Great Gatsby Flashcards
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From what point of view is the story told? Who is the narrator? What is the impact of Nick telling the story in flashback?
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The story is told in first person by Nick Carraway. He is the narrator as well. The impact of him telling the story in flashback is that he knows what's happening next and therefore will drop more hints and give more description at important parts. It also provides the reader with clear context.
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What do we learn about Nick Carraway in the introductory section of the novel?
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He is new money as he recently became rich. He absolutely despises these old money people as it seems that they have no worries and the only worries they have are superficient. Also they do not have any values as they never had to work once in their life.
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In discussing East Egg and West Egg, Nick states: "To the wingless a more arresting phenomenon is their dissimilarity in every particular except shape and size." Indicate what the "dissimilarities" might be.
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While West Egg is new money East Egg is old money. Due to this the people in West Egg still have morals and values as they had to work to earn their money, while the old money people never had to work once in their life and therefore had no morals and values.
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Compare the homes of Nick, Gatsby, and the Buchanans. How does each home reflect the personality of its owner?
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The Buchanans have the biggest house out of the three as they are old money. Due to this they have the most materialistic house, and the only things they buy is the most expensive thing in the shop. Gatsby has the second biggest house, but as he is new money the house means more to him and is therefore not as materialistic . The smallest house out of the three is Nick's. As he is the most modest and has the most values out of the three he does not want a big materialistic house.
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When Nick leaves the Buchanan's house, he is "confused and a little disgusted." Why? What does this suggest about his values?
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He is disgusted because he realises that the only thing that these rich people do is gossip about each other and have superficial relationships.
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Though we do not meet Gatsby until Chapter 3, we hear references to him in the conversations of others. Note each reference. What impressions do you get?
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We get the impression that Gatsby is a mysterious man with a secret past and that he is a rich and influential man who everyone seems to know. We also get a feeling that he throws extravagant parties where everyone of a certain social standing attends and enjoys.
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In what way is the description in the opening paragraphs of Chapter 2 appropriate to the total atmosphere of this chapter? What is symbolic about the "valley of ashes," and "the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg"?
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The atmosphere is depressing, gray, and gloomy and just not happy. The "valley of ashes" could symbolize the hollow, desperate area between rich and poor and "the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg" could possibly signify someone or something watching the mechanics of society and the wide gap between rich and poor. This could be a higher being or something of the sort.
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Evaluate Myrtle's talk of her unhappy marriage. What does she seem to be trying to justify?
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She seems to be trying to justify her relationship with Mr. Buchanan and cheating on and betraying her husband.
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How does Myrtle's speech reveal her character?
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The speech reveals that Myrtle is simple minded and materialistic. She wants to pursue her dreams at the cost of others. She also wants to appear as rich and sophisticated as her friends but her guise is threadbare and transparent.
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What does the scene in this New York apartment reveal about Tom? About Myrtle?
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It shows that Tom has a nasty temper and a violent nature and that Myrtle is a what one could call selfish and petty, aggressive in her pursuit of personal pleasure and luxury.
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Does Nick enjoy the afternoon at the apartment in New York? Why or why not?
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No, he does not. He leaves the apartment feeling nauseous and blown away by what he has witnessed. The fascinating life these people led had let him gawking in disgusted interest. He can't stop thinking how frivolous, tasteless, hollow, and petty the life these people lead.
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Chapter 3 describes Gatsby's "little party." Describe details about the party itself, about the guests and about their conversation and behavior.
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The "little party" was not so little. It was a luxurious affair with a couple of several-course meals. The house and yard were decorated elegantly and waiters were swarming the premises of the estate passing out snacks, appetizers, and drinks for people to get inebriated on. The guests were careless in their pursuit of fun and pleasure. They laughed, drank, and amused themselves with careless, almost apathetic conduct. Their conversations were equally tasteless and petty, with no valuable content.
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Describe the meeting between Nick and Gatsby. Comment on Fitzgerald's skill in preparing for Gatsby's entrance into the story.
