1. At the end of Chapter 3, Nick says: “I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known.” When you consider his role as narrator, do you believe that he is honest? Are his depictions of others honest? If he is not honest, why does he believe he is so honest? (Use quotations and examples from the text to prove your points.)
2. Examine the last page of the novel. Fitzgerald writes, “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—to-morrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther.…And one fine morning—” Why does Fitzgerald leave this sentence unfinished? What does Nick think will happen one fine morning? Are hopes and dreams always centered on a future belief? Is this more important than the actual satisfaction of one’s desires? Why or why not? How does this relate to Nick’s final end? (Use actual quotations from the text as support for your answers.)
3. Why is Nick telling this story? Why is Nick “confused and a little disgusted” at the end of chapter 1?
4. What does Nick learn about Tom at the end of Chapter 2? How does Tom’s treatment of Mrs. Wilson affect Nick?
5. What do we learn about Gatsby from Nick’s observations before we meet him?
6. Find the 3 most vivid descriptions in Chapter 4. Are they effective? Why or why not? Why does Nick say, “There are only the pursued, the pursing, the busy, and the tired?”
7. Find a simile or metaphor in the text. How does this simile or metaphor assist in telling the story?
8. At the end of Chapter 5, Nick says, “It was the hour of a profound human change, and excitement was generating on the air.” What happens in Chapter 6 to fulfill Nick’s prediction?
9. What are the 2 most important turning points in the novel? Why?
10. Why does Nick think that Gatsby “paid a high price for living too long with a single dream”?
