The Great Gatsby Close Reading Questions | Chapters 1 - 3

What is implied about Gatsby's smile?

It is fake - or hiding something

What can you tell us about Myrtle's sister, Catherine? What aspects of 1920s life does she represent?

Myrtle's sister is characterized as a 1920's flapper girl. Catherine dresses and acts like an iconic "flapper girl" during the 1920s. Catherine wears lots of makeup, short hair, thin eyebrows, and bracelets. Catherine is also described as "looking as if she owned the place".

How would you characterize the narrator, Nick Carraway based on the first three paragraphs of the passage? Choose strong descriptive words and reference the passage for support.

Nick Carraway can be described as ethical, fair-minded, and non-judgemental. The author characterizes Nick Carraway as being non-judgemental and trustworthy using descriptive words such as "curious", "reserve all judgments", "politician", and "secrets".

What are the rumor about Gatsby?

1. He is the nephew or cousin of Kaiser Wilhelm 2. He killed a man 3. He is a German Spy 4. He lived in Germany

Four main events that happen in chapter 2

1. The Vally of Ashes 2. Meeting Myrtle and George Wilson. 3. Heavy drinking and smoking. 4. Tom broke Myrtle's nose.

Look up the words "supercilious" and "fractiousness."

Supercilious is defined by Dictionary.com as "haughtily disdainful or contemptuous, as a person or a facial expression". Fractiousness is defined by Dictionary.com as "refractory or unruly".

What can you infer about the theme of Following One's Dreams baked on the final six lines of the passage?

The theme of "Following One's Dreams'' is conveyed in the passaged when Fitzgerald states "This responsiveness had nothing to do with that flabby impressionability which is dignified under the name of the "creative temperament"—it was an extraordinary gift for hope, a romantic readiness such as I have never found in any other person and which it is not likely I shall ever find again. No—Gatsby turned out alright at the end; it is what preyed on Gatsby, what foul dust floated in the wake of his dreams that temporarily closed out my interest in the abortive sorrows and short-winded relations of men"(Fitzgerald 4).

How does Fitzgerald characterize Tom Buchanan?

Fitzgerald characterizes Tom Buchanan as being arrogant, dominating, and strong similar to an aristocratic leader. Fitzgerald uses words such as "hard mouth", "supercilious manner", "arrogant", "dominance", "aggressively", and "cruel" to describe Tom Buchanan. It can also be inferred that Buchanan's inheritance of wealth and fame has made this lasting effect on his character.

Look at how Fitzgerald selects details.- What does he choose to describe?

Fitzgerald chooses to describe Tom Buchanan's appearance, body movement, facial expressions, and voice. These descriptions can be used by the reader to infer Buchanan's character.

How does Fitzgerald enrich our sense of Gatsby's parties? What syntactical device is Fitzgerald using in the second sentence? What is the effect?

Fitzgerald enriches our sense of Gatsby's parties through highly descriptive words and figurative language. Fitzgerald describes the party goer's facial expressions, body language, as well as the decorations to enrich our sense of Gatsby's parties. Fitzgerald uses the simile "like moths" and repetition of "and" in the second sentence to demonstrate the extravagance of the party and its demand for attention from party goers.

How does Fitzgerald help you to imagine just exactly what the two motor boats look like, going through the Sound?

Fitzgerald helps you to imagine just exactly what the two motor boats look like going through the sound by using descriptive words and imagery such as "slit the waters of the Sound" and "aquaplanes over cataracts of foam".

In this same sentence, how does Fitzgerald manage to use imagery that affects several senses? What is the effect?

Fitzgerald manages to use imagery such as the food, drinks, music, lights etc. to affect the several senses. In effect, the reader feels fully immersed in the book, and understands the setting.

What is the effect of the simile in the second sentence? Consider the connotations of the word "moths."

Fitzgerald uses the simile that men/women are like "moths" because they are attracted to bright lights like men/women are attracted to Gatsby's house. Additionally, men/women are like "moths" because they are quiet. In a big party, no one person stands out from the others.

Fitzgerald could use any image to help us see what the Valley of Ashes looks like. Why does he use the term "fantastic farm" to describe the Valley of Ashes?

Fitzgerald uses the term "fantastic farm" to describe the Valley of Ashes because there is so much ash and smog that it may look as though they are cultivating it.

Explain what is going on in the closing lines of the chapter after Nick has left the party?

In the closing lines of the chapter after Nick has left the party, Nick is reading the newspaper while waiting for the four o'clock train in the lower level of the Pennsylvania Train Station. Nick shares his whereabouts when he states "'Beauty and the Beast... Loneliness... Old Grocery Horse... Brook'n Bridge' Then I was lying half asleep in the cold lower level of the Pennsylvania Station, staring at the morning Tribune and waiting for the four o'clock train"(Fitzgerald 32). This quote demonstrates how Nick was reading the headlines of the morning Tribune while waiting for a train back to West Egg.

