Mann 2015 Name: ______Period: _____

Gatsby Chapter 1 character discussion

Directions: Each member of the group will complete the questions for a different character (the sixth member can work on ODDS AND ENDS). After each member is finished, share your answers so the rest of the members can record the responses.

GATSBY

Our initial impressions of Gatsby come in Nick’s very vague and hyper-stylized introduction, where he says that “there was something gorgeous about him, some heightened sensitivity to the promises of life.” Based on Nick’s initial remarks, how do you think Gatsby contrasts with the Buchanans and Nick?

The end of chapter one presents a series of images of Gatsby that seem mysterious but are clearly significant. Read the last page and a half and try to throw out some ideas of what you make of the following:

“It was Mr. Gatsby himself, come out to determine what share was his of our local heavens”

“he stretched out his arms towards the water in a curious way…I could have sworn he was trembling.”

“a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been at the end of a dock.”

DAISY

Find and copy down as many key descriptors of Daisy’s physical features and appearance as possible (and there are a lot). What impression is Fitzgerald trying to leave us with? What’s the author’s purpose in describing her with these terms?

What do you think is suggested by the fact she is always leaning forward, or people are always leaning towards her? (Tom is also described this way.)

How would you define Daisy’s relationship with Tom? Find evidence in the text to support this.

TOM

Find and copy down as many key descriptors of Tom’s physical appearance as possible (and there are a lot). What’s Fitzgerald’s purpose in describing him with these terms?

Copy down a line that best describes Nick’s feelings towards Tom. How does he think of him, and what makes Nick feel this way?

How would you define Tom’s relationship with Daisy? Find evidence in the text to support this.

NICK

Write down everything the reader knows about Nick by the end of the first chapter.

What is Nick’s attitude (tone) towards the Buchanans? Jordan? Gatsby (at the end of the chapter)? Himself?

With the little you know so far, what guesses could you take about Nick’s role as narrator? In other words, why would Fitzgerald, as the author, intentionally use him to help express the significance of this story?

JORDAN

Find and copy down as many key descriptors of Jordan’s physical appearance and character as possible. What impression does the reader and Nick get of her?

The first time we see Jordan (and Daisy) is a fantastic description. Look at this passage: What do you think Fitzgerald is suggesting about these two women through this imagery? What other evidence is given in the chapter to support that idea?

How does Jordan respond to the idea of Tom’s affair? What does this say about her attitude toward marriage?

ODDS AND ENDS

Tom is, of course, a racist, something we learn early on. The question, however, is why: 1) why does he want to believe this? 2) Why does Fitzgerald characterize him this way? Think about the way he is physically described by Nick. Also, what does Daisy’s reaction to his comments tell us about their relationship?

What do you make of Nick’s reaction to Daisy’s self-deprecating comments? After a string of comments mocking her lifestyle, he feels that her words are “insincere,” which is proven by the “absolute smirk” she gives him.

What is meant, then, by the line “she asserted her membership in a rather distinguished secret society to which she and Tom belonged”?

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