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When Nick met Gatsby, he didn't know who it was he was talking to. Nick mentioned that he had not yet met the host and then Gatsby mentions who he is. Fitzgerald had mentioned Gatsby several times before and his significance in the story is evident to readers. The fact that after all this commotion created surrounding Gatsby, Fitzgerald introduces him so casually seems ironic and may or may not signify and symbolize a future occurrence.
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What is the reason for Nick's breaking the story at this point? Read the section beginning with "Reading over what I have written so far..."
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I think the reason for Nick's breaking the story at this point is that he wants to reflect on the many events that the chapter has brought upon the readers and give the readers a little background information to supplement what they've learned so far.
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At the end of Chapter 3, Nick meets Jordan again. The author includes several episodes that emphasize her carelessness and basic dishonesty. Discuss these instances. What do they reveal about Jordan? About Nick?
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These instance reveal that Jordan is a woman who is hard to get the truth out of. She is not honest and she is not genuine. Nick notices this about her and still seems to admire her.
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Aside from the improbability of his story, what other evidence is there that Gatsby is lying when he tells Nick about his background?
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He tells him that he lost all his wealth and gained it all back but he does not mention how he gained it back. He also says that he is from the midwest but says that he's from San Francisco which is on the east coast. Also his accent does not sound like a wealthy accent and everyone can understand that he is just it.
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What does Gatsby 's friendship with Meyer Wolfshiem imply about his own background?
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This shows that Gatsby does many illegal things and gets his wealthy through gambling like Meyer Wolfshiem.
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How does Daisy behave after Gatsby goes overseas? What does her behavior show about her feelings for Gatsby?
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She develops more relationships with other guys, becomes more depressed, even on her wedding day she was found crying on the bathtub. Her life began to spiral downwards
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After Jordan tells Nick the story of Gatsby and Daisy, Nick says that Gatsby "came alive to me, delivered suddenly from the womb of his purposeless splendor/" How does this metaphor of birth help explain what Gatsby's behavior had meant to Nick up to then?
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It would seem, from Jordan's story, that Gatsby was born in an instant. It was as if Gatsby had no past, no childhood. Gatsby had re-created himself in the years following the war.He became a new man, a reinvention of himself. It's like he tossed how roots away. Jordan also sees Gatsby's existence as "purposeless", like most of the lives in East Egg. Yet, there is a "splendour" about Gatsby's lifestyle that is attractive at the same time.
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With Jordan in his arms, Nick thinks of a phrase: "There are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy and the tired." How do you think this phrase reflects on the events of the novel so far? Do you think that Gatsby would agree with the phrase?
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I think the phrase suits Gatsby just fine. Gatsby's parties seem like a singles mingle free for all even though most of the couples are married. Gatsby watches from afar, immune to the pursuits. This however is not totally true because he has always been pursuing Daisy
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Why does Gatsby deliver so many goods and services to Nick's house?
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Gatsby delivers so many goods and services to Nick's house in exchange for allowing Daisy and him to secretly meet up at Nick's.
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Describe the effect of rain on the plot.
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The rain "cools" and relaxes the tension in the atmosphere. Daisy and Gatsby have finally gotten back together after years of separation. The end of the rain and the return of the sun also signifies the beginning of their relationship.
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Why does Gatsby offer Nick work? How does Nick feel about this?
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Gatsby offers Nick work, because Gatsby thinks of Nick as only a colleague, and not as a friend. So when Nick does him a favor, Gatsby feels like he should repay him by offering him a job. Nick is offended and taken aback, as Nick though that the two of them were friends, and thought that giving him a job was totally un needed.
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Explain the significance of the green light.
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At the beginning of the book, Gatsby is seen by Nick looking at the green light. This light led Gatsby to his love and signified hope in Gatsby's life. It was something he longed for that would never happen, something simply out of his reach.
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Why does Gatsby get so many phone calls? What does this say about him?
