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James Gatz is born
James Gatz is born to Henry C. Gatz in North Dakota. -
Gatz attends college, but drops out
Gatz attends St. Olaf Lutheran College but is ashamed that he must work as a janitor to support himself. Because of this, he drops out. -
Gatz meets Dan Cody and changes his name
Gatz meets his mentor, Dan Cody (a rich man sailing to get away from his wife); Gatz changes his name to Jay Gatsby. -
Gatsby sails with Cody for five years
This occurs from 1907-1912. -
Cody dies and Gatsby is penniless
Though he has no money, Gatsby has learned to polish his manners and learned how the rich act. -
World War I begins
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October - Gatsby and Daisy meet
Gatsby is stationed in Louisville and meets Daisy Fay; she is 18 and he is 27. They begin a whirlwind romance and Gatsby falls deeply and obsessively in love. -
Winter 1917-1918 - Gatsby leaves for Europe
Gatsby is sent to Europe to fight in World War I, leaving Daisy behind. -
September - Gatsby received great notoriety in the War
Gatsby fights well in the Argonne Battle and is promoted to Captain and then to Major; he received many medals as well. -
After the War, Gatsby attends Oxford
Gatsby spends five months at Oxford enrolled in a program for army officers; also during this year, Daisy married Tom Buchanan. -
November - Gatsby returns to Louisville
After his time at Oxford, Gatsby revisits the place where he first met Daisy. While Gatsby is in Kentucky, Daisy is on her opulent honeymoon with Tom. -
Gatsby goes to New York, looking for work
Gatsby goes to a powerful man, Meyer Wolfsheim (who had fixed the World Series that year), asking him for a job. They go into underground business together. -
Gatsby earns money through underground business
Because of prohibition, Gatsby works with Meyer Wolfsheim on their bootlegging business and gains an exorbitant amount of money. -
Gatsby moves to West Egg
Between 1920-1922, Gatsby moves into his mansion - which is right across the bay from Daisy's house. -
July - Nick and Gatsby meet
They meet at a party at Gatsby's house and begin a friendly relationship. -
End of July - Gatsby and Daisy reconnect through Nick's help
Quickly after they reconnect, Daisy and Gatsby begin having an affair. -
Early August - Gatsby throws a party and invites Daisy
They continue their affair and Gatsby fires his staff so he can have Daisy over with less talk. -
Gatsby and Daisy plan to reveal their love to all
This plan goes horribly awry after the group (Gatsby, Nick, Tom, Daisy and Jordan) go to Manhattan. Gatsby implores Daisy to tell Tom that she never loved him, but Daisy cannot say that she never loved Tom. -
Gatsby is in the car when Daisy kills Mrytle
Gatsby decides to cover for Daisy, but the next day, she does not return his calls and skips town with Tom. -
Gatsby sees Nick one last time
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Gatsby dies
Because of a miscommunication, Gatsby is killed by George Wilson (husband of Myrtle); George thought Gatsby and Myrtle were having an affair (this is what Tom told him to cover his tracks) -
September - Gatsby's funeral
No one is in attendance excepting Nick, Gatsby's father, and "Owl-Eyes"