Great gatsby

Claire Petrosino Mrs. Crowe English 11 H — 1 02 February 2012 The Great Gatsby Chapter 1 1. Notice how many times Fitzgerald uses the words hope, or dream. Why does he do this? Fitzgerald does this to introduce the main themes of the novel, hope and dreams. He also does this to show how hopeful Nick is about fulfilling his aspirations. 2. Nick starts the novel by relaying his father’s advice ” Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.” List Nick’s advantages. Nick has a college education and graduated from Yale. Nick comes from an upper-middle class background. Nick has the money to move to New York and stay in a home for $80 a month. 3. Pay attention to time. What is the day and year during the first scene at Daisy’s house? It is early July 6-8th because Daisy mentions that in two weeks it will be the longest day of the year, the summer solstice (June 21st). The year is 1922. 4. Describe Nick. What facts do you know about him, and what do you infer about him? What kind of a narrator do you think he will be? Nick comes from a prominent family and is intelligent, being a graduate from Yale. He seems to be a kind, humble person. I think that Nick will be a reliable and honest narrator. 5. What image does the author use to describe Jordan Baker? What does it mean? Fitzgerald describes Jordan to be “… a slender, small-breasted girl with an erect carriage. ” He also describes her to be like a cadet. This means that she is very alert and keeps an eye on everything. 6. How does Nick react to Jordan? Nick is intrigued at how aloofness. He recognizes Jordan immediately but cannot place a finger on where he knows her from. He seems to be fairly attracted to her. 7. What does Tom’s behavior reveal about his character? Tom’s brute behavior reveals his aggressive and supercilious attitude. He rants on about how whites are the supreme race and this shows his bigotry. Also, the way he always directs conversation shows his entitlement and selfishness. Quotes: Write down a quote, the page, and why it is important to this chapter. (page 21) (In reference to her child being born) “ I woke up out of the ether with an utterly abandoned feeling and asked the nurse right away if it was a boy or a girl. She told me it was a girl, and so I turned my head away and wept. ‘Alright’, I said, ‘I’m glad it’s a girl. And I hope she’ll be a fool — that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool. ” – Daisy Why it’s important: This quote is important because it shows how cynical, yet intelligent Daisy truly is. Through hoping her daughter is a beautiful fool, Daisy is implying that the life of a women in that time period was better lived in ignorance. She implies this because of the lack of influence and opportunities were given at that time.