Gatsby Ch. 5

"I realize now that under different circumstances, that conversation (about Gatsby’s offer to engage in his ‘little business on the side’ for a ‘nice bit of money’) might have been one of the crises of my life.”

• Nick regrets not taking Gatsby’s offer for extra money and considers it a huge mistake.

• Nick realizes that if he had taken Gatsby’s offer, he would have been in serious trouble.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

“But because the offer was obviously and tactlessly for a service to be rendered (hosting Gatsby and Daisy’s reunion), I had no choice except to cut him off there.”

• Nick might have accepted Gatsby’s offer if he showed more appreciation for Nick’s help.

• Nick refuses Gatsby’s offer because he does not want Gatsby to think he can buy Nick’s help.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

CCSS.RI.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

“Gatsby, his hands still in his pockets, was reclining against the mantlepiece in a strained counterfeit of perfect ease, even of boredom.”

• Gatsby’s posture is languidly jaunty.

• Gatsby affects languid jauntiness.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

CCSS.RI.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

“[Gatsby] hadn’t once ceased looking at Daisy, and I think he revalued everything in his house according to the measure of response it drew from her well-loved eyes.”

• Gatsby values Daisy’s judgment more than his own perspective.

• Gatsby respects Daisy’s opinion of his home and furnishings.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

“Sometimes, he started around at his possessions in a dazed way, as though in her actual and astounding presence none of it was any longer real.”

• Daisy dazzles Gatsby so much that he questions the reality of her presence.

• Daisy’s presence is more valuable than Gatsby’s sizable possessions.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3