1. F. Scott Fitzgerald 1896 – 1940

2. F. Scott Fitzgerald Biography Fitzgerald was born into an upper middle class family. He split his childhood between New York and Minnesota. Fitzgerald attended three different preparatory schools before entering Princeton University in 1913.

3. F. Scott Fitzgerald Biography Fitzgerald was a mediocre student at best and spent more time in the Princeton Triangle Club (a campus theatre group) than he spent on his studies. In his senior year Fitzgerald dropped out of school rather than flunk out. Upon dropping out Fitzgerald enlisted in the United States Army after the United States entered World War I.

4. Art Imitates Life Stationed at Camp Sheridan (Alabama) Fitzgerald met Zelda Sayre (1900 – 1948). Zelda was a member of Alabama society and the daughter of an Alabama Supreme Court judge. Fitzgerald took a job working in advertising after the war and became engaged to Zelda. Feeling that he could not support the two Zelda broke off the engagement.

5. Art Imitates Life Fitzgerald moved back to Minnesota to work on rejected novel The Romantic Egoist. He adapted the novel to This Side of Paradise. The novel was published and became one of the most popular novels of the year. Fitzgerald became an instant celebrity and resumed his engagement with Zelda.

6. What is the American dream?

7. Instant Celebrity In 1921 Frances Scott “Scottie” Fitzgerald was born. Having a child did not slow down the extravagant lifestyle that Zelda and Fitzgerald shared. Fitzgerald is credited with creating the term “The Jazz Age”, he and Zelda would attend wild parties and spend time with many popular celebrities of the time.

8. Modernists Fitzgerald was part of the Modernist movement. Modernism = 1914 – 1945 Due to the war America had lost it’s innocence –Literature was marked with the idea of living for the moment. Fitzgerald belonged to a group of authors known as the Expatriates. –These were American artists who disillusioned with the break down of the American dream spent a considerable amount of time in Europe.

9. Would suddenly coming into a large amount of money, such as winning the lottery, change your life? How so (or why wouldn’t it)?

10. The Great Gatsby The Great Gatsby is based partially on Fitzgerald’s own life. Connections can be made between Fitzgerald and the title character of Gatsby as well as the narrator of the story. The story takes place in 1922, during the roaring twenties.

11. Is it possible to get a second chance at life? To change the past or past decisions? Why / Why not?