Great Gatsby Background Notes Mrs. Fanning English 6C.

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Great Gatsby Great Gatsby Background Notes Background Notes Mrs. Fanning Mrs. Fanning English 6C English 6C

Transcript of Great Gatsby Background Notes Mrs. Fanning English 6C.

Page 1: Great Gatsby Background Notes Mrs. Fanning English 6C.

Great GatsbyGreat GatsbyBackground NotesBackground Notes

Mrs. FanningMrs. Fanning

English 6CEnglish 6C

Page 2: Great Gatsby Background Notes Mrs. Fanning English 6C.

1. F. Scott Fitzgerald1. F. Scott FitzgeraldA. Born in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1896, family A. Born in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1896, family

lived off his mother’s inheritancelived off his mother’s inheritanceB. Attended Princeton for a year, then joined B. Attended Princeton for a year, then joined

the army in 1917the army in 1917C. Zelda 1st broke off engagement because C. Zelda 1st broke off engagement because

she was unwilling to live on his small salary she was unwilling to live on his small salary in the advertisement businessin the advertisement business

Later married him in 1920 after his first Later married him in 1920 after his first novel novel This Side of Paradise This Side of Paradise was successfulwas successful

D. They had frequent domestic rows and their D. They had frequent domestic rows and their daughter “Scottie” attended boarding schooldaughter “Scottie” attended boarding school

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Fitzgerald cont’dFitzgerald cont’dE. Started writing Great Gatsby while in France in E. Started writing Great Gatsby while in France in

19241924 Gatsby received great praise from critics but Gatsby received great praise from critics but

disappointing salesdisappointing salesF. Met Ernest Hemingway in Paris, then unknown F. Met Ernest Hemingway in Paris, then unknown

as a writeras a writerG. Zelda had a mental breakdown and spent the G. Zelda had a mental breakdown and spent the

rest of her life in sanitariums starting in 1932rest of her life in sanitariums starting in 1932 Zelda wrote an autobiography while a patient, Zelda wrote an autobiography while a patient,

angering her husband for stealing his materialangering her husband for stealing his materialH. Fitzgerald died of a heart attack in 1940 with H. Fitzgerald died of a heart attack in 1940 with

his obituaries calling him a failure as a writerhis obituaries calling him a failure as a writer

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Fitzgerald ClipFitzgerald Clip

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2. The Lost Generation2. The Lost GenerationA. Phrase “the lost generation” first coined by Gertrude Stein A. Phrase “the lost generation” first coined by Gertrude Stein

but popularized by Ernest Hemingwaybut popularized by Ernest HemingwayB. Refers to the generation of young people coming of age in B. Refers to the generation of young people coming of age in

the US during and shortly after WWIthe US during and shortly after WWIC. They were disillusioned with the large number of casualties C. They were disillusioned with the large number of casualties

during WWI and prudish Victorian notions of moralityduring WWI and prudish Victorian notions of moralityD. Some complained that American art lacked breadth of D. Some complained that American art lacked breadth of

European work, causing them to spend large amounts of European work, causing them to spend large amounts of time in Europetime in Europe

E. They produced jazz music - first E. They produced jazz music - first distinctly American art formdistinctly American art form

F. Five members include Sinclair Lewis, F. Five members include Sinclair Lewis, Ezra Pound, T.S. Eliot, Cole Porter Ezra Pound, T.S. Eliot, Cole Porter

and F. Scott Fitzgeraldand F. Scott Fitzgerald

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3. Flappers in the Roaring Twenties3. Flappers in the Roaring TwentiesA. Before WWI the Gibson Girl with A. Before WWI the Gibson Girl with

long straight skirts and high collars long straight skirts and high collars was fashionable - allowing women was fashionable - allowing women to participate in sports like golfto participate in sports like golf

B. WWI vets found it difficult to settle B. WWI vets found it difficult to settle down to a humdrum routine as if down to a humdrum routine as if nothing had happenednothing had happened

After nearly a generation of men died After nearly a generation of men died at war, women were not willing to at war, women were not willing to waste away their youth waiting for waste away their youth waiting for spinsterhood, but decided to enjoy spinsterhood, but decided to enjoy lifelife

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Flappers cont’dFlappers cont’dC. Flappers described young girls in the US and C. Flappers described young girls in the US and

Britain who were ideally “lovely, expensive Britain who were ideally “lovely, expensive and about nineteen”and about nineteen”

D. Defined as “a giddy, attractive and slightly D. Defined as “a giddy, attractive and slightly unconventional young thing…inclined to unconventional young thing…inclined to revolt against the precepts and admonitions revolt against the precepts and admonitions of her elders”of her elders”

