Great Gatsby Chapter Two Quiz - Think You Can Ace It?
Ready to Identify Catherine and the McKees? Take the Quiz!
This quiz helps you recall what Mr. McKee tells Nick about Gatsby in The Great Gatsby Chapter 2 and identify Catherine and the McKees in key scenes. Answer quick questions to practice close reading and spot any gaps before class or a test. If you prefer a warm-up, take the Chapter 1 quiz first.
Study Outcomes
- Analyze Mr. McKee's Insight -
Articulate what Mr. McKee tells Nick about Gatsby and evaluate the implications for Nick's perception of Gatsby's character.
- Identify Catherine and the McKees -
Identify Catherine and Mr. and Mrs. McKee, describing their personalities and their influence on the narrative's social dynamics.
- Interpret Key Imagery -
Explain the symbolism of the valley of ashes and the eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg and their thematic significance in Chapter Two.
- Summarize Plot Developments -
Summarize the major events of Chapter Two, including character introductions and pivotal interactions.
- Evaluate Narrative Tone -
Assess Fitzgerald's tone and style in this chapter, considering how setting and character dialogue contribute to the mood.
- Apply Literary Concepts -
Apply principles of symbolism, characterization, and setting to deepen your understanding of Chapter Two and its role in the novel.
Cheat Sheet
- The Valley of Ashes Symbolism -
Fitzgerald's depiction of the valley of ashes captures the moral and social decay lurking beneath the Roaring Twenties' gleam (SparkNotes). Use the mnemonic "Ashes = Abandonment" to recall how this wasteland reflects lost dreams.
- What Mr. McKee Tells Nick About Gatsby -
During the apartment party, Mr. McKee spreads the rumor that Gatsby is a nephew or cousin of Kaiser Wilhelm, highlighting how gossip builds Gatsby's mystique (Fitzgerald, Ch. 2). Remember "German Gossip" to lock in this whispered backstory.
- Identify Catherine and Mr & Mrs McKee -
Catherine, Myrtle's sister, flirts freely and probes others' secrets, while Mr. and Mrs. McKee act as eager social climbers and amateur photographers, underscoring class tensions (CliffNotes). Recall "Camera & Cat" to link the McKees' snapshots with Catherine's curious nature.
- Myrtle Wilson's Role and Motivations -
Myrtle's affair with Tom Buchanan exposes the desperation fueled by her lower”class status and her longing for escape (JSTOR). Use "Myrtle's Money Motive" to remember how wealth drives her choices.
- The Eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg -
The haunting billboard eyes symbolize the absent moral compass in East Egg and West Egg, watching over characters' ethical collapse (University of Virginia). Employ "Eckleburg's Ethical Eye" to connect the image with themes of judgment.