Warm Up: 23 January 1. The chapter begins with an extensive list of the people who came to Gatsby’s parties. Why does Nick make such a production of who, by name, was at the party? (61) 2. Cite the passage on page 64 which connects Gatsby to what is typically “American” (the archetypal American). What particular traits are the focus here? 3. On that same page, Gatsby’s car is described: “…rich cream color, bright with nickel, swollen here and there in its monstrous length with triumphant hat-boxes and supper- boxes and tool-boxes, and terraced with a labyrinth of windshields that mirrored a dozen suns” (64). Discuss the symbolism in this description. 4. On their way to New York, Gatsby tells Nick about himself. What information does he provide? How much of it and what parts of it do you believe? Why? (65-68)

“What do you think?” he demanded impetuously. “About what?” He waved his hand toward the book-shelves. “About that. As a matter of fact you needn’t bother to ascertain. I ascertained. They’re real.” “The books?” He nodded. “Absolutely real - have pages and everything. I thought they’d be a nice durable cardboard. Matter of fact, they’re absolutely real… This fella’s a regular Belasco” (45).    

1. The chapter begins with an extensive list of the people who came to Gatsby’s parties. Why does Nick make such a production of who, by name, was at the party? As readers, we don’t know these people Emphasis on appearances and social class - feels arbitrary, shallow, and random when you don’t know the people

2. Cite the passage on page 64 which connects Gatsby to what is typically “American” (the archetypal American). What particular traits are the focus here? “Resourcefulness of movement that is so peculiarly American - that comes, I suppose, with the absence of lifting work or rigid sitting in youth.” “Never quite still; there was always a tapping foot somewhere or the impatient opening and closing of a hand.”

3. On that same page, Gatsby’s car is described: “…rich cream color, bright with nickel, swollen here and there in its monstrous length with triumphant hat-boxes and supper-boxes and tool-boxes, and terraced with a labyrinth of windshields that mirrored a dozen suns.”  Discuss the symbolism in this description. Elaborate, shiny Looks like gold, but isn’t (cream = yellow) Looks like silver, but isn’t (nickel = metallic silver) “Swollen” “Monstrous” “Triumphant”

4. On their way to New York, Gatsby tells Nick about himself 4. On their way to New York, Gatsby tells Nick about himself. What information does he provide? How much of it and what parts of it do you believe? Why? “He hurried the phrase ‘Educated at Oxford,’ or swallowed it, or choked on it, as though it had bothered him before” (65). “‘What part of the Middle West?’ I inquired casually. ‘San Francisco’” (65). “I lived like a young rajah in all the capitals of Europe - Paris, Venice, Rome - collecting jewels, chiefly rubies, hunting big game, painting a little, things for myself only, and trying to forget something very sad that happened to me long ago” (66).

4. On their way to New York, Gatsby tells Nick about himself 4. On their way to New York, Gatsby tells Nick about himself. What information does he provide? How much of it and what parts of it do you believe? Why? “Then came the war, old sport. It was a great relief, and I tried very hard to die, but I seemed to bear an enchanted life” (66). Shows him his ribbon from the war… “To my astonishment, the thing had an authentic look” (66). “It was a photograph of a half a dozen young men… Then it was all true” (67).

Vocab Quiz Friday Circuitous (adj): roundabout; indirect; having a circular or winding course. Harangue (v, n): an aggressive speech or lecture; a scolding or a long and intense verbal attack. Demure (adj): shy, modest, reserved Capricious (adj): given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior; erratic. Cogent (adj): Clear, logical, and convincing