"I followed him over a low white-washed railroad fence and we walked back a hundred yards along the road under Doctor Eckleburg's persistent stare. The only building in sight was a small block of yellow bricksitting on the edge of the waste land, a sort of compact Main Street ministering to it and contiguous to absolutely nothing. One of the three shops it contained was for rent and another was an all-nightrestaurant approached by a trail of ashes; the third was a garage--Repairs. GEORGE B. WILSON. Cars Bought and Sold--and I followed Tom inside. The interior was unprosperous and bare; the only car visible was the dust-covered wreck of a Ford which crouched in a dim corner. It had occurred to me that this shadow of a garage must be a blind and thatsumptuous and romantic apartments were concealed overhead when the proprietor himself appeared in the door of an office, wiping his hands on a piece of waste. He was a blonde, spiritless man, anaemic, andfaintly handsome. When he saw us a damp gleam of hope sprang into his light blue eyes."

In this scene, Fitzgerald develops the setting in which Nick and Tom enter using strong diction. In this passage, Fitzgerald uses words such as "unprosperous", "bare", and "dim" to demonstrate how desperate and dreary this area of Long Island is during the book. Fitzgerald describes the setting this way to make the reader understand Mr.Wilson and Mrs.Wilson's financial situation. Fitzgerald demonstrates how desperate Mr.Wilson's business is, and the conditions of the poverty stricken town they live in.

"His voice faded off and Tom glanced impatiently around the garage. Then I heard footsteps on the stairs and in a moment the thickish figure of a woman blocked out the light from the office door. She was in the middle thirties, and faintly stout, but she carried her surplus flesh sensuouslyas some women can. Her face, above a spotted dress of dark blue crepe-de-chine, contained no facet or gleam of beauty but there was an immediately perceptible vitality about her as if the nerves of her body were continually smouldering. She smiled slowly and walking through her husband as if he were a ghost shook hands with Tom, looking him flush in the eye. Then she wet her lips and without turning around spoke to her husband in a soft, coarse voice:" 'Get some chairs, why don't you, so somebody can sit down.'"

In this scene, Fitzgerald uses strong diction to characterize Mrs. Wilson. He uses words such as "thickish", "faintly stout", "perceptible vitality" to demonstrate Mrs. Wilson's body stature and beauty. In this scene, Fitzgerald conveys to the audience how even though Mrs. Wilson is a heavier woman; she carries herself with such confidence that she looks pretty.

"Mrs. Wilson had changed her costume some time before, and was now attired in an elaborate afternoon dress of cream-colored chiffon, which gave out a continual rustle as she swept about the room. With the influence of the dress her personality had also undergone a change. The intense vitality that had been so remarkable in the garage was converted into impressive hauteur. Her laughter, her gestures, her assertions became more violently affected moment by moment, and as she expanded the room grew smaller around her, until she seemed to be revolving on a noisy, creaking pivot through the smoky air"

In this scene, Fitzgerald uses strong diction to demonstrate Mrs. Wilson's personality changes when she leaves her husband, old clothing, and old lifestyle behind to be with Tom. He uses words such as "impressive hauteur" to convey how Mrs.Wilson became haughty and arrogant after dressing in fancy clothing and being around friends. This scene demonstrates Mrs.Wilson's desire to be a part of upper-class society.

The bottle of whiskey—a second one—was now in constant demand by all present, excepting Catherine, who "felt just as good on nothing at all." Tom rang for the janitor and sent him for some celebrated sandwiches, which were a complete supper in themselves. I wanted to get out and walk southward toward the park through the soft twilight, but each time I tried to go I became entangled in some wild, strident argument which pulled me back, as if with ropes, into my chair. Yet high over the city our line of yellow windows must have contributed their share of human secrecy to the casual watcher in the darkening streets, and I was him too, looking up and wondering. I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life.

In this scene, Fitzgerald uses strong diction to demonstrate Tom and Myrtle's impromptu party and Nick's reaction. He uses words such as "enchanted", "repelled", and inexhaustible" to describe Nick's feelings towards the party. Nick feels disgusted by those at the party and wants to leave, however, their arguments, conversations, and personalities compel him to stay.

The little dog was sitting on the table looking with blind eyes through the smoke, and from time to time groaning faintly. People disappeared, reappeared, made plans to go somewhere, and then lost each other, searched for each other, found each other a few feet away. Some time toward midnight Tom Buchanan and Mrs. Wilson stood face to face discussing, in impassioned voices, whether Mrs. Wilson had any right to mention Daisy's name.

In this scene, Fitzgerald uses strong diction to demonstrate Tom and Myrtle's impromptu party conclusion. He uses words such as "disappeared", "reappeared", "lost'', "searched", and "found to demonstrate how much excessive drinking and smoking was occurring at this party. Towards the end of this scene, Mrs. Wilson and Tom are seen arguing over whether or not Mrs.Wilson has the right to say Daisy's name, which inevitably leads Tom to backhand Mrs.Wilson, ending the party.

