The plot in six lines
Nick Carraway rents a house beside Jay Gatsby's mansion on Long Island and visits his cousin Daisy Buchanan and her husband Tom across the bay.
Tom introduces Nick to his mistress, Myrtle Wilson, whose husband George owns a garage in the valley of ashes, while Gatsby's parties draw crowds of strangers.
Nick meets Gatsby and learns through Jordan Baker that his neighbour's parties and fortune centre on Daisy, whom Gatsby hopes to meet privately at Nick's cottage.
Nick arranges their reunion, but Gatsby's hope of recovering the past meets resistance when Daisy dislikes his party and Tom grows suspicious.
After Tom and Gatsby confront each other in the city, a car accident kills Myrtle, and Gatsby takes the blame to protect Daisy.
George Wilson wrongly blames Gatsby, shoots him and then himself, while Tom and Daisy leave, few attend Gatsby's funeral, and Nick returns to the Midwest in disgust.
Themes
American dream: Gatsby's invented identity and fortune express faith in personal possibility, but his longing exposes the limits of money and effort.
Class and wealth: The contrast between inherited wealth and Gatsby's new fortune shows how money alone cannot secure social acceptance.
Past and desire: Gatsby wants to recover an earlier moment with Daisy, allowing an idealised past to govern his present hopes.
Carelessness: Tom and Daisy retreat into wealth while others bear the consequences, linking privilege with an avoidance of responsibility.
Appearance and reality: Gatsby's impressive house and parties conceal a private longing, while rumours and partial accounts complicate Nick's understanding of him.
Characters
- Nick CarrawayA young Midwesterner who comes to New York to sell bonds, he tells the story and tries to judge people fairly.
- Jay GatsbyA wealthy and mysterious neighbor who throws great parties and hopes to win back something he lost.
- Daisy BuchananNick's charming cousin, married to Tom, whose voice and manner hold a strong pull for Gatsby.
- Tom BuchananDaisy's rich, domineering husband, a former football star who believes his position lets him do as he likes.
- Jordan BakerA cool, stylish professional golfer and friend of Daisy, who becomes close to Nick and carries secrets.
- Myrtle WilsonA restless woman who lives near the valley of ashes and longs for a more glamorous life.
For the A level English Literature exams, summer 2027
- The summer 2027 A level exams run from 10 May to 22 June 2027.
- AQA (Literature A): Paper 1 (7712/1), Love through the ages (prose), Thursday 13 May 2027, morning, 3 hours.
- AQA (Literature B): Paper 1 (7717/1), Aspects of tragedy (prose), Thursday 13 May 2027, morning, 2 hours 30 minutes.
A two-week plan
- Day oneRead the 15-minute summary of The Great Gatsby from start to finish, then tell the story back to yourself in five sentences.
- Day twoNick Carraway moves east and meets the Buchanans: Notice how the contrast between East Egg and West Egg establishes divisions within the wealthy world. The Valley of Ashes hides Tom's secret life: Watch how the valley of ashes exposes the human cost beneath the comfort of the rich.
- Day threeGatsby's parties fill the summer with strangers: Notice how rumours about Gatsby contrast with his watchful behaviour at his own party. Nick learns what the lights are for: Follow how Jordan's account changes Gatsby from a mysterious host into someone with a particular hope.
- Day fourA rainy afternoon brings Gatsby and Daisy together: Watch how the green light loses its symbolic power when Daisy is finally near Gatsby.
- Day fiveOld money and new money begin to collide: Notice how social manners reveal the distance between Gatsby's wealth and Tom's inherited position.
- Day sixGatsby's dream is about the past, not the present: Consider how Gatsby's ideal of Daisy makes his desire larger than the person he hopes to recover.
- Day sevenWealth makes people careless and shields them: Trace how the Wilsons' circumstances expose the unequal protection that money gives different characters.
- Day eightNick tells the story with care and doubt: Question how Nick's admiration and disapproval shape his account, especially when he reconstructs Gatsby's past.
- Day nineThe cast: Nick Carraway, Jay Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan, Tom Buchanan and Jordan Baker. Write one line on what each of them wants.
- Day tenThemes: American dream; Class and wealth; Past and desire; Carelessness; Appearance and reality. Pick one moment in the story for each.
- Day elevenForm: study how the story is told: the narrator, the order of events and the settings.
- Day twelvePractice: plan and write an essay on one theme, then read your argument back and test it against the story.
- Day thirteenPractice: try a second question with a different focus, such as a character or the form.
- Day fourteenRecap: reread your notes and the summary, say the plot out loud once, then rest.
From the boards' published specifications and final summer 2027 timetables, read on 23 October 2026. Ask your school which board and papers you sit.
Questions
What is The Great Gatsby about?
The Great Gatsby is about wealth, love and the American dream, explored through Nick Carraway's involvement with his mysterious neighbour. Gatsby's desire for Daisy links personal longing with the belief that money can recover a lost past.
Who are the main characters in The Great Gatsby?
The main characters are Nick Carraway, Jay Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan and Tom Buchanan, whose relationships connect desire, wealth and judgment. Jordan Baker becomes close to Nick, while Myrtle Wilson and George Wilson reveal lives shaped by the unequal power of wealth.
What are the main themes of The Great Gatsby?
The main themes are the American dream, class, wealth, longing for the past, and the contrast between appearance and reality. Nick's mixed feelings also raise questions about judgment, while Tom and Daisy show how privilege can shelter people from consequences.
Is The Great Gatsby a set text for A level English Literature?
Yes. AQA (Literature A) lists it in Paper 1 (7712/1), Love through the ages (prose). AQA (Literature B) lists it in Paper 1 (7717/1), Aspects of tragedy (prose).
When are the A level English Literature exams in 2027?
The summer 2027 A level exams run from 10 May to 22 June 2027. AQA (Literature A): Paper 1 (7712/1), Thursday 13 May 2027, morning. AQA (Literature B): Paper 1 (7717/1), Thursday 13 May 2027, morning.
