The Bridal Party F. Scott Fitzgerald

1. The Bridal Party F. Scott Fitzgerald Mrs. Zotto Grade 11 Period A,C,D 9/20/2013

2. HISTORY • F. Scott Fitzgerald born 1896 in St. Paul, Minnesota into a family of little wealth but great social ambition • Fitzgerald’s mother had high expectations and sent her children to the best schools so that they can socialize with the upper class. • Fitzgerald was not an “A student” at Princeton University; due his involvement in Drama Club , and a Journalist for the University’s newspaper. Fitzgerald socialized too much. • Fitzgerald left college in his junior year and decided to enlist in the Army. • Fitzgerald met his wife while serving in the Army. Her name was Zelda.

3. HISTORY • Fitzgerald did not receive a lot of money in the Army and decided to leave and settle in New York City. He was suffering financially until his first published work came about called This Side of Paradise. • This overnight success gave him the financial opportunity to marry Zelda. • In the 1920’s F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote many short stories and novels with the setting taking place in the United States and Europe. • His most successful work was The Great Gatsby ( 1925) which he wrote while visiting France and Italy.

4. HISTORY • Zelda maintained a very high style of living and spent money excessively which caused a lot of tension in their relationship. • In 1929, the stock market crashed and Fitzgerald’s private life and prosperous career crashed. • His wife suffered a series of nervous breakdowns. Fitzgerald’s writings in major magazines became less frequent due the economic crash which brought on the Great Depression. • In the 1930s, Fitzgerald struggled with alcoholism and his marriage to Zelda. • This time in his life brought about the short story “The Bridal Party”. • Fitzgerald did some time in Hollywood as a screenwriter and began working on his fifth novel The Last Tycoon. However he was unable to complete his novel due to a heart-attack at the age of forty-four.

5. History • The 1920s has been known as The Jazz Age. The Jazz Age brought about new musical form that was popular during the era due to the vibrant and rebellious rhythms. • Many young people during that time were rebelling due to the social rules of the previous generation. • Economic prosperity fed into the decade’s party atmosphere. Business was booming and some people made huge profits on their investments People were spending money recklessly. • October 29, 1929 “Black Tuesday” the stock market collapsed and stocks became worthless. Mergers with smaller companies increased by the end of the decade and only small number of corporations were earning nearly half of the nation’s income. The Great Depression was the worst economic hardship in U.S History and dragged into the next decade. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ud6haTTfFY

6. The Reading: The Bridal Party Literary Elements Characterization - is the way the author reveals personality of a character Direct Characterization- the writer makes statements about a character’s personality Indirect Characterization- the writer reveals the personality of a character through physical description and the actions, thoughts, speech or perceptions of that character’s personality. Fitzgerald shows Michael's impressions of Hamilton and Caroline through the use of indirect characterization Foreshadowing- to give a suggestion of (something that has not yet happened)

7. The Reading: The Bridal Party Summary: Michael hopes to marry Caroline, but felt his poverty and her family’s disdain cause them to break up. While living in Paris, where Caroline is visiting, he receives a note announcing her imminent marriage. Later he runs into Caroline and her wealthy fiancé, Hamilton, and is invited to several nuptial parties. Michael is convinced that Caroline still loves him. After learning that he has inherited $250,000, he decides to fight for her. He leaves Hamilton’s bachelor party to talk to Caroline. Soon after, Hamilton arrives and announces he has lost all his money. Caroline says it doesn’t matter. At the wedding reception, Michael realizes he is “cured” of his love.

8. The Reading: The Bridal Party Class Discussion Questions: • What kind of job does Michael have? • Do you think the arrival of the telegram is too coincidental and is it necessary to the plot? • What do you think of Michael’s character based on his conversation? ( Look at pg. 655, Scene II second column) • What is Hamilton's view of the marriage? • What is the motif to the plot? * Motif- an important idea or subject that is repeated throughout the book or story. • What is the significance of the second woman. How will her appearance affect the characters?

9. The Reading: The Bridal Party • What does the phrase “ House of Cards “ mean and why Michael thinks it is about to fall? • Hamilton has made two important announcements before Michael and Caroline. What are they? Give me your opinion of Hamilton’s actions • Climax: Caroline’s actions is the climax to plot : What did she do regarding her decision between Michael and Hamilton. Pg.661 • What do you think of Hamilton’s move to have an extravagant reception despite his devastating financial losses? Is this consistent with his character?