How does Nick Carraway describe himself at the beginning of the novel? Why is this important?

1. “They’re a rotten crowd...You’re worth the whole damn bunch put together.”

What is unique about Gatsby’s parties?

“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”

What is Gatsby's emotional state before meeting Daisy at Nick's house?

What is revealed about Gatsby’s past in Chapter 6?

Why does Gatsby stop throwing his parties?

What does Gatsby tell Nick he was suprised about when he rememebers his time with Daisy in their youth?

What is the public's reaction to Gatsby's death?

Who is the only former party guest that comes to Gatsby’s funeral?

What reason does Meyer Wolfsheim give for not attending the funeral?

What does Henry Gatz show Nick that Gatsby had kept from his youth?

How does Tom explain his actions to Nick when they meet again?

What is Nick’s final judgment of Tom and Daisy?

What decision does Nick make at the end of the novel?

What does the green light symbolize by the end of the novel?

What is the meaning of the novel’s final line: “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past”?

Why does Gatsby refuse to leave Long Island after the accident?

What does Gatsby reveal about Daisy’s feelings when he left for the war?

How does Nick feel about Gatsby by the end of their conversation?

What is Gatsby doing when Wilson arrives at his mansion?

What motivates George Wilson to find Gatsby?

What is the last thing Nick says to Gatsby before leaving?

Who killed Gatsby and then himslef?

Why can't Tom reach Gatsby on the phone the afternoon of Gatsby's death?

What does the tragedy of Myrtle, Gatsby,m and George's deaths reveal about the American Dream?

What is the weather like during the events of this chapter 7 at The Plaza?

Who replaces Gatsby’s servants?

What does Gatsby say about Daisy's voice?

Where do Tom, Daisy, Gatsby, Nick, and Jordan go in the afternoon?

What does Tom accuse Gatsby of during the confrontation?

What is Gatsby’s response to Tom’s accusations?

How does Daisy react during Tom's confrontation?

Who drives Gatsby’s yellow car on the way back from the city?

Who is killed in the car accident?

Who is Dan Cody, and what role did he play in Gatsby’s life?

Why does Gatsby fire his servants?

How does Tom react to Gatsby and Daisy’s relationship?

What does Tom believe about Gatsby's occupation?

What does the word insidious (used in Chapter 6) most nearly mean?

What does Gatsby’s story reveal about the American Dream?

What is Gatsby’s real heritage and upbringing?

Why didn’t Gatsby inherit Dan Cody’s fortune?

How does Tom feel about Gatsby's parties?

How does Gatsby try to impress Daisy when they meet at Nick’s house?

What does Gatsby offer Nick as a thank you for arranging the meeting with Daisy?

How does the weather before the tea party at the start of the chapter reflect Gatsby’s mood?

How does Daisy react to Gatsby's mansion?

What is Gatsby’s reaction when Daisy praises his home?

Why does Daisy cry when Gatsby shows her his shirts?

What does the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock symbolize for Gatsby when she sees his house?

Why is Chapter 5 considered a turning point in the novel?

“I hope she’ll be a fool — that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.”

“It occurred to me that there was no difference between men, in intelligence or race, so profound as the difference between the sick and the well.”

“They're careless people, Tom and Daisy — they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness...”

“This is a valley of ashes—a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens.”

“He had one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it.”

“Let us learn to show our friendship for a man when he is alive and not after he is dead.”

“What’ll we do with ourselves this afternoon? ...and the day after that, and the next thirty years?”

There must have been moments when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams — not through her own fault, but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion.”

“He stretched out his arms toward the dark water... and distinguished nothing except a single green light.”

What do Dr. T.J. Eckleburg’s eyes most likely represent?

What does Gatsby’s mansion symbolize?

What does East Egg represent in contrast to West Egg?

What symbolic role does Gatsby’s car play in the novel?

What do Gatsby’s lavish parties symbolize?

What does water often symbolize in the novel, such as the bay separating Gatsby and Daisy?

What does the season of summer, when most of the novel’s events occur, represent?

“I’ve been drunk for about a week now, and I thought it might sober me up to sit in a library.”

“It excited him, too, that many men had already loved Daisy — it increased her value in his eyes.”

