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Questions and Answers
What is a 'libertine,' and who behaves like one in this book?
What is a 'libertine,' and who behaves like one in this book?
How is the behavior of the characters linked to the hottest day of the summer?
How is the behavior of the characters linked to the hottest day of the summer?
Tom appears short-tempered and Daisy is on edge, causing small frustrations to escalate into anger.
What does Tom discover in Chapter VII that unnerves him?
What does Tom discover in Chapter VII that unnerves him?
Tom realizes that Daisy actually loves Gatsby.
What does Gatsby understand about Daisy's voice that Nick does not?
What does Gatsby understand about Daisy's voice that Nick does not?
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What is a 'prig,' and who is one?
What is a 'prig,' and who is one?
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When the group travels to the city in Chapter VII, how do they get there?
When the group travels to the city in Chapter VII, how do they get there?
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Why does Tom finally let Wilson have the car he has been promising him since Chapter II?
Why does Tom finally let Wilson have the car he has been promising him since Chapter II?
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What happens in Chapter VII that makes us believe that Myrtle is quite taken with Tom for real?
What happens in Chapter VII that makes us believe that Myrtle is quite taken with Tom for real?
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As earlier in the book, whose eyes besides Myrtle's keep 'their vigil'?
As earlier in the book, whose eyes besides Myrtle's keep 'their vigil'?
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In what sense is Gatsby an 'Oxford man,' and what does this tell us about him?
In what sense is Gatsby an 'Oxford man,' and what does this tell us about him?
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Why does Nick feel like laughing at Tom?
Why does Nick feel like laughing at Tom?
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Why does Daisy call Tom 'revolting'?
Why does Daisy call Tom 'revolting'?
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Why does Daisy have a very hard time telling Tom that she never loved him?
Why does Daisy have a very hard time telling Tom that she never loved him?
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Why does Gatsby need Daisy to admit she never loved Tom?
Why does Gatsby need Daisy to admit she never loved Tom?
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How has Gatsby gotten some of his money, according to Tom?
How has Gatsby gotten some of his money, according to Tom?
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When Tom is talking about Gatsby's income, what startles Gatsby?
When Tom is talking about Gatsby's income, what startles Gatsby?
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What happens to Daisy when she hears about Gatsby's status as a bootlegger?
What happens to Daisy when she hears about Gatsby's status as a bootlegger?
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What is being foreshadowed by Fitzgerald's choice of words in Chapter VII?
What is being foreshadowed by Fitzgerald's choice of words in Chapter VII?
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Why does Tom make a point to Wilson that he drove his own coupe, and the 'yellow car' is not his?
Why does Tom make a point to Wilson that he drove his own coupe, and the 'yellow car' is not his?
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What tells us that Tom really was fond of Myrtle in Chapter VII?
What tells us that Tom really was fond of Myrtle in Chapter VII?
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Why does Nick not wait for the taxi inside Daisy's house?
Why does Nick not wait for the taxi inside Daisy's house?
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What do we find out at the end of Chapter VII that Tom does not know?
What do we find out at the end of Chapter VII that Tom does not know?
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What does Nick watch from outside Daisy and Tom's house?
What does Nick watch from outside Daisy and Tom's house?
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Why does the fact that Tom and Daisy are holding hands seem bad for Gatsby?
Why does the fact that Tom and Daisy are holding hands seem bad for Gatsby?
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What are 'strata,' and why are they important to the story in Chapter VIII?
What are 'strata,' and why are they important to the story in Chapter VIII?
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What does Nick mean when he talks about Gatsby not being able to 'leave Daisy until he knew what she was going to do'?
What does Nick mean when he talks about Gatsby not being able to 'leave Daisy until he knew what she was going to do'?
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Why does Gatsby reveal everything to Nick at this point in the book?
Why does Gatsby reveal everything to Nick at this point in the book?
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How is Gatsby's uniform in the army like an 'invisible cloak'?
How is Gatsby's uniform in the army like an 'invisible cloak'?
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Why was the young Gatsby drawn to Daisy?
Why was the young Gatsby drawn to Daisy?
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Why does Gatsby tell Nick he's 'worth the whole damn bunch put together'?
Why does Gatsby tell Nick he's 'worth the whole damn bunch put together'?
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Why is Nick no longer interested in Jordan Baker?
Why is Nick no longer interested in Jordan Baker?
