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Quizzes > Books & Literature

Great Gatsby chapter 1 quiz: Check your understanding

10 quick Great Gatsby chapter 1 questions. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Amy LauUpdated Aug 25, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for The Great Gatsby chapter 1 quiz on coral background

This Great Gatsby chapter 1 quiz helps you check recall of characters, East and West Egg, and the green light. Answer 10 quick questions and see instant results. Keep going with the Great Gatsby chapter 2 quiz or try the Great Gatsby chapter 4 quiz to build chapter-by-chapter confidence.

Where is Nick Carraway originally from?
Chicago
St. Paul, Minnesota
New York City
West Egg, Long Island
Nick Carraway begins the novel by explaining he is from a prominent family in the Midwest, specifically St. Paul, Minnesota. This background establishes his outsider status in the East Coast social scene. His Midwestern roots also inform his judgmental yet reflective narrative stance.
Who is Nick's cousin?
Pammy Buchanan
Daisy Buchanan
Myrtle Wilson
Jordan Baker
Nick tells us early on that his cousin is Daisy Buchanan, which is the reason he ends up living next door to Gatsby in West Egg. This family tie allows Nick to be introduced to the wealthy and complex world of the Buchanans. Daisy's connection to Nick serves as a bridge to the novel's central social circle.
Which side of Long Island does Nick live on?
Valley of Ashes
East Egg
Manhattan
West Egg
Nick Carraway rents a modest house in West Egg, the less fashionable of the two Eggs, which contrasts with the grand mansions on East Egg. This geographic detail underscores social differences between the new money (West Egg) and old money (East Egg) communities.
In what year is the story set according to Chapter 1?
1923
1921
1922
1920
Fitzgerald opens with the line "In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice... & in 1922…" indicating that the events take place in the summer of 1922. This situates the novel firmly in the Jazz Age, a time of cultural and economic change.
Who is Tom Buchanan's wife?
Daisy Buchanan
Myrtle Wilson
Catherine McKee
Jordan Baker
Tom Buchanan is married to Daisy Buchanan, Nick's cousin, and their union represents old-money East Egg society. Their relationship is central to the novel's exploration of wealth, privilege, and moral decay.
How does Nick describe himself early in the chapter?
Aggressive and competitive
Quiet and observant
Honest and non-judgmental
Confident and wealthy
Nick claims he is 'inclined to reserve all judgments,' suggesting he views himself as honest and non-judgmental. This self-description is important as it sets up his role as an ostensibly reliable narrator.
What color is Gatsby's mansion described as?
Grey
Yellow
White
Blue
Fitzgerald describes Gatsby's grand house as a 'white palatial mansion,' reinforcing the purity and emptiness of its lavish exterior. The color white often symbolizes both wealth and the moral hollowness of the characters who occupy it.
How is Daisy's voice described by Nick?
Heartless
Full of money
Melodious
Raspy
Nick famously notes that Daisy's voice is 'full of money,' highlighting the allure and corruption of wealth. This metaphor underscores a key theme: the intoxicating power of wealth over individuals.
What is Tom Buchanan doing when Nick first encounters him?
Having dinner
Riding a horse
Dancing
Reading a book
When Nick arrives at the Buchanan estate, he finds Tom reading a racist book entitled The Rise of the Colored Empires. This detail immediately frames Tom as aggressive and prejudiced.
What area lies between West Egg and New York City?
Harlem
North Egg
Valley of Ashes
East Egg
Fitzgerald introduces the Valley of Ashes, a desolate industrial wasteland between the Eggs and New York City, representing social decay and the moral cost of wealth.
What symbol looms over the Valley of Ashes?
An eyes billboard
A white mansion
A green light
A yellow taxi
The billboard of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg's giant eyes overlooks the Valley of Ashes, symbolizing moral oversight or divine judgement in a corrupt society.
What is the name on the billboard doctor's advertisement?
Dr. William Howe
Dr. John Remington
Dr. T. J. Eckleburg
Dr. Henry Gatz
The faded eyes on the billboard belong to Dr. T. J. Eckleburg, a symbol of the loss of spiritual values in America. His omnipresent gaze reflects the emptiness behind wealth.
What is Jordan Baker's profession?
Journalist
Photographer
Professional golfer
Painter
Jordan Baker is introduced as a professional golfer, which highlights her independence and the changing role of women in the 1920s. Her athletic career contrasts with the passive lives of other female characters.
What book is Tom Buchanan reading in Chapter 1?
The Great War Diaries
The World of Finance
American Ideals
The Rise of the Colored Empires
Tom is reading a book called The Rise of the Colored Empires, a racist text that underlines his aggressive and prejudiced nature. It also foreshadows conflicts over social hierarchies.
What narrative perspective is used in Chapter 1?
First-person
Third-person limited
Third-person omniscient
Second-person
The novel is narrated in the first person by Nick Carraway, allowing Fitzgerald to present subjective insights and commentary on other characters. This perspective shapes our understanding of the events and personalities.
What does Daisy say is the best thing a girl can be in this world?
Independent
Beautiful
Married
A fool
Daisy remarks that 'the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool,' suggesting she believes ignorance is preferable for women in a patriarchal society. This comment underscores themes of gender and disillusionment.
Which theme is suggested by the Valley of Ashes?
Romantic love
Social decay
American idealism
Technological progress
The Valley of Ashes symbolizes the moral and social decay resulting from the uninhibited pursuit of wealth. It serves as a stark contrast to the glittering Eggs and highlights class divisions.
Who sits opposite Nick at the Buchanans' dinner table?
Pammy Buchanan
Jordan Baker
Catherine McKee
Myrtle Wilson
During dinner at the Buchanan mansion, Jordan Baker sits opposite Nick, marking his introduction to her enigmatic character and the Buchanans' world.
Which tone best describes Fitzgerald's narrative style in Chapter 1?
Gloomy
Humorous
Reflective and restrained
Sarcastic
Nick's narration is reflective and restrained, as he observes and comments on events and characters with a sense of measured judgment. This tone provides insight while maintaining narrative distance.
What does Nick say his habit of reserving judgments has given him access to?
Endless parties
Secret griefs of others
Political influence
Financial success
Nick explains that by reserving judgments, he has been privy to the 'secret griefs of wild, unknown men,' emphasizing his role as a confidant and observer.
How does Fitzgerald characterize Tom Buchanan in the first chapter?
Quiet and reserved
Arrogant and aggressive
Humorous and witty
Generous and shy
Tom is presented as physically powerful, arrogant, and domineering, particularly through his conversations about race and his treatment of Daisy. This characterization foreshadows tension and conflict.
Symbolically, what does the green light at the end of Daisy's dock represent in Chapter 1?
Loss of innocence
Myrtle's desire to escape
Tom's wealth
Gatsby's hopes and dreams for the future
The green light symbolizes Gatsby's aspiration and yearning for Daisy, representing his broader hopes for the American Dream. It becomes a central motif of desire and unattainable goals.
How does Fitzgerald use color imagery to underscore social distinctions in Chapter 1?
By using green and blue for envy
By contrasting white and grey to show wealth vs. decay
By contrasting red and black to represent violence
By pairing yellow and purple to suggest royalty
Fitzgerald contrasts the white of the Buchanan mansion with the grey Valley of Ashes to highlight the gulf between wealth and moral desolation. This color symbolism reinforces class themes.
What does the Valley of Ashes symbolize about 1920s America?
Religious purity
Moral decay hidden by wealth
Technological progress
Family values
The Valley of Ashes represents the moral and social decay that can accompany extreme wealth, showing the dark underbelly of the Roaring Twenties. It acts as a stark counterpoint to the glamour of the Eggs.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Analyze Setting and Social Context -

