Great Gatsby: Ideals vs Reality

Question 1

Overwound clock

Answer 1

He [Gatsby] was consumed with wonder at her presence. He had been full of the idea so long, dreamed it right through to the end, waited with his teeth set, so to speak, at an inconceivable pitch of intensity. Now, in the reaction, he was running down like an overwound clock

C5, P59

Question 2

Enchanted objects

Answer 2

Compared to the great distance that had separated him from Daisy it had seemed very near to her, almost touching her. It had seemed as close as a star to the moon. Now it was again a green light on the dock. His count of enchanted objects had diminished by one.

C5, P60

Question 3

Colossal vitality of his illusion

Answer 3

There must have been moments even that afternoon when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams - not through her own fault, but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion. It had gone beyond her, beyond everything. He had thrown himself into a creative passion, adding to it all the time, decking it out with a bright feather that drifted his way. No amount of fire or freshness can challenge what a man will store up in his ghostly heart

C5, P61