First Things First
Explain these quotations from the end of chapter 4. What do they reveal about the men in this novel?
--“Suddenly I wasn’t thinking of Daisy and Gatsby any more but of this clean, hard, limited person who dealt in universal skepticism and who leaned back jauntily just within the circle of my arm” (79).
--“Unlike Gatsby and Tom Buchanan I had no girl whose disembodied face floated along the dark cornices and blinding signs and so I drew up the girl beside me, tightening my arms” (80).
Chapter Five
The Visit: Reflecting on the Day
In a three-paragraph letter, write from the perspective of a character below. Each letter should try to capture the voice of the character and each paragraph should answer one of the questions posed.
Process:
When done, choose a great passage that we could read as a class.
The Visit: Gatsby's Stages
I. Individual work: try to identify the various stages through which Gatsby passes during the chapter (about 5 minutes). Also choose a passage you might like to share with the class.
After 5-7 minutes, get with a partner and compare notes.
II. Group discussion:
1) Why does Nick agree to help Gatsby?
2) How do you explain Gatsby's behavior?
3) What does Nick mean by "his count of enchanted objects had diminished by one?"' What does that tell us about the kind of person Gatsby is? (93)
4) Read the paragraph on page 95 about "the expression of bewilderment" on Gatsby's face. Why is it not Daisy's fault? What image of Gatsby is Fitzgerald building?
III. How does Daisy react to Gatsby? What about her makes Gatsby choose her for the foundation of his dream?
IV. If Time: Fitzgerald is known for his masterful use of small details to reinforce his larger themes and ideas. Come up with a list of five small details from chapters 4 and 5 that seem to perform this function. Turn in your list.