Symbols in The Great Gatsby

1. Symbols in The Great Gatsby As you read, track the following symbols and gather evidence (quotes/page numbers) that reveal their meanings. • the green light • the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg • the Valley of Ashes • Gatsby’s library • Gatsby’s house • Gatsby’s shirts • colors: white, gold, green • places: East Egg, West Egg, the Midwest, New York • Wolfsheim’s cufflinks

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

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

4. The Great Gatsby Ch. 3 Discussion Questions Questions 1-3 and then 4-6 build on each answer in increasing difficulty • Identify the people Gatsby selects (at his party) with whom to have secret conversations. • Explain why Gatsby might have chosen to speak to/with these people. • Judge Gatsby’s character based on these conversations. • Describe the party Gatsby has at his house. • Analyze the reasoning of hosting a party like this and then not attending it. • 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?

5. The Great Gatsby Ch. 4 Discussion Questions 1-3 and then 4-6 build on each answer in increasing difficulty • Recite the different jobs Gatsby says he has or the experiences he details to Nick. • Infer the reason for Gatsby telling Nick his background. • Judge Gatsby’s motives for telling Nick his background, meaning is it a good or bad thing – Why? • Identify where Gatsby takes Nick and whom do they meet? • Classify the type of person Meyer Wolfsheim is. • Speculate as to the type of business in which Gatsby is involved.

6. The Great Gatsby Ch. 5 Discussion Questions 1-3 and then 4-6 build on each answer in increasing difficulty • Identify the place Gatsby and Daisy meet and where Gatsby is when Daisy first walks into the room. • Explain why Gatsby was not in the room when Daisy first enters. • Speculate on what kind of future Daisy and Gatsby have based upon your answers to 1-2. • Describe the tour Gatsby gives of his house, be detailed. • Analyze the reasoning of showing Daisy his house in this manner. • If Gatsby and Daisy were to get together, predict the kind of relationship they would have.

7. The Great Gatsby Ch. 6 Discussion Questions 1-3 and then 4-6 build on each answer in increasing difficulty • List the lower class jobs Gatsby has held in the past. • Analyze: what did these jobs do for the Jay Gatsby of the present. • Predict what Gatsby’s current ideas will mean for his future. • Describe the scene of Gatsby’s party. Be sure to include Daisy’s feelings of the party. • Reason why it is so important to Gatsby that Daisy like the party, especially at this point in the novel. • Speculate as to what this scene in the novel means as a whole.

8. The Great Gatsby Ch. 7 Discussion Questions 1-3 build on each answer in increasing difficulty • Describe the scene at the beginning of the chapter, when the group is sitting around, before the group goes to town. • 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. • 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.

9. The Great Gatsby Ch. 8 Discussion Questions 1-3 and then 4-6 build on each answer in increasing difficulty • Define the relationship between Jay Gatsby and Nick Carraway at the beginning of Chapter 8. • Explain why Nick says that he disapproved of Gatsby from the beginning to the end. • 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.) • Describe George Wilson’s state of mind upon seeing his wife’s murder. • List and sequence Wilson’s actions from the discovery of the affair by Wilson to his ultimate demise. • 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.

10. The Great Gatsby Ch. 9 Discussion Questions 1-3 and then 4-6 build on each answer in increasing difficulty • Identify the attendants at Gatsby’s funeral and describe the event. • Explain the significance of your answer to number one. • Explain and evaluate the message F. Scott Fitzgerald is trying to communicate through Gatsby’s shattered hopes and dreams for his future. • List the conclusions Nick comes to in regards to his life and the people in it. • Explain why Nick changes as a person and has made these resolutions. • Interpret the meaning F. Scott Fitzgerald is trying to communicate through Nick’s transformation and the lack of transformation by other characters.

11. 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.

12. Conclusion Discussion • What was Gatsby’s American dream? How closely does it resemble the American dream members of your group have? • Was Gatsby’s dream realized? How? • What determined the fulfillment or lack thereof of Gatsby’s American dream? • How did Gatsby cope with the failure of his dream? How do you think he would’ve coped had he lived? • Make a chart of the realistic and unrealistic parts of Gatsby’s American dream.