Study Questions & Essay Topics
Study Questions
1. Discuss Gatsby’s
character as Nick perceives him throughout the novel. What makes
Gatsby “great”?
2. What is Nick
like as a narrator? Is he a reliable storyteller, or does his version
of events seem suspect? How do his qualities as a character affect
his narration?
3. What are
some of The Great Gatsby’s most important symbols? What does the
novel have to say about the role of symbols in life?
4. How does
the geography of the novel dictate its themes and characters? What
role does setting play in The
Great Gatsby?
Suggested Essay Topics
1. In what sense is The
Great Gatsby an autobiographical novel? Does Fitzgerald
write more of himself into the character of Nick or the character
of Gatsby, or are the author’s qualities found in both characters?
2. How does Gatsby represent
the American dream? What does the novel have to say about the condition
of the American dream in the 1920s? In what
ways do the themes of dreams, wealth, and time relate to each other
in the novel’s exploration of the idea of America?
3. Compare and contrast Gatsby
and Tom. How are they alike? How are they different? Given the extremely
negative light in which Tom is portrayed throughout the novel, why
might Daisy choose to remain with him instead of leaving him
for Gatsby?