Why is it important that Nick tells us he "has been drunk only twice in his life," and this was one of those times?

It is important that Nick tells the reader "I have been drunk just twice in my life and the second time was that afternoon" (Fitzgerald 25). for two major reasons. The first reason was to show the reader how much excessive drinking and smoking was done at this party. The second reason was to show the reader how Nick is much more refined and self-controlling than many West Egg party goers. For these two main reasons, it is significant that Nick tells the reader that he "has been drunk only twice in his life," and this was one of those times.

Based on the final paragraph, how has the East changed Nick? Cite and explain a quotation that supports this change.

Nick explained how he wanted no further personal relationships or secrets with others after enduring traumatizing experiences in the East. Nick feels that the East changed Nick's views of society when he states, " I wanted the world to be in uniform and at a sort of moral attention forever; I wanted no more riotous excursions with privileged glimpses into the human heart"(Fitzgerald 4). Nick's experiences made him long for a righteous society that does not party or hold foreboding secrets. Nick does not want others to concede their secrets or personal stories with him resembling his experiences in the east. For all of these reasons, Nick does not want any further relationships with others.

What does Nick find unusual about Jay Gatsby? Why does he admire Gatsby? Cite and explain a quotation that supports your answer.

Nick finds Jay Gatsby unusual because he felt friendliness with Jay Gatsby even though he holds morals that go against Nick's morals. Nick admires Gatsby for his "heightened sensitivity", hope, and "romantic readiness". Nick admires Gatsby for his sensitivity, hope, and "romantic readiness". Nick also feels that Gatsby is a good person, but the society in which he lives completely ruined him. It is significant how Nick admires Gatsby's "gift for hope", because hope is one of the most unbreakable forms of morale that a person can have, and Nick admires it.

What is "The Valley of Ashes?"

The Valley of Ashes is a poverty-stricken industrial neighborhood in between West Egg and New York City. Mr. Wilson and Tom's Mistress, Mrs.Wilson(Myrtle) live in "the Valley of Ashes".

What is the connotation of "corps" in the third paragraph?

The connotation of "corps" as used in the third paragraph is used to describe Gatsby's caterers. By stating "corps" instead of a lot of caterers demonstrates the amount of caterers and how they worked in perfect synchronization, similar to "corps" in the military.

What is both the literal and figurative meaning of these "eyes." There is a lot going on here - what is Fitzgerald going for with this apparently omnipresent symbol?

The eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg can be found on a billboard in "the Valley of Ashes". In the novel, Fitzgerald uses these "eyes" to symbolize God, and how he is always watching everyone.

What is the effect of the alliteration in the sentence beginning "On buffet tables"?

The food described "on buffet tables" affects the reader's senses. The alliteration used in this sentence makes the reader imagine the food, think of the smell/taste of the food, therefore appealing to the senses.

What is the effect of the polysyndeton in the last sentence of the first paragraph?

The polysyndeton, "There was a machine in the kitchen which could extract the juice of two hundred oranges in half an hour, if a little button was pressed two hundred times by a butler's thumb" demonstrates how elaborate Gatsby's parties are, and how much alcohol/smoke is consumed at these parties. Why would Fitzgerald choose to use a dash in the first sentence of the second paragraph? How does the dash link the two halves of this sentence? Fitzgerald would use a dash in the first scene of the second paragraph to demonstrate the shift in days. The dash links the two sentences that are similar in structure. For example, both sentences begin with "every" followed by a day.

What is the effect of the simile in the sentence beginning "On week-ends"?

The simile "his Rolls-Royce became an omnibus" demonstrates how many people went to Gatsby's party using his own vehicles, even though not many people could fit into the car itself.

Is there a certain order to his description?

There is a certain order in Fitzgerald's description. Buchanan's characterizations go from appearance to facial expressions, to body movement, and then to his voice.

"Reading over what I have written so far, I see I have given the impression that the events of three nights several weeks apart were all that absorbed me. On the contrary, they were merely casual events in a crowded summer, and, until much later, they absorbed me infinitely less than my personal affairs. Most of the time I worked. In the early morning the sun threw my shadow westward as I hurried down the white chasms of lower New York to the Probity Trust. I knew the other clerks and young bond-salesmen by their first names, and lunched with them in dark, crowded restaurants on little pig sausages and mashed potatoes and coffee. I even had a short affair with a girl who lived in Jersey City and worked in the accounting department, but her brother began throwing mean looks in my direction, so when she went on her vacation in July I let it blow quietly away." *(What is Nick saying here?)*

Time has passed between these two events and he has been doing other things of other than partying. Essentially - life went on as usual other than these three nights.