Nick
Who is Nick Carraway?
The narrator of the book
What is Nick's relationship to Gatsby?
They are neighbors who eventually become close friends.
What is Daisy's relationship to Nick?
They are second cousins, once removed.
How is Tom described in the book?
He is a very wealthy, strong, masculine man that was a football star in college. He is constantly trying to impress others to get back that satisfaction. He is also described as ignorant and selfish.
What is the time period and setting of this book?
The 1920's in Long Island, New York
Where does Nick live?
He lives in West Egg in a small house between to huge mansions.
Who mentions Gatsby during dinner?
Jordan Baker mentions that she knows a man named Gatsby who lives in West Egg.
How does the author describe Daisy?
She is very kind, intriguing, and charming. She can also be very witty and sarcastic, and she has a cynical view of the world.
What is Tom and Daisy's relationship like?
Their marriage is not strong, as Tom is clearly having an affair, and they bicker throughout dinner.
What is the difference between East Egg and West Egg?
Why is Nick in New York?
He is trying to start his career in the stock market.
What is Gatsby's first name?
His first name is Jay. Jay Gatsby.
What does Daisy say when she finds out her first child is a girl?
She weeps and says that she hopes her daughter is a fool. "That's the best thing a girl can be in this world -- a beautiful, little fool" (Fitzgerald 14).
What is the name of Tom's lover? Who is she married to?
Tom's lover is named Myrtle, and she is married to a mechanic in the Valley of Ashes, George Wilson.
Describe the area between East/West Egg and New York.
It is the "valley of ashes." It is where factories dump their ash and waste, leaving the area looking very gray and desolate.
What does Nick's father tell him not to do when he meets others?
His father tells him not to judge others because they may not all have the same advantages that he's had. This plays a large role in his character being observant, but mostly quiet throughout the book.
When does the audience see Gatsby for the first time?
He is standing out on his dock late at night, reaching his arm out across the bay.
Compare and contrast Daisy and Myrtle.
Daisy is a calm, charming, sophisticated woman. She can also be cynical, fickle, and shallow.
Myrtle is a slightly older woman who is desperately looking for a better life. She feels trapped in her marriage to George Wilson.
Where does Tom take Nick in Chapter 2?
He takes Nick through the Valley of Ashes, then to a hotel room party in New York with Myrtle (his mistress) and her friends.
What is going on in the U.S. during the time period of this book?
There is an economic boom after the WWI victory. Products, like cars and toasters, are now mass-produced. The stock market and debt is becoming much more popular. Women have recently been granted the right to vote and are becoming much more independent members of society. There is advancement in culture and rights of African Americans, as the Harlem Renaissance takes place.
How does Nick feel about the other people in the party in the hotel room with Tom and Myrtle?
He is disgusted by their behavior, but he also finds it interesting and is torn between staying and leaving.
What rumor do we hear about Gatsby from Catherine in New York City?
That he is the nephew of the ruler of Germany during WWI.
What friend of Daisy's is also at dinner when Nick comes over? What does Daisy say she is going to do for them?
Jordan Baker is Daisy's friend at dinner. Daisy says that she wants to set up a "fling" between Jordan and Nick.
What does Tom do to Myrtle at the end of Chapter 2? Why?
He hits Myrtle and breaks her nose because she kept mentioning Daisy's name.
What characters in this book were involved in WWI?
Nick fought in World War I and recently returned. There is a rumor that Gatsby's family was heavily involved in the war.