1. MODERNISM And The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

2. American Modernism ◦Philosophical thought arising from widespread : cultural change ◦Industrialization & technological growth ◦Prohibition – and a rebellion against this ◦Flappers ◦The Jazz Age – ◦A post World War I movement in the 1920s, from which jazz music & dance emerged. The era ended with the beginning of The Great Depression in 1929. ◦Suffrage ◦Testing the boundaries of sex, race, money, class and religion ◦The core of this movement occurred between WWI and WWII (1920-1930ish)

3. American Modernism - characteristics ◦Writers relay a sense of social breakdown felt throughout all of society ◦People were asking themselves, “where is becoming of the world?” ◦Point of view is often first person, and remote or detached ◦This brings about an ironic, but not unfeeling, attitude ◦Some major themes: ◦Corruption of the American Dream ◦Disillusionment ◦Self-consciousness ◦Decline in civilization ◦Reflection on one’s inner-self ◦Fragmentation “Summer Days” by Georgia O’Keeffe, 1936

4. Literary Elements ◦Stream of Consciousness ◦a method of narration that describes the flow of thoughts in the minds of the characters. ◦Motif ◦ motif can be seen as an image, sound, action or other figures that have a symbolic significance and contributes toward the development of theme. A motif is a recurrent element that develops a theme while a theme. ◦A symbol only needs to appear once, and may or may not directly relate to theme. ◦Satire ◦a technique employed to expose and criticize foolishness and corruption of an individual or a society by using humor, irony, exaggeration or ridicule

5. F. Scott Fitzgerald ◦Francis Key Scott Fitzgerald was born on September 24 th, 1896 to an upper-middle class family in St. Paul, Minnesota. ◦Attended Princeton, but left one year shy of graduation to enlist in the Army; fought in WWI. ◦Upon returning home, moved to NYC and married Zelda in 1920; only child born in 1921. ◦Theirs was a volatile relationship, marked by raucous parties and Zelda’s mental health issues. ◦Actually moved overseas to avoid the corruption of American society, in an effort to protect their daughter. ◦Died on December 21 st, 1940 of a heart attack. ◦Felt unaccomplished in his writing, though he had supported his family on the profits of his work (mainly publication of his short stories).

6. The Great Gatsby ◦Many events in the novel are inspired by Fitzgerald’s life and current events. ◦Set in Long Island, during the summer of 1922. ◦Nick Carraway. – narrator, the only honest man he knows ◦Jay Gatsby – bootlegger and idolater, has a idealistic view of love and life ◦Daisy Buchannan – the woman he loves, with a voice full of money ◦Tom Buchanan – millionaire playboy, Daisy’s malicious husband ◦Myrtle Wilson – social climber, a woman of vitality, and Tom’s mistress ◦George Wilson – her husband, mechanic, a spiritless man ◦Jordan Baker – cheating golfer, Daisy’s friend, Nick’s sometime girlfriend