Nick says, "i was looking at an elegant young elaborate formality of speech just missed being absurd. some time before he introduced himself i'd got a strong impression that he was picking his words with care." what is fitzgerald trying to convey here about gatsby? how should we feel about gatsby here?

In this excerpt, Nick makes it clear that Gatsby does not seem to be like the other people around him. He picks his words with care, as if he was playing a part. He also seems to be trying too hard, as Nick tells us that his formality of speech "just missed being absurd." It seems like Gatsby is not as sophisticated as everyone else, but he does not want anyone to notice. However, Nick can see through it, developing the theme that Gatsby is an outsider in this luxurious world.

the answer is: tabard inn, southwark.

in "the canterbury tales," by geoffrey chaucer, the twenty-nine diverse group of pilgrims is staying at a tavern in southwark, london, as they are traveling to canterbury. they wish to visit the relics of saint thomas becket in canterbury   cathedral in order to him for his when they underwent necessities.