Chapter 5 and 6 test: Great Gatsby

Whose grass does Gatsby want cut?

Gatsby wants Nick's grass cut

What prospect does Gatsby offer Nick? What is his response

Gatsby offers Nick a job in his "side business". Nick turns the job down

How would you describe the beginning of the tea party

The beginning of the tea party is very awkward. Everyone was uncomfortable and did not know what to do or say. As time went on, Gatsby and Daisy became more comfortable around each other.

Why does Nick scold Gatsby?

Nick scolded Gatsby because he left Daisy alone in the next room. Nick tells Gatsby, "You're acting like a little boy."

Once Gatsby pulls himself together, what does he ask Daisy and Nick?

Gatsby asks Nick and Daisy to go over to his house.

What is Daisy's reaction to Gatsby's home?

Daisy is impressed and shocked with Gatsby's house. She can't believe that only one person lives there.

What is Daisy's reaction to Gatsby's shirt? Is this a logical feeling? What does this say about Daisy?

Daisy has a meltdown and begins to ugly cry as Gatsby tosses shirts around. This shows that she has regrets about her life choices and wishes things could have been different

How might Nick feel about Gatsby and Daisy during the time at Gatsby's house?

Nick might feel like Gatsby and Daisy are being dishonest or even adulterous because Daisy is married. I am sure that Nick himself feels like the "third wheel".

What does Nick do at the end of the chapter?

Nick left.

How do you feel about the current affair? Is Daisy justified in falling in love with Gatsby?

I feel happy for Daisy because she still loves Gatsby and she deserves better than Tom. She shouldnt have anything to feel guilty about because tom cheats on her.

Does Gatsby take advantage of the situation?

no he does not

How might you describe the flower situation at Nick's house?

Gatsby sent so many flowers that it looked like he had emptied a flower shop or green house into Nick's house.

How does Gatsby look?

Gatsby was dressed nice, but was very nervous. Line 5 stated, "...he was pale and there were dark signs of sleeplessness beneath his eyes."

How does Gatsby act while waiting for tea? Cite two examples.

Gatsby feels very nervous while waiting for the tea. In line 15, he asked about the tea and in lines 16-18 the "scrutinized the twelve lemon cakes...". Gatsby felt that everything must be perfect for this meeting with Daisy. We see that Gatsby is further affected by his anxiety in line 31 because he abruptly got up and announced that he was leaving because no one was coming. It wasn't even 4 o'clock. It is clear that he was overreacting.

Where did Gatsby grow up? What did his parents do?

Gatsby grew up in North Dakota. His parents were unsuccessful farm people. "His parents were shiftless and unsuccessful farm people..." (Fitzgerald 98).

What was Gatsby's perception of himself as a child? What line(s) support this answer?

Gatsby thought he was better than the social class he had been born into. On page 98 Nick states that Gatsby's "...imagination had never really accepted them as his parents at all. The truth was that Jay Gatsby of West Egg, Long Island, sprang from his Platonic conception of himself."

How did Gatsby's perception of himself affect his goals in life? What did he do to live up to that perception?

Gatsby's perception of himself affected his goals because it made him work hard to become someone he was not. He worked his way from poor farmer to a very rich man who owned a mansion on West Egg and often hosted elaborate parties for all to see his "success". "He was employed in a vague personal capacity-while he remained with Cody he was in turn steward, mate, skipper, secretary, and even jailor..." (Fitzgerald 100). Upon Cody's death Gatsby "was left with his singularly appropriate education" which he used to become a millionaire.

What did Gatsby do when he left home? What choices does he make?

When Gatsby left home, he became a janitor at a small Lutheran college, however, he felt he was too good for that work so he left that job. Instead he went to work along the "...south shore of Lake Superior as a clam-digger, a salmon fisher, or in any other capacity that brought him food and bed" (Fitzgerald 98). He then became employed by Dan Cody.

Who was Dan Cody? How did he influence Gatsby's life?

Dan Cody was a multi millionaire who earned his money in the various metal rushes. Cody was described as "...a product of the Nevada silver fields, of the Yukon, of every rush for metal since seventy-five" (Fitzgerald 99). He influenced Gatsby's life by taking him under his wing. Cody hired Gatsby and took him around the world. During that time, Gatsby learned how to behave and the ins and outs of high society.

How have Gatsby's goals changed from when he was a child to now?

As a child, Gatsby wanted to be someone he was not. He wasn't born into wealth, but he yearned for it. As an adult, Gatsby simply wanted to have his perfect version of Daisy, the one who he worked so hard for 5 years to "win" back. See various quotes of the work that Gatsby put into changing his identity.

When Nick next sees Gatsby, surprisingly who is with him?

Tom is at Gatsby's house. Nick stated, "I hadn't been there [at Gatsby's house]two minutes when somebody brought Tom Buchanan for a drink" (Fitzgerald 101).

Gatsby invites Tom to stay for dinner. What is the reaction and response?

Tom already has plans to go to a dinner party which the female rider is hosting. However, when Gatsby accepts the invitation to dine at the house of the female rider, Tom is clearly aggravated and doesn't want him to attend. Tom says on page 103, "My God, I believe the man is coming. Doesn't he know she doesn't want him?" He then goes on to wonder at how Gatsby "knew" Daisy.

How does Nick feel at Gatsby's party? What does Nick notice?

Nick feels uncomfortable at Gatsby's party. He notices that Tom's presence "...gave the evening its particular quality of oppressiveness..." Nick also states that he felt "...an unpleasantness in the air..." (Fitzgerald 104).

What does Tom accuse Gatsby of?

Tom accuses Gatsby of being a bootlegger. On page 107, Tom asked "Who is Gatsby anyhow? Some big bootlegger?"

What does Gatsby realize about Daisy's feelings towards the party?

Gatsby realizes that Daisy did not like the party. "She didn't like it, he insisted, She didn't have a good time" (Fitzgerald 109).

The text states, "You can't repeat the past." Is this true? Explain your answer.

No! nothing ever happens the same way twice

Why does F. Scott Fitzgerald include this chapter about a sad and mostly underwhelming party?

Fitzgerald includes this chapter to show that the ideal and perfect life that Gatsby has worked for and imagined all of these years will not happen. He feels that if he appears to be wealthy and successful that it will be enough to win the version of Daisy he has perfected in his mind when in reality we know that this will not happen (appearance vs. reality theme).