Gatsby questions for the graded discussion

American Literature                                                     Name

Directions: Answer each of the following questions. Use specific examples, page numbers and quotations in your answers.

 

1. What is the American Dream? How does Gatsby represent this dream? Does the novel praise or condemn Gatsby's dream? Has the American dream changed since Gatsby's time?

 

 

 

 

 

2. Think about the two worlds, the Midwest and the East, as Fitzgerald describes them, and what they represent for Nick and for Gatsby.

 

 

 

 

 

3. Compare and contrast Gatsby's social class with that of Tom and Daisy Buchanan. How does geography contribute to the definition of social class in The Great Gatsby?

 

 

 

 

4. What is Nick Carraway's role in the novel? Consider Nick's father's advice in chapter one: "Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had." Does telling the story from Nick's point of view make it more believable?

5. What part of his past is Gatsby trying to recapture? Is he successful? Is there a person, feeling, or event in your past that you'd want to revisit?

 

 

 

 

 

6. What is the meaning of the title? In what way is Gatsby great?

 

 

 

 

7. Why does Fitzgerald choose Nick as the narrator of the novel? Reread the first pages of the novel. Now that you know Nick do you agree with his characterization of himself? Is this book more about Nick than Gatsby?

 

 

 

 

 

 

8. Discuss Fitzgerald's use of symbols, such as the eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg, the green light on Daisy's dock, and the valley of ashes.

 

 

 

 

 

9. Is The Great Gatsby a classic novel? What are its main ideas? Are these themes and ideas still relevant to your generation?

 

 

 

 

10. Discuss elements of the Jazz Age that Fitzgerald includes in The Great Gatsby. How does Gatsby represent this period? How does Gatsby represent the rich? The working poor? African-Americans? Other groups? Do you think that this representations are accurate? Why or why not?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12.. One of the points of the novel seems to be that both the desire for money and money itself corrupt. Discuss Gatsby’s dream, his use of money, and the hints about how he got it. What, if any, corruption do you think is coexistent with the wealth?