The Great Gatsby

Reading journals

Reading Journal Entries correspond to the chapters of The Great Gatsby.

1. What is the American Dream? What does it take to achieve this dream? Who
determines your success in the dream—you or others?
2. Write about dreams or wishes that you once had that you now know are unrealistic or
foolish. What have you learned since those days? What, do you think, are Nick
Carraway’s current (as in during ch. 1) dreams? What might happen to change his
dreams?
3. Write your own ‘recipe’ for the American Dream. For example:
2 cups perseverance
1 ½ cups of courage
1 cup trials and tribulations
Dash of luck
Faith to taste
4. Has there ever been a person you have heard of through rumor, but never actually
met? Who was this person? What rumors did you hear about them? What did you
think about this person before you actually met them? If or when you did meet them,
did they live up to your expectations?
5. Write about a dream or a goal that you have already accomplished. Describe the
challenges you faced in realizing this dream and how you felt when you
accomplished it.
6. Do you believe it is possible to repeat the past? Why or why not? Are there any
experiences in your life that you wish you could go back and change? Why or why
not?
7. Pretend it is the end of your life. When that will be is up to you. But, before you go,
you get to write your own obituary. What details, accomplishments, and family
members will be emphasized?
8. Imagine you have a achieved a dream award or position. Perhaps this is an Oscar or
Grammy, Pulitzer Prize, a political office, a multi-million dollar sports contract, etc.
Pretend you are writing your acceptance speech for the occasion. Be sure to thank
those that helped you and tell your audience how much it means to you to accept the
award/position.
 The Great Gatsby
Anticipation Guide

Before beginning the novel The Great Gatsby, answer the following questions based on
your own thoughts, experiences, and beliefs:

1. How might people who are born into wealth compare to those who are “nouveau
riche” or who acquired their wealth overnight?
2. Would you date or marry someone just for money? What would be the advantages
and disadvantages of doing this?
3. What defines a person’s social class today? Would you date or marry someone below
your social class? What would be your parents’ reaction? How would you or your
parents be different if the person was above your social class?
4. What dreams and hopes do you have for your future?
5. What goals do you have for your future in 5 years? 10 years? 20 years? In your
lifetime?
6. Can money really buy happiness? Explain.
7. Is the love of money the root of all evil?

The Great Gatsby

Anticipation Guide

Before beginning the novel The Great Gatsby, answer the following questions based on
your own thoughts, experiences, and beliefs:

1. How might people who are born into wealth compare to those who are “nouveau
riche” or who acquired their wealth overnight?
2. Would you date or marry someone just for money? What would be the advantages
and disadvantages of doing this?
3. What defines a person’s social class today? Would you date or marry someone below
your social class? What would be your parents’ reaction? How would you or your
parents be different if the person was above your social class?
4. What dreams and hopes do you have for your future?
5. What goals do you have for your future in 5 years? 10 years? 20 years? In your
lifetime?
6. Can money really buy happiness? Explain.
7. Is the love of money the root of all evil?
 Name:

Writing about a First Impression

To begin this assignment, react to the excerpt from chapter two of The
Great Gatsby.

First impressions of Tom and Myrtle

Record words, phrases, details, or quotes from the text that cause Write an adjective or phrase that
the reader to have an opinion about these two characters: describes the opinion YOU have
with each item you record at left.

Write a statement (5-7 sentences) that describes how you think Fitzgerald wants
you to feel about the characters and why. Remember, details to create characters
and mood are carefully chosen.
 THE GREAT GATSBY
Quiz Chapter One

1. How were the 1920's a reaction to WWI?

2. Who is the narrator of the novel?
3. Nick starts the novel by relaying his father's advice: "Whenever you feel like
criticizing anyone, just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the
advantages that you've had." List Nick's advantages:

4. What is the difference between West Egg and East Egg?

5. How is Daisy related to Nick?

6. Pay attention to time. What is the season and year during the first scene at Daisy's
house?
7. What simile does the author use to describe Jordan Baker (see pg. 15)? What
impression does it give us of Jordan?
8. Describe Tom’s newfound philosophy based upon the book he reads. What do we
learn about Tom from this?

