The Great Gatsby Study Guide Student Copy Chapter I Vocabulary abortive – fruitless; cut short abruptly – suddenly acute – sharp; keen audible – able to be heard banns – public announcement of a proposed marriage ceased – stopped coherence – clarity compelled – drove; forced complacency – self-satisfaction conferred – bestowed contemptuous – disdainful contour – shape conviction – certain belief corroborated – confirmed deft – skillful divan – couch elations – joys epigram – short, witty poem or saying erect – upright extemporizing – improvising fervent – intensely glowing fractiousness – quarrelsomeness hardy – tough imperatively – commandingly incredulously – skeptically infinitesimal – incalculably small intimation – hint irrelevant – wholly unimportant languidly – sluggishly levity – lightness; frivolousness parcelled – given; measured paternal – fatherly peremptorily – urgently; commandingly pessimist – negative thinker preceded – went before
prominent – at the forefront; well-known proximity – nearness pungent – strong-smelling reciprocal – returned riotous – exuberant rotogravure – old method of developing photographs sedative – calming submerged – put under supercilious – coolly haughty superficial – shallow; surface-level tangible – solid; touchable turbulent – disturbed; in commotion unaffected – natural uninflected – toneless; unaccented unobtrusively – without getting in the way vigil – watch wan – pale; sickly In Chapter One we meet the narrator, Nick Carraway. These first four paragraphs serve as a prologue that introduces the rest of the story. What information does Nick give us about himself in this prologue? What does Nick say is “gorgeous” Gatsby? (Find the quotation in the fourth paragraph.) In the same paragraph, Nick tells us of his disillusionment with mankind. In your opinion, is it Gatsby or something else that causes this disillusionment? (Be prepared to defend and/or explain your answer.) What is Nick’s socio-economic background?
speculation – wondering subterfuges – deceptions tortuously – in a winding, circuitous manner tumultuous – confused and disorderly vacuous – of content vehemently – powerfully; passionately vinous – wine-induced Find support for this statement: “Gatsby’s parties were expensive, elaborate, raucous affairs; but they were not gatherings of his friends who brought warmth and happiness with them.” What is Nick’s opinion of the people at the parties when he says “that once the guests “conducted themselves according to the rules of behavior associated with amusement parks”? Explain Nick’s comment, “It was testimony to the romantic speculation he [Gatsby] inspired that there were whispers about him from those who had found little that it was necessary to whisper about in this world.” Why do Jordan and Nick leave the group from East Egg? What is the great quality in Gatsby’s smile? “ What do Gatsby and Nick have in common?
Chapter VI Vocabulary antecedents – predecessors conceits – fanciful ideas contingencies – possible outcomes debauchee – person – person corrupted by indulgence dilatory – tardy euphemisms – inoffensive expressions that stand in for potentially offensive ones foliage – leaves; brush ineffable – indescribable ingratiate – to gain by flattery insidious – treacherous laudable – commendable; praiseworthy lethargic – sluggish meretricious – pretentious notoriety – fame oblivious – forgetful perturbed – bothered profusion – abundance ramifications – consequences reposing – placing robust – healthy; thriving septic – toxic transpired – developed; become apparent turgid – excessively embellished In the first five pages of Chapter Six, we learn of Gatsby’s background and more about his romantic disposition. Who are Gatsby’s parents and what is he leaving when he leaves home at 16? When and why does James Gatz change his name to Jay Gatsby?
How does Fitzgerald prepare the reader for what is about to happen? What words are used? What figure of speech is employed? Why does Tom make the point to Wilson that he just drove the coupe from New York and the yellow car is not his? What indication is there that Tom really is fond of Myrtle? Why does Nick not wait for the taxi inside the Buchanans’ house? What does the reader learn Tom does not know? What is the scene that Nick observes taking place between Tom and Daisy in the kitchen? Why does this suggest ill for Gatsby?