The Great Gatsby

1. The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald

2. About F. Scott Fitzgerald • Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1896 • Of mixed Irish and Southern descent • Named after the writer of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” Francis Scott Key

3. His father was a failed businessman and worked as a salesman. • His mother was the daughter of a successful grocery store owner, and Fitzgerald’s mother was completely devoted to her son.

4. Began writing during high school at St. Paul Academy. • Entered Princeton, but failed to fulfill his desire to become a football hero. • Suffering from poor academic standing, Fitzgerald left Princeton to join the army.

5. An interesting marriage • Met his wife, Zelda, when he was at Camp Sheridan in Montgomery, AL, in 1918. • Zelda was known as a sort of reckless society girl. • In 1920, Zelda and Fitzgerald married. • That same year, he published his first novel, This Side of Paradise.

6. The wealth he obtained from his first novel enabled the Fitzgeralds to live lavishly and party with the rich and famous. • Their extravagant lifestyle, however, led them to heavy debt. • Zelda gave birth to a baby in 1921.

7. More interesting experiences with the Fitzgeralds • Fitzgerald’s second novel, The Beautiful and the Damned, was not a big success. • The Fitzgeralds moved to Europe, where F. Scott associated with other expatriate authors like Ernest Hemingway. • In 1925, Fitzgerald published his most well-known novel, The Great Gatsby.

8. The Great Gatsby and life afterwards… • While Gatsby was a successful novel, it was not as successful as Fitzgerald had hoped. • Fitzgerald began drinking more heavily. • His and Zelda’s debts continued to grow.

9. An Unhappy Ending • In the 1930s, the Fitzgeralds received much attention for his alcoholism and Zelda’s mental breakdown. • Fitzgerald died in 1940 in Hollywood. He was working on his last novel, The Last Tycoon. • Zelda had to be placed in a psychiatric hospital, which burned in 1948. Zelda died in the fire.

10. The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

11. About the novel • Written in 1925, it depicts the life of the wealthy and corrupt upper class during the “Roaring 20’s.”

12. Main characters: • Nick, the narrator • Gatsby’s neighbor • Daisy’s cousin • Keen observer

13. Gatsby, his successful and apparently wealthy neighbor • Mysterious past • Handsome, charming, lavish

14. Daisy Buchanan, Nick’s cousin • Rich (old money) • She “wears a mask”—maybe concealing sadness • Beautiful • Enjoys a good time

15. Tom Buchanan, Daisy’s husband • Former football hero • A “man’s man” • Arrogant • He’s just…ugh.

16. Jordan Baker, a longtime friend of Daisy’s • A golfer • Spoiled • Dishonest, yet captivating

17. Things we’ll talk about as we read: • Symbolism (there’s tons of it…we’ll probably barely scratch the surface) • The idea of the American Dream • Characters and their motivation • Themes • History…what was going on during the 1920s in America?