Modern American Literature

The Great Gatsby (Chapter 8 Study Guide)

VOCABULARY (Define the following words.) unscrupulously

stratum

redolent

forlorn

fortuitously

Find 5 more unfamiliar words to define.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ QUESTIONS 1. Fitzgerald includes another description of Gatsby's house. How has it changed?

2. Why does Fitzgerald choose this point in the novel to present a detailed description of the initial love affair between Gatsby and Daisy? How did this love affair take shape?

3. Why does Daisy's wealth always remain in the foreground of Gatsby's feelings and memories of her?

4. What was the basis of Daisy's decision to marry Tom Buchanan?

5. Why, after first admitting to himself that Daisy "might have loved [Tom] just for a minute, when they were first married," does Gatsby say, "in any case, it was just personal?

6. Why does Daisy always seem mysterious to Gatsby?

7. How does Nick leave Gatsby? What is Gatsby's response to Nick's compliment? Why is it important for Nick to thank Gatsby for his hospitality? 8. Who called Nick at work around noon? How does Nick describe the change in her voice? How did the conversation end and what was Nick's reaction to that ending?

9. Describe Catherine's behavior when she arrived at the garage after Myrtle's death.

10. Describe George Wilson's physical and mental state throughout the night. Who stayed with Wilson?

11. According to George, who killed Myrtle? Why had Myrtle run out onto the road?

12. What/Who does George consider to be God? To what is Fitzgerald alluding in regards to God and religion?

13. Where does George go after leaving the garage? For whom is he looking?

14. Gatsby has kept his phone line open all day because he is supposedly waiting for a long distance call? From whom is he actually expecting a call? Why is this significant?

15. Near the end of the chapter, how does Fitzgerald describe Gatsby's new vision of his world? Who/What is the "ashen, fantastic figure gliding toward him through the amorphous trees"?

16. Who shot Gatsby? What happened to the killer? What is the meaning of the line, "and the holocaust was complete"?