Question

Read the excerpt from Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.

My house was at the very tip of the egg, only fifty yards from the Sound, and squeezed between two huge places that rented for twelve or fifteen thousand a season. The one on my right was a colossal affair by any standard—it was a factual imitation of some Hotel de Ville in Normandy, with a tower on one side, spanking new under a thin beard of raw ivy, and a marble swimming pool, and more than forty acres of lawn and garden. It was Gatsby’s mansion.

How does Fitzgerald use setting in the exposition of this passage?



He underscores the cultural differences between West Egg and East Egg.

He introduces the reader to the themes of jealousy and undying love.

He suggests that Gatsby is sophisticated and very wealthy.

He creates atmosphere and establishes geographic context.

Answer 1

The correct answer is D.

Through this passage, Fitzgerald conveys two pieces of important information:

One is the geographic context in which the story will take place. Nick's house and Gatsby's mansion on the West Egg.

And the other is the image of Gatsby that the mansion produces on the reader. The house is enormous and ostentatious, an imitation of French architecture, made of ivy and marble, with great gardens and a pool. With the description of the mansion, Fitzgerald manages to provide important information about Gatsby: he is clearly new money and he seeks to impress his neighbours and friends with it.

Answer 2

He creates atmosphere and establishes geographic context.