Notes Junior Language Arts The Great Gatsby Notes Junior Language Arts

F. Scott Fitzgerald Named after his cousin,the author of the National Anthem His family never stayed longer than 3 years in a place Had all the traditions of old money… except the money Went to Princeton Was on academic probation, so he joined the army

Fitzgerald cont. Convinced he would die in the war, he began writing Literary opinion is that he is an irresponsible writer because he was a big drinker

Fitzgerald cont. Met Zelda when stationed in Alabama She wouldn’t marry him because he didn’t have money He published a novel and became famous, Zelda said yes They were both alcoholics and had legendary fights When his wife was in a mental hospital, he fell in love with another woman

F. Scott Fitzgerald Fitzgerald died believing himself a failure Zelda died in a hospital fire No other writer captured the moral decay of a generation

Modernism Focus on moving away from Realism Politically and socially charged They sought to capture the essence of human life in the form and content of their work They omitted exposition, transitions, resolutions, and explanations used in classic literature Themes were implied and readers are forced to draw their own conclusions

The Great Gatsby Published in 1925 Originally not a successful novel A lyrical picture of American values He was a painstaking reviser who went through layers of rough drafts to reach perfection His stories focused on the American woman- a young, free-thinking, independent “flapper”

Characters….Nick Carraway Young man from Minnesota Educated at Yale Goes to NYC to learn the bond business Moves to West Egg (a fictional part of Long Island) The novel is told through his eyes Befriends Gatsby

Jay Gatsby Protagonist and title character Wealthy; lives in a Gothic mansion Famous for his lavish parties No one knows where he comes from or how he made his fortune

Daisy Buchanan Nick’s cousin and the woman Gatsby loves She is married to Tom Lives in East Egg Beautiful socialite

Tom Buchanan Daisy’s immensely wealthy husband Arrogant, hypocritical bully Having an extramarital affair with Myrtle

Jordan Baker Daisy’s friend Nick becomes involved with her Cynical, boyish, and self-centered Dishonest

George and Myrtle Wilson Myrtle – Tom’s lover George – lifeless, exhausted owner of a run-down auto shop George is a dreamer

The Great Gatsby Setting – Summer, 1922 in Long Island Focuses on the disintegration of the American Dream in an era of unprecedented wealth

Gatsby cont. Decayed moral and social values American Dream is about discovery, individualism, and the pursuit of happiness

Symbols The Green Light The Valley of Ashes The eyes of Dr. TJ Eckleburg