Gatsby Guided Questions By chapter **Spoilers were attempted to be hidden**

Ch. 1 Where is the narrator from? Why did he come to NY? What is the difference between East Egg and West Egg? What is Daisy and Tom’s connection to Nick? What did Miss Baker tell Nick about Tom? Who called twice during dinner? What does Daisy say about her daughter? What is Gatsby doing outside at the end of the ch? What is he reaching for? Describe the scene.

Ch. 2 What is the “valley of ashes”? How does it differ from the other settings we’ve seen? What could the oculist’s billboard symbolize? Who is Myrtle Wilson? Why does Tom call the dog a bitch, even after he finds out it’s a male? How does Myrtle change once she gets to the city? Why does Tom hit Myrtle?

Ch. 3 What happens at least every 2 weeks at Gatsby’s? What are 2 of the extravagances of Gatsby’s parties? How does Nick get to go to his first Gatsby party? Why is it unusual? What rumors are spread about Gatsby? What’s Owl Eyes’ big conversation about the books being real all about? Describe Gatsby in your own words. How does Gatsby act with his guests? Why would Fitzgerald include the scene with the car at the end of Ch. 3? What purpose could it serve? What is the scandal about Jordan that Nick remembers when she lies to him?

Ch. 4 Describe Gatsby’s car. Why might this car be of importance? How does he SAY he got his money? What does Gatsby show Nick as proof of his background story? What does Gatsby do/say that makes Nick think he’s lying about his background? Who is Meyer Wolfshiem? (What does he do? What connection is he to Gatsby?) How do you think Gatsby got his money? Why do you think Gatsby disappeared when Tom showed up? What does Jordan reveal to Nick at the end of the ch.? Why did Gatsby buy the mansion on West Egg?

Ch. 5 What does Gatsby want to have done at Nick’s house before Daisy visits? How long did it take Gatsby to earn the money to buy his mansion? What are the “three [emotional] states” Nick says Gatsby passes through during his time with Daisy? Why does Gatsby want Daisy to see his house and clothes? What’s important about the scene with all the shirts? What did the green light on the dock mean to Gatsby? What had Gatsby turned Daisy into in his mind? Does she live up to his expectations, or fail him?

Ch. 6 What is Gatsby’s real name? What is his true background? Describe the steps that brought him to his current status. Who changed Gatsby’s life forever and what was the name of his boat? What is Daisy’s opinion of Gatsby’s party? How does this affect him? What does Gatsby want from Daisy? What is Tom determined to find out? What does Gatsby want Daisy to say to Tom? Then what does he want himself and Daisy to do? What impossible thing does Gatsby tell Nick “of course” he can do.

Ch. 7 What does Tom do that destroys the relationship between Daisy and Gatsby? What happens to Myrtle? Who is ultimately responsible for what happened? How do these people react to what happens to Myrtle? Wilson Tom Nick Gatsby What do you think the “eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleberg” might symbolize? What is the true relationship between Daisy and Tom? How does the ch. end?

Ch. 8 What story does Gatsby tell Nick? How had Gatsby felt when he was in Daisy’s house in Louisville? Why? What did Daisy represent to Gatsby? What was it about Gatsby, that in the end, made it impossible for someone like Daisy to stay with him instead of with an unfaithful husband like Tom? In the end, how is Gatsby’s car responsible for what happens to Myrtle? How is Daisy responsible? And Tom? What major event happens at the end of the ch?

Ch. 9 How many people show up to Gatsby’s for the final “party”? Why is this ironic? What statement does it make about the high society characters and people portrayed in the novel? What two things do we find out from Tom (one he tells, the other we must infer) when Nick runs into him months later? What does Nick mean when he says, “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy…” Do you think it is a fault of the novel that Daisy is the object of Gatsby’s admiration, instead of someone more worthy of his efforts? Explain? What does this novel say about the American Dream?