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Quizzes > Books & Literature

Great Gatsby Chapter 2 Quiz: Test Your Knowledge

Quick, free quiz with Great Gatsby chapter 2 questions. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Leandro Gomes De Menezes Updated Aug 26, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for quiz on The Great Gatsby Chapter 2 topics on a teal background

This Great Gatsby Chapter 2 quiz helps you check your grasp of the Valley of Ashes, Tom and Myrtle, and Dr. T. J. Eckleburg's eyes. Build context with the Great Gatsby chapter 1 quiz, continue the storyline with the Great Gatsby chapter 4 quiz, or jump to rising conflict in the Great Gatsby chapter 7 quiz.

What is the name of the wasteland area featured at the beginning of Chapter 2?
The Valley of Ashes
East Egg
West Egg
The Long Island Shore
The Valley of Ashes is described as a gray, desolate stretch of land between West Egg and New York City, representing social decay. It serves as a stark contrast to the opulence of the Eggs. This setting introduces the theme of industrial wasteland and moral desolation in the novel.
Who owns the billboard with the giant, bespectacled eyes overlooking the valley?
Nick Carraway
Jay Gatsby
Dr. T. J. Eckleburg
George Wilson
The billboard features the eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg, an oculist whose advertisement looms over the valley of ashes. The eyes symbolize the moral oversight or judgment in the story. Fitzgerald uses this image to evoke the idea of an absent but watchful authority.
Which couple runs the garage and gas station in the valley of ashes?
George and Myrtle Wilson
Nick Carraway and Jordan Baker
Tom and Daisy Buchanan
Jay Gatsby and Jordan Baker
George Wilson owns and operates the garage and gas station in the valley of ashes, and his wife Myrtle lives above it. Their life in the valley contrasts sharply with the riches of Tom Buchanan. This setting underscores themes of class disparity.
Who is Tom Buchanan's mistress introduced in Chapter 2?
Myrtle Wilson
Jordan Baker
Catherine McKee
Daisy Fay
Tom takes Nick to meet Myrtle Wilson, his mistress, who lives with her husband in the valley of ashes. Myrtle's behavior and apartment reflect her attempts to appear wealthier than she is. This affair sets up tensions in the novel's moral landscape.
What color is used symbolically throughout Chapter 2 to emphasize the desolation of the valley?
Gold
Green
Gray
White
Gray dominates the description of the valley of ashes, symbolizing lifelessness and decay. Fitzgerald uses this color to contrast with the vibrant parties in New York. The persistent gray underscores the moral and social emptiness seen there.
During the party in the Manhattan apartment, what does Myrtle repeatedly do that annoys the other guests?
She refuses to dance
She critiques Gatsby's manners
She sings sorrowful songs
She talks loudly and impersonates Daisy
Myrtle frequently mimics Daisy's voice in a loud, nasal accent, which offends the other apartment guests. This behavior reveals her frustration with her own life and her obsession with a higher social standing. It also highlights her lack of self-awareness.
What does Tom buy for Myrtle in New York City to please her?
A bottle of luxury perfume
A string of pearls
A fancy hat
A dog
Tom impulsively purchases a small dog for Myrtle from an acquaintance's shop. This gift exemplifies Tom's careless wealth and Myrtle's desire for visible status symbols. The gesture also shows the transactional nature of their affair.
How does Myrtle respond when Tom stops mentioning Daisy's name?
She refuses to speak to him
She slaps him
She shrugs and smiles
She breaks his nose
Myrtle becomes enraged when Tom tries to avoid talking about Daisy, and she strikes him, breaking his nose. This violent outburst underscores her possessiveness and volatility. It also foreshadows the destructive consequences of the affair.
What immediate moral or societal critique does the valley of ashes represent?
The decline of rural farming communities
The corruption of wealth excess
The decay resulting from industrialization
The dangers of unregulated capitalism
The valley of ashes symbolizes the moral and social decay that follows rapid industrial growth and materialism. It illustrates the consequences of neglecting spiritual values in the pursuit of wealth. Fitzgerald uses this setting to critique the American Dream's dark side.
Catherine, Myrtle's sister, gives a suspicious reason for why Daisy and Tom are not divorced. What is it?
Because Daisy is pregnant
Because Tom refuses to sign papers
Because Daisy is Catholic
Because of social scandal fears
Catherine claims Daisy can't divorce Tom because she's Catholic, though this is untrue. This invented excuse highlights Myrtle's delusions and social pretenses. It also underscores the characters' willingness to distort facts for convenience.
In Chapter 2, who invites Nick to visit the apartment party after the initial gathering?
Myrtle's sister Catherine
The apartment owner
Owl-Eyes
Jordan Baker
After the first group grows tired, Catherine, Myrtle's sister, persuades Nick to stay for the larger party in the apartment. Her invitation draws Nick deeper into the world of Tom and Myrtle's affair. This event further entwines him in their moral complexities.
What is the primary literary function of the eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg in Chapter 2?
They predict the upcoming World War I
They symbolize the inescapable scrutiny of society
They represent Gatsby's unattainable dreams
They stand for Tom Buchanan's moral integrity
The eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg symbolize an omnipresent moral judgment on the characters' actions, akin to a godlike observer. Fitzgerald uses this image to underscore the spiritual emptiness and ethical decline in the valley of ashes. Their looming presence reminds readers of consequences beyond material pursuits.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Key Plot Points -

