Table of Chapters & Interactive Lessons
Read chapter previews, learn key vocabulary, and complete comprehension quizzes.
I
Nick Carraway moves to New York and visits his wealthy cousin Daisy and her arrogant husband Tom for dinner. Beneath their glamorous lifestyle, Nick quickly discovers tension, secrets, and painful marital trouble.
II
Tom Buchanan brings Nick to the bleak valley of ashes to meet his mistress, Myrtle Wilson, leading to an impromptu, drunken gathering at a New York apartment. As gossip and alcohol flow, the evening descends into reckless vanity and sudden violence.
III
Nick attends one of Jay Gatsby's spectacular summer parties, where he finally meets his mysterious host face to face. Amid wild rumors and dazzling entertainment, Nick discovers that Gatsby is a polite young man with secrets of his own.
IV
Gatsby takes Nick to lunch in New York and shares surprising details about his past, while Jordan Baker later reveals Gatsby's secret, long-standing love for Daisy.
V
Nick arranges a quiet tea party so Jay Gatsby can finally reunite with his lost love, Daisy Buchanan. After a very nervous and awkward start, Gatsby proudly invites Daisy to see his magnificent mansion.
VI
Nick reveals the true story of Jay Gatsby's humble origins as James Gatz and his time with a wealthy mentor. Later, Tom and Daisy attend one of Gatsby's lavish parties, leading to tension and Gatsby's desperate belief that he can recreate the past.
VII
On the hottest day of the summer, the hidden rivalry between Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby explodes during a trip to New York. In a stifling hotel room, Gatsby demands that Daisy deny her past with Tom, but her emotional confession threatens to destroy his dream.
VIII
Gatsby reveals the true story of his romantic past with Daisy while desperately clinging to the hope that she will call. Meanwhile, a grief-stricken George Wilson seeks deadly revenge for his wife's death, leading to a tragic end.
IX
Following Gatsby's tragic death, Nick finds himself virtually alone in organizing the funeral as former friends and party guests disappear. Deeply disillusioned by the destructive carelessness of Tom and Daisy, Nick decides to leave the East behind forever.