Chapter V & VI
Describe the effect of rain on the plot.
As Gatsby waited for Daisy in Nick's house with the host, the weather outside was pouring with heavy rain. When Daisy arrived, the rain continued to fall until Daisy and Gatsby settled down their argument and comforted each other. The rain stopped and a clear sky appeared after both of them smiled at each other. In other words, the rain expressed the current mood in the situation.
Think of a time when you dreamed of getting something (an object, an award, a job, even a boyfriend/girlfriend). How can the attainment of the goal be less satisfying than the pursuit of the goal? Is it worth it in the end?
I clearly remember when I wanted a girl in Germany to be my girlfriend, since I liked her a lot. The sad truth is that I have never reached my goal, but I was still happy with the numerous attempts of getting her love for me because now I know what it feels like to love somebody you know you cannot live with. With this experience, I can now help people who undergo the same problem as I did before. In addition, I have learned countless number of lessons with my failed path to attain her, where the pain of failure is one of them.
Gatsby finally met with Daisy, yet was afraid to talk to her at first. Why?
Gatsby loved Daisy too much to be nervous in front of her. When Daisy arrived, Gatsby ran behind Nick's house and came to the front door again. It had been as much as 5 years since Gatsby saw Daisy the last time before he went to the Second World War. In addition, Gatsby was an anti-social guy, sometimes not knowing what to say or do in front of other people.
Speculate why Gatsby, now that he is with Daisy, is described as “running down like an over-wound clock” (93).
When Gatsby had a conversation with Daisy, he was extremely nervous and barely could manage himself to talk slowly. Like an over-wound clock, he would spill random words out without recognizing them first.
Daisy cries into a pile of Gatsby’s shirts during a tour of his house. Why is she crying?
Daisy was crying because she has "never seen such - such beautiful shirts before".
More of Gatsby’s past is revealed in this chapter. It is effective that the truth is revealed after we have seen Gatsby’s present wealthy lifestyle, for it shows how Gatsby came to live in such a glamorous illusion. What truths do you learn about Gatsby in this chapter?
Gatsby (originally named James Gatz) used to live and grow up in a small, poor farm. Later on, he became interested in fishing until one day he warned the owner of a big yacht that a storm was approaching. As a result, the man who owned the yacht, Dan Cody, hired Gatsby as his personal assistant, who fell in love with luxury and money. Long after, Dan Cody passed away, leaving $25,000 for Gatsby. However he never received it for Cody's wife reluctantly stole the money.
Compare Jay Gatsby to the American dream.
Jay Gatsby, the person himself, represents the American Dream of millions, even billions, of people around the world with one general simplicity: wealth and money. Most of the people want to be like Jay Gatsby who has, apparently, millions of dollars in his pocket.
Reread p. 103-104. What does Gatsby not realize is happening? How does this relate to the fact that Gatsby is “new money”?
Does Daisy approve of Gatsby’s party? Why or why not?
No, even though Daisy enjoyed the party in Gatsby's mansion, she did not really like the party because she was "appalled by West Egg". In short, she could not understand how such a great party came to existence in West Egg; she did not like the urban mansion in a rural village.
Reread 110-112. What does Gatsby want Daisy to do?
Truly, Gatsby wanted Daisy to tell Tom that she never loved him and that she wanted to live with Gatsby forever.
What is the significance of Gatsby telling Nick about his and Daisy’s first kiss?
After Nick told Gatsby that the past cannot be redone, Gatsby tried to prove him that the fire of love would never vanquish and that he even kissed Daisy once before. The purpose of the kiss was to show real love between Gatsby and Daisy, and that both of them would never leave each other.
As Gatsby waited for Daisy in Nick's house with the host, the weather outside was pouring with heavy rain. When Daisy arrived, the rain continued to fall until Daisy and Gatsby settled down their argument and comforted each other. The rain stopped and a clear sky appeared after both of them smiled at each other. In other words, the rain expressed the current mood in the situation.
Think of a time when you dreamed of getting something (an object, an award, a job, even a boyfriend/girlfriend). How can the attainment of the goal be less satisfying than the pursuit of the goal? Is it worth it in the end?
I clearly remember when I wanted a girl in Germany to be my girlfriend, since I liked her a lot. The sad truth is that I have never reached my goal, but I was still happy with the numerous attempts of getting her love for me because now I know what it feels like to love somebody you know you cannot live with. With this experience, I can now help people who undergo the same problem as I did before. In addition, I have learned countless number of lessons with my failed path to attain her, where the pain of failure is one of them.
Gatsby finally met with Daisy, yet was afraid to talk to her at first. Why?
Gatsby loved Daisy too much to be nervous in front of her. When Daisy arrived, Gatsby ran behind Nick's house and came to the front door again. It had been as much as 5 years since Gatsby saw Daisy the last time before he went to the Second World War. In addition, Gatsby was an anti-social guy, sometimes not knowing what to say or do in front of other people.
Speculate why Gatsby, now that he is with Daisy, is described as “running down like an over-wound clock” (93).
When Gatsby had a conversation with Daisy, he was extremely nervous and barely could manage himself to talk slowly. Like an over-wound clock, he would spill random words out without recognizing them first.
Daisy cries into a pile of Gatsby’s shirts during a tour of his house. Why is she crying?
Daisy was crying because she has "never seen such - such beautiful shirts before".
More of Gatsby’s past is revealed in this chapter. It is effective that the truth is revealed after we have seen Gatsby’s present wealthy lifestyle, for it shows how Gatsby came to live in such a glamorous illusion. What truths do you learn about Gatsby in this chapter?
Gatsby (originally named James Gatz) used to live and grow up in a small, poor farm. Later on, he became interested in fishing until one day he warned the owner of a big yacht that a storm was approaching. As a result, the man who owned the yacht, Dan Cody, hired Gatsby as his personal assistant, who fell in love with luxury and money. Long after, Dan Cody passed away, leaving $25,000 for Gatsby. However he never received it for Cody's wife reluctantly stole the money.
Compare Jay Gatsby to the American dream.
Jay Gatsby, the person himself, represents the American Dream of millions, even billions, of people around the world with one general simplicity: wealth and money. Most of the people want to be like Jay Gatsby who has, apparently, millions of dollars in his pocket.
Reread p. 103-104. What does Gatsby not realize is happening? How does this relate to the fact that Gatsby is “new money”?
Does Daisy approve of Gatsby’s party? Why or why not?
No, even though Daisy enjoyed the party in Gatsby's mansion, she did not really like the party because she was "appalled by West Egg". In short, she could not understand how such a great party came to existence in West Egg; she did not like the urban mansion in a rural village.
Reread 110-112. What does Gatsby want Daisy to do?
Truly, Gatsby wanted Daisy to tell Tom that she never loved him and that she wanted to live with Gatsby forever.
What is the significance of Gatsby telling Nick about his and Daisy’s first kiss?
After Nick told Gatsby that the past cannot be redone, Gatsby tried to prove him that the fire of love would never vanquish and that he even kissed Daisy once before. The purpose of the kiss was to show real love between Gatsby and Daisy, and that both of them would never leave each other.