Gatsby Chapter 3 questions

1. What is the setting for chapter 3?

2. In what ways is chapter 2 like chapter 3?

3. Why is it that Fitzgerald waits until chapter 3 to introduce Gatsby?

4. There are at least two examples of a polysyndenton in chapter three. Identify one of them, and explain what it contributes to the impact of the chapter.

5. What does Nick’s twice insisting that he had “actually been invited” suggest?

6. Nick comments that the people at the party conduct “themselves according to the rules of behavior associated with an amusement

park.” Analyze what is being conveyed by the comparison.

7.What metaphor does Fitzgerald use to convey the theme of hollowness in the upper class?

8. Explain the meaning of the statement “…the scene had changed before my eyes into something significant, elemental, and profound.”

(Pg. 31)

9. What do Gatsby and Nick have in common?

10. What does Fitzgerald subtly wish to convey about Gatsby when he has Nick say, “…I was looking at an elegant young roughneck,

…whose elaborate formality of speech just missed being absurd. Some time before he introduced himself I’d got a strong impression that he was picking his words with care”? (Pg. 32)

11. Although there are many rumors regarding Gatsby, there is a clue given to the reader about what the nature of Gatsby’s work may be.

What is the clue? What might it indicate is his work?

12.In what way is Gatsby’s behavior at his party quite unlike the behavior of most of his guests?

13. Explain the symbolism of the simile, on page 34“…at intervals she appeared suddenly at his side like an angry diamond, and hissed: ‘You promised!’ into his ear.”

14. What is the significance of the phone calls that Gatsby receives? How does it add to the development of his character? What does the

lack of calls to Buchanan demonstrate?

15. What does the author do to convey the idea that the gentleman driving the car is drunk?

16. The first three chapters span what time period?

17. In the final paragraph on page 37, how does the viewpoint change? How is this accomplished? What is the purpose?

18. What purpose does the character of Jordan Baker fulfill?

19. What is the second ugly character .aw revealed about Jordan? How does this affect the reader?

20. What do you think Fitzgerald wishes to convey about Gatsby’s parties through the incident with the drunks and the car, and the

husbands and wives arguing?

21. What is revealed about Nick’s character?

22. How does the motif of geography in the novel help shape its themes and characters?