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Who does something 'unscrupulously' in Chapter VIII, and what do they do?
Who does something 'unscrupulously' in Chapter VIII, and what do they do?
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Do the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg appear in Chapter VIII?
Do the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg appear in Chapter VIII?
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When Wilson disappears for three hours, where do you think he's gone?
When Wilson disappears for three hours, where do you think he's gone?
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What does Nick mean when he says Gatsby 'felt he had lost the old, warm world'?
What does Nick mean when he says Gatsby 'felt he had lost the old, warm world'?
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Why does Wilson kill Gatsby?
Why does Wilson kill Gatsby?
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Why does Nick feel responsible for getting people to Gatsby's funeral?
Why does Nick feel responsible for getting people to Gatsby's funeral?
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Why does Wolfsheim abandon Gatsby after his death?
Why does Wolfsheim abandon Gatsby after his death?
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What does the schedule of young Jimmy Gatz say about him?
What does the schedule of young Jimmy Gatz say about him?
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What are 'resolves,' and who has them?
What are 'resolves,' and who has them?
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Is Nick surprised that Daisy has not sent a message or flowers?
Is Nick surprised that Daisy has not sent a message or flowers?
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After criticizing the Midwest, why does Nick seem to appreciate it now?
After criticizing the Midwest, why does Nick seem to appreciate it now?
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What do Nick's fantastic dreams in Chapter IX signify?
What do Nick's fantastic dreams in Chapter IX signify?
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How does Nick feel about Daisy and Tom at the end of the book?
How does Nick feel about Daisy and Tom at the end of the book?
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In the last three paragraphs, how does Nick make the symbol of the green light concrete?
In the last three paragraphs, how does Nick make the symbol of the green light concrete?
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What does the last sentence of the story mean?
What does the last sentence of the story mean?
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Study Notes
Key Characters and Concepts
- Libertine: A person unrestrained by conventions; characters like Tom, Daisy, and Myrtle exhibit this behavior.
- Prig: An excessively proper person; Tom displays priggish behavior despite his own infidelities.
- Oxford Man: Gatsby's claim of being an "Oxford man" is partly true; he attended a short program for officers after WWI.
Thematic Elements
- Heat Symbolism: The sweltering summer day compounds tension and short tempers, reflecting character frustrations.
- Moral Hypocrisy: Tom shouts about immorality while being unfaithful himself, highlighting his hypocrisy.
Character Relationships
- Daisy's Conflict: Struggles to deny past feelings for Tom; admits difficulty in stating she never loved him.
- Tom and Gatsby: Tom becomes aware that Daisy has romantic feelings for Gatsby, leading to escalating tensions.
Plot Developments
- Car Journeys: Characters travel to the city with Daisy and Tom in Gatsby's coupe, symbolizing blending of lives.
- Myrtle's Fate: Myrtle's feelings for Tom are complicated; the horror she experiences upon seeing Jordan suggests genuine love.
Foreshadowing and Symbolism
- Doctor T.J. Eckleburg's Eyes: These eyes symbolize the moral decay in society and are watched by characters throughout the narrative.
- Gatsby's Dream: Nick foreshadows tragedy by describing Gatsby's dream as "dead" and suggesting a loss of hope.
Climax and Resolution
- Gatsby's Downfall: Gatsby's financial dealings are questioned by Tom, leading to a critical revelation that impacts Daisy.
- Wilson's Revenge: Wilson’s emotional turmoil leads to Gatsby's murder, fueled by misunderstandings sown by Tom.
Nick's Reflections
- Disillusionment with Society: Nick becomes increasingly critical of the upper class, feeling detached from their moral decay.
- Connection to the Midwest: By the end, Nick appreciates the Midwest for its stability, contrasting it with the chaos of the East.
Final Thoughts
- Ambivalence toward Daisy and Tom: Nick recognizes their carelessness but struggles to feel hatred toward them, finding their ignorance unsettling.
- Symbolism of the Green Light: Represents unattainable dreams, illustrating the persistent human struggle against time and lost aspirations.
- Last Sentence Meaning: Suggests the futility of progress, as people strive against the current of their past dreams.
Studying That Suits You
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Description
Test your understanding of the themes and character behaviors in Chapters 7-9 of 'The Great Gatsby.' This quiz explores key vocabulary and how the intense summer heat influences the story. Perfect for students looking to reinforce their knowledge of these pivotal chapters.