Gatsby+Phishbowl

and Stephanie ||= 1.) What motifs or themes are developing in this chapter? How do you think they will effect the rest of the book?
 * = Chapter ||= Leader Names ||= Discussion Questions ||
 * = 3 ||= Drew

2.) How does Fitzgerald portray himself in the characters? What aspects does he really focus on and push across?

3.) What do the different aspects in the characters suggest? For example, Tom is very dominant and portrayed as sort of an alpha-male, what does this suggest or tell us?

4.) What aspects of Modernism do you see in the text? What are beliefs that Fitzgerald focuses on?

5.) The first few pages of the chapters focuses on setting up the scene before involving dialogue. What do you think Fitzgerald's purpose was for spending so much time on the setting?

6.) It was disputed at the party whether or not Gatsby killed a man. What is the significance in having this conversation? What does it say about Gatsby as a character?

7.) Nick showed a surprise at Gatsby's appearance, assuming him to be a "florid and corpulent person in his middle years". Why is this so surprising to Nick and how does that advance the development of Gatsby as a character?

8.) Firtzgerald focuses on the crash just as he focused on the setting at the beginning of the chapter. Are there literal and metaphoric parallels there? If so, what do they mean.

Analysis: This chapter mostly focuses on the party, and the mystery of Gatsby. Nick finds himself in discussion with Gatsby and is taken aback by his appearance and mannerism; he is much younger than he expected, and speaks cordially. Also, in the car crash, there was a focus on the specific word "trying", not only the general crash. || Brady Peter ||= Themes/plot points: The most important thematic ideas presented in this chapter was Fitzgerald's focus on relationships and to reveal a part of Gatsby's illusion. The main plot point was Gatsby and Daisy's new relationship; this could cause some major conflicts down the road and reveal more about who Gatsby truly is.
 * = 5 ||= John

1. In this chapter, the weather seems to parallel Gatsby's actions -- at first it is gloomy and dark, but eventually it changes and the book describes him as 'glowing'. What does this tell us about Gatsby?

2. Throughout the chapter, Daisy is described with a continuing sense of beauty and dignity. Do you think she is Fitzgerald's 'Golden Girl'? If so, what does this mean for Gatsby?

3. We find out that the green light that Gatsby looked towards in the begginning comes from Daisy's house. What is the significance of this? What does this tell us about the importance of Daisy to Gatsby?

4. At the end of the chapter, how is the greater motif of Dreams vs. Reality portrayed? How does this change our ideas about it?

5. In the book Fitzgerald has presented most relationships as bad, especially the marriage relationships; however, Fitzgerald has presented two new relationships, Jordan and Nick, and now Gatsby and Daisy, which seem to be good to great. What do you think Fitzgerald is trying to say about relationships and marriage?

6. In this chapter Nick describes how all of Gatsby's possessions seemed to melt away or shine in the presence of Daisy. Do you think Gatsby will become less materialistic because of Daisy or will he hold on tight to his possessions?

7. At the end of the chapter Fitzgerald talks about Gatsby's great illusion. Do you think that Gatsby formed this illusion to cover/forget his hurt over Daisy or just because he is very wealthy?

8. Throughout this chapter there are hints at Gatsby's business. What business do you think Gatsby is in and do you think it is legal or illegal? What part of the text leads you to believe this?

9. On page 88, the idea of the American Dream is brought up again in the history of Gatsby's House. This time however, it appears to be in a bad light because of the hastiness in which it was sold after the death of the owner. Do you think this foreshadows a decline in morals to come?

10. On page 89, there is a change in Gatsby's personality. He wants to show off his wealth to Daisy and Nick. Do you think this alludes to Fitzgerald and Zelda, and how they only dated and married after Fitzgerald gained money?

Analysis: This chapter adds another layer to Gatsby making him no longer a cool headed gentlemen but more of a human being. The chapter also reveals what the significance of the green light is and full fills our earlier ideas that Gatsby is searching for something. (Daisy) Chapter 5 also puts significance on dreams vs. reality, and we believe that Fitzgerald will put more significance on what we can hope for and what we can actually have. The "Golden Girl" has become very important and this motif is reoccurring in our modernism unit, what is the modernist Golden Girl? || Jacob Trey ||= 1. How does Fitzgerald use the differences between aristocratic East Egg with the nouvea-riche West Egg in chapter 6 as an example of American society in the 1920's?
 * =  ||= Justin

2. On page 98, Nick reveals Gatsby's true past as James Gatz of North Dakota, where Fitzgerald/Nick compares him to Jesus Christ. What does this say about Gatsby? Is this comparison positive or negative? Why?

