Reading Guide for The Great Gatsby

1. 
   Who is Nick Carraway? Describe him. Why is he telling the story?
   

2. 
   Describe Tom Buchanan. What does he look like? What are his interests? What is suggested about him by the book he is reading? What type of person does he represent?
   

3. 
   Describe Daisy Buchanan. Why does she speak in such exaggerated phrases? Daisy says she wants her daughter to be “a beautiful little fool” and she reminisces about her “white girlhood.” What does this suggest about her childhood and marriage, her outlook on life? What point is Daisy making by saying she sophisticated?
   

4. 
   What is the difference between growing up in the Midwest and growing up in the East? What does the text suggest about Nick since he is from the Midwest?
   
   
5. 
   In describing East Egg and West Egg, Nick says that “to the wingless a more arresting phenomenon is their dissimilarity in every particular except size and shape.” Compare East Egg and West Egg. Compare the homes of Nick, the Buchanans, and Gatsby. What do the outward appearances of the homes suggest about their residents?
   

6. 
   Though the reader does not meet Gatsby until chapter 3, references to him are made between the other characters. Note each reference. What images are associated with Gatsby? What impression of Gatsby is created?
   
   

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  The Great War - World War I
  
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  Midas and Morgan and Maecenas - Midas, in Greek Myth, the king of Phrygia granted the power of turning everything that he touches into gold; J.P. Morgan (1837–1913), U.S. financier; Gaius Maecenas (70–8 BC), Roman statesman, friend of Emperor Augustus, and patron of the arts.
  
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  Cunard or White Star Line – exclusive cruise lines (Titanic)
  
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  Goddard's The Rise of the Colored Empires - an allusion to Theodore Lothrop Stoddard's The Rising Tide of Color Against White World Supremacy (1920).
  
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  New Haven - City in southern Connecticut; home to Yale University.
  
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  Westchester – wealthy suburb of New York City
  
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  Lake Forest – wealthy suburb of Chicago
  
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  Louisville – Kentucky’s largest city, home of the Kentucky Derby, associated with the mint julep and Southern gentility
  
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  Asheville, Hot Springs, Palm Beach – exclusive American resorts
  

1. 
   Describe the “valley of ashes.” Notice the use of color – what do the colors suggest? Consider the eyes of Dr. T.J Eckleburg. Why are they there? What are they looking at or looking over? What does the juxtaposition of the ash heaps and the eyes represent?
   

2. 
   Describe Myrtle and George Wilson. Notice that George is covered with dust from the ashes – what does this suggest about him? Myrtle is described as having an “intense vitality.” How does she compare to her husband? Myrtle talks of her unhappy marriage – what is she trying to justify?
   

3. 
   The “party” that takes place in New York City reveals complex social and class relationships. Describe the atmosphere of the apartment. How are the interactions among the characters affected by social differences? Evaluate the conversations. Characterize the relationship between Myrtle and Tom. Consider Nick and his impressions of the party – does he enjoy himself? Why?
   

HISTORICAL/CULTURAL ALLUSIONS

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  J.D. Rockefeller - (1839–1937); U.S. industrialist, oil tycoon, and philanthropist.
  
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  Kaiser Wilhelm - ruler of Germany, 1871–1918, and enemy of the Allies during WWI
  
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  Simon Called Peter - Robert Keable's best-selling fiction work from 1922 about a young clergyman whose war-time experiences result in a loss of faith.
  
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  Queens/the valley of ashes – the swamp at Flushing Meadows, used as a disposal site for ashes from domestic heating during the 1920s; now home of the Billie Jean King Tennis Center and the U.S. Open
  
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  kike – a vulgar term for a Jewish person, shows hostility and contempt.
  

1. 
   Consider Gatsby’s parties. What details are given about the parties, the guests, and the behavior that takes place? Describe the atmosphere. Who attends the parties? Are they invited? Why do they come?
   

2. 
   How does Nick describe Gatsby? What do the other characters say about Gatsby? Characterize the meeting between Gatsby and Nick. How are they similar?
   

3. 
   Describe the relationship between Nick and Jordan Baker. What do you learn about Jordan? How does she contrast with Nick?
   

4. 
   Consider the use and description of cars. What do they look like? How are they driven? What does this suggest about the characters?
   

5. 
   Who is the “owl-eyed” man? He describes Gatsby as a “real Belasco.” What does the reference suggest about Gatsby?
   

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  Belasco - David Belasco (1853-1931); American theatrical producer, known for the realism of his sets.
  
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  Stoddard lectures - travel series of books
  
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  Prodigality – think “prodigal son;” suggests wastefulness or extreme lavishness.
  
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  The Follies - popular revue started by Florenz Ziegfeld in 1907.
  
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  Gilda Gray – Polish immigrant, changed her name from Marianne Michalski, became highly paid star of the 1922 Ziegfeld Follies
  
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  Coupe - a closed, two-door automobile with a body smaller than that of a sedan.
  
