Chapter 1 – 3
1. Who is the narrator? Where is he from?
2. How does Nick know Daisy? Tom?
3. What is the name of the book Tom is reading? What does
this show us about him?
4. Who is Jordan Baker?
5. Who is Gatsby?
6. How does the narrator describe Gatsby?
7. Describe the narratorÕs house.
8. Describe the BuchananÕs house.
9. When asked about her daughter, what does Daisy say?
10. What and where is the ÒValley of Ashes?Ó
11. Who is George Wilson? What is his wifeÕs name?
12. What is the valley of ashes?
13. What are the eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg?
14. What is the relationship between Myrtle and Wilson and
Tom Buchanan?
15. Does Nick feel comfortable at the party in the
apartment?
16. What reason did Myrtle give for marrying George
Wilson?
17. How does MyrtleÕs nose end up broken?
18. According to Catherine, MyrtleÕs sister, why donÕt Tom
and Daisy Buchanan get a divorce? Is this the truth? If not, how/why did this
rumor start?
19. Why is it strange about the way Myrtle talks about the
servants?
20. Explain the invitation process for GatsbyÕs parties.
21. Who is the Òowl-eyed man:Ó and what does he do while
the party is going on?
22. Does Gatsby get involved in the festivities of his
parties? Give examples of your answers.
23. Is Jordan an honest person? Give examples.
24. What two reasons keep Nick from falling in love with
Jordan?
25. What kind of rumors are there about Gatsby? Why are
there so many rumors, in other words, why do people care so much?
Chapter 4-6
1. Who is known as Òthe boarderÓ?
2. Who is Meyer Wolfsheim?
3. List 3 facts Gatsby provides about his background.
4. What do we learn about the history of Gatsby and
Daisy?
5. What is interesting about GatsbyÕs appraisal (opinion)
of Jordan?
6. What ÒmatterÓ did Gatsby have Jordan Baker discuss
with Nick?
7. Why does Gatsby want NickÕs lawn cut?
8. Why does Gatsby say heÕs going to go home right before
the lunch at NickÕs?
9. Why do they end up going to GatsbyÕs house later?
10. What does Gatsby say about his wealth that contradicts
what he had previously told Nick?
11. What does Gatsby throw in front of Daisy and
Nick? What does this scene tell us
about Gatsby (think about material possessions)?
12. What is GatsbyÕs real history? Where is he from and what is his name?
13. What did Dan Cody do for Gatsby? What did Gatsby learn from him?
14. What is DaisyÕs opinion of GatsbyÕs party? How does this affect him?
15. How does Gatsby act when the visiting trio (including
Tom Buchanan) come to visit? How
do they act toward him?
16. Why does Tome immediately sense that Gatsby is a
bootlegger?
17. What does Gatsby want from Daisy?
Chapters 7-9
1. What has changed at GatsbyÕs house? What reason does Gatsby give for these
changes?
2. What does Gatsby decide he is going to do the day he
goes over to Tom and DaisyÕs house?
3. Why does Gatsby look at DaisyÕs daughter Pammy with
surprise?
4. What reasons does George give for wanting to move
away?
5. What did Wilson do to Myrtle? Why?
6. Who is looking out the window above GeorgeÕs
garage? Why is he/she jealous?
7. Why does Fitzgerald insert a wedding into the texture
of this scene in the hotel room?
8. Why is Gatsby surprised when Daisy says, ÒI did love
him [Tom] once – but I loved
you tooÓ?
9. Who is killed?
How is he/she killed?
10. Why does Tom say, ÒThat yellow car I was driving this
afternoon wasnÕt mine---do you hear?
I havenÕt seen it all afternoonÓ?
What are his potential motives?
11. Whose birthday is it? How old is he/she turning?
12. What is the tone/mood of the scene where Daisy and Tom
ate at the kitchen table?
13. How does GatsbyÕs house seem to Nick during his visit?
14. Why does Gatsby feel ÒmarriedÓ to Daisy?
15. What attracts Daisy to Tom Buchanan?
16. Why does Nick say, ÒTheyÕre a rotten crowdÉ YouÕre not
worth the whole damn bunch put togetherÓ?
Why is it good that he chose this moment to say this to Gatsby?
17. What ultimately happens to Gatsby? What happens to
George Wilson?
18. Why does Nick feel he is responsible for taking care
of the situation?
19. What is the fatherÕs perception of his son and his
sonÕs life?
20. Why isnÕt Klipspringer going to attend the funeral?
21. Why is it significant that the man with the owl-eyed
glasses is the only other person to come to GatsbyÕs funeral?
22. Why does Nick say that Tom and Daisy are Òcareless
peopleÓ?
23. What does Nick mean by his comment, ÒIÕm five years
too old to lie to myself and call it honorÓ?
24. What is GatsbyÕs dream?
25. What is the significance of the last line of the
novel: Òso we beat on, boats
against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the pastÓ?