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 , 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