Symbols in The Great GatsbyAs you read, track the following symbols and gather evidence (quotes/page numbers) that reveal their meanings.the green lightthe eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburgthe Valley of AshesGatsby’s libraryGatsby’s houseGatsby’s shirtscolors: white, gold, greenplaces: East Egg, West Egg, the Midwest, New YorkWolfsheim’s cufflinks

The Great Gatsby Ch. 1 Discussion QuestionsQuestions 1-3 and then 4-6 build on each answer in increasing difficulty1.How does Nick describe himself at the beginning of the novel?2.Who is Jordan Baker3.What is Gatsby doing when Nick first sees him?4.Describe the ambiguity (look it up) in Nick’s initial descriptions of Gatsby.5.How does the tone of Nick’s description of Tom reveal Nick’s feelings about Tom?6.How would you describe Daisy’s state of mind during dinner? What do hear words and actions reveal about her”

The Great Gatsby Ch. 2 Discussion Questions

Questions 1-3 and then 4-6 build on each answer in increasing difficulty1.How does Nick meet Tom’s mistress and how does she react to Tom’s arrival?2.Describe George Wilson. What do you think of him?3.How does Myrtle behave as the party progresses?4.Describe the valley of ashes where George and Myrtle live. What is the valley’s symbolic meaning?5.How does Mrytle’s physical appearance reflect her character?6.Compare and contrast the party in this chapter with the one in Chapter One.

Questions 1-3 and then 4-6 build on each answer in increasing difficulty

1. Identify the people Gatsby selects (at his party) with whom to have secret conversations.

2.Explain why Gatsby might have chosen to speak to/with these people.

3.Judge Gatsby’s character based on these conversations.

4.Describe the party Gatsby has at his house.5.Analyze the reasoning of hosting a party like this

and then not attending it.6.If Gatsby has these parties and then doesn’t

attend them himself, then what does this say about the type of man/character he is?

The Great Gatsby Ch. 3 Discussion Questions

The Great Gatsby Ch. 4 Discussion Questions1-3 and then 4-6 build on each answer in increasing

difficulty 1.Recite the different jobs Gatsby says he has or the

experiences he details to Nick.2.Infer the reason for Gatsby telling Nick his

background.3.Judge Gatsby’s motives for telling Nick his

background, meaning is it a good or bad thing – Why?4.Identify where Gatsby takes Nick and whom do they

meet?5.Classify the type of person Meyer Wolfsheim is.6.Speculate as to the type of business in which Gatsby

is involved.

The Great Gatsby Ch. 5 Discussion Questions1-3 and then 4-6 build on each answer in increasing difficulty

1.Identify the place Gatsby and Daisy meet and where Gatsby is when Daisy first walks into the room.

2.Explain why Gatsby was not in the room when Daisy first enters.

3.Speculate on what kind of future Daisy and Gatsby have based upon your answers to 1-2.

4.Describe the tour Gatsby gives of his house, be detailed.5.Analyze the reasoning of showing Daisy his house in this

manner.6.If Gatsby and Daisy were to get together, predict the kind of

relationship they would have.

1-3 and then 4-6 build on each answer in increasing difficulty

1.List the lower class jobs Gatsby has held in the past.2.Analyze: what did these jobs do for the Jay Gatsby of the

present.3.Predict what Gatsby’s current ideas will mean for his future.4.Describe the scene of Gatsby’s party. Be sure to include

Daisy’s feelings of the party.5.Reason why it is so important to Gatsby that Daisy like the

party, especially at this point in the novel.6.Speculate as to what this scene in the novel means as a

whole.

The Great Gatsby Ch. 6 Discussion Questions

1-3 build on each answer in increasing difficulty 1.Describe the scene at the beginning of the chapter,

when the group is sitting around, before the group goes to town.

2.Infer the reasoning for kissing Gatsby with Tom just in the other room and the longing look (p. 125) when Tom is in the room.

3.Based on your answers to 1 and 2, predict what will happen with Tom and Daisy’s relationship. Then predict what will happen with Daisy and Gatsby’s relationship.

The Great Gatsby Ch. 7 Discussion Questions

1-3 and then 4-6 build on each answer in increasing difficulty1. Define the relationship between Jay Gatsby and Nick Carraway

at the beginning of Chapter 8.2.Explain why Nick says that he disapproved of Gatsby from the

beginning to the end.3.Apply your answer from #2 to Nick’s life as well as Nick’s

perception of everyone else. (Has Nick truly been an unbiased observer/narrator? Prove it.)

4.Describe George Wilson’s state of mind upon seeing his wife’s murder.

5.List and sequence Wilson’s actions from the discovery of the affair by Wilson to his ultimate demise.

6.Idealize a perfect world for Wilson; what would that have meant? What would an ideal world have looked liked for Gatsby? Make connections between the two.

The Great Gatsby Ch. 8 Discussion Questions

1-3 and then 4-6 build on each answer in increasing difficulty1.Identify the attendants at Gatsby’s funeral and describe the event.2.Explain the significance of your answer to number one.3.Explain and evaluate the message F. Scott Fitzgerald is trying to

communicate through Gatsby’s shattered hopes and dreams for his future.

4.List the conclusions Nick comes to in regards to his life and the people in it.

5.Explain why Nick changes as a person and has made these resolutions.

6.Interpret the meaning F. Scott Fitzgerald is trying to communicate through Nick’s transformation and the lack of transformation by other characters.

The Great Gatsby Ch. 9 Discussion Questions

Symbolism Tie-up: what’s it all mean?First Group’s Meeting:Get into your groups.Revisit your definition of symbolism.Compare notes on where your symbols are found,

both page numbers and a brief description of context.Assign a meaning to each symbol (what does it

represent?).*Be sure to discuss and record how it impacts and affects the characters associated with it

Combined Group:Share contexts of all symbols.Share and discuss meanings of all symbols.

Conclusion Discussion1. What was Gatsby’s American dream? How

closely does it resemble the American dream members of your group have?

2. Was Gatsby’s dream realized? How?

3. What determined the fulfillment or lack thereof of Gatsby’s American dream?

4. How did Gatsby cope with the failure of his dream? How do you think he would’ve coped had he lived?

5. Make a chart of the realistic and unrealistic parts of Gatsby’s American dream.