The Great Gatsby

## Discussion Questions: *The Great Gatsby* by F. Scott Fitzgerald 1. **The American Dream** — Jay Gatsby completely transforms himself in his quest for wealth and status. Do you believe Fitzgerald portrays the American Dream as something achievable, or does the novel ultimately suggest that it is merely an illusion? What textual evidence supports your opinion? 2. **Class and Social Mobility** — The novel highlights the differences between "old money" (East Egg) and "new money" (West Egg). How do these class distinctions influence the characters' relationships and how they see themselves? Is genuine social mobility possible in the society Fitzgerald describes? 3. **The Role of Nick Carraway** — Nick considers himself "one of the few honest people" he knows, yet he facilitates Gatsby's obsession and refrains from judgment for much of the story. How dependable is Nick as a narrator? Does his self-description hold up when examined closely? 4. **Obsession and the Past** — Gatsby famously insists that "you can't repeat the past." What does his obsession with Daisy reveal about the nature of obsession and nostalgia? Can you think of other characters — or real-world instances — where clinging to the past leads to ruin? 5. **Symbolism** — Reflect on the green light at the end of Daisy's dock, the Valley of Ashes, and the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg. What do these symbols indicate about hope, moral decay, and the absence of God or a higher meaning in the world of the novel? 6. **Gender and Power** — How does Fitzgerald depict women (Daisy, Jordan, Myrtle) in the narrative? Are they in control of their own destinies, or are they primarily defined by the men in their lives? What does this suggest about gender dynamics in America during the 1920s? 7. **Moral Responsibility** — Who holds the most moral responsibility for the tragedies that unfold by the end of the novel? Support your choice with specific evidence from the text.

ap_lit · common_core · ib_lang_lit · aqa

## Discussion Questions: *The Great Gatsby* by F. Scott Fitzgerald Consider the following questions as you reflect on the novel. Be ready to share your thoughts and back them up with evidence from the text. 1. **The American Dream:** Jay Gatsby dedicates his life to amassing wealth and winning back Daisy. How well does his story illustrate both the promise and the shortcomings of the American Dream? Is Gatsby's dream admirable, delusional, or a mix of both? 2. **Identity and Reinvention:** Gatsby completely reinvents himself, altering his name, history, and persona. What does the novel convey about the link between self-invention and authenticity? Can someone truly leave their past behind? 3. **Class and Social Mobility:** Fitzgerald makes clear distinctions between "old money" (East Egg), "new money" (West Egg), and the Valley of Ashes. How do these social divisions influence the characters' relationships and outcomes? Does the novel imply that social mobility is genuinely achievable in America? 4. **Nick as Narrator:** Nick Carraway claims to be "one of the few honest people" he knows, yet he is involved in Gatsby's deceit and remains largely passive throughout the story. How dependable is Nick as a narrator? In what ways does his perspective affect our sympathy for or judgment of other characters? 5. **The Green Light and Symbolism:** The green light at the end of Daisy's dock is one of literature's most iconic symbols. What does it mean for Gatsby specifically, and what might it symbolize more broadly about human desire and the essence of hope? 6. **Moral Decay:** Characters like Tom and Daisy Buchanan are described as "careless people" who "smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money." How does Fitzgerald use the novel to comment on the moral emptiness of the wealthy elite? 7. **Love vs. Obsession:** Is Gatsby genuinely in love with Daisy, or is he in love with a romanticized version of her? What’s the distinction between love and obsession, and how does the novel examine that boundary?

ap_lit · common_core · ib_lang_lit · aqa