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  Yale Club – social club in New York City for Yale alum.
  

1. 
   Look at the names of the party guests. What images are suggested by most of these names? What do the names say about the attendees?
   

2. 
   Summarize Gatsby’s story of his background, as told to Nick. Does Nick believe Gatsby? What causes him to be suspicious?
   
   
   

3. 
   Describe Meyer Wolfsheim. What does he look like? What does he wear? What does he talk about? What images do these details create? What is Gatsby’s connection to Wolfsheim? How do you know? What might this suggest about Gatsby?
   
   
   

4. 
   What is ironic about Gatsby’s appraisal of Jordan Baker? When he suggests she is trustworthy?
   
   

5. 
   Summarize Daisy’s life story. What do you learn about her? About her relationship with Gatsby?
   

6. 
   After Daisy marries Tom, the two travel for a year. Where do they go? Why? What might this suggest?
   
   

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  Argonne Forest – in 1918, American troops fought in this region of northeast France, near the Belgian border.
  
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  1919 World Series – players from the Chicago White Sox accepted a bribe to lose a game, allowing the Cincinnati Reds to win the World Series.
  
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  Bootlegger – a manufacturer & distributor of alcohol, during Prohibition
  
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  Von Hindenburg – (1847-1934) soldier and second president of Germany
  
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  Little Montnegro – small kingdom which was annexed by Yugoslavia in 1918
  
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  Blackwells Island – small island which lies in the East River beneath the Queensboro Bridge
  
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  “old Metropole” – hotel at Broadway and 43^rd in Manhattan
  
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  Sauterne - a sweet white wine served with dessert.
  
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  Rosy Rosenthal – Herman Rosenthal, gangster, notorious for his role in political and police corruption, murdered by members of police department.
  
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  Camp Taylor – military base near Louisville, Kentucky.
  

1. 
   Gatsby’s preparations for his reunion with Daisy seem both flamboyant and absurd. What does he do? Why? Also – notice the use of color. What do the colors suggest? Consider the color of his clothing, especially.
   

2. 
   Describe Gatsby’s behavior once Daisy has arrived. Is he nervous? How do you know? How does he try to impress Daisy?
   

3. 
   In return for Nick’s help, Gatsby offers to let him in on a “rather confidential sort of thing” concerning bonds. What does this conversation say about Gatsby? About Nick?
   
   
   

4. 
   What do you learn about how Gatsby’s house was built? What does this information suggest about Gatsby?
   

5. 
   There are many references to time in the novel, especially to stopping time or turning back time. In this chapter, look at Fitzgerald’s use of the clock. What does the clock suggest?
   
   

6. 
   Look closely at the lyrics to the song Klipspringer is singing. What is significant about the song?
   
   

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  “the secret of Castle Rackrent”- Castle Rackrent is a novel, published in 1800, which traces the downfall of a family of Irish landowners who live beyond their means, written by Maria Edgeworth
  
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  “like Kant at his church steeple” – German philosopher Immanuel Kant (1724 – 1804) was often found staring at the town’s steeple to help him organize his thoughts.
  
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  “the Merton College Library” – library at Oxford University
  
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  “Adam study” – in the style fo British neoclassical architect Robert Adam (1728-92)
  
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  chartreuse – a green liquor
  
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  Dan Cody – allusion to Buffalo Bill Cody, frontiersman and showman, who made money with popular Wild West shows
  
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  “The Love Nest” – popular song of the 1920s
  

1. 
   Define the term “Platonic conception.” How does the quote apply to Gatsby? Recount the story of James Gatz. Why did he change his name? What myth is suggested by his transformation? How was Dan Cody a participant in Gatsby’s destiny?
   

2. 
   What are Daisy’s impressions of Gatsby’s parties? Tom’s impressions? What do they say? How do they behave? What are their attitudes? How are their impressions ironic?
   

3. 
   Describe the social interactions among Tom, the Sloanes, and Gatsby. Why does Mrs. Sloane invite Gatsby to dinner? What is suggested by his response?
   

4. 
   Why does Gatsby feel his party was not a success?
   
   
   

5. 
   Describe Gatsby’s recollections about the first time he kissed Daisy.
   
   
   

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  Madame de Maintenon - (1635–1719); second wife of Louis XIV of France, often depicted as ambitious, greedy, evil, and narrow-minded.
  
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  “underground pipeline to Canada” – a pipeline that was used to transport alcohol into the United States during Prohibition.
  
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  Tuolomee – a gold-mining area of northern California
  
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  Platonic conception – Greek philosopher Plato (427-348 BCE) argued that the material world was illusory and true reality existed in an ideal realm beyond human senses.
  
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  “he must be about His Father’s Business” – ironic reference to words of Jesus, in Luke 2:49