3. Again, on page 98, Nick says that Gatsby imagines himself as another person, and eventually becomes his own creation. This is another part of the thought of Reality vs. Dreams. Do you think Gatsby obtained his dream? What is his real dream (other than being wealthy)?

4. How have Gatsby’s experiences as a young man shaped his life? How do we as readers see these experiences manifest themselves in other things and do they have any reflection on the life of a young Fitzgerald?

5. Gatsby hosts another party in this chapter but the tone of this one is grim. Is the text following a pattern of downward spiral? How do you think this will affect the events in the rest of the book?

6. Gatsby changed his name at some point during his young life. What is the symbolic significance of this name change? Does it change how other people see him?

7. What is Fitzgerald trying to say about Gatsby by revealing his past, and his false identity ? How does this connect to the facades illustrated and emphasized in the rest of the book?

8. How do the interactions between Tom and Gatsby in this chapter illustrate the divide between the Nouveau-Riche and the Old Money?

9. With the events of __The Great Gatsby __, what is Fitzgerald trying to illustrate about what it’s like to rise and fall in American society? What does Gatsby’s discontentment with being of lower class say about Fitzgerald’s views on the matter?

Analysis: Unlike the Chapter 5, Chapter 6 had a dark and foreboding undertone. It focuses mostly on Gatsby's past experiences and also a party that he hosts. Finally the reader gets to know something about Gatsby's past and how he got where he is. However some aspects of his young life are still not revealed such as how he came to all his wealth. Also there is a shift in this Chapter from Daisy being a dream to Gatsby to Daisy now being a reality. He believes wealth will buy anything concerning Daisy. And is it just me or does Scarface seem a lot like this book? || Chapter Summary - In Chapter 8, the history of Gatsby and Daisy is explained in-depth to Nick by Gatsby. Nick observes developments in the case of Myrtle Wilson; suddenly Mr. Wilson wanders off in search of Gatsby and (spoiler alert) ends up getting shot. Continuing themes/motifs include Dr. TJ Eckleburg, marriage, dreams, and facades. Somewhat new themes/motifs include life vs. death, night, water, and tangible vs. intangible.
 * = 8 ||= Brooke Jack Robert ||= SYLLABUS

1. This chapter redefines the morals, dreams, and facades of each character. For example, we come to understand Wilson's actions through his belief that "God sees everything". How else are other characters redefined in this chapter-- physically, mentally, or spiritually?

2. If each character is viewed as an "onion", so to speak, does this chapter add more layers to each character or "peel" these disguising facades away? Will Fitzgerald continue to reveal truths about characters until the end of the book?

3. Michaelis: "Didn't you get married in a church?" Wilson: "That was a long time ago." How does this quote (on page 157) sum up the way marriage was viewed in the 1920's?

4. The event that occurs at the end of this chapter is described as a "holocaust". Why? Note that World War II hadn't occurred yet, since the book was written in 1925. Also, how does the environment surrounding the event (the ripples in the pool, the mattress, the leaves) add to the aura of the event?

5- On page 149, Gatsby tells Nick that he when he first met Daisy he found that he wanted her more because he knew that many other men had loved her. Why would he value a much-loved girl? Connecting this to "Winter Dreams," what is FSF suggesting about women and why men are attracted to them?

6- When Nick and Gatsby were looking for cigarettes in Gatsby's house, Nick says that the house felt bigger and was very dusty (page 147-148). What significance does this have regarding Gatsby's character? What is FSF telling about Gatsby that contradicts what people see/think of him?

7- On page 150 when Gatsby tells Nick "what was the use of doing great things if I could have a batter time telling [Daisy] what I was going to do." How would this feeling effected what Gatsby has done? Is he saying that because he didn't have Daisy to talk to he was able to become the man that he is? By having Daisy back to talk to will Gatsby revert to his old ways of not doing anything great anymore?

8- In this chapter, Gatsby tells Nick about how he felt bad that he left Daisy when he went to war. Why doesn't Gatsby find it odd that Daisy did not wait for him to return and instead got married to Tom? Does Daisy did not love Gatsby enough to wait for him or did she just need the security that comes with marriage and she knew that Gatsby could not give it to her at the time?

9- What is the significance of Gatsby referring to Daisy's "value" on page 149 when he is reminiscing about when they first met? What does Gatsby mean when he said that "He felt married to her, that was all"?

10- With the death of Gatsby because of his unfaltering love for Daisy, is Fitzgerald commenting on love saying that it is man's ultimate downfall?

