Chapter 6 The Great Gatsby Questions – Flashcards
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What is the REAL story behind Gatsby's past?
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The real story behind James Gatz: He grew up like any poor boy, invented his fake name at age seventeen, (Jay Gatsby) went out on a raft, met someone named Dan Cody, and grew up with him. He "sprang up from his Platonic conception of himself."
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When and why does James Gatz change his name?
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James Gatz changed his name when he was seventeen because he didn't want to think of himself as a poor boy. He wanted to think of himself as a rich man.
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How is the comparison of Gatsby with Christ ("he was a son of God...and he must be about his Father's business") ironic?
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It is ironic because his parents, like Jesus, grew up on a poor farm.
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Tom, Mr. Sloane, and a young lady visit Gatsby and the lady invites Gatsby to come to dinner with them. What does Gatsby's response tell us about his social sensitivity?
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Gatsby's response was pretty trustworthy, considering the fact that he was going of into the wild with complete strangers. (other than Tom though)
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What connection, if any, do you think the dinner scene might have with Gatsby's love of Daisy?
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They are going to a party, where there might be a fight between the couples.
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What is Daisy's real reaction to Gatsby's party?
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Her real reaction was that she hated it. "She was appalled by West Egg, this unprecedented "place" that Broadway had begotten upon a Long Island fishing village, "etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
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What does Gatsby tell Nick he wants Daisy to do?
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He wants Daisy to go up to Tom, reject him, and come to him. He wanted it to be the same as it was before the war and he left.
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What is Gatsby's view of the past?
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Gatsby's view of the past was perfect. He thought it was absolutely perfect. He could spend time with Daisy and everything.
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When Nick says that Gatsby "wanted to recover something, some idea of himself perhaps, that had gone into loving Daisy," what do you think he means?
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He wanted to kiss her again. I think he means that he wanted the old days back. He meant that he wanted what he used to be back.
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At the end of the chapter, Nick describes Gatsby kissing Daisy in Louisville five years before. What is Gatsby giving up when he kisses her?
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He is giving up his "romping again like the mind of God".
