Gatsby Chapter 1-5 – Flashcards
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Reserve
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Refrain from using or disposing of (something); retain for future use.
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Reproach
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Address (someone) in such a way as to express disapproval or disappointment.
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Supercilious
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Behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others.
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Effeminate
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Having or showing qualities or characteristics more often associated with females than males; unmanly
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Languid
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displaying or having a disinclination for physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed.
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Infinitesimal
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extremely small
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Libel
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a published false statement that is damaging to a person's reputation; a written defamation.
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Grotesque
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Comically or repulsively ugly or distorted.
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Transcendent
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Beyond or above the range of normal or merely physical human experience.
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Contiguous
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In close proximity without actually touching; near; next to.
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Proprietary
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Of or relating to an owner or ownership.
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Credulity
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A tendency to be too ready to believe that something is real or true.
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Vacuous
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Having or showing a lack of thought or intelligence; mindless.
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Jauntiness
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Energetic and lively in manner
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Florid
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Having a red or flushed complexion
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Corpulent
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Fat
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Disconcerting
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causing one to feel unsettled.
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Elicit
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evoke or draw out (a response, answer, or fact) from someone in reaction to one's own actions or questions.
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Obscure
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not discovered or known about; uncertain.
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Incredulous
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unwilling or unable to believe something.
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Tactless
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having or showing a lack of adroitness and sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues. Insensitive
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Scrutinize
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examine or inspect closely and thoroughly.
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Harrowed
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cause distress to.
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Obstinate
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stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or chosen course of action, despite attempts to persuade one to do so.
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Nebulous
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in the form of a cloud or haze; hazy.unclear
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When Nick first encounters Jordan Baker, he says twice that a "sort of apology arose to [his] lips." What is it about Jordan Baker that makes him feel that way?
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Jordan Baker presents herself as independent and Nick Carraway feels like he is disturbing her by walking up. Since she does not curtsy to Nick, he almost feels l like he needs to curtsy to her.
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When Daisy asks if they miss her in Chicago, Nick replies, "The whole town is desolate. All the cars have the left rear wheel painted black as a mourning wreath, and there's a persistent wail all night long along the north shore." What is Nick's tone here?
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Nick is being sarcastic
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What is Daisy's reaction when Jordan mentions Gatsby? What word is used to describe her method of speaking?
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She demanded she didn't know him
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Yawning and bored, Jordan says that they ought to plan something. Daisy replies, "All right...What'll we plan? What do people plan?" What does Daisy's response say about her and the type of people in her social circle?
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She shows that she is bored in her society and this phrase separates her from a different class.
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Apparently, what is The Rise of the Colored Empires about? Why does Tom like the book so much and what does he think is happening to society?
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its about the african american culture rising. tom likes this book so much because it talks about how this uprising needs to be stopped so the white people stay on top.
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It is clear that at dinner, things become a bit tense when no one "was able utterly to put this fifth guest's shrill metallic urgency out of mind." What is happening in this scene at dinner and what does the "shrill metallic urgency" represent?
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Tom gets a call from the girl he is with in New York during dinner and there is tension at the dinner table because of that.
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Daisy says she was glad when she gave birth to her baby and learned it was a girl; what does she say is the best thing a girl can be in this world? Explain why she says this and what it says about her: Is Daisy a fool? Does she play a fool? Does it benefit her to be a fool?
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She said the best thing a girl could be was a beautiful little fool. Daisy says this because at that time girls didn't have the right to do much except be mothers, stay at home, and have parties. Daisy acts like she is a fool but she gets bored being one and doesn't know what to do. In a way it benefits her.
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When Nick returned home, he saw a person who he assumed to be Gatsby standing outside (Gatsby's) house, looking out across the bay at a single green light. What was Gatsby doing while looking at the light? What does this action usually mean?
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Gatsby is reaching for the light, it usually means he is yearning for it or something.
