Fitzgerald’s Rhetorical Choices in The Great Gatsby

Chapter 1

  1. Cite details to show how Fitzgerald establishes Nick’s ethos or reliability as a narrator.
  2. What information does Fitzgerald convey about Nick’s socioeconomic status when he informs the reader that Nick’s father advised him to just remember that all the people in this world “haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had”?
  3. How does Fitzgerald convey the expense, newness, and vulgarity of Gatsby’s mansion?
  4. In contrast, how does Fitzgerald convey greater dignity in describing the Buchanan home?
  5. Cite a detail Fitzgerald chooses in order to convey the excessiveness of Tom Buchanan’s wealth.
  6. Cite diction (especially adverbs in Ch. 1 through which Fitzgerald chooses to illustrate Tom’s arrogance or brutality.
  7. What claim does Tom make with regard to the white race? What does his argument add to the reader’s perception of his character?
  8. Daisy claims to be “pretty cynical about everything.” Her remark when her daughter is born (“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.”) indicates that she is especially cynical of what? What is she revealing about herself to Nick?

Chapter 2

  1. In the first paragraph of this chapter Fitzgerald creates a sense or mood of ______(I’m looking for an abstract noun here.) How does he achieve this mood? Cite diction and images.
  2. What argument or justification does Tom offer for his affair? Classify as ethos, pathos, or logos.
  3. What argument or justification does Myrtle offer for her affair? Classify as ethos, pathos, or logos.
  4. What argument or justification does Catherine offer for her sister’s affair? Classify as ethos, pathos, or logos.
  5. How do the details of Myrtle’s purchases contribute to her characterization?
  6. The image of an “argument… pull[ing]” Nick back to the party “as if with ropes” conveys what about the nature of his behavior?
  7. Consider Fitzgerald’s syntax here. What does the prepositional phrase at the end of the sentence add to the meaning? “Making a short deft movement Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand.”
  8. List at least 4 ways in which Myrtle functions as a foil to Daily and George to Tom. Consider appearance, mannerisms, voice, social status, roles, etc.

Chapter 3

  1. What does Fitzgerald’s verb choice suggest about Gatsby’s guests in this sentence: “In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars.” Also analyze the simile.
  2. Analyze this sentence, considering syntax (polysyndeton) especially. “The bar is in full swing and floating rounds of cocktails permeate the garden outside until the air is alive with chatter and meetings between women who never knew each other’s names.”
  3. How does Fitzgerald convey the temporary nature of the guests’ relationships with one another through diction? List 2 verbs and an adverb.
  4. What detail distinguishes Nick from the other guests?
  5. What does the phrase “contemptuous interest” suggest about Jordan’s interest in the party?
  6. Why does Owl Eyes describe Gatsby as a “regular Belasco”?***
  7. Why does Gatsby ask Nick about the Third Division?***
  8. Cite diction that indicates the loudness of the party.
  9. Why does Gatsby refer to Nick (and others) as “old sport”?***
  10. Through what image does Fitzgerald convey a healthy, athletic image of Jordan?
  11. Cite details that indicate Jordan’s dishonesty.
  12. What claim does Nick make about himself at the end of the chapter?

Chapter 4

  1. What is the purpose of the detail of “church bells” ringing in the first sentence?
  2. Choose 2 names from the guest list and explain their significance.
  3. Which details from the guest list convey the immorality of Gatsby’s guests?
  4. What do Fitzgerald’s verb choices convey in this sentence? “He hurried the phrase ‘educated at Oxford,’ or swallowed it or choked on it as though it had bothered him before.”
  5. Explain the “two machine-gun detachments” Gatsby mentions when talking with Nick about the war.***
  6. What evidence does Gatsby offer to back up the claims he makes about his past?
  7. what is the function of the architectural details Nick relates in describing the photograph Gatsby shows him?
  8. Who was Meyer Wofsheim? *** Rosy Rosenthal? ***
  9. How does Fitzgerald convey Rosenthal’s cockiness and confidence through the character’s (Rosenthal’s) words?
  10. Cite the claims Wolfsheim asserts regarding Gatsby. Does he appeal to ethos, pathos, or logos?
  11. The noun “benediction,” which is used to describe Wolfsheim’s farewell gesture, conveys a sense of ______.
  12. Who won the World Series in 1919? ***
  13. Fitzgerald mentions the World Series for the purpose of ______.
  14. What reference is made to the title on roughly page 79? ***
  15. What details seem to indicate that Daisy is “over” Gatsby?
  16. Explain the symbolic functions of the letter and the pearls.
  17. What justification does Jordan offer for bringing Daisy and Gatsby together?
  18. Choose one detail from this chapter that reveals something about Tom and explain.

Chapter 5

  1. Choose an adjective, and adverb, and a noun from this chapter and complete a diction analysis of each one.
  2. What details indicate that Gatsby is anxious to make a good impression on Daisy?
  3. Why does Nick allude to “Castle Rackrent”? ***
  4. Who was Immanuel Kant? ***
  5. Provide an example (dialogue or detail) of Gatsby’s secretiveness.
  6. Using Gatsby’s shirts as the “concrete,” complete a symbol analysis.
  7. Choose an example of imagery from this chapter and complete an image analysis

Chapter 6

  1. Write and answer 5 rhetorical choice questions. Model your questions on the ones you’ve already answered for Chapters 1-5.
  2. Write and answer a “footnote” question such as those marked with an asterisk above.

Chapter 7

  1. Read the exchange between Gatsby and Tom at the Plaza Hotel. Create a rhetorical triangle for each character (to the 5th slash – minimum). Include exigence, speaker, audience, purpose. While the audience may consist of the same characters, consider each individual’s relationship to the speaker in order to generate at least 5 slashes.
  2. Identify the claims each speaker makes and any evidence each proposes.
  3. Identify appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos.

Chapter 8

  1. Find evidence (in the form of details and dialogue) to support the following claims:
  1. Gatsby is loyal to and protective of Daisy.
  2. There was a class difference between Gatsby and Daisy.
  3. Daisy lacked the force of character to wait for Gatsby.
  4. Gatsby is willing to excuse (find an excuse for) Daisy’s disloyalty to him in marrying Tom.
  5. Gatsby dies believing that Daisy loves him.
  6. Nick is disillusioned with Jordan.
  7. George discovered that Myrtle was having an affair.
  1. Questions
  1. Who is responsible for Gatsby’s death? (You may include one or more characters.) Construct a brief argument in support of your claim. Include a concession.
  2. Write a refutation in anticipation of counterargument.

Chapter 9

  1. Compose 3 claims based on this chapter. (See my claims above for Chapter 8.)
  2. Provide textual evidence to support each claim.

***Questions designated with three asterisks require use of the explanatory notes beginning on p. 207 (see online if your copy does not have these notes).