9. What secret does Nick learn about Tom?

10. What two things does Daisy tell the narrator on the porch?

11. What does Nick see at the end of the chapter?

Close Reading
Look at page 13, when Nick enters the room where Jordan and Daisy are relaxing.
12. How does Fitzgerald describe the two women?
12. What happens when Tom enters the room? What does this reveal about Tom?
 THE GREAT GATSBY
Quiz Chapter Two

1. Who or what is Doctor T.J. Eckleburg? Symbolically, what is Doctor T. J. Eckleburg

doing?
2. Describe the "valley of ashes." What does it look like? Symbolically, why do you
think everything made out of ashes?
3. Why does the “motor road hastily joins the railroad and runs beside it for a quarter of
a mile” (pg. 27)?
4. Who is Myrtle and how is she described?
5. How is Myrtle’s husband described and how does Myrtle treat her husband? Include a
QUOTE:?
6. TRUE or FALSE. Myrtle thinks she is “above” the help at her apartment.
Include a QUOTE that proves your answer.
7. What rumor does Nick hear about Gatsby?
8. What does Myrtle use as her excuse to justify her affair with Tom? Use a QUOTE as
your answer (see pg. 40):
9. What more have you learned about Nick in this chapter? Is he similar or different
than the people he spends his time with?
10. What does Tom do to Myrtle at the end of the chapter? Why? What does this reveal
about him?

11. Does Tom feel the same way about Myrtle that she does about him? How can you
tell?

12. Answer the following in about a paragraph (5-7 sentences): Fitzgerald tries to write as
if the narrator is drunk. What stylistic tricks does he use to show that?
 THE GREAT GATSBY
Quiz Chapter 3
1. Fitzgerald states that at Gatsby’s parties, “people were not invited—they went
there.” What does that mean?
2. What “rules of behavior” does Fitzgerald state the guests follow at Gatsby’s
parties (see pg. 45)?
3. What rumors have been told about Gatsby? Why, do you think, Fitzgerald reveals
rumors rather than fact?
4. How does Nick finally meet Gatsby?
5. Describe Gatsby the first time Nick sees him.
6. What does Nick think of Gatsby after meeting him?
7. How is Gatsby different from his guests?
8. How is Jordan described in ch. 3? What attitude does she have about the party and
those around her? Include a QUOTE:
9. What does Jordan mean when she says large parties are "so intimate" and small
parties have no privacy?
10. What story does Nick remember he heard about Jordan? What kind of person
does she seem to be?
11. Nick thinks he's one of the few honest people he knows, why? Do you think he is
honest?
12. Find and write down one place in Ch. 3 where Fitzgerald uses ALLITERATION:
13. Find and write down one place in Ch. 3 where Fitzgerald uses a SIMILE:
14. Why do you think Fitzgerald uses figurative language (simile, alliteration) in Ch.
3?
 THE GREAT GATSBY
Quiz Chapter 4
1. Why does Fitzgerald list all of Gatsby's party guests?
2. Who is Klipspringer? What does he do?
3. What impression of Gatsby do you get from this quote:
“He was balancing himself on the dashboard of his car with that resourcefulness
of movement that is so peculiarly American—that comes, I suppose, with the
absence of lifting work or rigid sitting in youth and, even more, with the formless
grace of our nervous, sporadic games.” (pg.68)
4. Why does Gatsby tell Nick about his life? Do you believe Gatsby? Does Nick?
5. What nickname does Gatsby call Nick frequently? Why might Gatsby call him
that?
6. What “sad thing” happened to Gatsby?
7. Who is Meyer Wolfshiem? What does he do? What impression do you have of
him?
8. Who do Nick and Gatsby run into at the restaurant? What happens to Gatsby at
the restaurant?
9. What does Jordan's story of Daisy's marriage reveal about Daisy?
10. Is Myrtle the first mistress Tom has ever had? How do you know?
11. Why did Gatsby buy a house in West Egg instead of East Egg?
12. What does Jordan ask Nick to do for Gatsby?
13. Who are the “casual moths” that Nick refers to (pages 43 and 83)?
14. Nick says, "There are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy and the tired."
What does Nick mean?
15. How does each character in the novel fit into this quote?
 THE GREAT GATSBY
Chapter 5
Be sure to answer ALL PARTS of the questions to receive full credit!!
1. When Nick notices Gatsby’s house lit from tower to cellar, he points it out
to Gatsby and tells him, “Your place looks like the world’s fair;” to which Gatsby
replies absently, “I have been glancing into some of the rooms.” What attitude
does that convey about Gatsby?
2. What activities does Gatsby ask Nick to do with him? Why do you think
he asks these? What does this reveal about Gatsby?
1. Why does Gatsby deliver so many goods and services to Nick's house?
2. Describe the effect of rain on the plot of this chapter.
3. How does Gatsby act before Daisy arrives? What does he do once she arrives?
4. How does Gatsby look and act once Nick returns from hiding outside? Include a
QUOTE:
5. What are the “three states” Gatsby has gone through upon seeing Daisy (pg. 97)?
1.
2.
3.
6. How does Gatsby “revalue” everything in his house (pg. 96-97)?
7. Why does Daisy start crying after Gatsby shows off all his shirts? What do you
think is the real reason behind her crying?
8. Explain the significance of the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock.
9. Whose picture is hanging in Gatsby’s house?
10. How does Gatsby treat Klipspringer? Why do you think he does that?
11. What is this quote an example of: “…there was a faint flow of thunder along the
sound..." ?
12. How long had Gatsby been pursuing Daisy?
13. What is the meaning of this quote:
“There must have been moments even that afternoon when Daisy tumbled short of
his dreams—not through her own fault but because of the colossal vitality of his
illusion.”
 THE GREAT GATSBY
Chapter 6: Be sure to answer ALL PARTS of the questions to receive full credit!!

