Characters
Who is the unreliable narrator of The Great Gatsby?
Nick Carraway
In what city does Tom rent an apartment for Myrtle?
New York City
What image is used to describe Jordan in Chapter 1 and why does Fitzgerald use this comparison?
He describes her as a cadet to show that she is stiff and uptight.
Who is Tom's mistress?
Myrtle Wilson
What is the American Dream?
The idea that anyone can work to achieve success and attain a better life.
Who is Tom Buchanan and what are his key traits?
Tom is Daisy's husband. He is aggressive, athletic, hulking, racist, and arrogant.
What does the Valley of Ashes represent on a symbolic level?
It represents the poor, working class and the death of the American dream.
What does Nick do?
He sells bonds.
How does Daisy react to Tom's mistress calling during the dinner party?
She tries to ignore them, but she is uncomfortable and embarrassed that everyone knows.
How does Gatsby smile at Nick and why is this important?
He smiles understandingly in a rare way. This shows his quality of character. Gatsby is positive and hopeful.
Who is Jordan Baker? What does Nick find appealing about her?
Jordan is a famous golfer. Nick finds her frightening but charming and very attractive. He is curious about her.
East Egg
What is the special day coming up in two weeks that Daisy looks forward to in two weeks?
The longest day of the year.
How do Gatsby and Nick know each other?
They both served in World War 1
How does Gatsby's party differ from Tom and Daisy's dinner party?
Gatsby's party is gaudy, crowded, and flashy. The dinner party is intimate, quiet, and elegant. It shows the difference between old and new money and how they show it off.
George Wilson is frail, poor, lower class, and lives in the Valley of Ashes.
How does Nick feel about New York City?
Nick likes New York's adventurous feel and night life. Sometimes he feels lonely thinking about the life he could have there.
How do we know that Myrtle is not educated?
She is obsessed with material possessions, she mispronounces words and misuses cliches, and she is loud and obnoxious.
How does Nick feel towards Jordan Baker at the end of Chapter 3?
He is attracted to her but he dislikes that she is dishonest. Even though he doesn't blame her, he judges her. He struggles with curiosity, attraction, and dislike.
Why is there surprise over Gatsby's library?
Owl eyes believed the books would be cardboard because he did not believe Gatsby read. Most people with money faked their intelligence to look better.
What are the three rumors being spread about Gatsby?
What city is characterized by those with gaudy, showy appearances of wealth?
What literary term is this quote from Jordan Baker and what does it mean? "I like large parties. They're so intimate. At small parties there isn't any privacy."
It is a paradox. This means that in a large party, it is easier to slip away and go unnoticed, but at a small party, there is no chance to be unseen.
What are the differences between Daisy and Myrtle?
Daisy was born privileged and upper class. She is quiet, small, and lives in East Egg. Myrtle has always been lower class, is a gold digger, uneducated, loud, and lives in the Valley of Ashes.
What does Daisy's quote, "that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool," mean?
Daisy's society values women that are vapid and foolish rather than headstrong and intelligent. It also shows that Daisy chooses to be foolish to fit in.