Great Gatsby Comprehension Questions & Reading Journal
Great Gatsby has 9 chapters
Free, no sign-up. Customise to reword questions or add your reader’s name.
Inside the journal: 9 chapter pages, one question each · 3 example answers · a cover for your reader’s name
Chapter by chapter Each question is about its own chapter.
Nick has just moved to West Egg and visits Daisy and Tom. What do we learn about these characters from the way they talk and act?See all 9 questions ↓
A printable reading journal for Great Gatsby: one question per chapter, with example answers.
Buy the book on Amazon ↗ (affiliate link)
Great Gatsby questions by chapter
We know this book well. Every question asks about something that happens in its chapter, a moment, a choice or a character, without giving away what comes next. One question per chapter, across all 9 chapters, and every one is editable before you print. The example answers under 3 of the chapters are the ones printed at the front of the booklet.
-
Chapter 1
Nick has just moved to West Egg and visits Daisy and Tom. What do we learn about these characters from the way they talk and act?
-
Chapter 2
Nick goes with Tom to meet Myrtle in New York. How does this chapter show that some characters are not being honest or kind to others?
-
Chapter 3
Nick attends one of Gatsby’s huge parties. What details make the party seem exciting, strange, or mysterious?
Example answer: I think the party seems exciting because there is music, food, dancing, and many people having fun. It also feels strange because a lot of guests do not really know Gatsby, even though they are at his house. Gatsby seems mysterious because people tell rumors about him instead of knowing the truth. This makes me want to learn who Gatsby really is.
-
Chapter 4
Gatsby tells Nick stories about his past. Which parts of Gatsby’s story seem believable, and which parts make you wonder if he is telling the whole truth?
-
Chapter 5
Gatsby and Daisy meet again after many years. How do their feelings change during the meeting, and what do you think they are hoping for?
-
Chapter 6
We learn more about Gatsby’s real past. How does this new information change the way you understand Gatsby and his dream?
Example answer: Learning about Gatsby’s past helps me see that he worked very hard to become a different person. He was not born rich, so he made a new name and a new life for himself. I think his dream is not only about money, but also about feeling important and winning Daisy’s love. This makes him seem both determined and sad to me.
-
Chapter 7
The group travels into the city, and many hidden feelings come out. What important truths are revealed in this chapter, and how do they affect the characters?
-
Chapter 8
Gatsby keeps hoping Daisy will choose him. What does this show about Gatsby’s character, and do you think his hope is wise or not?
-
Chapter 9
After Gatsby dies, Nick thinks about Gatsby’s life and the people around him. What message do you think the book gives about dreams, wealth, and friendship?
Example answer: I think the book shows that money can make life look beautiful, but it does not always bring real happiness. Gatsby had a big dream, but many people around him were not true friends. Nick seems to understand that Gatsby cared deeply, even if his dream was impossible. The story made me think that loyal friends and honest choices matter more than being rich.
More ready-made journals
-
Dog Man: A Sprinkle in Time
-
Dolphins at Daybreak
-
Donut (the Puppy Place #63
-
Dork Diaries
-
Dork Diaries 16
-
Dork Diaries 7
How to use this Great Gatsby reading journal
At home, as a discussion guide
After each chapter your reader writes a few lines on that chapter’s question. Read the answer together at bedtime: it shows what they understood and gives you something real to talk about, without a quiz.
In class, as a novel study
Print a class set (booklets fold from plain letter paper) and use one question per chapter as the reading-response or literature-circle prompt. The example answers at the front show what a full answer looks like.
Homeschool
One booklet covers the whole book, 9 chapters, so it doubles as the reading log for Great Gatsby. Reword any question before printing to match your reader.
Printing
The booklet PDF prints on ordinary 8.5 × 11 paper: print double-sided (flip on the short edge) at 100%, fold the stack in half and staple on the fold. There is also a one-page-per-sheet PDF and A5 binder pages.
Where the questions come from
Each question is about its own chapter. We know this book well. Every question asks about something that happens in its chapter, a moment, a choice or a character, without giving away what comes next. The questions were drafted with AI from what is known about the book and checked before publishing; every one is editable before you print.