    After completing the great gatsby chapter 2 quiz, readers will be able to pinpoint major events like Tom's affair in Chapter 2 and Gatsby's lavish party in Chapter 3.

  2. Analyze Symbolism -

    Readers will examine the gatsby chapter the eye of dr tj eckleburg and interpret its role as a symbol of moral decay and societal observation.

  3. Interpret Thematic Elements -

    Participants will explore Fitzgerald's use of motifs such as the valley of ashes to understand themes of wealth, corruption, and the American Dream.

  4. Answer Detailed Quiz Questions -

    By tackling chapter 2 the great gatsby questions and related prompts, users will reinforce comprehension and recall critical details from the text.

  5. Evaluate Character Motivations -

    Readers will compare character actions and motivations across Chapters 2 and 3, gaining insight into how desires drive the narrative forward.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Tom Buchanan's Affair with Myrtle -

    In chapter 2 of The Great Gatsby, Tom's affair with Myrtle Wilson reveals the power dynamics and moral decay that drive the plot forward. Fitzgerald's sharp dialogue and abrupt shifts in setting emphasize Tom's entitlement and Myrtle's yearning for escape. When tackling the great gatsby chapter 2 quiz, use the "Pair" mnemonic to link Tom + Myrtle's illicit pairing in your mind for chapter 2 questions for the great gatsby.

  2. Symbolism of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg's Eyes -

    As you explore gatsby chapter the eye of dr tj eckleburg, note how the billboard's bespectacled stare functions as a moral watchdog overlooking the Valley of Ashes. Scholars on JSTOR often interpret these fading eyes as a critique of spiritual emptiness and the illusory American Dream. In the great gatsby questions chapter 2, remember "Eyes = Judgment" to recall this potent symbol.

  3. Valley of Ashes vs. West Egg -

    Chapter 2 the great gatsby questions frequently highlight the contrast between the grim Valley of Ashes and the opulence of West Egg, illustrating class disparities. According to CliffsNotes, Fitzgerald uses gray imagery and desolate landscapes to underscore the moral and social wasteland between extremes of wealth. For faster recall, think "Gray Gap" to remember this stark setting dichotomy.

  4. Nick Carraway's Narrative Perspective -

    Nick's first-person narration in chapter 2 offers a lens of cautious judgment and Midwestern values amid East Coast excess. University analyses stress how his observations blend sympathy with moral critique, setting the tone for later chapters. When reviewing for the great gatsby chapter 2 quiz, frame questions around Nick's reliability by asking yourself: "What does Nick admire or criticize here?"

  5. Social Class and Moral Decay -

    Chapter 2 questions for the great gatsby often focus on how characters' interactions at Tom and Myrtle's party reveal broader societal corruption. Research repositories like Project Muse note Fitzgerald's use of superficial glamour to mask greed, infidelity, and violence. Use the tagline "Glamour vs. Guilt" to quickly recall these themes during your review.

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