The Great Gatsby: Chapter 4

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

What is the significance of this to the reading you have done? 

Chpt 4 Homework check: Gatsby 

1. What does Gatsby tell Nick about himself on their car journey?
   
2. What do we learn about him from the car he drives?
   
3. What makes Nick suspicious of Gatsby’s story?
   
4. At the end of the conversation, what does Gatsby want Nick to do?  

Chpt 4: Homework check 

Food for thought – pages 66 – 67

1. “ I had a glimpse of Mrs Wilson straining at the garage pump with panting vitality.” – what is your interpretation of this quote?
   
2. Pick out the references to death on page 67 as they cross the bridge.
   
3. Comment on the description of the “three modish negros” on page 67.
   
4. What does this passage starting with “Over the great bridge” to “particular wonder.” Suggest to you about the American Dream?  

Persuasion 

“He hurried the phrase ‘educated at Oxford’, or swallowed it, or choked on it,...bothered him before” p.64

Suggests that Gatsby is lying and further adds to the mystery surrounding him. This is continued:

“After that I lived like a young rajah in all capitals ...trying to forget something very sad that had happened to me long ago.” p. 64

Persuasion 

“With an effort I managed to restrain my incredulous laughter.”
p. 64

However, Nick’s impression is challenged when Gatsby shows him a medal he received in the war.

“To my astonishment, the thing had an authentic look”
p. 65

Gatsby then shows Nick a picture of himself at Oxford and Nick says,

“Then it was all true.”
p. 65

Nick now sees Gatsby in a different light. How does this change affect us as readers? 

Power and influence 

The incident with the policeman is a strange one. What does it suggest?

"Taking a white card from his wallet, he waved it before the man's eyes. 

"Right you are,' agreed the policeman, tipping his cap. 'Know you next time. Mr Gatsby, Excuse me!'" p. 67

Does Gatsby have influence over people because of his past?

What does this add to the reader’s impressions of him?

Chpt 4: Homework check 

Mr Wolfsheim – Read the extract carefully page 67 – 72. Think about the following ideas:

• How Mr Wolfsheim eats and the restlessness of his eyes
  
• His molar cufflinks
  
• What he tells Nick about his business activities 

Chpt 4: Homework check 

Daisy’s story – page 72 – 76

In this section Jordan tells Nick about how Daisy and Gatsby first met, and then Daisy’s subsequent marriage to Tom.

1. What is the effect of this change in narrative technique?  

Jordan 

The change to Jordan as narrator here is important. It enables us to have an insight into the relationship between Daisy and Gatsby.

Jordan can tell the story better than Nick because she was there but also has the distance needed for a successful narrator because she was not directly involved. p 72 - 76

Daisy characterisation 

Her behaviour is contrasted to that of Gatsby.

She is briefly distressed, but marries Tom ‘without a shiver’. p. 75

Gatsby’s constancy highlights his loyal and romantic nature.

“Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay.” p.76

Nick’s perceptions of Gatsby’s character have changed – he is no longer just a show off

Have the reader’s perceptions of Gatsby changed because of this new information – how do we see him now?

Structure chapter 4 

Chapter divided into three parts:

1) Nick lists the party guests. He also lists their misbehaviour. This again links with the theme SHALLOWNESS OF THE UPPER CLASSES and the theme APPEARANCE vs REALITY

2) Gatsby’s lunch with Wolfshiem. We see the real Gatsby. What is he hiding with his outrageous stories? Does his connection with Wolfshiem suggest he may be a criminal?

 3) Jordan’s description of Gatsby’s past romance with Daisy gives a different impression of Gatsby. It portrays him as innocent, romantic and shows another side to his personality.

This different impression adds another layer of mystery.

Structure chapter 4 

Jordan’s story also suggests none of the characters have changed:

Gatsby is still obsessed with Daisy and continues to have a ‘romantic’ desire for her.

Tom's cheating clearly began early in his marriage and has continued throughout. 

Daisy is easily led. She initially decides not to marry Tom, but is then persuaded to go ahead with the wedding. 

Teams files (homework 15th Dec) 

In the Teams' files for chapter 5 answer the following questions. 

1 - 7 (PEE and page numbers for quotes) 

Add your answers to your class notebook