E. New trends included losing E. New trends included losing

corsets and dropping waists to corsets and dropping waists to

the hipline, hair was bobbed the hipline, hair was bobbed

and more makeup was wornand more makeup was worn

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4. Prohibition4. Prohibition1. 1st began in the 1840s by Methodists, revived in 1880s with 1. 1st began in the 1840s by Methodists, revived in 1880s with

Women’s Christian Temperance Union and the Prohibition Women’s Christian Temperance Union and the Prohibition Party and the Anti- Saloon League in 1900sParty and the Anti- Saloon League in 1900s

2. The 18th amendment enacted Prohibition from 1920-19332. The 18th amendment enacted Prohibition from 1920-1933• The 19th amendment granted women the voteThe 19th amendment granted women the vote3. 18th amendment specifically prohibited the “manufacture, 3. 18th amendment specifically prohibited the “manufacture,

sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within or into sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within or into the US” but the the Dry Law allowed small quantities of the US” but the the Dry Law allowed small quantities of home made wine for personal usehome made wine for personal use

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Prohibition cont’dProhibition cont’d

4. Mississippi was the last state to repeal in 4. Mississippi was the last state to repeal in 19661966

5. Social problems included the black market 5. Social problems included the black market and racketeering when powerful gangs and racketeering when powerful gangs corrupted law enforcement agenciescorrupted law enforcement agencies

6. Three fun facts = the KKK strongly 6. Three fun facts = the KKK strongly supported Prohibition, Carrie Nation fought supported Prohibition, Carrie Nation fought for Prohibition by destroying bottles with a for Prohibition by destroying bottles with a hatchet, and other activists enforced by hatchet, and other activists enforced by entering saloons singing and prayingentering saloons singing and praying

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Prohibition ClipProhibition Clip

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Long IslandLong Island7. Fitzgerald lived in Great Neck area of 7. Fitzgerald lived in Great Neck area of

Long Island which became West Egg in Long Island which became West Egg in the bookthe book

8. Long island is almost 1400 square miles with a current population of 7.5 million9. So named because it is much longer than it is wide but the Native American name was Paumanok meaning “the island that pays tribute”

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Long Island cont’dLong Island cont’d

10. Known for affluence 10. Known for affluence and high quality of life and high quality of life (2nd richest county in (2nd richest county in New York State behind New York State behind Manhattan)Manhattan)

11. Suffolk county known 11. Suffolk county known for its beach towns, for its beach towns, including the renowned including the renowned HamptonsHamptons

12. Also known for its 12. Also known for its strong middle class and strong middle class and people committed to people committed to family living and family living and community eventscommunity events

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6. Stoddard’s Rising Tide of Color6. Stoddard’s Rising Tide of Color

13. Usually paired with racism and white supremacy13. Usually paired with racism and white supremacy14. Written in 192014. Written in 192015. Stoddard argued that the number of non-whites 15. Stoddard argued that the number of non-whites

was growing rapidly and would soon overtake the was growing rapidly and would soon overtake the white hegemonywhite hegemony

16. Stoddard thought the Japanese were the most 16. Stoddard thought the Japanese were the most serious threat with highly intelligent children who serious threat with highly intelligent children who could quickly overtake Western techniquescould quickly overtake Western techniques

17. Stoddard’s “hope” for the future is that whites 17. Stoddard’s “hope” for the future is that whites would rediscover that “race is destiny”would rediscover that “race is destiny”

18. Similar books of the time include Mankind at the 18. Similar books of the time include Mankind at the Crossroads and Race and National SolidarityCrossroads and Race and National Solidarity

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7. Black Sox Scandal7. Black Sox Scandal19. Cincinnati Reds beat Chicago White Sox 5 19. Cincinnati Reds beat Chicago White Sox 5

games to 3 - but it was fixed!games to 3 - but it was fixed!20. “Sleepy Bill” Burns and Billy Maharg first 20. “Sleepy Bill” Burns and Billy Maharg first

initiated, getting white sox players Ed Cicotte initiated, getting white sox players Ed Cicotte and Arnold “Chick” Gandil’s initial supportand Arnold “Chick” Gandil’s initial support

21. Eight players were indicted and banned for 21. Eight players were indicted and banned for lifelife

22. “Shoeless” Joe Jackson seemed relatively 22. “Shoeless” Joe Jackson seemed relatively innocent because he set a record with 12 hits innocent because he set a record with 12 hits and the only home run hit during the entire and the only home run hit during the entire seriesseries

23. “Shoeless” Joe is quoted saying before he 23. “Shoeless” Joe is quoted saying before he died, “I am going to meet the greatest died, “I am going to meet the greatest umpire of all - and He knows I’m innocent.”umpire of all - and He knows I’m innocent.”