The Great Gatsby Teaching Guide

Chapter 1 (Point of View)

Quiz:
1. Who gave Nick advice on how to perceive other people?
a. His father.
2. What is Nicks relation to Daisy?
a. Cousins
3. What is the best thing a girl can be, according to Daisy?
a. A fool.
4. What are two negative things we learn about Tom in this chapter?
a. He is racist and adulterous.
5. (Quote)
Reading Focus

Nicks description of himself.

Nicks voice.
The differences between East and West Egg.
Fitzgeralds choice of first person narrator.

Reading Guide Questions:

Do you view Nick as a reliable narrator? What would be different if they story were told by an omniscient narrator or a
different character?
Possible Answer: Nick is a reliable narrator. Before he even begins, he mentions that his father always told him to
reserve all judgments. By having Nick tell the story, there is a certain amount of innocence. He is coming from the west
and has no idea what kind of culture he has walked into.
How does Fitzgerald use Nicks point of view to describe the setting, in particular, the difference between East and West
Egg?
Possible Answer: Nick is a neutral party. While he has family (Daisy) in the wealthy East Egg, he says that he lives in less
fashionable West Egg. As an outsider, he knows little about the two sides and can remain objective.
How does Nicks description of Tom reveal Nicks feelings about him?
Possible Answer: The fact that he says Tom had a cruel body shows a certain amount of fear and dislike. Also, his
mention of Toms comments at the dinner show that Tom fits that description.
Activity: Narrator Activity
The teacher will post an image on the overhead. Using this image, students will be split into three groups. Each group
will narrate the story from a different POV (first person, third person: limited, third person: omniscient). After 7 minutes
of writing time, the teacher will ask students to break into jigsaw groups and compare their narrations for similarities
and differences.

Chapter 2 (Setting)
Quiz:
1. What does Nick notice about the billboard for Dr. TJ Eckleberg, the oculist?
a. The eyes.
2. Who lives in the valley of ashes? (Two people).
a. Myrtle and George
3. What present does Tom buy Myrtle in the city?
a. A puppy.
4. Why does Tom break Myrtles nose?
a. She wont stop saying Daisys name.
5. (Quote)
Reading Focus

Fitzgeralds use of color in relation to setting.

Tone or atmosphere created by different settings (i.e. valley of ashes, Tom and Myrtles apartment)
Comparison of the party in chapter 1 to that in chapter 2

Reading Guide Questions:

What does Nicks description of the valley of ashes imply about the people that live there?
Possible Answer: The valley of ashes is a dismal place where everyone blends into the haze. That would imply that the
people are unimpressive or conforming to the same lifestyle. It would imply a largely blue collar, working class
community.
What does the party and the state of Tom and Myrtles apartment reveal about their relationship and character?
Possible Answer: The party of the apartment is loud, wild, and dangerous. Since the apartment is red, we get this kind of
abrasive environment. The reader can tell that Tom and Myrtle are caught up in the Jazz age (almost hiding in it).
Red is symbolically used in both the setting and the incident with Myrtle. What predictions can be made for future
events?
Possible Answer: With the red color of the apartment and the blood after Myrtles accident, we can predict that there
will be more violence.
Activity: Setting Game
Students will be put into partners. One of the partners will get 30 seconds to look around the room and memorize as
much as they can. Then, that partner must close their eyes and list as many things as they can remember for their
partner. (The group with the most gets a piece of candy). Then the class will create a list of things in the room based on
what they came up with. The teacher will choose five of those things and students will have to describe those aspects of
the room like an author.

Chapter 3 (Character)
Quiz:
1. What is one extravagance of Gatsbys parties that Nick observes?
a. Abundance of food, and drink
b. Celebrities and important people.
c. Extra staff.
d. An orchestra.
2. Which character from chapter 1 (other than Nick) reappears at Gatsbys party?
a. Jordan Baker
3. What nickname does Nick assign the old man in the library?
a. Owl Eyes
4. Who crashed their car at the party?
a. Owl Eyes
5. (Quote)
Reading Focus

The indirect characterization of Gatsby by the party guests.

The nature of Gatsbys guests.
The characterization of Jordan Baker

Reading Guide Questions:

How does Fitzgerald establish the mystery that surrounds Gatsby?
Possible Answer: First of all, Nick is invited to this party, even though he knows nothing about his neighbor which is only
compounded by the fact that he is the only one that received an invitation. Furthermore, there are many rumors
surrounding Gatsby at the party, all of them a bit ridiculous.
What do Nicks interactions with other guests say about the Jazz age and Gatsbys world?
Possible Answer: Everything is ostentatious and over the top! Gatsbys parties are full of celebrities and overrun with
liquor and food. His world is like a fantasy.
What does Nicks description of Jordan reveal about Jordan? What does it reveal about Nick?
Possible Answer:
Activity: Body Map
In groups of 5, students will get a large piece of butcher paper and instructions for the body map. They will create these
posters in their groups.

