Modern Prose Test English 11

a central character who lacks traditional heroic traits and is instead predominantly flawed

antihero

the major turning point for the protagonist in the plot

climax

the point at which the plot reaches the moment of highest emotional intensity

crisis

the final outcome of a story and the last element of the plot

denouement

explicit statements that tell the reader about the character

direct characterization

inferred character traits from information shown by the author

indirect characterization

an element that repeats throughout literature or a specific work

motif

a style of narration that fluidly follows the author’s (or

character’s) thoughts, rather than a straightforward outline

stream of consciousness

Who is the narrator for The Great Gatsby?

Nick Carraway

The green light at the end of Daisy’s dock symbolizes ______??

money, optimism, and the American Dream.

Dr. Eckleburg is an __________ whose billboard looks over ________

eye doctor; West Egg

Who is Tom’s Lover?

Myrtle Wilson

Why does Tom break Myrtle’s nose?

because she says Daisy’s name

How is Gatsby earning his money

doing illegal things

Why does Gatsby throw extravagant parties?

because he believes Daisy may come to a party some night

Why does Nick think that Gatsby may be disappointed with Daisy?

because Daisy could not possibly live up to the dreams that Gatsby had about her.

Why did Gatsby stop throwing parties?

because he doesn’t want the gossip around him to swirl

Who does daisy kill?

Myrtle (yikes)

Why doesn’t Gatsby leave West Egg after Nick tells him that the authorities know that his car killed Myrtle

because he wants to protect Daisy and see what she will do

Why did the “lost generation” of writers choose to flee their homeland?

because they believed the American spirit was destructive to the imagination.

In Zora Neale Hurston’s personal essay “How It Feels to be Colored Me,” Hurston says she is??

different from African Americans of her time because at times she says she has no race.

The central irony in “The Catbird Seat” is the ??

amount of change a man of small position like Mr. Martin can make in the wake of greater forces, in this case Mrs. Barrows

In Hemingway’s “In Another Country,” the death of the major’s wife affects the major ??

because he argues with the soldier about the place of marriage during wartime.

Mr. Martin wants to kill who ??

Mrs. Ulgine Barrows in “The Catbird Seat.”

“Sitting in the catbird seat” means what?

sitting pretty or being at ease with where one is at in life.

Short Essays: Choose two of the following prompts to answer in a fully developed paragraph with two specific examples from the book. Worth twenty points each.

ima choose two here is the first one I choose …..

2. Why does Daisy choose Tom in the end? What factors influence her decision? What point does the author make about human nature or people in general with this plot element?

Daisy chooses Tom in the end because she values security, social status, and the comfort of her established life more than genuine love. While she is clearly emotionally drawn to Gatsby, her ultimate decision reflects her fear of the unknown and her dependence on the protection that Tom, as a member of the old-money class, provides. One example of this is when Gatsby urges Daisy to say she never loved Tom, and she breaks down, saying, “I did love him once—but I loved you too.” This confession shows that her feelings for Gatsby are real, but not strong enough to erase her history with Tom or to risk her social standing. Another key moment occurs after Myrtle Wilson’s death, when Daisy lets Gatsby take the blame for the accident even though she was the one driving. Rather than standing by Gatsby or facing the consequences, she retreats with Tom, leaving Gatsby exposed. This shows her unwillingness to sacrifice her comfort or safety for Gatsby, no matter what he’s done for her. Through Daisy’s choice, F. Scott Fitzgerald critiques the superficiality and selfishness of the upper class, suggesting that people often prioritize security and status over honesty and emotional truth.

Short Essays: Choose two of the following prompts to answer in a fully developed paragraph with two specific examples from the book. Worth twenty points each.

Here is the second one I choose …..

#5 Discuss the romantic relationships in the novel. What point does Fitzgerald make in this novel about romantic love?

Fitzgerald makes a point in Both Daisy and Tom’s Relationship as well as Daisy and Gatsby’s. Fitzgerald highlights how love can be distorted by idealism, materialism, and societal expectations. Gatsby's love for Daisy is an idealized obsession, and he spends years trying to recreate an unattainable version of the past when they were once in love. He believes that by amassing wealth, he can win her back, but his dream is doomed from the start, as Daisy is not the same person she was when they first met. For example, Gatsby tells Nick, “Can’t repeat the past? Why of course you can!” showing his refusal to acknowledge that love, like people, changes over time. On the other hand, the relationship between Tom and Daisy is rooted in a toxic combination of convenience, social status, and privilege rather than genuine affection. Despite their flaws and infidelities, they remain together, as seen when Daisy returns to Tom after Myrtle’s death, signaling her preference for security over love. Through these relationships, Fitzgerald suggests that romantic love in the world of the novel is often corrupted by materialism, selfish desires, and the inability to accept the reality of human relationships. Ultimately, he portrays love as something fleeting and often unattainable in a society that prioritizes wealth and status over genuine emotional connection.