"The Great Gatsby" Reading Guide

Name: ________________________________________
Period: ____________
The Great Gatsby
Directions: As you read The Great Gatsby, answer each question in complete sentences. You must cite
your evidence!
Chapter 1
1. What characteristics mentioned about Nick would make him a good narrator?
2. Why did Nick Carraway come to the East?
3. This chapter describes East Egg and West Egg. What are their similarities and differences? What do
they symbolize?
4. Compare the homes of Nick, Gatsby and the Buchanans. What are their similarities and differences?
5. Why do Daisy and Tom Buchanan invite Nick to dinner?
6. How does Daisy respond to the phone calls from Tom’s “woman in New York”?
RL.11.1-10, L.11.1-4, W.11.2
7. When Nick leaves the Buchanan’s house, he is “confused and a little disgusted.” Why? What does this
suggest about his values?
8. Why doesn’t Nick call to Gatsby when he spots him on the lawn?
9. What does the green light at the end of the dock symbolize?
Chapter 1 Summary
Important Character
Piece of evidence
with Page Number
Character’s Traits
Symbol #1 (and what
it means)
Symbol #2 (and what
it means)
Colors with
Explanation
RL.11.1-10, L.11.1-4, W.11.2
Chapter 2
10. What is the Valley of Ashes? What does it symbolize?
11. Who is Doctor T.J. Eckleburg? What does he overlook? What does “he” symbolize?
12. Why, according to Catherine, has Tom not left Daisy to marry Myrtle Wilson?
13. What does Tom’s breaking of Myrtle’s nose indicate about his respect for her and Daisy?
14. Evaluate Myrtle’s talk of her unhappy marriage. What does she seem to be trying to justify?
RL.11.1-10, L.11.1-4, W.11.2
Chapter 2 Summary
Important Character
Piece of evidence
with Page Number
Character’s Traits
Symbol #1 (and what
it means)
Symbol #2 (and what
it means)
Colors with
Explanation
Chapter 3
15. Why does Gatsby throw huge, expensive parties for people he does not know?
16. What do Jordan Baker’s leaving “a borrowed car out in the rain with the top down” and her golf
tournament “scandal” reveal about her?
17. What does Nick see as his “cardinal virtue”? Why is this important?
RL.11.1-10, L.11.1-4, W.11.2
18. What are some of the rumors about Gatsby’s living?
19. What amazes Owl-eyes about Gatsby’s library? Why is this important?
20. What do the books in the library symbolize?
21. What is the reason for Nick’s breaking the story at this point? Read the section beginning the “Reading
over what I have written so far…”
22. What does the reaction of the drivers of the wrecked automobile suggest about the value of Gatsby’s
guests?
RL.11.1-10, L.11.1-4, W.11.2
Chapter 3 Summary
Important Character
Piece of evidence
with Page Number
Character’s Traits
Symbol #1 (and what
it means)
Symbol #2 (and what
it means)
Colors with
Explanation
Chapter 4
23. When Nick asks Gatsby what part of the Middle West he is from, Gatsby replies “San Francisco.” What
does Nick surmise from Gatsby’s answer?
24. Why does Gatsby show Nick the medal from “Little Montenegro down on the Adriatic Sea”?
25. Do we know why Gatsby has so many parties? Why did he buy the house? Explain.
RL.11.1-10, L.11.1-4, W.11.2
26. When Gatsby spoke to Jordan in his library in Chapter 3, he had devised a plan involving Nick. What
was it? Why did he not ask Nick directly?
27. As revealed by Jordan, what was Gatsby’s original relationship with Daisy?
28. What is one possible reason Daisy became so drunk on the eve of her wedding?
Chapter 4 Summary
Important Character
Piece of evidence
with Page Number
Character’s Traits
Symbol #1 (and what
it means)
Symbol #2 (and what
it means)
Colors with
Explanation
RL.11.1-10, L.11.1-4, W.11.2
Chapter 5
29. Why does Nick agree to arrange a meeting between Daisy and Gatsby?
30. Why does Gatsby act “like a little boy” when Daisy first arrives at Nick’s?
31. After his private conversation with Daisy at Nick’s house, how has Gatsby changed?
32. What is one possible reason Gatsby wanted to show Daisy his house and belongings?
33. Why does Nick feel that Daisy must have fallen short of Gatsby’s dreams? Do you agree with this
statement?
RL.11.1-10, L.11.1-4, W.11.2
Chapter 5 Summary
Important Character
Piece of evidence
with Page Number
Character’s Traits
Symbol #1 (and what
it means)
Symbol #2 (and what
it means(
Colors with
Explanation
Chapter 6
34. Why does Gatsby avoid liquor?
35. Describe Daisy’s reaction to the party?
36. What does Gatsby want Daisy to tell Tom?
RL.11.1-10, L.11.1-4, W.11.2
37. What does Gatsby answer when Nick says “you can’t repeat the past”? Why is this so important to
Gatsby?
38. Why does James Gatz of North Dakota row out to Dan Cody’s yacht?
39. What happened to Gatsby’s $25,000 inheritance from Dan Cody?
Chapter 6 Summary
Important Character
Piece of evidence
with Page Number
Character’s Traits
Symbol #1 (and what
it means)
Symbol #2 (and what
it means)
Colors with
Explanation
RL.11.1-10, L.11.1-4, W.11.2
Chapter 7
40. Why does Mr. Wilson want to take his wife and move west?
41. How does Daisy reveal to Tom that she is in love with Gatsby?
42. Why does Tom press Gatsby about his dealings with Wolfsheim?
43. After running Myrtle down, why doesn’t Daisy stop the car?
44. What does Gatsby’s yellow car symbolize?
RL.11.1-10, L.11.1-4, W.11.2
Chapter 7 Summary
Important Character
Piece of evidence
with Page Number
Character’s Traits
Symbol #1 (and what
it means)
Symbol #2 (and what
it means)
Colors with
Explanation
Chapter 8
45. It is not until this chapter that we learn the exact circumstances of Gatsby’s first encounter with Daisy,
from Gatsby’s viewpoint. Why did the author wait until now to reveal this important information?
46. Why had Gatsby first fallen in love with Daisy?
47. Why had Daisy married Tom Buchanan?
RL.11.1-10, L.11.1-4, W.11.2
48. What was the only compliment Nick ever paid Gatsby? Why is the timing important?
49. Why does Wilson tell Myrtle that “God sees everything”? Consider the billboard and Wilson’s state of
mind.
50. Why does Wilson go to Gatsby’s house? What led him there? What were Wilson’s actions? What irony
is involved here?
Chapter 8 Summary
Important Character
Piece of evidence
with Page Number
Character’s Traits
Symbol #1 (and what
it means)
Symbol #2 (and what
it means)
Colors with
Explanation
RL.11.1-10, L.11.1-4, W.11.2
Chapter 9
51. Who assumed responsibility for the funeral arrangement? What part did Daisy, Tom and Meyer
Wolfsheim play in the funeral? Why did Nick say he felt a certain shame for Gatsby?
52. Who was Owl-eyes and why did he attend the funeral? What does he symbolize?
53. What are Tom’s motives in telling Wilson that Gatsby owned the death car?
54.
How did Nick feel about the east after Gatsby’s death? Did he consider this to be a story of the East
or of the West?
Chapter 9 Summary
Important Character
Piece of evidence
with Page Number
Character’s Traits
Symbol #1 (and what
it means)
Symbol #2 (and what
it means)
Colors with
Explanation
RL.11.1-10, L.11.1-4, W.11.2