1. Fill in the blanks to complete the summary of the story.
One day, Gatsby’s 1) brings Nick an invitation to one of these parties. At the appointed time, Nick makes the short walk to Gatsby’s house and joins the festivities, feeling somewhat out of place amid the throng of jubilant strangers. Guests mill around exchanging 2) about their host — no one seems to know the truth about Gatsby’s wealth or personal history. Nick runs into Jordan Baker, whose friend, Lucille, speculates that Gatsby was a German 3) during the war. Nick also hears that Gatsby is a graduate of 4) and that he once killed a man in cold blood.
Gatsby’s party is almost unbelievably 5) : guests marvel over his Rolls-Royce, his swimming pool, his beach, crates of fresh oranges and lemons, buffet tents in the gardens overflowing with a feast, and a live 6) playing under the stars. Liquor flows freely, and the crowd grows rowdier and louder as more and more guests get drunk. In this atmosphere of opulence and revelry, Nick and Jordan, curious about their host, set out to find 7) .
At midnight, Nick and Jordan go outside to watch the 8) . They sit at a table with a handsome young man who says that Nick looks familiar to him; they realize that they served in the same 9) during the war. The man introduces himself as none other than Jay Gatsby. Gatsby’s speech is elaborate and formal, and he has a habit of calling everyone “old 10) ”. As the party progresses, Nick becomes increasingly fascinated with Gatsby.
2. Discuss the following questions.
1) What’s the context of this story? What was the society in the 1920s like?
2) How did the writer heighten the sense of mystery and enigma that surrounds Gatsby?
3) Why does Nick come to the party thrown by Gatsby?
4) Does Nick enjoy the party at the beginning?
5) Which acquaintance does Nick encounter at the party?
6) How are Englishmen portrayed in the text?
7) What are the symbolic meanings of East Egg and West Egg?