Saturday, June 21, 2008

After Reading 2

Scott Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby in 1925, and here we are reading
it so many years later. Why? What makes this book a "classic"?

After Reading 1

What is the point of The Great Gatsby? When we read books, we usually come away
from our reading experience a little richer, having given more thought to a particular
aspect of life. What do you think F. Scott Fitzgerald intended us to gain from reading his
novel?

Quotation 6

Explain the following ,
"They're a rotten crowd," I shouted across the lawn. "You're worth the whole damn bunch
put together." (Nick to Gatsby)

Quotation 5

Explain the following,
". . . and it occurred to me that there was no difference between men, in intelligence or race,
so profound as the difference between the sick and the well. Wilson was so sick that he
looked guilty. . . ." (Nick after the accident)

Quotation 4

Explain the following,
"Her voice is full of money." (Gatsby to Nick about Daisy)

Quotation 3

Explain the following,
"So the whole caravansary had fallen in like a card house at the disapproval of her eyes."
(Nick after Daisy had come to Gatsby's party)

Quotation 2

Explain the importance of the following,
"There must have been moments even that afternoon when Daisy tumbled short of his
dreams
-- not through her own fault, but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion. It had gone
beyond her, beyond everything." (Nick about Gatsby after he had met with Daisy)

Quotations 1

Explain the importance of the following quotation,
"Possibly it had occurred to him that the colossal significance of the [green] light had now
vanished forever." (Nick about Gatsby after he had met with Daisy)

Daisy

What does Nick say about people like Daisy and Tom? What does he mean by it?

Nick and Jordan

What happens between Nick and Jordan Baker? Why?

Gatz

Who is Henry C. Gatz?
What is the book Henry Gatz shows Nick? Why is it important to the novel?

The funeral

Why couldn't Nick get anyone to come to Gatsby's funeral?
Why does Wilson believe that Gatsby killed Myrtle? What does that reveal about the characters? What does Wilson do? Is his reaction justified?

Myrtl

What does Michaelis believe caused Myrtle to run?
Why did she run?

Gatsby's past

What does Gatsby tell Nick about his past? Is it true?

Daisy and Tom

What is the true relationship between Daisy and Tom? Explain.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

The event

What happens on the way home from New York? How do these people react to the event:
a. Wilson:
b. Tom:
c. Nick:
d. Gatsby:

Daisy and men

What is Daisy's reaction to both Tom and Gatsby?

Daisy's child

What was Gatsby's reaction to Daisy's child? Why?

Daisy and the party

What is Daisy's opinion of Gatsby's party? How does this affect him?
What does Gatsby want from Daisy?

Gatsby's real history

What is Gatsby's real history? How does that affect the reader's opinion of him? How does that affect Nick's opinion's of him?

Gatsby's Mind

What had Gatsby turned Daisy into in his own mind? Explain.

Daisy

After seeing Gatsby house what are Daisy's feelings towards him? Why does Gatsby feel the need to show her all of his clothes?

Daisy

What Daisy impressed with Gatsby? Does she love him? Why or why not?

Metaphors

What had the green light on the dock meant to Gatsby?

Gatsby and Daisy

Describe the meeting between Gatsby and Daisy. Why was he so nervous?

The other characters

Are the other character's "phony"? Who are and why are why not?

Nick's point of view

How does Nick view Gatsby? How does this view affect the mood for the reader?

Gatsby's friends

Who are some of Gatsby's friends in chapter 4 and how does this develop Gatsby as a character?

Jordan and Nick

What is Jordan and Nick's relationship? How does it develop?

The real Gatsby

Is Gatsby a "phony"? Why or why not?

Nick and the party

Why is Nick at Gatsby party and what is the importance of the way that Nick and Gatsby meet? Was it all planned by Gastby? Explain.

The Party

Who are Gatsby's party guests and what does that say about his character?

Imagery

The Great Gatsby has some wonderful imagery throughout the novel. What is the importance of the two images the "valley of ashes" and the "eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg?

Tom and Myrtle

What did Tom do to Myrtle when she mentioned Daisy's name? Would he treat Daisy like that? What does that say about him and his affair?

Myrtle

What reason did Myrtle give for marrying George Wilson? What does this say about her social status and the role of women in that social status?