F. SCOTT FITZGERALD1896-1940

LITERARY MOVEMENT:

MODERNISM

- refers to the radical shift in artistic and cultural sensibilities as shown in the art and literature of the post-World War I period

Authors and artists of this movement: -Presented a pessimistic picture of a culture in disarray-Depicted scene and characters that appeared apathetic and to have mobile morals

VIEWPOINT

-became an essential aspect of the modernist novel as well-it wasn’t only about what was told but HOW it was told -The narrator in The Great Gatsby takes a special role in the novel. Readers must question the narrator; we need to know if we can trust him or not.

FITZGERALD AND THE ECONOMY

-Upon his grandmother’s death, Fitzgerald and the family received a rather handsome inheritance- Scott seemed always to be cast into a society where others enjoyed more affluence than he. -However, a self-made man, Fitzgerald became the embodiment of the American Dream

“Fitzgerald’s House” Built in America - Historic American Buildings Survey/ Historic American Engineering Record 1933 – Present

Source: Library of Congress – American Memory

-Scott withdrew from Princeton and entered the war in 1917, commissioned a second lieutenant in the army. -While in Officers Candidate School in Alabama, he met and fell in love with Zelda Sayre. -He courted her , but she turned down his marriage proposal because of his lack of money- The two married a couple years later and had one daughter, Scottie. -Readers should look for connections to Fitzgerald’s personal life in his literature.

FITZGERALD AND LOVE

The 18th Amendment states: “After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.”

SOCIETY DURING FITZGERALD’S LIFE

THE GREAT WARWOMEN’S RIGHT TO VOTE PROHIBITIONFLAPPERSJAZZ THE ROARING 20’sGREAT DEPRESSION

-While Fitzgerald amassed wealth and threw great parties, he did not seem happy.

- He, Zelda, and Scottie moved to Europe to live, he did not find happiness. _________________________________-Zelda’s alcoholism had several times forced her commitment to an institution

- Scott went to Hollywood to write screenplays, and struggled unsuccessfully to complete a final novel, The Last Tycoon. -He died in December of 1940 after a lifelong battle with alcohol and a series of heart attacks.

FITZGERALD: LIFE AND STRUGGLES

FITZGERALD’S LEGACY -The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (short story) - Tales of the Jazz Age-The Beautiful and Damned-The Great Gatsby-This Side of Paradise

-coined the term “The Jazz Age”

THEMES TO LOOK FOR: -The American Dream -The corruption of the dream -Conflict between the socioeconomic classes-The role of women in society

VIDEO LINKS

30 second intro to Fitzgerald and Jazz Age -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-gBRN6tqkM

The Great Gatsby trailer