1. Why does a reporter show up on Gatsby’s doorstep?

2. Where is Gatsby actually from, and what type of people were his parents?

3. What kind of work Gatsby doing before he met Dan Cody?

4. “[Gatsby] stayed there two weeks, dismayed at its ferocious indifference to the
drums of his destiny…” According to this quote, how does Gatsby seem to
perceive the world?

5. Who was Dan Cody? How did he help Gatsby?

6. Why doesn’t Gatsby drink?

7. Why is it that Gatsby didn’t inherit much money from Dan Cody?

8. How truthful was Gatsby when he relayed the story of his life to Nick?

9. Why does Nick say that he is telling the story of Jay Gatz now (see pg. 107)?
Include a QUOTE:

10. Describe the meeting of Tom and Gatsby at Gatsby’s mansion.

1. What does this meeting reveal about Tom?

2. What does this meeting reveal about Gatsby?

11. Why did Daisy find Gatsby's party loathsome? Include a QUOTE:

12. What does Tom believe Gatsby does for a living? Why does he think that?

13. What seems to be Daisy’s best quality? Fitzgerald refers to it often.

14. What does Daisy claim Gatsby does for a living?

15. As Daisy is leaving the party, she looks longingly at Gatsby’s mansion, and what
thoughts seem to pass through her mind (pg. 115)?

16. How did Gatsby measure the success of his party?

17. What does Gatsby expect will happen with his and Daisy’s relationship?
18. When Nick told Gatsby, "You can't repeat the past," Gatsby replied, "Why of
course you can!" Do you agree with Nick or Gatsby? Why?

19. What do you think will happen between Daisy and Gatsby from this point on in
the book? What evidence from the book supports your opinion?
 THE GREAT GATSBY
Chapter 7 pg. 119- 153
1. Explain, in 3-5 sentences, the comparison of Gatsby to Trimalchio. How are they
similar? How are they different? Why would Fitzgerald consider titling his novel,
“Trimalchio in West Egg”?