11- On page 152, Gatsby takes a week trip to Louisville. He describes the city as being "miserable" but "even though she was gone from it, was pervaded with a melancholy beauty". Does this feeling of emptiness stay with Gatsby until the end of his life?

12- What is the significance of when Gatsby's face "broke into that radiant and understanding smile" after Nick pays him the compliment as he is leaving? Seeing as it is the last time that Nick will he him alive, is it a symbol of Gatsby's facade finally breaking or him taking his secrets to the grave?

Analysis - This chapter reveals many key background details that help the reader to understand the characters more. As the world that surrounds them begins to fall apart, the character's motives, actions, and thoughts redefine our interpretation of them. This chapter also proves to be Modernist/Realist by showing how Gatsby is becoming an anti-hero. || 9 || Jonathan Bernardo Elly || **Syllabus**

__**Chapter Summary**__- In chapter 9, two years had past since the death of Gatsby, and Nick is trying to conduct a funeral for him. What he begins to realize is that it is a lot harder than he thought and out of all the people that Gatsby met and knew did not come to his funeral except for his father, a few servents, and Nick. After the funeral, Nick decides to move back to the midwest, sick of the East and its empty morals. Nick breaks off his relationship with Jordan and one day on fifth avenue, Tom tries to shake his hand and barely succeeds in doing so. Nick tells him what he feels about him and what he did and Tom only replies that he suffered too. On Nick's Last night in West Egg, Nick sprawls out on the beach and contemplates how much better life would have been in the past...
 * 1. ****  In the chapter, many people that were portrayed as being Gatsby’s friends didn’t even show up to the funeral. What does this reveal about the personalities of his so called friends? The people that did go were his butlers and servants, Nick, Gatsby’s father, and surprisingly Owl Eyes. Why do you think Owl Eyes came to Gatsby’s funeral even though he barely knew him?  **


 * 2. ****  At the end of the novel, Nick decides to go back to the Midwest, in Minnesota, instead of staying in New York. What do you think are his reasons for his thoughts and actions?  **


 * 3. ****  The American Dream promises its citizens the potential for unlimited wealth and advancement, regardless of where they come from or how poor their backgrounds are. Do you think that Gatsby’s failure to fulfill his dream suggests that this is still impossible based on the actions of the “old rich” society?  **


 * 4. ****  Now that you have read the novel, what do you think the purpose of Nick truly was? Was he truly the main character and Gatsby’s actions unveiled the inner core of the east, or was he a narrator, reflecting Gatsby’s thoughts and emotions by judging him based on his exterior emotions?  **


 * 5. ****  On page 180, it says, “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . . . And then one fine morning—So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” Nick focuses on the struggle of human beings to achieve their goals by both transcending and re-creating the past. This past functions as the source of their ideas about the future (epitomized by Gatsby’s desire to re-create 1917 in his affair with Daisy) and they cannot escape it as they continue to struggle to transform their dreams into reality, so can they really transcend from their past?

6. What was Fitzgerald's purpose for Wilson and Myrtle? Were they necessary characters, and if so what meaning could they hold?

7. Why did Fitzgerald have Slagle (sorry I don't have page numbers, right after Wolfsheim's letter arrives) call? Is it only to throw the image of the "Great Gatsby" into shadow?

8. Gatsby's final legacy was his parties, instead of anything about him personally. What is the mentality of the era that focuses on such a shallow and impersonal aspect of a man's life rather than the man he really was?

9. This chapter uses the color motif to a great extent, specifically green, and blue (the green light, blue smoke of brittle leaves, blue lawn). Given that this part of the book is in the fall these colors seem out of place. Why did Fitzgerald use such contrasting colors?

10. How did Tom justify, to himself at least, telling Wilson to kill Gatsby? Why does he show such apathy to the fact that he indirectly murdered Gatsby?

11. In today's times, the celebrities have to keep the paparazzi away from their house parties. Why do you think all the reporters and journalists showed up at the death of Gatsby, but not when he had the grand parties and gatherings? Was it because of the idea of death?

12. What aspects of Gatsby made Nick realize that the East was based on empty morals?

13. Recall Nicks judgments: What do they reveal about Nick's character? **


 * __Chapter Analysis__**- This chapter reveals many secrets about the characters in the novel. Nick realizes that the people from the East, with abundances of wealth and power, have empty morals and "qualities of distortion". Nick realizes, through Gatsby's death, that he needs to integrate his own sense of importance of the past with the freedom from the past, envisioned by Gatsby. ||


 * [[file:2010 Phishbowl Dates.docx]] ||