Plot Flashcards
Chapter 1 - ‘fundamental decencies’
Nick Carraway introduces himself as narrator.
He’s just moved to West Egg, a ‘commuting town’ near New York, to start a career in bonds.
He goes to dinner in East Egg with the Buchanans - his cousin Daisy and her husband Tom. At dinner he meets Jordan Baker - a professional golfer.
Tom is revealed to be a white supremacist, having an affair with an unnamed woman.
Nick returns home and sees Gatsby next door, reaching out across the water towards a green light.
Chapter 2 - ‘where ashes grow like wheat’
Nick meets Tom’s mistress Myrtle, and her husband George. They own a garage on the edge of the valley of ashes between West Egg and New York.
Myrtle agrees to go to New York with Tom and Nick.
Myrtle hosts an impromptu party at Tom’s New York apartment. She invited her sister and the McKees, who live in the apartment below.
They all get Drunk. Tom and Myrtle argue, and he breaks her nose.
Chapter 3 - ‘a regular Belasco’
Nick receives an invitation to one of Gatsby’s famous parties and visits his neighbour’s mansion for the first time.
Nick spends the evening with Jordan Baker trying to find the host of the party, Jay Gatsby, but they just hear a lot of wild gossip and rumours. When Nick finally meets Gatsby, he’s nothing like what he expected.
Gatsby speaks to Jordan about a private matter, but Jordan refuses to tell Nick what Gatsby said.
After the party Nick gives a brief description of his life in New York and his developing relationship with Jordan.
Chapter 4 - ‘an enchanted life’
Nick makes a list of some of the people who attended Gatsby’s parties in the summer of 1922.
Gatsby invites Nick to lunch in New York. On the way, Gatsby tells Nick a story about his past.
At lunch Nick meets Meyer Wolfshiem, a notorious gambler.
Nick meets Jordan for dinner and she explains that Gatsby and Daisy used to be in love.
Chapter 5 - ‘I’m sorry about the clock’
Nick and Gatsby arrange a date to invite Daisy to tea. Nick tells her not to bring Tom.
The reunion between Gatsby and Daisy is awkward and uncomfortable so Nick leaves the room. After a while he returns, and they decide to visit Gatsby’s mansion.
After a brief tour of the mansion Nick leaves Daisy and Gatsby alone together.
Chapter 6 - ‘pervading harshness’
Nick explains that Gatsby is actually James Gatz from North Dakota who left home at a young age to seek his fortune. Gatsby changed his name at 17 when he met Dan Cody, a self-made millionaire.
Tom is invited to one of Gatsby’s parties and arrives with Daisy. Daisy is offended by West Egg and the debauchery of the party, while Tom gets the names and addresses of pretty women.
Gatsby wants Daisy to say that she never loved Tom, so they can ‘wipe out’ her marriage and start again.
Chapter 7 - ‘watching over nothing’
Gatsby stops holding parties and replaces all of his servants to prevent any gossip about Daisy’s visits.
Nick, Gatsby and Jordan go for lunch at Tom and Daisy’s. Tom realises Daisy and Gatsby are in love. They all go to New York. Tom stops for petrol and George reveals that he knows Myrtle is having an affair.
In New York, Tom confronts Gatsby about his past and accuses him of being a bootlegger. Gatsby tells Tom that Daisy never loved him, but she claims she did and decides to stay with Tom.
Daisy and Gatsby drive home ahead of the others. On the way they hit and kill Myrtle. Tom finds out that Gatsby’s car was involved in the accident. Gatsby tells Nick that Daisy was driving but he’ll take the blame.
Chapter 8 - ‘above the hot struggles of the poor’
Gatsby waits all night outside the Buchanans’ house in case Daisy needs him, but nothing happens.
Gatsby tells Nick the truth about his past and relationship with Daisy.
Nick goes to work where he receives a phone call from Jordan. He makes excuses not to see her.
Nick describes events that occurred just after Myrtle’s death, and hints that George headed to Gatsby’s house.
Nick returns from work and finds that Gatsby has been killed. George’s body is found nearby.
Chapter 9 - ‘careless people’
Nick describes the events after Gatsby’s death. He organises a funeral but only Gatsby’s father, Owl Eyes, a few servants and the postman attend.
Nick meets Jordan and they discuss why their relationship ended.
Tom reveals that he told George Gatsby was driving the car that killed Myrtle.
Nick reflects that Gatsby believed he was running towards his dream without realising it was already behind him.