2. Why has Gatsby fired all of his old servants?

3. What is Tom doing on the phone when Gatsby and Nick arrive?

4. What does Daisy do when Tom leaves the room to make drinks?

5. Whom do we finally meet in ch. 7? How does Gatsby react to meeting this new
person? Include a QUOTE:

6. How does Daisy accidentally let it slip at lunch that she is in love with Gatsby?

7. How does Tom react?

8. What is Daisy’s voice “full of”?

9. What is the significance of why Tom asks to drive Gatsby’s car? What is Tom
trying to do by demanding this?

10. What is Wilson’s plan for he and his wife? Why do you think he has this plan?

11. Compare George Wilson and Tom in 3-5 sentences. What did each man learn
about his wife and how did they each react?

12. Who is Myrtle staring at jealously from the window, and why?

13. Describe the fight between Gatsby and Tom in the hotel room. What do these men
think of each other? How are they similar, and how are they different?

14. Does Daisy seem to mean it when she says she is leaving Tom? How can you tell?

15. Why does Tom allow Daisy to leave with Gatsby in Gatsby’s car?

16. What was significant about Nick's 30th birthday? How does he feel about his
birthday?

17. What happens to Myrtle? How was she killed?

18. How does Tom react to Myrtle’s death?

19. Why was Myrtle running out into the street anyway?

20. Who was actually driving the car that killed Myrtle?

21. What do you think Tom and Daisy were saying to each other in the kitchen?

22. Are Tom and Daisy happy or unhappy? Include a QUOTE to prove your point:

23. Do you think that Tom knew Daisy was driving the "death car"? Why, why not?

24. At this point, how would you end the novel?

 THE GREAT GATSBY
Chapter 8 pgs. 154-170
1. How does Fitzgerald achieve a melancholic (sad, depressing) mood in the
beginning of this chapter?
2. What had happened to the persona of Jay Gatsby when confronted with Tom’s
‘hard malice’ (see pg. 155)?
3. What kind of girl is Daisy when Gatsby first meets her? Why does Gatsby seem
so fascinated with her? How is she different from the other women he had dated
in the past?
4. What two things does Gatsby believe wealth ‘imprisons and preserves’ (see pg.
157)?
5. What is Daisy “safe and proud” above?
6. Why was Gatsby afraid to tell Daisy the truth about himself?
7. Why does Daisy seem to fall for Tom Buchanan?
8. What does the gardener want to do today? Why does Gatsby NOT want the
gardener to do that?
9. What compliment does Nick give Gatsby (see pg. 162)? Include a QUOTE:
10. What happens when Nick and Jordan talk on the phone?
11. How does Nick seem to feel about Jordan after this conversation, and after
everything that has gone on?
12. Who comforts George Wilson as he is distraught over his wife’s death?
13. Mr. Wilson claims he told Myrtle that she can’t fool God—and what is he using
as his reference for God (he stares at this as he looks out the window, see pg.
167)?
14. Gatsby keeps his phone line open all day as he waits for a call—who is he
waiting/hoping to call?
15. How is George Wilson described on pg. 169? Include a QUOTE:
16. Who finds Gatsby? List everyone who was there:
17. What else do they find by the pool?
18. What does Nick call this event?
 THE GREAT GATSBY
Chapter 9 pgs. 171-194

1. Wilson is reduced to WHAT? Include a QUOTE:

2. How did Tom & Myrtle’s affair get covered up in the investigation?

3. Why does Nick feel responsible for getting Gatsby’s affairs in order?

4. Who shows up at Gatsby’s house after his death? How does he react?

5. Why does Klipspringer call? How does Nick react to his call?

6. What is Wolfsheim’s reason why he won’t be attending the funeral (see pg. 180)?
Include a QUOTE:

7. What does James Gatz’ childhood schedule tell us about Gatsby?

8. Who attends Gatsby's funeral? Why is this significant?

9. What does Nick say this “has been a story of” (see pg. 184)? Why does he say
this?

10. What is the purpose of Nick's last meeting with Jordan?

11. When Jordan says, “Well, I met another bad driver, didn’t I? I mean it was
careless of me to make such a wrong guess. I thought you were rather an honest,
straighforward person. I thought it was your secret pride.” What is Jordan talking
about? What does she mean?

