
What was Gatsby doing when Nick first saw him?
What is reaching out to the green light on the other side of the lake
What were the places called that sold illegal alcoholic beverages during Prohibition?
What is a Speakeasy
“His nostrils turned to me in an interested way. ‘I understand you’re looking for a business gonnegtion.’ The juxtaposition of these two remarks was startling. Gatsby answered for me: ‘Oh, no,’ he exclaimed, ‘this isn’t the man.’”
Who is Meyer Wolfshiem and Gatsby, and talking about how Meyer mistook Nick for someone else and Gatsby didn't want Nick to know about his illegal dealings
What are three rumors spread about Jay Gatsby's past?
What is he killed someone, he's a German spy, he grew up in Germany, he's cousins with the devil, he got his money from Kaiser Wilhelm, he graduated from Oxford, and/or he was in the American Army.
What is the difference between West Egg and East Egg?
How do Gatsby's rumors differ from his actual behavior at his party in Ch. 3?
What is he is actually super nice and welcoming. He makes everyone he talks to feel important and special, whereas the rumors make him sound rude and scary.
What is a bootlegger?
Who is someone who transports alcohol illegally?
"I'm glad it's a girl. And I hope she'll be a fool—that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool."
Who is Daisy? She's talking about how she wants her daughter to be beautiful so that she is able to find a good husband from a rich family and be well off and comfortable, but she also wishes that she were a fool and that she didn't see the mistreatment in front of her, with the cheating and how he talks to her. This way she can have a happy life without the burden of knowing what's happening and not being able to do anything about it.
Who is Meyer Wolfshiem?
What is she acts rich in the New York apartment since that's her place where she can pretend she's with Tom, and in the Valley of Ashes she tones down her personality and works in the garage with George.
How was Gatsby’s car trip with Nick in Ch. 4? What could suggest Gatsby is lying?
What is Gatsby took Nick on a car trip to New York to get lunch with him and tell him all about his past, so Nick can get to know him better. Some things that suggest he was lying are: he was rushing through his story, he was mixing up his stories, he was fidgeting, he felt the need to show proof with the medal and picture, and he needed someone else to back up his story.
What was starting up during this time that were getting a lot of people in trouble?
What is credit
“If [Tom] left the room for a minute she’d look around uneasily, and say: ‘Where’s Tom gone?’ and wear the most abstracted expression until she saw him coming in the door”
What is the difference between Daisy and Jordan? How do they differ in their social status and coping of that?
What is Daisy is Tom's wife and comes from a wealthy family, whereas Jordan is their friend and has something going on with Nick and a professional golfer. Daisy chooses to ignore the situations Tom and society puts her in and Jordan would rather face in head on.
Describe a physical feature of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg. What could it represent?
What are big blue eyes on the billboard looking over the Valley of Ashes, and they could represent someone looking over the characters and people of the story.
Why did Gatsby want Nick to meet Meyer Wolfshiem?
What is he wanted Nick to meet him to back up his stories about his past and to somewhat prove he has power, status, and friends.
What was the nation celebrating at this time?
What is WW1 (the Great War) ending?
“I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life”
Who is Nick? He's talking about how he was both being pulled into the rich lifestyle with the parties, drinking, and clothes, but at the same time he was being pushed away from it since he didn't like how it was making him feel. He was both in and out of the situation and being pulled in both directions.
What is the difference between Daisy and Tom's marriage and Myrtle and George's marriage?
What is Tom continuously cheating on Daisy with many women, Tom walks all over Daisy, Myrtle walks all over George, Tom and Daisy are both from old money, Myrtle only married George for his money that he didn't have, etc.
What does the green light at the end of Chapter 1 represent?
What is Gatsby's longing for Daisy and his love for her, since that is the end of her dock? It also could mean that green means go and his way of seeing it's okay to start pursuing her again.
What was the reason Gatsby threw all of his parties?
What is in hopes that Daisy would see them and come to one so he could see her again OR to show her how much money he has been able to make and how successful he is now.
What was a freedom women gained during this time?
What is more voice, different clothes, being able to vote, etc.
“... my eyes fell on Gatsby, standing alone on the marble steps and looking from one group to another with approving eyes. His tan skin was drawn attractively tight on his face, and his short hair looked as though it were trimmed every day. I could see nothing sinister about him”
Who is Nick and talking about how Gatsby is approving of the party happening in his house and how he's proud of what he's been able to accomplish with his status