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Gatsby gets many calls, of a confidential sort at all times of the day. These calls are probably illegal drug dealings and show the Gatsby is indeed a bootlegger.
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How truthful was Gatsby when he relayed the story of his life to Nick? Why does Fitzgerald tell the story of Jay Gatz now?
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He wasn't very truthful. When Fitzgerald finally narrates the real version of James Gatz, readers get to put the two descriptions side by side and compare the similarities and differences.
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Describe the meeting of Tom and Gatsby. What does this meeting reveal about them?
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It shows that Gatsby is so desperate to be near Daisy that he ignores and the tension and the ill feelings and still accepts Tom's invitation. This scene also shows that Tom is a jerk as he makes a very snide remark after Gatsby accepts the invitation. They don't get along well.
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Why did Daisy and Tom find Gatsby's party loathsome?
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It is full of West Eggers who they find less sophisticated.
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How did Gatsby measure the success of his party?
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He measures its success by how much Daisy enjoys it and how many people attend it.
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When Nick told Gatsby that "you can't repeat the past", Gatsby replied, "Why of course you can!" Do you agree with Nick or Gatsby?
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I agree with Nick since the past is of different circumstances and those circumstances will never ever repeat themself is another time in history.
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Who is Trimalchio? Explain how this describes Gatsby.
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Trimalchio a character in Satyricon, by Petronius. He came from an extremely poor background and gained prestige through his hard work. Once he attained his wealth, he enjoyed throwing lavish parties that were meant to impress his variety of guests. Trimalchio is almost exactly like Gatsby. Both were newly rich, and trying to get attention.
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Describe Daisy and Gatsby's new relationship.
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The two are now in love and acknowledge the near impossibility of making their relationship publicly known to anyone other than Nick.
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Compare George Wilson and Tom. What did each man learn about his wife and how did they each react?
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When Tom found out of Daisy's affair with Gatsby, he found as much dirt on Gatsby as he could and called him out on it in front of Daisy. This led to Daisy thinking Gatsby was unworthy and made her not want to see him again. Wilson has no idea his wife is having an affair with another man until way too late. He thinks that Myrtle is seeing Gatsby even though she's seeing Tom. Therefore Wilson goes and kills Gatsby and then kills himself.
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If Daisy says she's never loved Tom, is there someone whom she thinks she loves?
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She loved Gatsby once before and now she loves him again. However, when she learns the truth of how he acquired his wealth, she no longer has feelings for him and chooses Tom over him. She also shows no reaction to Gatsby's murder and never even came to his funeral.
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Describe the fight between Gatsby and Tom. What do these men think of each other? How are they similar and how are they different?
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During the fight, Tom gets mad when Gatsby calls him "old sport" and explodes, revealing Gatsby's source of wealth. Gatsby almost demands that Daisy renounce any feelings of love that she ever had for Tom. Although Daisy does do this at first, she takes it back, saying that she can not truthfully say that she never loved Tom. Gatsby and Tom are jealous of each other and hate each other. Their similarities include wealth, determination, a lying nature, and a love for Daisy. Tom is different from Gatsby in that he does not really see that he has ever done wrong whereas Gatsby does seem to know that what he has done is wrong - that is why he keeps it hidden.
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What was significant about Nick's 30th birthday?
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The significant thing about Nick's birthday was that it was a day of chaos and dilemma. To Nick, it still is his birthday and he tries to be happy and joyful and he tries to not let this trouble affect his day. He keeps the fact that it was his birthday to himself because everyone else was dealing with their own problems.
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What do you think Tom and Daisy were saying to each other in the kitchen? Do you think that Tom knew Daisy was driving the "death car"? Why, why not?
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I think that Daisy was telling Tom the truth about the accident and Tom was assuring her how he could fix things so that Daisy would never be found out.
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At this point, how would you end the novel?
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There is a sense of closure. Gatsby no longers throws the parties he used to, in order to gain Daisy's attention. He has finally given up.