12. How did Nick treat Tom later when he sees him in NYC?

13. Who told Wilson that it was Gatsby who ran over Myrtle?

14. Why does Nick call Tom and Daisy "careless people"? Include a QUOTE:

15. Nick suddenly feels as if he were talking to what (see pg. 188)?

16. What does the green light seem to symbolize for Gatsby?

17. “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”
This is the last line of the book. In about a paragraph, answer the following questions:
What do you think this quote means? What significance does it hold? How does this
quote have insight into or greater meaning outside of the novel?
 The Great Gatsby Study Guide
Worth 15 Extra Credit Points!
You will be given your test in pieces—matching and multiple choice first, then short
answer and short essay questions last. I have marked how many points each section is
worth. The test will start TUESDAY, April 20th. You will WEDNESDAY and
THURSDAY to complete the test.

Characters: Write a brief description of these characters: (10 points)

1. Nick:
2. Gatsby:
3. Myrtle:
4. George Wilson:
5. Wolfshiem:
6. Henry C. Gatz:
7. Dr. T.J. Eckleburg:
8. Daisy:
9. Tom:
10. Jordan:

Multiple Choice: Write the answers to the following questions. There will be 35
multiple choice questions; these are just a sample of some of the questions: (25 points)
11. Where is Gatsby’s mansion located?
12. What is Jordan Baker’s occupation?
13. What is Gatsby’s home state?
14. Why did Gatsby drop out of college?
15. Where is the Valley of the Ashes located?
16. How are Daisy and Nick related?
17. In what year is The Great Gatsby set?
18. What did Fitzgerald call the 1920s?
19. Where did Nick and Tom go to school?
20. At the end of the novel, Daisy chooses to be with?

Short Answer: Answer the following questions with one word to two to three
sentences, as needed. These are just a sample of some of the questions: (35 points)
21. What event preceded the “roaring twenties” and perhaps even contributed
to it?
22. What characters in the novel are similar to the author and HOW are these
characters similar to the author? List at least TWO:
23. Who is the “brute of a man, a great big hulking physical specimen” ?
24. Name one item Jay Gatsby carries in his pocket:
25. What is the single green light visible at night? What does this light
SYMBOLIZE?
26. While giving a tour of his house to Nick and Daisy, what does Gatsby
throw all over the place?
27. Who is Trimalchio?
 28. What is Daisy’s voice “full of”?
29. What does Nick say this “has been a story of”? Why does he say this?
30. Why does Nick call Tom and Daisy “careless people?”

YOU DO NOT NEED TO DO THIS FOR THE STUDY GUIDE!

Short Essay Response: You will need to choose one of the following questions to
answer in a 2-3 paragraph response. Look over the questions and see which one you
could answer best. Practice writing a few sentences for the test. (30 points)
1. Does this novel have villains and heroes? Why, why not? If yes, who fits into
these categories and why?
2. Why is the title of this novel The Great Gatsby? What about Gatsby makes him
great? How might this title be ironic?
3. Gatsby can be called the American self-made man. Why? How does Gatsby’s life
fit with “The American Dream” of success? What was success for Gatsby? Did he
achieve it? Why or why not?
4. Why are we reading a book written in the 1920's? What gives a book its
longevity? And which of its themes are eternal in the American psyche?
5. What do you think is the moral of this story? Why? What stands out to you as the
most important thing to remember from Fitzgerald’s novel? What will you
remember?

GATSBY OBITUARY
WE have finished the book and discovered the tragic ending to Gatsby and Wilson’s
lives. Your assignment is to write a short obituary for Jay Gatsby, George Wilson,
or Myrtle Wilson. Look over real obituaries and see the example below to get an idea of
what your obituary should say. You need to write AT LEAST TWO paragraphs for the
obituary. Make sure you use proper English, grammar, and punctuation. This assignment
is DUE WEDNESDAY, December 1st.