Chapter 4 (Dialogue)
Quiz:
1. Who is Klipspringer?
a. The musician that lives with Gatsby.
2. Where does Gatsby tell Nick he went to school?
a. Oxford
3. Who fixed the World Series in 1919?
a. Wolfsheim
4. Why was Daisy drunk before her bridal dinner?
a. She received a letter from Gatsby.
5. (Quote)
Reading Focus

Difference in dialogue between characters.

What dialogue reveals about characters.
How dialogue is formatted in a novel

Reading Guide Questions:

Gatsby refers to Nick as old sport frequently throughout the book. What do you think Fitzgerald intended to reveal
about Gatsby by using this phrase so often?
Possible Answer: Gatsby is trying too hard to be friendly. By saying old sport over and over again, Gatsby comes off as
phony and pretentious, trying to be something he isnt.
Why do you think the mysterious Gatsby is so forthcoming when speaking with Nick? Why would Fitzgerald include the
conversation in the car?
Possible Answer: Gatsby reveals a lot of information in his conversation with Nick. He is very obviously trying to prove
who he is to Nick by listing fact after fact.
What does Nick's conversation with Jordan reveal about Gatsby?
Possible Answer:
Activity: Quotation Identification Practice
The teacher will hand out conversation bubbles to each students and ask them to write a quotation that develops a
character from chapter 4. Students will cut out the bubble and put it in the tub or the middle of the floor. The teacher
will redistribute the bubbles and students will place them beside the speakers image on the whiteboard. The teacher
will pull a quotation from each character and determine how that quotation was assigned to them.

Chapter 5 (Symbolism)
Quiz:
1. What is Nicks response to Gatsbys offer to work with him?
a. He declines, saying he has too much work as it is.
2. What does Gatsby do when Daisy first arrives at Nicks?
a. Disappears, running out the back and reappearing at the front.
3. What item does Gatsby break while at Nicks?
a. A clock.
4. Who is Mr. Dan Cody?
a. A man that was once Gatsbys best friend.
5. (Quote)
Reading Focus

Gatsbys obsession with the appearance of Nicks house.

Gatsbys blunder with the clock.
Daisys reaction to Gatsbys shirts.

Reading Guide Questions:

What is the weather like on the day of the tea party? How does it reflect the emotional climate of the relationship
between Gatsby and Daisy?
Possible Answer: At the beginning of the chapter, it is pouring rain which continues until Nick leaves Gatsby and Daisy
alone. Once they have been alone awhile, the weather changes. In other words, as soon as they reconnect, the sun
comes out. This could show that the weather is reflecting that change in their relationship.
What does the green light from Daisys dock represent for Gatsby?
Possible Answer: The green light could mean many things, but it definitely embodies his envy. He is envious of the life
that Tom has given Daisy if only because his ability to do so made her choose him in the first place.
What is revealed in Daisys reaction to Gatsbys expensive shirts?
Possible Answer: Daisy is materialistic, but in this moment, she is sad. She married Tom because he could take care of
her and had the money, but now she is realizing that had she waited, Gatsby would have been able to give her the same.
Activity: Symbolism Map
Students will be given images to associate with characters from the story.

Chapter 6 (Conflict)
Quiz:
1. What was Gatsbys real name?
a. James Gatz
2. What is one thing that impresses Daisy about that party?
a. Celebrities.
3. What does Tom not want to be referred to as?
a. The polo player.
4. Why does Nick tell Gatsby not to ask too much of Daisy?
a. He realizes how hard it will be for her to break ties with Tom.
5. (Quote)
Reading Focus

The level of tension in the conversations between Tom and Gatsby.

Gatsbys reaction to Toms aggressiveness.
Daisys reaction to the tension between Tom and Gatsby.

Reading Guide Questions:

What is left unsaid in the earlier conversation between Tom and Gatsby?
Possible Answer: Tom has no idea how Gatsby knows Daisy. When Gatsby brings it up, even aggressively, Tom seems
oblivious and unphased.
How does Fitzgerald further develop the societal conflict between East and West Egg?
Possible Answer: Tom is very condescending about the party, commenting on everything arrogantly. Tom, being from
East Egg, belittles Gatsby for being considered new money.
What internal conflict does Gatsby face regarding Daisy? How does it compare to Toms?
Possible Answer: Gatsby is still struggling with how to keep Daisy when she is married to Tom. He has regained her love,
but he is realizing how challenging it will be to really be with Daisy. On the flipside, Tom is realizing that she is slipping
away and determined to keep her to save him image.
Activity: Symbolism Map
Students will complete a second page in which the demonstrate conflict between the characters they selected the day
before. They will place them on the page to represent the conflict between characters.

