The Great Gatsby, Chapter 1

Nick rents a house in West Egg. He goes to dinner in East Egg. He sees Gatsby on the lawn, reaching for a light.

The Great Gatsby has 9 chapters. Chapter 1 comes first, before Chapter 2. The 6 key lines here come from Nick's father, Nick and Daisy.

This chapter in five words

NickmeetsDaisyandTom

Hide these. Ask the class for their five. Then show them. Then play today's sentence.

The quotes

6 quotes in this chapter.

Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had.

Nick's father · Chapter 1 · class · honesty

Nick's father tells him not to judge. Nick repeats it. He still judges.

an extraordinary gift for hope

This is what Nick cannot drop about Gatsby. Hope, not the parties.

there was something gorgeous about him

Nick scorns what Gatsby stands for. He still cannot look away.

that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool

Daisy hopes her daughter is a fool. She thinks that is the safest thing a girl can be.

a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock

Nick sees Gatsby reaching for a light across the water. It is Daisy's dock. Gatsby does not say her name yet.

the white palaces of fashionable East Egg glittered along the water

East Egg is old money. West Egg is new. Nick lives in West Egg, next to Gatsby. Daisy lives across the bay.