The Great Gatsby - Dearborn Public Schools · Describe the social interactions among Tom, the Sloanes, and Gatsby. Why does Mrs. Sloane invite Gatsby to dinner? What is suggested

NAME:

The Great Gatsby Guided Reading Packet

Book No._______

Student Role:____________

1

For each reading section, complete the following activities:

Answer the study guide questions.

Write down a quote (3 for each chapter) that

o Illustrates a theme

o Contains an interesting piece of language

o Illustrates something essential about a character.

CHAPTER 1

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

What conflicts – between characters or ideas – are alluded to or appear?

Describe Tom Buchanan. What does he look like? What are his interests? What is

suggested about TB by the book he is reading? What type of person does he represent?

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?

2

What is the difference between hailing from the Midwest and growing up in the East?

What does the text suggest about Nick that he is from the Midwest? 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?

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?

NOTES:

HISTORICAL/CULTURAL ALLUSIONS

The Great War - World War I

Georgian colonial mansion – 18th century architectural style; recalls both old money and the

revolutionary spirit of the United States

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.

Cunard or White Star Line – exclusive cruise lines

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).

New Haven - City in southern Connecticut; home to Yale University.

3

Westchester – wealthy suburb of New York City

Lake Forest – wealthy suburb of Chicago

Louisville – Kentucky’s largest city, home of the Kentucky Derby, associated with the mint julep

and Southern gentility

Asheville, Hot Springs, Palm Beach – exclusive American resorts

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CHAPTER 2

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? Consider the juxtaposition of the ash heaps and the eyes – what does

this represent?

4

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?

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?

NOTES:


J.D. Rockefeller - (1839–1937); U.S. industrialist, oil tycoon, and philanthropist.

Kaiser Wilhelm - ruler of Germany, 1871–1918, and enemy of the Allies during WWI

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.

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 anf

the U.S. Open

kike – a vulgar term for a Jew, shows hostility and contempt.

5

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CHAPTER 3

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?

How does Nick describe Gatsby? What do the other characters say about Gatsby?

Characterize the meeting between Gatsby and Nick. How are they similar?

6

Describe the relationship between Nick and Jordan Baker. What do you learn about

Jordan? How does she contrast with Nick?

Consider the use and description of cars. What do they look like? How are they

driven? What does this suggest about the characters?

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

reference suggest about Gatsby?

NOTES:


Belasco - David Belasco (1853-1931); American theatrical producer, known for the realism of

his sets.

Stoddard lectures - travel series of books

7

prodigality – think “prodigal son;” suggests wastefulness or extreme lavishness.

The Follies - popular revue started by Florenz Ziegfeld in 1907.

Gilda Gray – Polish immigrant, changed her name from Marianne Michalski, became highly

paid star of the 1922 Ziegfeld Follies

coupe - a closed, two-door automobile with a body smaller than that of a sedan.

Yale Club – social club in New York City for Yale alum.

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CHAPTER 4

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?

8

Summarize Gatsby’s story as told to Nick. Does Nick believe Gatsby? What details

support your opinion?

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?

What is ironic about Gatsby’s appraisal of Jordan Baker?

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

with Gatsby?

9

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

might this suggest?

NOTES:


Argonne Forest – in 1918, American troops fought in this region of northeast France, near the

Belgian border.

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.

Bootlegger – a manufacturer & distributor of alcohol, during Prohibition

Von Hindenburg – (1847-1934) soldier and second president of Germany

Little Montnegro – small kingdom which was annexed by Yugoslavia in 1918

Blackwells Island – small island which lies in the East River beneath the Queensboro Bridge

“old Metropole” – hotel at Broadway and 43rd in Manhattan

Sauterne - a sweet white wine served with dessert.

Rosy Rosenthal – Herman Rosenthal, gangster, notorious for his role in political and police

corruption, murdered by members of police department.

Camp Taylor – military base near Louisville, Kentucky.

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CHAPTER 5

Gatsby’s preparations for Daisy’s arrival seem both flamboyant and absurd. What does

he do? Why? Also – notice the use of color. What do the colors suggest?

Describe Gatsby’s behavior once Daisy has arrived. Is he nervous? How do you know?

How does he try to impress Daisy?

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?

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

suggest about Gatsby?

11

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?

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

the song?

NOTES:


“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

“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.

“the Merton College Library” – library at Oxford University

“Adam study” – in the style fo British neoclassical architect Robert Adam (1728-92)

chartreuse – a green liquor

Dan Cody – allusion to Buffalo Bill Cody, frontiersman and showman, who made money with

popular Wild West shows

“The Love Nest” – popular song of the 1920s

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CHAPTER 6

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?