Chapter 7 (Figurative Language)

Quiz:
1. Why do Daisy and Jordan claim they cant move when Nick arrives at the dinner?
a. It is so hot.
2. What is Toms reaction to Daisy telling Gatsby that he always looks so cool?
a. He gets angry and agrees that they should go to town.
3. What information does Tom get from George when they stop for gas? (Hint: What has Myrtle been talking about
for almost ten years?)
a. Myrtle and George are moving West.
4. What is Gatsby desperately trying to get Daisy to confess to Tom?
a. That she never loved him.
5. What happened on the way home for the city? Who is responsible?
a. Myrtle was hit by Gatsbys car. Daisy was driving.
6. (Quote)
Reading Focus

The frequent mention of the heat.

The connection between death and transportation.
Gatsbys placement at the end of the chapter.

Reading Guide Questions:

What is a motif? What examples did Fitzgerald create in chapter 7?
Possible Answer: A motif is a reoccurring image or symbol. In chapter 7, mention of the heat is frequent. This might
reflect the sexual tension between Daisy and Gatsby as well as the rage building in Tom. Mention of death and darkness
are also frequent. The mention of the color white is also frequently used to describe Daisy and her surroundings. This
represents her false purity and innocence.
What might be foreshadowed by Nick saying they drove on toward death other than the death of Myrtle? (p. 136)
Possible Answer: Fitzgerald was very deliberate with who was in which car. Since Daisy and Gatsby are driving home
together, it might foreshadow the fate of their relationship or something worse.
What is implied in saying that Daisys voice is full of money? (p. 120)
Possible Answer: Daisys voice is very alluring and captivating, like money. People listen to what she says because of her
rich voice.
Activity: Found Poem
The teacher will provide a text, preferably something outside of The Great Gatsby. Students will then use a black marker
to block out words, leaving some words that create a poem. Therefore, students will be writing poetry, using the
words of the provided text. Students will create a visually appealing final product.

Chapter 8 (Plot)
Quiz:
1. What advice does Nick give Gatsby the day after the car accident?
a. To leave town.
2. Why did Daisy marry Tom instead of Gatsby?
a. Gatsby was still away, trying to make something of himself.
3. Before she runs out into the street, George told Myrtle that she could fool him, but she could not fool ____.
a. God.
4. Who is Gatsby expecting a call from when he goes swimming?
a. Daisy.
5. (Quote)
Reading Focus

The turning point of the story.

The consequences of characters earlier choices (i.e. Gatsby covering for Daisy)
The immediate aftermath of Georges actions.

Reading Guide Questions:

What event would be considered the climax of the novel? What choices or events led to this climax?
Possible Answer: Gatsbys death at the hand of George Wilson is the climax of the story. Gatsbys choice to pursue Daisy
relentlessly and take the blame for the accident directly led to this outcome.
How could this climax have been prevented?
Possible Answer: Gatsby could have been honest about who was driving. Additionally, he could have acknowledged the
change in Daisy at the hotel.
Which conflicts are resolved in the immediate aftermath of Georges actions?
Possible Answer: Daisy no longer has to choose between Tom and Gatsby, and Tom doesnt need to worry about Gatsby.
Toms ties to Myrtle, including his conflict with George, no longer exist.
Activity: Chapter Timeline
Together as a class, we will create a timeline of the events in chapter 8. Then students will create their own, revised
timeline for the chapter they plan to rewrite.

Chapter 9 (Theme)
Quiz:
1. What does Nick learn when he calls Daisys house to tell her about Gatsbys murder?
a. She and Tom have left.
2. Other than Nick, who is the only person of significance that attends Gatsbys funeral?
a. Henry Gatz, Gatsbys father.
3. Jordan says that Nick turned out to be another bad _________ that she should have avoided.
a. Driver.
4. Who does Nick label careless people?
a. Tom and Daisy.
5. (Quote)
Reading Focus:

The attainment of the American dream.

The consequences of living in the past.
The absolute separation between the have and the have-nots.

Reading Guide Questions:

Does Gatsby ultimately obtain the American dream? Explain
Possible Answer: Gatsby is never satisfied that he has attained her American dream. He had earned, purchased, or
acquired everything he felt he needed except Daisy.
How are the characters of the novel affected by the past?
Possible Answer: Gatsby is obsessed with both the past he escaped and that which he didnt have with Daisy. He needs
his past to create his future. Tom wants to secure that past, such as with his name. He doesnt want to be the polo
player when he was born Tom Buchanen. In his eyes that is more than enough to be recognized.
How have Nicks interactions with other characters in the novel influenced his choice to leave?
Possible Answer: Nick is disgusted by the fact that no one attends Gatsbys funeral and wants nothing to do with them.
He has been disenchanted by people with money and what they stand for.
Activity: One Pager
Students will create a one page (8X11) poster for the theme of the novel. It can look like a movie poster or just depict
certain moments that support theme, but all things on the page should be related to the chosen theme and there can be
no blank space.