Questions To Ask The Class About The Great Gatsby Novel
The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a classic novel that has been enjoyed by generations of readers. It is a story of love, wealth, and tragedy set in the 1920s. If you are teaching this novel to your class, here are some questions that you can ask to start a discussion and deepen your students' understanding of the book.
Chapter 1:
1. What is Nick Carraway's role in the novel? Why do you think Fitzgerald chose him as the narrator?
2. How does Fitzgerald introduce the theme of wealth and class in this chapter?
3. What is the significance of the green light at the end of Daisy's dock?
Chapter 2:
1. What is the Valley of Ashes? How does Fitzgerald use it to comment on the American Dream?
2. How does Myrtle Wilson's character contrast with Daisy Buchanan's?
3. What is the significance of the billboard featuring the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg?
Chapter 3:
1. Why does Gatsby throw such extravagant parties?
2. How does Fitzgerald use the character of Jordan Baker to explore the theme of honesty?
3. What is the significance of the owl-eyed man in Gatsby's library?
Chapter 4:
1. What is Gatsby's background? How did he become wealthy?
2. Why does Gatsby want to impress Nick so much?
3. What is the significance of Gatsby's list of people who attended Oxford and Cambridge?
Chapter 5:
1. Why is Gatsby so nervous when he meets Daisy again?
2. How does Fitzgerald use the rain to create a mood in this chapter?
3. What is the significance of Gatsby's clock?
Chapter 6:
1. Why does Gatsby want Nick to invite Daisy to his house for tea?
2. How does Fitzgerald use the character of Dan Cody to comment on the American Dream?
3. What is the significance of the green light in this chapter?
Chapter 7:
1. How does Tom Buchanan discover Gatsby's involvement with Daisy?
2. What is the significance of the heat wave in this chapter?
3. How does Fitzgerald use the character of George Wilson to comment on the American Dream?
Chapter 8:
1. What is the significance of the owl-eyed man's reaction to Gatsby's library?
2. How does Fitzgerald use the character of Klipspringer to comment on the emptiness of Gatsby's life?
3. What is the significance of the green light at the end of the chapter?
Chapter 9:
1. How does Fitzgerald use the character of Nick to comment on the American Dream?
2. What is the significance of the last sentence of the novel?
3. How does the novel explore the theme of the impossibility of the American Dream?
Asking these questions can help your students engage with the novel on a deeper level and develop their critical thinking skills. Encourage them to share their thoughts and opinions, and to support their arguments with evidence from the text. Happy teaching!