EXAMPLE:

Jay Gatsby of West Egg, New York, was found brutally

murdered at his Long Island estate on Thursday. Born James
Gatz in North Dakota in 1895; he attended, then later dropped
out of St. Olaf’s College. Gatsby then found work with the
famous Nevada silver miner Dan Cody and served under him
while traveling the world for 5 years. Upon Cody’s death,
Gatsby moved East to pursue his destiny.
Served in WWI as First Lieutenant in the Seventh Infantry,
Third Division, Ninth Machine Gun Battalion until June
1918, and was decorated with war medals for his valor in
battle. Gatsby later attended Oxford College, but never
graduated.
In life, Gatsby was famous for huge, extravagant parties. Gatsby was so in love with
Europe following his time spent there that his home was modeled after Normandy's Hotel
de Ville. Gatsby kept a rigid schedule that he followed from childhood on, determined to
find success, yet his shadowy fortune appears to have come entirely from racketeering.
Gatsby was very high on the social ladder and was popular with the ‘nouveau riche’ of
Long Island, New York, Gatsby is survived by his father, Henry C. Gatz of North
Dakota. Funeral services will be held at 5 pm Saturday, at Long Island Cemetary.

THE GREAT GATSBY

Character Collage
Now that you have become familiar with the characters in The Great Gatsby, you will be
creating a ‘Character Collage’ of one character. Your collage can be hand-drawn or you
can use pictures and words cut out of magazines. Your collage should fit on a piece of 8
½” by 11” cardstock (provided by Mrs. P). Your character choices are:

Nick Carraway
Jay Gatsby
Daisy Buchanan
Tom Buchanan
Myrtle Wilson

Your collage should answer the following questions:

• What kind of person are they?
• What do they seem to like?
• What words or pictures give us insight into the character?

On the back of your collage, you need to write a one-paragraph response to the
following question:

• Why did you choose your character, and what on your collage best represents your
character?

Character Collages are DUE at the beginning of class FRIDAY, December 3rd.

THE GREAT GATSBY

Character Essay

After you have created the collage, you need to answer the following
essay question in a 5 paragraph essay:
 Which character do you think is the most pivotal or the most important in The Great
Gatsby? How does this character influence the other characters, and what impact does
this character have on the story?

Your INTRODUCTION is an important road map for the rest of your paper. Your introduction
conveys a lot of information to your readers. You can let them know what your topic is, why it is
important, and how you plan to proceed with your discussion. It should contain a thesis that will
assert your main argument. It will also, ideally, give the reader a sense of the kinds of information
you will use to make that argument and the general organization of the paragraphs and pages that
will follow. After reading your introduction, your readers should not have any major surprises in
store when they read the main body of your paper.

In the body of your essay, give me 3 examples that show how your character is the most
important, how this character influences other characters, and what impact your character has on
the story.

In the conclusion, you can:

• Answer the question "So What?"
• Show your readers why this paper was important. Show them that your paper was
meaningful and useful.
• Synthesize, don't summarize
• Don't simply repeat things that were in your paper. They have read it. Show them
how the points you made and the support and examples you used were not random, but fit
together.
• Redirect your readers
• Give your reader something to think about, perhaps a way to use your paper in
the "real" world. If your introduction went from general to specific, make your
conclusion go from specific to general. Think globally.
• Create a new meaning
• You don't have to give new information to create a new meaning. By
demonstrating how your ideas work together, you can create a new picture. Often the sum
of the paper is worth more than its parts.

Great Gatsby Movie Assignment

1. What elements of the movie were true to the book? List AT LEAST 5 (you can list
specific scenes or props, etc):

1.
 2.

3.

4.

5.

2. What elements of the movie were NOT true to the book? List at least 3:

1.

2.

3.

3. Nick claims, “Gatsby turned out all right at the end; it is what preyed on Gatsby,” that
eventually led to Gatsby’s ruin and Nick’s disgust for the other characters in the
book. What do you think preyed on Gatsby? What is Nick talking about?

4. Describe, in 4-5 sentences, Jay Gatsby’s “American Dream”:

5. One of the main themes of “Gatsby” is appearance vs. reality. Give three specific
examples of things in the story that were not what they seemed. EXPLAIN.

1.

2.

3.

6. In a well-organized paragraph, discuss your opinion about whether or not money can
buy happiness. Use at least 2 examples from the story.

The Great Gatsby

LIST THE MAIN EVENTS IN THE STORY:
STORY STRUCTURE GRAPHIC ORGANIZER
MAIN CHARACTERS:

PRIMARY CONFLICT:
CLIMAX
SETTING
: (TIME, PLACE, ATMOSPHERE): RESOLUTION: