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Question #N1052

In the novel "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the narrator Nick Carraway, who is originally from the Midwest, has recently moved to the East Coast. He is intrigued by the lavish lifestyle of the wealthy people he encounters there, particularly by the enigmatic Jay Gatsby. Gatsby is known for throwing extravagant parties at his mansion, but no one truly knows his past or his true intentions. The novel explores themes of love, loss, wealth, and the American Dream. The reader is presented with a perspective of the Roaring Twenties, a time period of great social and economic change. What is the primary effect of the narrator's limited knowledge of Gatsby's past on the novel?

The narrator's limited knowledge of Gatsby's past primarily serves to

A. create a sense of mystery and intrigue.

B. highlight the narrator's own moral ambiguity.

C. provide a historical context for the events of the novel.

D. emphasize the superficiality of the wealthy characters.

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Correct Answer is: A

The narrator's lack of knowledge about Gatsby's past creates a sense of mystery and intrigue, which is a key element in the novel's overall tone and theme. This mystery adds suspense and encourages the reader to speculate about Gatsby's motivations and background.