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Describe the Valley of Ashes. In what way is this description appropriate to the total atmosphere and events of this chapter?
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The Valley of Ashes is farmland with ashes everywhere, like growing wheat. It is grey everywhere. But it could also stand for the american dream out toward the city. It works with this chapter because, the people who live out here have much different lifestyles than the ones living on long island (decaying, ashened, and barren). The Wilsons live there, which means their whole story—the infidelity, immorality, lack of compassion, and anger—is associated with this failed American Dream, too. Decay of moral character
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What ARE the "eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg?
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The "eyes" are a billboard for an eye doctor. Represent the eyes of God watching everyone.
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What does Myrtle's speech reveal about her character?
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It reveals that she is simple minded and tries to act higher up and something she isn't. Shows she is less intelligent and superficial.
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Evaluate Myrtle's talk of her unhappy marriage...when did she know she made a mistake? What does it seem like she's trying to justify?
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She knew she made a mistake when the guy came to get the suit back that her husband borrowed. She did not want to marry someone below her social class which she did. Tom had everything she wanted, including money. She seems to be trying to justify why she is cheating on her husband but why she is also staying with him.
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The end of chapter 2 is quite ambiguous. How do you interpret it? Support your answer.
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Tom punched Mrytle in the face because she kept egging him on saying "Daisy, Daisy, Daisy" trying to tell him she is not the only one cheating on someone.
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Provide some details of Gatsby's "little party," including both the atmosphere and types of conversations between individuals. Does it seem like a party you'd like to attend? Why or why not?
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His parties were anything but little. He had bands, and lots of oranges and lemons and he had a lot of people. People would come from all over looking for something to do. the majority of the people at the party did not have invitations. The atmosphere of the party was energetic and the conversations were full of life and laughter. By the end of the night the conversations took a turn. The couples started fighting and others were forcing others to leave.
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How was Nick different than the other guests that night?
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He had an invitation
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What are some of the rumors going around about Gatsby? Why so much mystery surrounding him?
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That Gatsby killed a man once, that he was a german spy in the war, and in the CIA. No one has ever really seen him. He is like a mystery.
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Explain what uncut pages are. Then, explain what that says about Gatsby and his library.
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Uncut pages: when books were first made, they had the words printed on large sheets of paper. When putting the book together and glueing the covers, sometimes the pages were not aligned correctly, so the pages would stick together. The people would have to take a penknife to peel the pages apart to continue the story. This says that Gatsby never read all the books.
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What does Owl Eyes from chapter 3 and the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg have in common? What does this commonality usually symbolize or represent?
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They both have big eyes and big glasses. They are always watching
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What does Nick say at the end of the chapter is the one cardinal virtue of which he "suspects himself"? How does that compare to Jordan Baker? Is there a cardinal virtue of which you suspect yourself?
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That he is one of the few honest people that he has ever known. Jordan is someone who is not honest and will lie to get herself out of trouble.
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From where does Gatsby say he got his money?
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He says he got his money from his family who died.
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Nick has to hold back his laughter when Gatsby tells him, "After that I lived like a young rajah in all the capitals of Europe - Paris, Venice, Rome - collecting jewels, chiefly rubies, hunting big game, painting a little, things for myself only, and trying to forget something very sad that had happened to me long ago"? Why does Nick respond this way?
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Nick doubts what Gatsby is saying and he pictures gatsby with a turban in france with a lion.
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When they get into Manhattan, Gatsby takes Nick to a speakeasy. How do we know that this is where they go?
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We know this because it says a forty-second street cellar and they ordered highballs.
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It's fairly clear that Meyer Wolfsheim is a man involved in organized crime. Provide three examples from chapter 4 that lead us to this conclusion.
