Character Quote Identification
"The next April Daisy had her little girl, and they went to France for a year. I saw them one spring in Cannes, and they settled down in Chicago. Daisy was popular in Chicago, you know. They moved with a fast crowd..."
Jordan Baker
What year was The Great Gatsby was published? (1st edition: Scribner & Sons)
1925
How do Tom and Nick know each other?
They went to college together at Yale. They are acquaintances.
Describe how the green light's meaning changes for Gatsby in chapter 5.
Gatsby seems to realize that his dream has fundamentally changed now that Daisy herself has been to his mansion.
"It made no difference to me. Dishonesty in a woman is a thing you never blame deeply–I was casually sorry, then I forgot."
Nick Carraway
What is the term commonly associated with the young feminist women of the 1920s, known for their modern fashion style, rebellious attitude, and challenging of gender norms?
"Flappers"
In which chapter do Gatsby and Daisy dance with one another for the first time in the story?
Chapter 5
Describe how "old money" and "new money" lifestyles are portrayed in the novel.
West Egg and East Egg, Daisy and Tom vs. everybody, Gatsby as "nouveau riche," Nick's house being next to Gatsby's mansion, etc.
"They're absolutely real–have pages and everything. I thought they'd be a nice durable cardboard. Matter of fact, they're real! Let me show you..."
Owl Eyes
Which major historical event ended the prosperity of the 20s, sparking what led to the Great Depression of the 30s?
The Stock Market Crash of 1929.
Why is it so important to Gatsby that Daisy express to Tom that "she never loved him?"
(Answers vary) – Gatsby needs Daisy to validate the time they were apart by admitting her relationship with Tom was a mistake, erasing her past and fully legitimizing Gatsby's dream of capturing Daisy for himself. (if Daisy ever loved Tom, the dream is soured in some way).
Describe how the author uses Jay Gatsby to represent the American Dream
"You see I think everything is terrible anyhow, everyone thinks so–the most advanced people. And I know. I've been everywhere and done everything."
Daisy Buchanan
What real crime was Meyer Wolfsheim most known for?
Fixing the 1919 World Series
She believed that Tom was driving the car, even though he was not.
Describe what the Valley of Ashes symbolizes in the novel.
New York is the "mystery and beauty of the world," West + East Egg are the home to some of the richest of America, and the Valley is where the working class is: in the ruins between everything, overlooked but always there.
"Crazy about him? Who said I was crazy about him? I never was any more crazy about him than I was about that man there."
Myrtle Wilson
What law was introduced with the 18th Amendment in 1919?
Prohibition
What key detail did Nick forget about himself on the day that Myrtle died?
He forgot that it was his 30th birthday. (How does he feel about turning 30?)
Why does Nick begin the novel by saying: "In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since: when you feel like criticizing anyone, remember that they haven't had the advantages you had."
He opens w/ this because he is trying to show that he is tolerant and avoid hasty opinions about others. He avoided jumping to conclusions about Gatsby, who this story is about, and it is because of this tolerance that he becomes friends with Gatsby.