Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Reading journals
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?
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:
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
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?
10. What two things does Daisy tell the narrator on the porch?
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
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!!
2. Where is Gatsby actually from, and what type of people were his parents?
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?
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:
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?
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)?
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”?
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?
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?
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?
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:
9. What does Nick say this “has been a story of” (see pg. 184)? Why does he say
this?
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.
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?”
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:
Nick Carraway
Jay Gatsby
Daisy Buchanan
Tom Buchanan
Myrtle Wilson
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.
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.
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?
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.
PRIMARY CONFLICT:
CLIMAX
SETTING
: (TIME, PLACE, ATMOSPHERE): RESOLUTION: