Gatsby characters
Who is Nick?
The narrator, Gatsby's friend
How is East Egg different from West Egg?
East Egg is old money, inherited wealth. West Egg is new money, worked for wealth.
Define aesthetic
Relating to beauty or the study of beauty
“When the nurse told me I had a girl, I turned my head away and wept. ‘All right,’ I said, ‘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.”
Daisy
What does the green light symbolize?
Gatsby's hopes and dreams for the future
How do Nick and Daisy know each other?
Second cousins
Why did Nick move to West Egg?
To avoid gossip and rumors back home.
Define cynical
Believing that other people are only motivated by self-interest
“Daisy! Daisy! Daisy! I’ll say it whenever I want to! Daisy! Dai—“
Myrtle Wilson
What does the broken clock symbolize?
Lost time, can't go back to the past.
How does the author develop Gatsby's characters through rumors?
It makes Gatsby seem larger than life and dangerous. (He killed a man, he's a bootlegger, deals in illegal business.)
What was Nick's father's advice?
"Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, he told me, "just remember that all people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had."
Define solidarity
Unity, usually behind a common cause
“Can’t repeat the past? Why of course you can!”
Gatsby
What does the Valley of Ashes symbolize?
Poverty versus wealth; social class
Who is Myrtle Wilson?
Tom's girlfriend, George Wilson's wife
What does Gatsby learn during his time with Dan Cody?
He can achieve his dreams through force, no matter how unattainable they may be.
Define intermittent
Not happening regularly
“The officer looked at Daisy while she was speaking, in a way that every young girl wants to be looked at sometime, and because it seemed romantic to me I have remembered the incident ever since.”
Jordan Baker
What do the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg symbolize?
The judging eyes of God
Who is Meyer Wolfsheim?
The man Gatsby and Nick meet for lunch. A professional gambler, he fixed the World Series.
What is the meaning of the scene with Gatsby's shirts?
They represent his wealth; Daisy wishes she had waited and could've married Gatsby instead of Tom.
Define homogeneity
Consisting of parts or people that are all the same
“You see? It’s really his wife that’s keeping them apart. She’s Catholic and they don’t believe in divorce.”
Catherine McKee
What do the seasons of summer and fall symbolize?
Fun and new beginnings; death and endings.