In Chapter 1, the reader meets the narrator, Nick Carraway. These first four paragraphs
serve as a prologue that introduces the rest of the story. What information does Nick
give about himself in this prologue? - Answer -What his father told him about criticizing
other people. He is not judgmental at all, and people feel they can come to him with
their problems because of it.
What does Nick say is "gorgeous" about Gatsby? - Answer -He has some heightened
sensitivity to the promises of life, an extra ordinary gift for HOPE.
Nick also explains his disillusionment with mankind. What about Gatsby causes this
disillusionment? - Answer -Gatsby doesn't cause this, the East Egg Dwellers caused
Nick's disillusionment with mankind.
What is Nick's socio-economic background? - Answer -He is from a well-to-do family in
the midwest. They are in the wholesale hardware business. (Upper-middle)
When Nick returns from the war, why does he decide to go East? - Answer -He felt like
the Middle-West seemed like the "ragged edge of the universe", and he wanted to get
into the bond business out East.
The action in this story takes place over the course of one summer. What occurs in this
chapter that makes Nick feel that his life is beginning over again? - Answer -Someone
asks Nick how to get to West Egg, and he felt like an original settler.
How is West Egg different from East Egg? - Answer -West Egg was the less
fashionable, and the people who lived there had new money and tended to flaunt their
wealth a little more. East Egg was old money, with houses that were more conservative
but certainly not less expensive.
Before meeting him, what does Nick tell us about Tom Buchanan? - Answer -He was a
very successful athlete. He appeared arrogant and aggressive and he was extremely
wealthy.
, Find the words Nick uses to describe Daisy's voice, which is one of her most noticeable
features. - Answer -"I've heard it said that Daisy's murmur was only to make people lean
towards her, an irrelevant criticism that made it no less charming." "It was the kind of
voice that the ear follows up and down, as if each speech is an argument of notes that
will never be played again."
Daisy says, "Tom's getting very profound." what do you think her tone might have been?
- Answer -She is using a slightly sarcastic and mocking tone.
At this point, why does Nick observe, "There was something pathetic in his [Tom's]
concentration..."? - Answer -Nick was rather disgusted at how he described the need for
white people or "the dominant race" to watch out for the other races trying to take over.
When the telephone rings a second time, why does Nick say, "No one was able utterly
to put this fifth guest's shrill metallic urgency out of mind"? What literary device is
employed in the phrase "fifth guest's shrill metallic urgency"? - Answer -There was a lot
of tension at the dinner table, because Tom's mistress was calling during dinner time.
The literary device is...
Why is Nick's instinct to telephone immediately for the police? - Answer -Nick is startled
by these people and their values, like their willingness to talk about infidelity. The
tension around the table appears to stress Nick out.
We found out that Tom has a woman in New York. What unflattering feature of Jordan
Baker's personality revealed? - Answer -Jordan Baker's unflattering trait is she's
dishonest and gossips.
What three sentences indicate that Nick thinks Daisy's cynical outburst is fake? -
Answer -The three sentences indicate that Nick thinks Daisy's cynical outburst is fake is,
"The instant her voice broke off ceasing to compel my attention, my belief, I felt the
basic insincerity of what she has said. It made me uneasy, as Go the whole evening
had been a trick of some sort to exact a contributory in motion from me. I waited, and
sure enough, in a moment she looked at me with an absolute smirk in her lovely face,
as if she had asserted her membership in a rather distinguished secret society to which
she and Tom belonged."
What is the reader left to think about Daisy's emotional state and her relationship with
Tom? - Answer -The reader is left to feel like daisy is emotionally unstable and has a
weak relationship with Tom. She acts nervous but pretends nothing is wrong.
Who is Jordan Baker, and what has Nick heard about her? - Answer -He has heard she
is a pro golfer, and he heard some unpleasant story about her.
Daisy says, "I think the home influence will be good for [Jordan]" What do you think her
tone may be? Offer support for your answer. - Answer -Daisy is probably being
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