The Great Gatsby Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards to review key concepts from The Great Gatsby.

West Egg

The location where Nick Carraway and Gatsby live; represents "new money."

East Egg

The location where Tom and Daisy Buchanan live; represents "old money" and established wealth.

Valley of Ashes

A desolate industrial area between West Egg and New York City, symbolizing moral decay.

Gatsby's Parties

Extravagant parties that are wild and disorderly.

Meyer Wolfsheim

A shady character rumored to have fixed the 1919 World Series.

Green Light

Symbolizes Gatsby’s dream of Daisy, representing distance and the unattainable future.

James Gatz

Gatsby's real name, representing his humble beginnings in North Dakota.

Nick Carraway

The narrator of the story, from a wealthy Midwestern family.

Daisy Buchanan

Nick's cousin and the object of Gatsby's affection.

Tom Buchanan

Daisy's wealthy and aggressive husband.

Myrtle Wilson

Tom's mistress, who is married to George Wilson.

Jordan Baker

A dishonest friend of Daisy's who cheats in a golf tournament.

Gatsby is the gold-hatted lover; Nick Carraway is the narrator.

Who is the “gold-hatted lover” in the quote? Who is the narrator?

Nick comes from a wealthy Midwestern family who made money in wholesale hardware.

What is Nick’s social class/background? How did his family make its money?

Nick lives in West Egg in a modest, small house next to Gatsby’s mansion.

Where does Nick live? Describe his house.

West Egg is “new money”; East Egg is “old money” and more refined.

How is West Egg different from East Egg?

Tom is a wealthy, aggressive man; Daisy is Nick’s cousin.

Who are Tom and Daisy Buchanan? What is Daisy’s relation to Nick?

Tom’s mistress calls. Jordan Baker tells Nick about the affair.

Who calls Tom during dinner, and why? Who tells Nick about it?

She hopes her daughter will be a “beautiful little fool” because it's the best thing for a girl in that society.

What does Daisy hope for her daughter? Why?

He is staring at the green light across the bay toward Daisy’s house.

What is Gatsby doing at the end of Chapter 1?

It is a desolate industrial area between West Egg and New York City.

Describe the “valley of ashes.”

Myrtle Wilson, Tom’s mistress.

Who did Tom take Nick to meet?

A dog, magazines, and perfume.

What did Myrtle buy while out with Tom and Nick?

She thought he was a gentleman and would raise her social status.

Why did Myrtle marry George Wilson?

He hit her and broke her nose.

What did Tom do when Myrtle mentioned Daisy?

Like they’re at an amusement park—wild and disorderly.

How do guests behave at Gatsby’s parties?

He was invited. He meets Gatsby unknowingly and is surprised by his charm.

Why did Nick go to the party? How did he meet Gatsby?

Charming, sincere, with a rare smile that gives a sense of reassurance.

How does Nick describe Gatsby?

That he’s a German spy, killed a man, or was an Oxford man.

What are some stories about Gatsby?

She’s dishonest; she once cheated in a golf tournament.

What does Nick learn about Jordan?

Gatsby tells unbelievable stories about his life and shows a medal and picture to prove them.

What is strange about Nick’s city drive with Gatsby?

Gatsby wants Nick to invite Daisy over for tea.

What “matter” did Gatsby have Jordan discuss with Nick?

A shady character, rumored to have fixed the 1919 World Series.

Describe Meyer Wolfsheim.

She received a letter from Gatsby and was heartbroken.

Why did Daisy get drunk before her wedding?

He had an affair early in the marriage and was in a car wreck with another woman.

What do we learn about Tom from Jordan’s story?

Arrange a meeting between him and Daisy.

What does Gatsby want Nick to do?

It’s emotional and awkward at first; Gatsby is nervous because he’s waited so long.

Describe Gatsby and Daisy’s meeting. Why is Gatsby nervous?

To impress her and show his success.

Why did Gatsby want Daisy to see his house and clothes?

It symbolized Gatsby’s dream of Daisy. Now that he’s met her, the dream feels less magical—more real.

What does the green light symbolize, and why is it now just a light?

His real name is James Gatz; he’s from North Dakota and comes from a poor family.

What is Gatsby’s real history?

Hired him as a personal assistant and introduced him to wealth.

What did Dan Cody do for Gatsby?

Cody’s mistress prevented him from getting it.

Why didn’t Gatsby inherit Cody’s money?

For her to say she never loved Tom and to be with him.

What does Gatsby want from Daisy?

Nick says you can’t repeat the past. Gatsby insists that you can.

What’s Nick’s and Gatsby’s view of the past?

Daisy didn’t enjoy them, and he no longer needed to lure her with them.

Why did Gatsby stop throwing parties?

Tom drives Gatsby’s car with Nick and Jordan; Gatsby drives Tom’s car with Daisy.

Describe the driving arrangements into the city.

His wife is having an affair.

What does George Wilson realize during their stop at the garage?

Tom’s wife.

Who does Myrtle think Jordan is?

Being a bootlegger and lying about being an Oxford man.

What does Tom accuse Gatsby of?

Gatsby wants to believe she always loved only him.

Why must Daisy say she never loved Tom?

Gatsby’s shady business dealings. Daisy withdraws emotionally.

What does Tom discover about Gatsby? Daisy’s reaction?

Myrtle runs into the road and is killed by Gatsby’s car, which Daisy is driving.

Describe the hit-and-run scene.

Gatsby, for all his flaws, has more integrity and hope than Tom and Daisy.

What does Nick mean when he says Gatsby is “worth the whole damn bunch put together”?

The dog leash.

What object convinced George of Myrtle’s affair?

She thought it was Tom’s and hoped he’d save her.

Why did Myrtle run toward the yellow car?

Tom told him the yellow car was Gatsby’s.

Why does Wilson think Gatsby killed Myrtle?

He kills Gatsby and then himself.

What does Wilson do?

Nick, Gatsby’s father, and a few others. Most of Gatsby’s “friends” were shallow and abandoned him.

Who came to Gatsby’s funeral? Why did so few come?

Gatsby’s father.

Who is Henry C. Gatz?

Tom told Wilson that Gatsby owned the car. Nick sees Tom and Daisy as careless and selfish.

What does Tom reveal in Nick’s chance meeting?

It reflects the struggle against time and the impossible attempt to recapture the past.

What does “So we beat on, boats against the current…” mean?