The Great Gatsby Vocabulary

Privy (adj) - aware of secret or private knowledge or having knowledge of a secret/private

ex: This secret is just privy between you and me.

““I was unjustly accused of being a politician because I was privy to the secret griefs of wild, unknown men.”

Levity (noun) - lightheartedness

ex: Let’s have some more levity.

“I have feigned sleep, preoccupation, or a hostile levity when I realized some unmistakable sign.”

Excursion - a short trip

ex: I enjoyed our little excursion to the ocean last summer, which reminded me of Gatsby's lavish parties.

“I wanted no more riotous excursions with privileged glimpses into the human heart.”

Epigram - a witty saying or a brief, clever, and amusing expression that often reflects a deeper truth.

“I was going to bring back all such things in my life and become again the ‘well-rounded man.’ This isn’t just an epigram—life is much more successfully looked at from a single window after all.”

This statement emphasizes the limitations of perspective and the idea that focusing on one viewpoint can lead to a more profound understanding of life's complexities.

** BONUS **

Magnanimous (adj) - generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or less powerful person
ex: His magnanimous spirit helped heal old wounds in the community.

Ephemeral (adj) - lasting for a very short time
ex: The beauty of the sunset was ephemeral, disappearing as quickly as it arrived.