“This is a valley of ashes—a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens; where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and, finally, with a transcendent effort, of men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air.” Transcendent most nearly means:

“This is a terrible mistake,” he said, shaking his head from side to side, “a terrible, terrible mistake.” It’s a tradition in Gatsby’s parties that introduces a prodigality of food, drink, and entertainment. Prodigality most nearly means:

She was incurably dishonest. She wasn’t able to endure being at a disadvantage and, given this unwillingness, I suppose she had begun dealing in subterfuges when she was very young.” Subterfuges most nearly means:

“A momentary hush; the orchestra leader varies his rhythm obligingly for her, and there is a burst of chatter as the proprietor appears in the doorway.” Proprietor most nearly means:

“The bar is in full swing, and floating rounds of cocktails permeate the garden outside, until the air is alive with chatter and laughter and casual innuendo and introductions forgotten on the spot.” Innuendo most nearly means:

“The flowers were unnecessary, for at two o’clock a greenhouse arrived from Gatsby’s, with innumerable receptacles to contain it. An hour later the front door opened nervously, and Gatsby in a white flannel suit, silver shirt, and gold-colored tie hurried in. He was pale, and there were dark signs of dishevelment in his dress.” Dishevelment most nearly means:

“Tom was evidently perturbed at Daisy’s running around alone, for on the following Saturday night he came with her to Gatsby’s party.” Perturbed most nearly means:

What does Tom do to Myrtle when she mentions Daisy’s name?

How does Nick Carraway describe himself at the beginning of the novel?

What "evidence" does Gatsby show Nick to prove the truth of his past?

What is Gatsby's emotional state before meeting Daisy at Nick's house?

Why does Gatsby stop throwing his parties?

What does Gatsby tell Nick he was suprised about when he rememebers his time with Daisy in their youth?

What is the public's reaction to Gatsby's death?

Who is the only former party guest that comes to Gatsby’s funeral?

What reason does Meyer Wolfsheim give for not attending the funeral?

What does Henry Gatz show Nick that Gatsby had kept from his youth?

How does Tom explain his actions to Nick when they meet again?

What is Nick’s final judgment of Tom and Daisy?

What decision does Nick make at the end of the novel?

What does the green light symbolize by the end of the novel?

What is the meaning of the novel’s final line: “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past”?

Why does Gatsby refuse to leave Long Island after the accident?

What does Gatsby reveal about Daisy’s feelings when he left for the war?

How does Nick feel about Gatsby by the end of their conversation?

What is Gatsby doing when Wilson arrives at his mansion?

What does the tragedy of Chapter 8 reveal about the American Dream?

What is Gatsby’s response to Tom’s accusations?

Who drives Gatsby’s yellow car on the way back from the city?

How does Tom react to Gatsby and Daisy’s relationship in this chapter?

How does Nick receive his invitation to Gatsby’s party?

What is Gatsby rumored to have done?

How does Nick finally meet Gatsby?

What does Gatsby call Nick throughout their conversation?

What happens at the end of Gatsby’s party?

What is Owl Eyes fascinated by in Gatsby’s library?

What does Nick realize about himself at the end of the chapter?

What does "poignant" most nearly mean in the sentence: "At the enchanted metropolitan twilight I felt a haunting loneliness sometimes, and felt it in others—young clerks in the dusk, wasting the most poignant moments of night and life."

What does "convivial" mean in the context of Gatsby’s parties? (look it up)

2. “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”

3. “I hope she’ll be a fool — that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.”

4. “Can't repeat the past? Why of course you can!”

5. “You can't live forever; you can't live forever.”

6. “Her voice sounds like money”

7. “You're one of that bunch that hangs around with Meyer Wolfsheim — that much I happen to know.”

8. "I like large parties. They're so intimate. At small parties there isn't any privacy"

9. “God knows what you’ve been doing, everything you’ve been doing. You may fool me, but you can’t fool God!”

10. “Let us learn to show our friendship for a man when he is alive and not after he is dead.”

What does Nick say about Gatsby in the first few pages? How does this shape your expectations of Gatsby?

How is East Egg different from West Egg? What do these differences symbolize?

Describe Tom Buchanan’s character. What details suggest his personality and beliefs?

How does Daisy Buchanan react to Nick’s visit? What does this reveal about her?

What does Jordan Baker’s behavior suggest about her personality?

How does Tom’s conversation about race reflect the time period and his personal beliefs?

What is the significance of the green light that Gatsby is reaching toward at the end of the chapter?

How does Fitzgerald use setting and weather to enhance the mood of the chapter?

Based on Chapter One, what themes do you think will be important in the novel?