The Great Gatsby Reading Quiz

The Great Gatsby Reading Quiz Chapters 1-4

Chapter 1

1. As the novel opens, Nick reflects on a piece of advice his father gave him and which he’s been turning over in his mind ever since. What is that advice? Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantage you’ve had.

2. What region of the country is Nick Carraway from? The Midwest

3. What college did Nick and Tom both attend? Yale

4. What profession brought Nick to the East? The bond business

5. In what business did Nick’s family make its wealth? Hardware

6. From what point of view is the story told? First Person

7. In what year is the novel set? 1922

8. In what season does the novel begin? Spring

9. In what chronological frame is the story told? Flashback

10. At the beginning of the novel, Nick expresses an intolerance for moral misbehavior, but he notes that only one person was exempt from his reaction. Who is that person? Gatsby

11. 1Nick notes in his beginning reflections that Gatsby had a capacity for something rare in this age? What was that something? Hope

12. In what town did Nick live when he arrived in New York. West Egg 13. What is Nick’s relationship with Daisy? Cousins

14. Upon seeing Daisy again, Nick, and in fact all men who knew her, is drawn to what feature? Her voice

15. As the novel opens, what is Nick’s relationship with Gatsby? They are neighbors.

16. In Chapter 1, Tom reveals his support for a particular organization popular at that time. What is that organization? The Klu Klux Klan

17. Who calls Tom during dinner in Chapter 1 His mistress/Myrtle

18. When her daughter was born, what did Daisy wish for her daughter? That she would be a beautiful fool.

19. What city and state are Jordan and Daisy from? Louisville, Kentucky

20. Nick describes Tom as supercilious. What does that word mean? Disdainful, arrogant, superior, contemptuous

21. What curious gesture does Gatsby execute at the end of Chapter 1 that prevents Nick from speaking to him. He reaches for a green light at the end of some dock

22. How are East Egg and West Egg the same? They are shaped alike; they have money

23. How are they different? East is old money, West is new.

Chapter 2

24. What is the Valley of Ashes? Where is it located? A dumping ground, a desolate space of land – poor and ugly. It is located between West Egg and New York.

25. What are the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleberg, literally A billboard in the Valley of Ashes. 26. Where did Nick first meet Tom’s “girl”. At her husband’s garage in the Valley of Ashes

27. Which character does Tom describe as “ …so dumb he doesn’t know he’s alive.” George Wilson

28. In Chapter 2, who emerges as Tom’s foil? Name two reasons they are opposites? George Wilson George is poor, Tom is rich George is kind, Tom is mean George is hardworking, Tom inherited his money George is weak, Tom appears strong

29. Why does Tom hit Myrtle She says Daisy’s name

30. How many times has Nick been drunk in his life? Twice.

Chapter 3

31. Why does Gatsby throw lavish parties? To impress Daisy.

32. How does Nick socially stand out from most of the guests at the party? He was invited.

33. Name two of the various rumors spread about Gatsby by his guests He’s an Oxford man He killed a man He was a German spy He’s a bootlegger

34. What particular feature about Gatsby’s library makes Owl Eyes marvel? The books are real

35. Why does Gatsby remember Nick? They served in the same division during the war.

36. Gatsby refers to many of the male characters by what name? Old Sport

37. At his party, Gatsby does not participate wit his guests. Name one behavior that demonstrates this. He does not drink He isolates from the crowd. 38. Fitzgerald makes a point of dividing the partygoers into groups; name one of these groups East Eggers vs. West Eggers The young vs. the old American vs. Europeans East Coast vs. West Coast Old money vs. new money.

38. On his introduction to Gatsby at the party, Nick is taken by a pronounced physical feature of his host; what is that feature? His smile (optimism and hope)

39. What does Nick discover about Jordan Baker in this chapter? She is dishonest.

40. At the end of Chapter 3, Nick confesses to one “cardinal virtue”. What is that virtue? Honesty He is one of the few honest people that I’ve ever known.

Chapter 4

41. When Nick asks Gatsby what part of the Midwest he is from he says... San Francisco

39. When Nick calls Gatsby a character, he shows he believes Gatsby to be doing what? Acting

40. How does Nick feel about Gatsby’s elaborate story of his past? He believes he is lying – absurd, incredulous

41. How is Nick conflicted about Jordan? He is both repelled and drawn to her

42. How did Meyer Wofsheim achieve his fame? He fixed the 1919 World Series

43. What are Meyer Wolfsheim’s cufflinks made of? Human molars/teeth

44. What does Gatsby’s “connegion” with Meyer Wolfsheim reveal about the nature of his business? It is somehow corrupt, dishonest or illegal

45. Why did Gatsby really move to West Egg? To be near Daisy 46. Gatsby requests something of Nick through Jordan Baker; what is that request? That he invite Daisy to tea/he set up a meeting between he and Daisy

47. How long had it been since Gatsby waited to speak with Daisy? Five years

48. Chapter 4 clarifies why Gatsby was staring at the green light at the end of Chapter 1. Why? It’s at the end of Daisy’s dock – reaching out to her

49. At the start of their trip to New York, Gatsby, the man of great wealth and mystery, asks Nick a question he finds absurd, yet oddly revealing about the true nature of Gatsby. What is that question? “What’s your opinion of me?”