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How does Fitzgerald achieve a melancholic mood in the beginning of this chapter?
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Fitzgerald uses the portrayal of different sounds that are nostalgic and unhappy along with suspense.
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How are seasons used in constructing this novel?
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The story begins in late spring/early summer. The season is typically symbolic of renewal is reflective of the hope Gatsby has, wanting to develop a relationship with Daisy. When summer ends, and in fall, plants and leaves begin to die and life seems to come to an end. This season reflects the end of Gatsby's relationship and hope for a future with Daisy, and this also reflects his ultimate demise.
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Who is Dan Cody and what is his significance in Gatsby's life?
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Dan Cody was a wealthy man who employed a seventeen year old James Gat and exposed him to a new lavish life that Gatz longed for. He also left Gatsby $25,000 and a yacht when he died.
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How does Nick's statement "You're worth the whole bunch put together" show a change in Nick from the beginning of the novel?
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Nick was suspicious of Gatsby at the beginning and didn't approve of him. By the end of the novel, Nick sees that everything Gatsby did was to impress Daisy, and that beneath that rich, mysterious exterior was a guy who truly cared about Daisy.
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How does T. J. Eckleberg affect Mr. Wilson?
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Wilson thinks that T.J. Eckleburg's eyes which he thinks are God watching down on him and telling him to go revenge Myrtle's murder.
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Why did Nick take care of Gatsby's funeral?
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To me, the significance of Nick taking charge of Gatsby's funeral arrangements is that it proves that Gatsby's pursuit of his version of the American Dream was pointless and futile. For most of his life, Gatsby pursued wealth. He thought that getting rich would bring him into high society. More importantly, he thought it would get Daisy to accept him. However, it becomes clear that this did not happen. He didn't so great after all. After he dies, none of the people who surrounded him (other than Nick) cares enough about him to arrange the funeral (or even to attend it). This shows that Gatsby's striving was empty -- it left him without anyone who loved or cared about him.
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How was Jay Gatz's childhood schedule consistent with the adult Gatsby's behavior?
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As a boy, Gatsby was completely focused and self-disciplined in the pursuit of his goals. Even as a boy, he was determined to succeed and wasted no time in the effort.Gatsby in his adult form still remains hardworking and determined, as we see in his single-minded focus on achieving Daisy.
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Who attended Gatsby's funeral? How and why is this significant?
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The only people at the funeral are Nick, Gatsby's father, and "Owl Eyes," who remarks on the hypocrisy of others. Owl Eyes was a man who discovered that the many books in Gatsby's library were real books with uncut pages; that is, they had intrinsic value, but had never been read, demonstrating Gatsby's personal facade. Nick realizes that the guests only cared about being seen at the latest in-fashion fads, instead of caring for Gatsby himself; he also realizes that Gatsby spent years learning how to live and fit in as a wealthy man, all in pursuit of Daisy. In the end, even Daisy ignores the funeral, instead going away with Tom, and Nick finds his perception of the East Egg tainted by these bad memories.
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What is the purpose of Nick's last meeting with Jordan?
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Nick has had enough of the fast, glittering life in New York and decides to return to the Midwest., as well as break it off with Jordan.
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Why does Nick call Tom and Daisy "careless people"?
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Daisy and Tom Buchanan are "careless people" because they are insensitive and thoughtless. Tom physically abuses Myrtle Wilson by striking her in the face and leads her to believe he would marry her if his wife weren't Catholic, which is a lie. He misleads Tom Wilson by implying that Myrtle was Gatsby's mistress and that Gatsby was responsible for her death. Thus Tom gets Gatsby killed, but Daisy is the one who was driving the car that struck Myrtle. Daisy, of course, never admits her guilt. Daisy enjoys flirting with Gatsby, but when problems arise, she hides behind Tom. This couple tends to run away from difficulties, mostly because they have the money to do so and they have little sense of obligation to others. According to Nick, they "smashed up other people's lives" and left the wreckage behind for someone else to clean up.
