Discussion Questions

1. Discuss Gatsby’s character as Nick perceives him throughout the novel. What makes Gatsby “great”?

2. What is Nick like as a narrator? Is he a reliable storyteller, or does his version of events seem suspect? How do his qualities as a character affect his narration?

3. What are some of The Great Gatsby’s most important symbols? What does the novel have to say about the role of symbols in life?

4. How does the geography of the novel dictate its themes and characters? What role does setting play in The Great Gatsby?

5. In what sense is The Great Gatsby an autobiographical novel? Does Fitzgerald write more of himself into the character of Nick or the character of Gatsby, or are the author’s qualities found in both characters?

6. How does Gatsby represent the American dream? What does the novel have to say about the condition of the American dream in the 1920s? In what ways do the themes of dreams, wealth, and time relate to each other in the novel’s exploration of the idea of America?

7. Compare and contrast Gatsby and Tom. How are they alike? How are they different? Given the extremely negative light in which Tom is portrayed throughout the novel, why might Daisy choose to remain with him instead of leaving him for Gatsby?

1. Discuss Gatsby’s character as Nick perceives him throughout the novel. What makes Gatsby “great”?

Gatsby is a man who has set his mind to something, and made it happen. He came up from nothing to attain the woman of his dreams. Nick perceives him as some one who is an achiever.

2. What is Nick like as a narrator? Is he a reliable storyteller, or does his version of events seem suspect? How do his qualities as a character affect his narration?

We only see what he sees, we only get to feel how he portrays, the story may be completely different with an omnicient point of view.

3. What are some of The Great Gatsby’s most important symbols? What does the novel have to say about the role of symbols in life?

4. How does the geography of the novel dictate its themes and characters? What role does setting play in The Great Gatsby?

5. In what sense is The Great Gatsby an autobiographical novel? Does Fitzgerald write more of himself into the character of Nick or the character of Gatsby, or are the author’s qualities found in both characters?

6. How does Gatsby represent the American dream? What does the novel have to say about the condition of the American dream in the 1920s? In what ways do the themes of dreams, wealth, and time relate to each other in the novel’s exploration of the idea of America?

I think that Gatsby's life is the American dream (minus the ending). A man who comes from nothing, gets it all, money, fame, mystery. And ideally the woman.

7. Compare and contrast Gatsby and Tom. How are they alike? How are they different? Given the extremely negative light in which Tom is portrayed throughout the novel, why might Daisy choose to remain with him instead of leaving him for Gatsby?

. Discuss Gatsby’s character as Nick perceives him throughout the novel. What makes Gatsby “great”?
Gatsby seemed larger than life to the entire community. he had good looks, money, free time. People wondered about him and built him up in their minds to be even larger than he was. Ie. 'a murderer'. His father and others in his youth also thought highly of him, and I think he thought highly of himself. I don't think he thought he wouldn't be successful in eventually getting daisy. I speculated that he would convince her to just keep driving when she and he left the others that fateful night.

2. What is Nick like as a narrator? Is he a reliable storyteller, or does his version of events seem suspect? How do his qualities as a character affect his narration?
Nick is a good narrator. He does romantisize the story but the author alludes to his youth and his own unhappiness in love.

3. What are some of The Great Gatsby’s most important symbols? What does the novel have to say about the role of symbols in life?

4. How does the geography of the novel dictate its themes and characters? What role does setting play in The Great Gatsby?
The setting was in a place where during that time, there was affluence, family money, old family ties that meant a lot to the community. it was a great setting for a man who longed to be somebody. People with good breeding didn't ask outright questions so he was safe as long as people had to speculate. he never seemed to out and out lie, as with the part about his education. He actually did go to Oxford, he just didn't finish.

5. In what sense is The Great Gatsby an autobiographical novel? Does Fitzgerald write more of himself into the character of Nick or the character of Gatsby, or are the author’s qualities found in both characters?

6. How does Gatsby represent the American dream? What does the novel have to say about the condition of the American dream in the 1920s? In what ways do the themes of dreams, wealth, and time relate to each other in the novel’s exploration of the idea of America?

7. Compare and contrast Gatsby and Tom. How are they alike? How are they different? Given the extremely negative light in which Tom is portrayed throughout the novel, why might Daisy choose to remain with him instead of leaving him for Gatsby?