F. Scott Fitzgerald The Great Gatsby
Biography
Who was F. Scott Fitzgerald? Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, on September 24, 1896 Was the second cousin three times removed from the author of the National Anthem “Oh say, can you see by the dawn’s early light…” Desired personal distinction and achievement from an early age SHOULD HAVE graduated from Princeton University in 1917 Neglected his studies for his literary apprenticeship wrote the scripts and lyrics for the Princeton Triangle Club musicals and was a contributor to the Princeton Tiger humor magazine and the Nassau Literary Magazine Joined the army in 1917 (the year he should have graduated)
Love Life and Bouncing Back After his first novel failed to be published, his fiancée broke off their engagement. After the broken engagement, he continued to write short stories for magazines. Then… (get this!), his first novel, This Side of Paradise, was published and made Fitzgerald an overnight success! SO… Remember the chick who broke off their engagement because she didn’t want to marry a poor writer? She married him a week after his novel was published. Golddigger, anyone?
What happened next?? “They embarked on an extravagant life as young celebrities. “Fitzgerald endeavored to earn a solid literary reputation, but his playboy image impeded the proper assessment of his work.” ( Fitzgerald moved from New York back to Saint Paul, Minnesota for the birth of his child. He became increasingly popular as a writer and wrote his way out of debt.
Some of his writing Major themes: Love Success Aspiration and idealism Believed this defined the American character Loss Sounds a lot like his life, right?
The Final High Point? He wanted some inspiration, so in 1922, he went to France with his wife. She had an affair with a French pilot Around this time, the Fitzgeralds developed a close friendship with American expatriates Gerald and Sara Murphy He also wrote The Great Gatsby while on his “vacation” in France. Eventually, his wife became extremely eccentric and he wrote short novels just to pay for her psychiatric treatment. After she was ok, they lived a lavish life until she relapsed in 1932 and had to spend the rest of her life in an insane asylum
The end He died of a heart attack in Graham’s apartment on December 21, Fitzgerald died believing himself to be a failure. Zelda Fitzgerald perished at a fire in Highland Hospital in (WEIRD?!) Not until did his novels become famous American novels, obviously, The Great Gatsby was his most famous. Examines the American Dream and aspiration to achieve goals
His Influences The Roaring Twenties The Roaring Twenties World War 1 World War 1 The 18 th and 19 th Amendments Prohibition and speakeasies Prohibition and speakeasies Flappers The rise of automobiles Music Music Slang Slang The Great Gatsby The Great Gatsby
The Roaring Twenties
April 3 April 3 Joseph Stalin is appointed General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Soviet Communist Party. Joseph Stalin October 18 October 18 The British Broadcasting Company is formed. (Have you ever heard of BBC?)British Broadcasting Company October 28 October 28 In Italy, with the March on Rome, Fascism obtains power and Benito Mussolini becomes prime minister.ItalyRomeFascismBenito Mussolini October 30 October 30 Benito Mussolini becomes the youngest Premier in the history of Italy. Benito Mussolini Italy CAN YOU NOTICE WHAT IS BEING SET UP HERE?
Pictures from 1922 These are the beauty prize winners from 1922! Wow! ( es?imgurl= om/files/images/3b43364u.previ ew.jpg&imgrefurl= horpy.com/beauty-prize- winners-1922&usg)
World War I
End of the War At the end of World War 1, the economy skyrocketed. People could now spend more time on leisure activities. This is how the Fitzgeralds could spend so much money on their lavish lifestyle. Soon after, though, the Great Depression hit.
Post-War American Attitudes Disillusionment following World War I, particularly among veterans, artists, and intellectuals (the Lost Generation) Society was lacking in idealism and vision Sense of personal alienation Americans were obsessed with materialism and outmoded moral values Who are the Lost Generation? People who had a youthful idealism, Sought the meaning of life, Drank a lot, Had love affairs, Lived in Paris, Rejected American materialism
Speakeasies and Prohibition
A flapper hides a flask in her garters. Those who frequented speakeasies usually brought their own liquor with them, transporting it in their coat pockets, purses, or, as this woman demonstrates, in their stockings! * Connie's Inn, a major speakeasy of the 1920's and 1930's.
What is a speakeasy? Since the law at this time prohibited alcohol, speakeasies developed. A place to illegally get alcohol During prohibition ( ), selling or making alcohol was completely illegal The name came because the people at the speakeasies who sold the alcohol told the customers to be quiet and “speak easy”
The Novel The Great Gatsby
Think The Great Gatsby isn’t popular or influential? Look at this postage stamp!
Some Predictions Based on what we just talked about with the culture, history, background, and author, what do you think this novel will be about? Some themes? The mood? Setting? Characters?
Bibliography Bibliographic information World War I and the Roaring Twenties ory/images/Flapper.jpg ory/images/Flapper.jpg Picture on Slide 15 The Lost Generation content/uploads/2009/02/speakeasy.jpg content/uploads/2009/02/speakeasy.jpg Speakeasy picture