Who or what does Dan Cody represent?

13

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?

Describe the social interactions among Tom, the Sloanes, and Gatsby. Why does Mrs.

Sloane invite Gatsby to dinner? What is suggested by his response?

Why does Gatsby feel his party was not a success?

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

NOTES:


Madame de Maintenon - (1635–1719); second wife of Louis XIV of France, often depicted

as ambitious, greedy, evil, and narrow-minded.

14

“underground pipeline to Canada” – a pipeline that was used to transport alcohol into the

United States during Prohibition.

Tuolomee – a gold-mining area of northern California

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.

“he must be about His Father’s Business” – ironic reference to words of Jesus, in Luke 2:49

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CHAPTER 7

Notice the change in the weather. How/why does Fitzgerald highlight the excessive

heat?

15

What changes has Gatsby made to accommodate Daisy?

What does Daisy and Tom’s daughter represent? Comment on Daisy’s behavior toward

her daughter.

With whom does Tom speak at the beginning of the chapter, and why is this significant

later in the chapter? What discovery does Tom make concerning Myrtle? What unites

Tom and George at this point?

What does Gatsby mean when he says Daisy’s voice is “full of money”? Why does

Fitzgerald put these words into Gatsby’s mouth and not Nick’s?

16

Notice Tom Buchanan’s arrogance when he says, “I’m the first man who made a stable

out of a garage.”

What arrangements have been made for the trip to the city? Why?

How does Tom categorize Gatsby? Which comments show his disdain?

Why does Tom bring up “intermarriage” when the conversation turns to Gatsby and

Daisy’s relationship? What is ironic about Tom’s defense of his family life?

Why do Nick’s feelings toward Jordan change?

17

What is the significance of Nick remembering his 30th birthday?

What unites Tom and Daisy at the end of the chapter? What is Gatsby doing at the end

of the chapter? How is this ironic?


Trimalchio – wealthy & extravagant character in Petronius' Satyricon, a satire on Roman life in

the first century A.D.

blessed isles – in classical mythology, where eternal peace can be found

mint julep – classic drink of the American South, made with bourbon, sugar, and mint.

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CHAPTER 8

Why does Gatsby speak so openly now?

Notice the religious imagery. Why is Gatsby’s love for Daisy described in religious

terms?

Why does Daisy’s wealth/social position remain in the foreground of Gatsby’s

memories?

Describe the early relationship between Gatsby and Daisy. Why does she marry Tom?

Comment on Gatsby’s remark that if Daisy loved Tom once, it was “just personal.”

19

Look closely at Nick’s transformation from the beginning of the novel to this point.

What has changed?

What is Gatsby’s response to Nick’s compliment? Why is it important to Nick that he

thanks Gatsby for his hospitality?

How does Wilson view the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg? Refer back to the religious

imagery in the chapter.

What does Nick mean when he says, “the holocaust was complete”? Is it important that

George killed Gatsby? Why/How?


Beale Street Blues – jazz song written in1917

Hempstead…South Hampton – Long Island shore towns.

20

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CHAPTER 9

Who takes charge of Gatsby’s funeral arrangements? Why?

Who is Mr. Henry C. Gatz? Describe his arrival and his impression of Gatsby’s house.

21

To what does Gatsby’s boyhood list refer? What is the symbolic significance of the list

and the book in which it was found?

What is the irony in the comparison of Gatsby to James J. Hill?

Who attends Gatsby’s funeral? Why is each significant?

Look at Tom, Daisy, and Jordan at the end of the novel. Comment on their words and

actions. Why do Tom and Daisy leave? Where do they go? What does this suggest

about them?

22

Nick feels that Gatsby’s tragedy is a contrast between East and West. Comment on this

idea.


pasquinade - a satirical piece of writing that holds its object up to ridicule, formerly one posted

in a public place; lampoon.

James J. Hill - (1838–1916) wealthy financier, built of the Great Northern Railway, peer of J.P.

Morgan, rose from humble origins. .

Hopalong Cassidy - cowboy hero of western books by Clarence E. Milford

El Greco - (about 1541–1614); Spanish painter of religious scenes, which were usually

elongated and distorted.

Gatsby’s boyhood schedule – refers to Benjamin Franklin’s schedule in his Autobiography,

which exemplifies the American ideal of advancement through discipline and hard work.

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The Great Gatsby - Dearborn Public Schools · Describe the social interactions among Tom, the Sloanes, and Gatsby. Why does Mrs. Sloane invite Gatsby to dinner? What is suggested