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-His friend got shot right outside of their favorite speakeasy, most likely has to deal with Meyer's business -he fixed the world series in 1919, they can't catch him either. -he had asked Nick about a business negation he was looking for referring to getting into to his business
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Describe Daisy's attitude immediately before, during, and after getting married to Tom. What does this tell us about her that further solidifies what we knew from chapter one? (think - what is the best thing a girl can be?)
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While Daisy was engaged to Tom she was very happy again, then while about to get married she was unhappy and didn't want to. Once she was married and traveling it seemed liked she was happy again but I think she was just worried about Tom cheating on her. She said the best thing a girl could do was be beautiful little fool. This refers to Daisy because that is what she became once she married Tom and he cheats on her and she acts like she doesn't know.
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What is the request Gatsby is making of Nick through Jordan Baker? Why does he want to do this?
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To invite Daisy over for tea and then invite Gatsby over. Gatsby wants to do this so he has the chance to see Daisy again
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When Nick goes to introduce Gatsby to Tom at the restaurant in the city, what does Gatsby do? Based on what we know from the rest of the chapter, why does he do this?
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He runs away because he knows Tom is married to Daisy and Tom and Nick were somewhat friends
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What is Gatsby doing at two in the morning, and why do you think he is doing this?
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He went to Nicks and asked him to go to Coney Island with him and go for a swim. Also he is lighting up his house for daisy to see.
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In exchange for Nick's agreeing to invite Daisy over to his house for tea so that Gatsby can 'coincidentally' happen to drop by Nick's place and see her, what does Gatsby offer Nick? How does this shed more light on Gatsby's mysterious character?
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Offered Nick a job. This makes Gatsby look more mysterious because he does not say what the job is but that Nick would run into a nice bit of money and Gatsby stuttered his words.
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What colors are Gatsby's clothes, and what might these colors symbolize?
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White, silver, and gold. It symbolizes money and wealth as well as his personality.
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When Gatsby leans against the mantelpiece, what does he almost knock to the floor? What might this symbolize? (Think about what this object usually symbolizes in literature).
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He almost knocks over a clock this could symbolize the time that has passed since he has seen daisy and he never moved on.
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In many works of literature, weather is often symbolically linked to the emotional lives of the characters. In this chapter, how does the weather reinforce the mood and atmosphere of the scenes?
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It was raining and he was nervous, anxious and sad. The weather clears up then when they go to gatsby's house. The nervousness is gone and they were happy and making conversation.They were so caught up with each other that they don't even noticed it stopped raining.
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How does Gatsby contradict something he'd told Nick earlier when he tells Nick the time that it took him to earn the money for his mansion, and what does he then say to explain the discrepancy?
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Gatsby said that he came from old money but then told Nick that he worked 3 hard years for his money. He tries to cover his tracks by saying he lost the majority of his families money during the pain of the war.
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What two businesses does Gatsby tell Nick he has been in? Then, what does he ask Nick? How can we connect this to what we read about The Prohibition?
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The drug business (pharmacies) and the oil business. He asked if Nick has been thinking about the job offer. During the prohibition there was a lot jobs that became popular which was pharmacies.
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What do we learn about the green light in this chapter? What might the green light symbolize for Gatsby, and why is it appropriate that its color is green?
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The green light symbolizes Daisy and how he is longing for her. Green might be an appropriate color because it represents money and how he didn't have it for Daisy right away.
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Regarding the green light, what does Nick mean when he says, "Now it was a green light on a dock. His count of enchanted objects had diminished by one" (93)?
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The green light was a way for Gatsby to feel secure in some way because he affiliated the light with Daisy but now since Daisy and Gatsby are together the light is now just a light.
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Explain the significance of this passage. Have you or anyone you've known ever experienced what Nick presumes Gatsby is experiencing?
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Gatsby is so close to daisy but so far also because he had waited so long to meet up with her again and now she is married to Tom. Gatsby doesn't want Daisy to leave again. Daisy was not the same girl anymore. Gatsby's expectations were so high that she could never meet the standards. Does he really like her or just the idea of her.