    Examine the distinctions between East Egg and West Egg by tackling the great gatsby chapter 1 questions, and articulate how Fitzgerald uses setting to comment on wealth and class.

  2. Identify Key Characters -

    Recognize and describe the main figures introduced in chapter one, including their backgrounds and initial motivations, to strengthen your grasp of questions for the great gatsby chapter 1.

  3. Interpret Narrative Voice -

    Analyze Nick Carraway's perspective and tone in chapter one, understanding how his observations shape the reader's view of events in the great gatsby chapter one quiz.

  4. Examine Themes and Symbols -

    Investigate the central ideas and imagery - such as the green light and the Valley of Ashes - presented in chapter one to deepen your insights for chapter 1 questions the great gatsby.

  5. Apply Close-Reading Techniques -

    Use textual evidence to support your answers and hone your analytical skills when responding to the great gatsby chapter 1 questions.

  6. Evaluate Comprehension -

    Test your understanding and recall through our free quiz format, ensuring you can confidently discuss chapter one details and ace the great gatsby chapter one quiz.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Narrative Perspective & Reliability -

    In chapter one, Nick Carraway presents himself as an "honest" observer, yet his selective details reveal personal biases. Spot phrases like "I'm inclined to reserve all judgments" when answering the great gatsby chapter one quiz to examine his reliability. Highlight moments where Nick's impressions shape your understanding for chapter 1 questions the great gatsby discussions.

  2. Setting & Symbolism of West Egg vs. East Egg -

    The geographic split between West Egg and East Egg embodies new money versus old money, a key theme in the great gatsby chapter one quiz. Note how Fitzgerald's descriptive language - "white palaces of fashionable East Egg" - contrasts with West Egg's "less fashionable" aura to answer questions for the great gatsby chapter 1 on social stratification. Consider the mnemonic "WEEP" (West Egg = Emerging Eras & Platinum) to recall distinctions quickly.

  3. Character Introduction: Daisy Buchanan -

    Daisy is first portrayed through Nick's lens as charming yet hollow, a tension central to the great gatsby chapter 1 questions. Pay attention to her voice being "full of money," an image you can quote when tackling chapter 1 questions the great gatsby on character motivations. Linking that description to themes of wealth and disillusionment will boost your quiz performance.

  4. Character Introduction: Jay Gatsby's Mystery -

    Gatsby appears briefly at the end of chapter one, staring across the bay toward a green light - an early symbol of his aspirations. Use that moment to answer the great gatsby chapter one quiz prompts on foreshadowing and thematic setup. Journals like the Fitzgerald Review note the green light's importance for questions for the great gatsby chapter 1 about Gatsby's desires.

  5. Theme of the American Dream & Social Critique -

    Chapter one sets up the American Dream's paradox: wealth as both glittering and empty. Focus on Nick's observations of opulence contrasted with moral decay to nail chapter 1 questions the great gatsby on overarching themes. A helpful tip: frame your answers around "Dream vs. Reality" to organize points for the great gatsby chapter one quiz.

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