F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald Born in St. Paul, MN- Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald Born in St. Paul, MN- Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald Raised in a respectable Raised in a respectable Mid-West family Mid-West family (upper-middle class) (upper-middle class)
F. Scott Fitzgerald Family had the traditions of the upper- class, but not the financial security. Family had the traditions of the upper- class, but not the financial security. They ‘associated’ themselves with the ‘rich’ but were never truly a part of their ‘circle’ They ‘associated’ themselves with the ‘rich’ but were never truly a part of their ‘circle’
F. Scott Fitzgerald At age 16 while at St. Paul Academy- published first fiction At age 16 while at St. Paul Academy- published first fiction Was known for his literary Was known for his literary expression not athletics expression not athletics or personality or personality Entered Princeton in 1913 Entered Princeton in 1913
F. Scott Fitzgerald At Princeton he wrote for the humor magazine, composed musical comedies, and published material for serious literary magazines At Princeton he wrote for the humor magazine, composed musical comedies, and published material for serious literary magazines FSF was becoming FSF was becoming known for his literary known for his literary talents outside of the talents outside of the college community. college community.
F. Scott Fitzgerald In 1915 experienced ‘difficulties’ in school In 1915 experienced ‘difficulties’ in school Withdrew due to poor Withdrew due to poor grades and a failed grades and a failed relationship with an relationship with an ‘unattainable’ upper-class ‘unattainable’ upper-class girl (Ginerva King) girl (Ginerva King)
F. Scott Fitzgerald In 1917 FSF joined the army to fight in WWI but only served time in Alabama In 1917 FSF joined the army to fight in WWI but only served time in Alabama Started to write his first novel and met Zelda Sayre Started to write his first novel and met Zelda Sayre Wanted to marry her, but Wanted to marry her, but she was unwilling she was unwilling
F. Scott Fitzgerald Rich girls don’t marry poor boys!!! Yeah, I don’t thinkso
F. Scott Fitzgerald In 1919 set out to New York City to become a writer - failed miserably In 1919 set out to New York City to become a writer - failed miserably Finally published his first Finally published his first novel in late 1919; it was novel in late 1919; it was an immediate and an immediate and spectacular success spectacular success In 1921 FSF marries Zelda In 1921 FSF marries Zelda
F. Scott Fitzgerald Lived a wild, carefree life; they partied a lot!!! Lived a wild, carefree life; they partied a lot!!! Marriage was marked by heavy alcohol abuse, financial insecurity, constant moves, and professional disappointments Marriage was marked by heavy alcohol abuse, financial insecurity, constant moves, and professional disappointments
F. Scott Fitzgerald In 1931 Zelda was institutionalized; in 1940 FSF died of a heart attack In 1931 Zelda was institutionalized; in 1940 FSF died of a heart attack Ironically, the writer who had by 1921 gained ‘financial security and the girl of his dreams’ was, at the time of his death, an almost forgotten literary figure. Ironically, the writer who had by 1921 gained ‘financial security and the girl of his dreams’ was, at the time of his death, an almost forgotten literary figure.
TGG Setting and Plots Started to write The Great Gatsby while in Europe Started to write The Great Gatsby while in Europe The Great Gatsby captures all of the romance and glitter of the 1920s. Set on Long Island and New York City in the summer of 1922, the novel portrays a young man and his search for acceptance and love through means of his success and wealth The Great Gatsby captures all of the romance and glitter of the 1920s. Set on Long Island and New York City in the summer of 1922, the novel portrays a young man and his search for acceptance and love through means of his success and wealth.
The Great Gatsby- Themes To assess the destructiveness of idealism, fantasy, covetousness To assess the destructiveness of idealism, fantasy, covetousness To justify the role of the American dream in fiction To justify the role of the American dream in fiction To evaluate social class differences (ie. behavior/expectation) To evaluate social class differences (ie. behavior/expectation) To evaluate the role of the past in determining future dreams To evaluate the role of the past in determining future dreams To delineate elements of the Jazz Age To delineate elements of the Jazz Age To comment on the themes of honesty and self deception To comment on the themes of honesty and self deception To typify the the carelessness and recklessness of the post World War I generation To typify the the carelessness and recklessness of the post World War I generation To analyze the intermingling of despair, hope, love, yearning, and failure To analyze the intermingling of despair, hope, love, yearning, and failure
The Great Gatsby- Characters Nick Carraway Nick Carraway First-person narrator First-person narrator Nick is ‘connected’ to all of Nick is ‘connected’ to all of the characters the characters All of the action is filtered All of the action is filtered through him. through him. Limited involvement allows Limited involvement allows him to report fully, directly, him to report fully, directly, and objectively and objectively
The Great Gatsby- Characters Tom Buchanan Tom Buchanan Nick’s acquaintance from college. Nick’s acquaintance from college. Obnoxiously wealthy Obnoxiously wealthy Represents the brutality Represents the brutality and moral carelessness and moral carelessness of upper-class society. of upper-class society.
The Great Gatsby- Characters Daisy Fay Buchanan Tom’s wife Tom’s wife Nick’s cousin Nick’s cousin Careless, selfish, Careless, selfish, snobbish and naïve snobbish and naïve Represents the Represents the ‘unattainable girl’ ‘unattainable girl’
The Great Gatsby- Characters Jordan Baker A professional golfer A professional golfer who is friends with who is friends with the Buchanans the Buchanans Nick’s love interest Nick’s love interest within the novel. within the novel.
The Great Gatsby- Characters Jay Gatsby Jay Gatsby A romantic idealist A romantic idealist who devotes his life who devotes his life to amassing wealth to amassing wealth and chasing an and chasing an ‘elusive dream’. ‘elusive dream’.
The Great Gatsby- Characters George & Myrtle Wilson Owners of a garage in the Owners of a garage in the ‘Valley of Ashes’ ‘Valley of Ashes’ George - prospective George - prospective business partner of business partner of Tom Buchanan Tom Buchanan Myrtle- Tom’s mistress Myrtle- Tom’s mistress
Long Island, NY