Great Gatsby chapter summaries Flashcards
1
Q
Summary of chapter 1
A
- meet Nick
- introduced to the setting
- Nick has dinner with Tom, Daisy and Jordan
- we learn of Tom’s suspicious affair
- symbol of the green light when Gatsby is described
2
Q
Summary of chapter 2
A
- introduced to the “Valley of Ashes”
- Nick gets drunk in Tom’s NYC apartment
- introduced to Tom and Myrtle’s affair
- Tom breaks Myrtle’s nose
3
Q
Summary of chapter 3
A
- Nick attends one of Gatsby’s parties (by invitation)
- he meets a man in the library
4
Q
Summary of chapter 4
A
- Gatsby and Nick go to lunch
- we learn of Gatsby’s background
- introduced to Mayor Wolfsheim
- Nick meets with Jordan to let her tell him the story of how Daisy and Gatsby met
- she tells Nick Gatsby’s plan
5
Q
Summary of chapter 5
A
- when Gatsby “drops by” Nick’s plan, things don’t go to plan
- all 3 of them explore Gatsby’s house
(this is the turning point in the novel)
6
Q
Summary of chapter 6
A
- Gatsby’s real past is revealed
- Tom and Daisy attend one of Gatsby’s parties
- Gatsby wants Daisy to say that she never loved Tom
7
Q
Summary of chapter 7
A
- Tom finds out about Gatsby and Daisy’s affair
- they all have lunch and Tom finds out they are in love
- all go to NYC
- Tom “comforts” Gatsby about his past
- George reveals he knows Myrtle is having an affair
- Daisy kills Myrtle with reckless driving, but Gatsby takes the blame
8
Q
Summary of chapter 8
A
- Gatsby waits outside Daisy and Tom’s house all night long, but nothing happens
- Gatsby tells Nick the truth about his past relationship with Daisy
- Nick makes excuses not to see Jordan
- he also narrates the events that occurred after Myrtle’s death
- Wilson shoots Gatsby and kills him
- Wilson then kills himself
9
Q
Summary of chapter 9
A
- Nick organises Gatsby’s funeral, but very few people attend
- Tom reveals he told Wilson that Gatsby was driving the car that killed Myrtle
- Nick meets Jordan and they talk about why their relationship didn’t work out / why it ended
- Nick realises / reflects that Gatsby was chasing a dream that was already behind him, resulting in his death (mouthpiece for Fitzgerald)
