The Great Gatsby What preys on Gatsby throughout

The Great Gatsby

• What “preys” on Gatsby throughout the novel? • What power does Tom actually have? How does this affect him? How does it affect others? • Consider Myrtle’s character in ch. 2 o Pg. 35: “The intense vitality that had been so remarkable in the garage was converted into impressive hauteur. ” What is the difference between who Myrtle is naturally and who she tries to be? o Pg. 39: What is the irony of her saying that she “thought [her husband] was a gentleman…? ” Compare what we learn about her husband in this passage to what we know about how Tom treats her. Food for Thought ch. 1 -2

• Consider Gatsby’s character as presented by the party guests and Nick in chapter 3. Do you believe Gatsby is fake or genuine? • How does Nick characterize Jordan on pg. 63. • Reread the last paragraph of the chapter (pg. 64). What is Nick suggesting about himself? About humankind? Food for Thought ch. 3

• Pg. 65: What irony do you see in Nick’s discussion here? What evidence is there of Nick’s tone toward the situation? • Pg. 69: What can we infer about Gatsby? In your opinion, is he a sympathetic character? • Pg. 74: Who’s Wolfshiem? • Pg. 80: Wherein lies the complexity of Daisy’s character? Talking Points ch. 4

• Think about the things that Gatsby wants throughout his life. Do you believe Gatsby actually craves success or just wants the chase? • Find the paragraph on page 83 that begins “Then it had not been merely the stars…” Reread these two sentences. Analyze setting, characterization, and abstract topics. Food for Though ch. 4

• Is it ever sustainable to devote your life to another person? • What are the risks? • “The years forever fashion new dreams when old ones go. God pity a one-dream man. ” – Bob Goddard Ch. 6 pg. 117

• Throughout chapter 7, Daisy shows conflicting emotions toward Gatsby and her life with him. Some of her actions, comments, and emotions imply that she longs to stay with Gatsby forever. Others imply that she will not remain in his dream-world forever. • Find evidence in your assigned pages of Daisy’s conflicting emotions. • Then, re-read the ending of the chapter and consider the following: Who do you think Daisy ultimately picks by the end of the chapter. And why do you think she picks him? Ch. 7 – Daisy’s Conflict

• • • Group 1: pgs. 120 -124 Group 2 and 7: pgs. 125 -129 Group 4: pgs. 130 -133 Group 5: pgs. 134 -137 Groups 3 and 6: pgs. 138 -144 Group 8: pgs. 150 -153 Ch. 7 – pg. assignments

• Review your notes on Moderns and the Roaring 20 s • Read the passage on pgs. 155 -157. • What evidence of Gatsby’s/Fitzgerald’s times do we see in this passage? • Besides being the girl he loves, what might Daisy represent to Gatsby? Ch. 8– the times (pg. 155 -7)