February 25 - Jr. American Lit.

1. February 25 - Jr. American Lit. You will need: Pen/Pencil Notebook Homework: Read and complete the assignments on the worksheet “The Great Gatsby: A Novel of a Generation” Agenda: Quick-write Unit Objectives Notes: Intro to Fitzgerald and The Great Gatsby Begin reading “The Great Gatsby: A Novel of a Generation” Goals: Understand the history of Fitzgerald and the Great Gatsby

2. Quick-Write What is the American Dream?

3. Objectives: Students will... Analyze the social, cultural, and historical significance of settings to enhance comprehension. Understand that plot developments reflect social, cultural, and historical conflicts. Analyze how multiple characters acting as narrators, each with a limited and possibly unreliable narrative perspective, influence the interpretation of events and characters. Analyze how changes in setting reinforce developments in character. Analyze how flashbacks function within and advance the plot. Analyze how climax functions within and advances the plot.

4. Life of F. Scott Fitzgerald • Francis Scott Fitzgerald • Born Sept. 24, 1896 in Saint Paul, MN • Graduated from Princeton in 1917 • Joined the army in 1917 • Discharged in 1919 • Never fought overseas • Moved to New York to pursue writing career • First successful novel – This Side of Paradise – published in 1920 • Married to Zelda Sayre in 1920 • Daughter Frances Scott “Scottie” Fitzgerald born in 1921 • Fitzgerald became an alcoholic in early 1920’s

5. Life of F. Scott Fitzgerald • Moved to France in 1924 • Zelda had an affair – nearly broke them up • Wrote The Great Gatsby • Traveled around Europe and the USA • Met Ernest Hemingway – among others • Failed as Hollywood screenwriter and playwright • The “Crack-up” of the 1930’s • Fitzgerald became ill, in debt, and unsuccessful • Zelda was committed to various mental hospitals • Scottie was sent to boarding school in 1935 – spoke only via mail • Worked as a Hollywood screenwriter in 1939-1940, making $1,000 a week • Paid most of his debts, but failed to save any money • Died of a heart attack Dec. 21, 1940 at the age of 44

6. The Great Gatsby Fitzgerald’s best-known novel Originally published in 1925 Set on Long Island and in New York City Direct commentary on the American Dream Largely unpopular until re-publication in 1945, despite being turned into both a play and film by 1926 Fitzgerald dislike the title, but was convinced to keep it by his wife and his publisher Widely regarded as the defining novel of 20th century American literature