Mr. Fasano’s English Class

The Great Gatsby is possibly the most popular book American students will read during their entire high school career. I remember reading a survey in a newspaper a few years ago when about a thousand people were asked to list their favorite books from high school. The Great Gatsby was ranked number one, followed closely by Romeo and Juliet. I’ve even done my own informal poll and discovered basically the same thing: many adults will tell you that The Great Gatsby is their favorite novel, or at least the one they remember most from their high school days.

STUDY QUESTIONS FOR CHAPTER ONE

The following questions are for homework and must be answered by tomorrow.

1. Explain what Fitzgerald achieved by using Nick’s point of view to tell Gatsby’s story?
2. What do we learn about Nick Carraway in the introductory section of the novel?
3. In discussing east Egg and West Egg. Nick states: “To the wingless a more arresting phenomenon is their dissimilarity in every particular except shape and size.” Indicate what the “dissimilarities” might be.
4. Compare the homes of Nick, Gatsby, and the Buchanan’s. How does each home reflect the personality of its owner?
5. Fitzgerald’s description of Tom, Daisy, and Jordan creates not only and impression of physical appearance, but also contains added information. What do you learn about their history and interests, and from their gestures and mannerisms?
6. When Nick leaves the Buchanan’s house, he is “confused and a little disgusted.” Why?
7. Though we do not meet Gatsby until Chapter 3, we hear references to him in the conversations of others. Note each reference. What impressions do you get?

Tomorrow we’ will a take a quiz on Chapter One and begin reading Chapter Two.